Author

Joe Mcdermott

Joe Mcdermott is our daily investigative journalist and staff reporter who keeps his eyes peeled for interesting local news exclusively for Long Island Guide. Mcdermott, one of our first and thus veteran reporters, is also a data analyst for select independent news and media organizations in the United States.

Legal

Biden’s Use of Autopen in Mass Pardons Sparks Legal Questions; President Says Clemency Decisions…

Joe Mcdermott Jul 14, 2025

Biden’s Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and White House Counsel Ed Siskel are said to have overseen the processing of the paperwork, with the president’s signature affixed by autopen due to time constraints and volume. U.S. President Joe Biden…
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Crime

Epstein Insider Ready to Expose Vast Sex-Trafficking Network; Ready to Tell All on Truth, Lies,…

Joe Mcdermott Jul 14, 2025

A digitally re-rendered version of the original mug shot taken of Ghislaine Maxwell by the United States Marshals Service on July 2, 2020. The photograph was captured shortly after her arrest at a remote property in Bradford, New…
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Crime

Bay Shore Man Indicted on Sex Trafficking Charges Following Multi-Agency Investigation

Joe Mcdermott Jul 14, 2025

Daniel Soto, 37, of Bay Shore, was indicted for Sex Trafficking and other related charges, for allegedly using violence, drugs, and manipulation to induce a victim to engage in commercial sex for his profit. Soto is also facing separate…
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Business

Nassau County Posts 173 First-Time Foreclosure Filings in Q2 – 31% Spike Makes It the Busiest…

Joe Mcdermott Jul 14, 2025

These figures are particularly concerning for Nassau, a county that traditionally sees less volatility in housing distress compared to its urban neighbors. Analysts suggest the increase may be driven by a combination of factors, including…
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Crime

Elon Musk Pressures Trump to Release Epstein Files Amid MAGA Fallout – “Just Release the Files…

Joe Mcdermott Jul 14, 2025

Booking photo of Jeffrey Epstein released by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department, taken in 2006 following his indictment on charges of soliciting a minor for prostitution. In the image, Epstein faces the camera with a neutral…
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Business

George Santos to Begin 87-Month Prison Term for Fraud, Identity Theft; To Surrender By July 25;…

Joe Mcdermott Jul 14, 2025

Former U.S. Congressman George Santos, 36, is required to surrender to federal authorities by July 25. He will also serve two years of supervised release upon completing his sentence. In addition to prison time, the court ordered Santos to…
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Business

Scoop by Scoop: Long Island Ice Cream Tour Celebrates 15 Sweet Years This Summer; East – July…

Joe Mcdermott Jul 13, 2025

The grassroots ice cream crawl, created in 2011 by co-founders Jeff Noreman and Derek Steen, showcases the best homemade ice cream and gelato from family-owned shops across the Island. Each stop features homemade, small-batch ice cream,…
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Health

Biden’s Doctor Pleads the Fifth Amid Cognitive Investigation; Declines to Answer Questions, What Is…

Joe Mcdermott Jul 10, 2025

The inquiry is part of a broader effort by House Republicans to determine whether the public has been misled about President Joe Biden’s ability to fulfill the duties of the presidency. File photo: Chip Somodevilla, licensed. …
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Economy

New York to Begin Mailing Out ‘Inflation Refund’ Checks — But Don’t Expect Much Relief

Joe Mcdermott Jul 10, 2025

Hochul said the checks are designed to offer “immediate relief for working and middle-class families,” especially those who’ve felt squeezed by rising costs at the pump, grocery store, and utility counter. But for many New Yorkers, the…
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Business

Failed Cuomo-era Bridge Lighting Project Nets Loss Of Over $100 Million For NYS Ratepayers,…

Joe Mcdermott Jul 10, 2025

The initiative, known as the “Harbor of Lights” project, was originally touted by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo as a plan to dramatically illuminate key bridges and tunnels throughout the New York City metropolitan area. File photo: lev…
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Crime

Medford Man Indicted in Suffolk County’s Largest Ghost Gun Seizure; Allegedly Manufactured Firearms…

Joe Mcdermott Jul 9, 2025

On June 12, 2025, a search warrant was executed at the Medford which recovered over 100 firearms, including alleged assault weapons equipped with cosmetic and accessory features banned in New York State, such as threaded barrels, pistol…
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Health

15-Year-Old Bronx Boy Dies After Subway Surfing Accident in Queens; Riding On Top Of Southbound 7…

Joe Mcdermott Jul 8, 2025

The 7 train, also known as the Flushing Line, is one of the most iconic subway lines in New York City, running through the borough of Queens. It opened in 1915 as part of the Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT) system. Originally terminated…
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Business

“Big Beautiful Bill” Brings Huge Tax Relief to Homeowners; Adds Pressure on “Able-Bodied” Public…

Joe Mcdermott Jul 6, 2025

However, while the bill offers financial relief to working households, it also imposes stricter requirements for those receiving Medicaid and SNAP benefits. Under the new rules, able-bodied adults between the ages of 18 and 64 must work a…
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Business

Logan Paul’s Prime Drink Sales Collapse in U.S. and U.K. as Consumer Hype Fades

Joe Mcdermott Jul 6, 2025

Prime, the energy and hydration drink brand launched by American YouTuber Logan Paul and British influencer KSI, is experiencing a dramatic downturn in sales across both the U.S. and U.K. markets. Once a viral sensation, the brand’s…
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Local

Solving A Problem That Doesn’t Exist: Banning “Thunderbirds” Is Step Too Far in New York’s Mascot…

Joe Mcdermott Jul 3, 2025

While the mythological Thunderbird has roots in various Native American cultures (especially Plains and Pacific Northwest tribes), it's also present in pop culture and fantasy contexts. The name’s symbolic meanings — strength, thunder,…
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Crime

MS-13 Gang Leader Sentenced to 68 Years for Long Island Killing Spree; Will Serve Sentence In…

Joe Mcdermott Jul 3, 2025

Alexi Saenz, 29, known by the gang name "Blasty," was the head of the Brentwood-Central Islip chapter of the MS-13 Sailors Locos Salvatruchas Westside clique. Saenz will serve his sentence in a high-security federal facility without the…
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Business

Publications Calling U.S. Strike An “Illegal Bombing of Iran” Should Be Viewed With Caution

Joe Mcdermott Jul 1, 2025

In a media environment already plagued by polarization and misinformation, precision in language is essential. Publications that recklessly declare U.S. military actions “illegal” without legal basis are peddling narrative, not news - and…
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Business

Paywalls Expand Across Long Island News Outlets, Raising Questions About Future of Local Journalism

Joe Mcdermott Jul 1, 2025

Paywalls may hinder access to essential information for residents, especially during emergencies, community updates, and local government coverage. Younger generations, in particular, are less likely to pay for news content and more likely…
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Environment

Increase in Whale Deaths Along Eastern Atlantic Coast: What Is Causing The Ongoing Crisis?

Joe Mcdermott Jun 30, 2025

A dead female humpback whale decomposing on a beach on Fire Island, New York in May 2018 in the Point O’ Woods area. This whale was about 33 feet long, estimated to be 3 to 5 years old, and showed evidence of blunt force trauma consistent…
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Health

Levittown Mother of Six Still Waiting After 10 Years on Kidney Transplant List

Joe Mcdermott Jun 29, 2025

Arlene Barsch, a mother of six, has spent the past decade on a kidney transplant waiting list and recently launched a public campaign in hopes of finding a living donor. Advocates note that public awareness campaigns like this one can help…
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Business

NYPD Officers Again Barred From Marching in Uniform at NYC Pride Parade

Joe Mcdermott Jun 28, 2025

The NYC Pride March remains one of the largest and most visible celebrations of LGBTQ+ pride in the world. But the ongoing dispute over uniformed officer participation has exposed continuing tensions between advocacy groups and public…
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Business

Aquebogue Woman Wins $1 Million Powerball Prize with Suffolk County Ticket Purchased at Kings…

Joe Mcdermott Jun 26, 2025

According to state lottery officials, Maria Messina, a resident of Aquebogue, opted to receive her winnings as a lump-sum payment. After standard federal and state withholdings, she took home $651,000. AQUEBOGUE, NY - A Suffolk County…
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Business

PSEG Long Island to Automatically Enroll Customers in New Time-of-Day Rate Plan by End of 2025

Joe Mcdermott Jun 26, 2025

Under the new TOD system, customers will pay different rates for electricity depending on the time of day it is used. Electricity will cost the most during peak hours, defined as weekdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., and significantly less…
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Business

Zohran Mamdani Defeats Cuomo in Stunning NYC Mayoral Primary Upset

Joe Mcdermott Jun 26, 2025

State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, who represents parts of western Queens, ran on a bold left-wing platform that included sweeping policies such as free public transit, a $30 minimum wage by 2030, universal childcare, and significant…
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Crime

Five MS-13 Members Indicted in Kings Park Murder and Conspiracy to Kill Gang Associate

Joe Mcdermott Jun 26, 2025

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO) officers escort 27-year-old David Alejandro Orellana‑Aleman during his arrest in Hyattsville, Maryland, on February 27. Orellana‑Aleman, a Salvadoran…
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Business

Power Outages Reported Across Nassau, Suffolk By PSEG; Extreme Heat Overloads Grids, Triggers…

Joe Mcdermott Jun 25, 2025

High demand for electricity coincides with record-breaking temperatures, with Central Park tying a 96°F high and Newark reaching 103°F, marking its hottest June day since recordkeeping began . The NYISO issued an Energy Warning after…
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Crime

Long Island Residents Turn to App for Real-Time ICE Activity Alerts; Offering Timely Alerts About…

Joe Mcdermott Jun 24, 2025

An increasing number of Long Island residents are relying on an app that delivers verified sightings within ten minutes, enabling users to adjust their plans or avoid areas with active enforcement. The app interface includes location,…
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National

WATCH: President Trump So Visibly Frustrated Over Failed Ceasefire He Utters Expletive to Press Live…

Joe Mcdermott Jun 24, 2025

President Trump appeared so visibly frustrated when it became clear that hostilities were continuing that a emotional response to the press included an expletive uttered live on air, signaling the intensity of the moment and the sudden…
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Business

Lobster Populations Begin Rebounding in Long Island Sound After Years of Decline; Once Thriving…

Joe Mcdermott Jun 21, 2025

Famous “the end” sign at Duryea’s dockside restaurant in Montauk, New York. Once a thriving industry along the Connecticut and Long Island coastlines, the lobster fishery experienced a dramatic collapse in the late 1990s and early 2000s,…
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Crime

Long Island Bagel Shop Manager Detained by ICE Amid Greater Enforcement Activity

Joe Mcdermott Jun 16, 2025

ICE officials identified the individual as having overstayed his visa approximately 20 years ago. The Port Washington case followed what law enforcement sources describe as a series of increased ICE operations in the region, including…
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