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.

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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Business

Long Island Man Allegedly Plotted to Hire Hitman to Kidnap, Torture, and Kill Former Business…

Joe Mcdermott Jun 9, 2025

Navdeep Singh, 48, of Dix Hills, faces conspiracy and criminal solicitation charges. Prosecutors say he promised the person he believed was a hitman $100,000 and 10 acres of land to kidnap the victim, take him out of state, torture him,…
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Crime

Live Assassination In Colombia; Presidential Candidate Miguel Uribe Shot Multiple Times By…

Joe Mcdermott Jun 8, 2025

Authorities have launched an urgent security review focused both on Uribe’s protection detail and broader electoral safety measures. As the investigation continues, witnesses and campaign attendees have been asked to come forward with any…
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Crime

FBI Joins Search for Missing Asian Couple from Long Island: JuanJuan Zwang and Peishuan Fan Vanish…

Joe Mcdermott Jun 8, 2025

IJuanJuan Zwang, 44, and her husband Peishuan Fan, 48, both of Chinese descent, were last seen on March 30 near their residence on Maria Drive in Old Brookville. The pair was reported missing by family the following day. mage credit:…
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Business

Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado to Challenge Governor Hochul in 2026 Democratic Primary

Joe Mcdermott Jun 3, 2025

Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado has announced his candidacy for the 2026 Democratic gubernatorial primary, setting the stage for a significant political contest in New York State. File photo: Lev Radin (both images), licensed. …
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Education

Education Secretary Threatens DOJ Action Over Long Island Native American Mascot Ban; Must Reverse…

Joe Mcdermott May 31, 2025

The Massapequa School District has long used the "Chiefs" mascot, a name that traces back to the district’s origins in the 1920s and 1930s. The mascot was adopted in a period when schools across the United States were selecting Native…
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Crime

Seaford Man Arrested After Allegedly Attacking Lyft Driver with Baseball Bat; Likely Faces Up To…

Joe Mcdermott May 31, 2025

James Turchi, 46, of Seaford, was charged with Assault 2nd Degree, Criminal Mischief 3rd Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th Degree. He was scheduled to be arraigned on Friday, May 30, 2025 at First District Court, 99 Main…
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Finance

Long Island Rep. Misses Crucial Vote on Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ After Falling…

Joe Mcdermott May 22, 2025

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) confirmed Garbarino's absence, stating that the Long Island congressman "fell asleep in the back" of the chamber during the critical vote. Johnson, while expressing frustration, referred to Garbarino as a…
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Business

Drugmaker of Popular Weight-Loss Medication Ozempic Facing Over 1,800 Lawsuits Claiming Vision Loss,…

Joe Mcdermott May 20, 2025

Ozempic and Wegovy, both containing the active ingredient semaglutide, have surged in popularity in recent years for their effectiveness in weight loss and managing type 2 diabetes. However, emerging litigation claims that some users have…
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Crime

Former Lindenhurst School Custodian Pleads Guilty in Child Sex Abuse Case, Expected to Receive 17…

Joe Mcdermott May 15, 2025

Brian Woehr of Lindenhurst was arrested in April 2025 and later indicted on 113 charges in a child sexual abuse case. On September 25, 2026, Woehr pleaded guilty to two felony counts of Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance as a Sexually…
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Crime

Albany Budget Provision Sparks Outrage Over Potential Legal Shield for AG Letitia James

Joe Mcdermott May 8, 2025

House Republican Leadership Chair Elise Stefanik released a statement condemning Governor Kathy Hochul and Albany Democrats for their inclusion of a taxpayer-funded slush fund in the New York State budget to defend Attorney General Letitia…
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Legal

Committee Demands National Archives Turn Over All Email With Biden White House, FBI, DOJ Related To…

Joe Mcdermott May 7, 2025

In August 2022, more than 30 armed FBI agents conducted a court-authorized search of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence as part of an investigation into the handling of classified documents. The operation involved agents…
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Legal

Supreme Court Allows Transgender Military Ban to Take Effect Amid Ongoing Legal Challenge

Joe Mcdermott May 7, 2025

The impact of the ruling could be significant. Advocacy groups estimate that thousands of transgender service members, many of whom came out under more inclusive policies adopted in prior administrations, could now face discharge or denial…
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Crime

As Sean “Diddy” Combs Trial Begins, Jurors Questioned On List of Approx 190 Celebrities…

Joe Mcdermott May 5, 2025

Prosecutors allege that over two decades, Sean "Diddy" Combs operated a criminal enterprise leveraging his entertainment businesses to exploit women. The indictment details coercive practices, including orchestrating events referred to as…
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Crime

Trump Orders Reopening of Notorious Alcatraz Prison; Will Serve As “Symbol of Law, Order, And…

Joe Mcdermott May 5, 2025

Alcatraz, located on an island in San Francisco Bay, operated as a federal penitentiary from 1934 to 1963. It was known for housing the nations most notorious criminals. The prison was closed due to high operating costs and deteriorating…
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Business

Phoebe Gates Inadvertently Discloses Her Father, Microsoft Co-founder Bill Gates, Has Asperger’s…

Joe Mcdermott May 2, 2025

Bill Gates and Phoebe Adele Gates attend Time 100 Gala as Time magazine celebrates its annual list at Frederick P. Rose Hall of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Phoebe's casual mention of her father's condition during the podcast has garnered…
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