A blog devoted to tracking news related to Aqueduct.
It’s a scary scenario for anyone to imagine.
Authorities found 45-year-old Nikka Mitchell unconscious and unresponsive in her bathtub on Wednesday night. Police say there was no obvious trauma spotted at the scene.
EMS responded at the Bellerose home and declared her dead at the scene.
An investigation is ongoing, and the Medical Examiner’s Office will determine her cause of death.
An 89-year-old man was struck and later died trying to cross the Cross Island Parkway on Wednesday night.
Authorities say that shortly past 8 p.m. on Wednesday, officers responded to the scene, where they saw EMS personnel already assisting the man.
He was taken to North Shore Manhasset Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A preliminary investigation found that the victim was trying to cross the parkway when he was actually hit by an FDNY ambulance traveling southbound.
The ambulance stopped and the personnel inside immediately provided assistance.
There are no arrests at this time, and the NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad is still investigating the incident.
The identity of the 89-year-old man is being withheld pending family notification, authorities say.
Disco Legends Tavares & France Jolie Will Have You Dancing Into 2017
Celebration to Feature performers From Around the World!
Resorts World Casino New York City (RWNY) will host the New Year’s Eve Celebration on Saturday, December 31st beginning at 11:30 a.m. Come to ring in the New Year as the clock turns to midnight around the world. Resorts World New York’s Official New Year’s Celebration will begin at 9 p.m. at Bar 360.
This year’s theme is how to celebrate the New Year internationally! Starting at 11:30 a.m., Resorts World will feature free performances throughout the casino themed to China, India, Russia and Italy with specialized party favors at each event. Bar 360 will have a specialty drink prepared for each country. Special acts include classical pianist Vivian Liu, Angels Caribbean Band & Dancers, Bollywood Drums, the Do Do Orchestra, and Alfio.
Beginning at 9 p.m., guests can countdown to midnight at Bar 360 with unforgettable performances and crisp champagne. Watch the ball drop on Queen’s largest television screen with live performances by Tavares Brothers and France Joli, two quintessential chart-topping Disco and R&B artists ready to put some funk on 2017.
Performing her classic hits, France Joli returns to the Bar 360 stage at 11:25 p.m. and proves that disco is not dead. Best known for #1 singles: “Come to Me,” “Don’t Stop Dancing,” and “Feel like Dancing,” Joli is a staple in dance music scene. This Quebec-native has a diverse background and vocal range that has spanned her decade’s long career, having opened for the Commodores and worked with the Crown Heights Affairs. Her captivating live performances are sure to have you on your feet all night.
Grammy-Award winners the Tavares Brothers will hit the stage just after midnight! The Tavares brothers are responsible for classic 70’s chart-toppers like “She’s Gone” made famous by the duo, Hall & Oats, “Madam Butterfly,” “Never Had a Love Like This Before” and a string of other hits. Their rendition of the Bee Gee’s “More Than a Woman” received critical acclaim and helped them reach Grammy success. A combination of R&B, soul, funk, and disco that helped them achieve fame will make your night and New Year just right.
General Admission tickets for the Bar 360 celebration begin at $40 or at the casino. There is no charge for admission to the events scheduled earlier in the day. For table reservations please e-mail events@rwnewyork.com.
Authorities may have a new tactic soon in the search to find the killer of Karina Vetrano.
Earlier this month, Queens Country District Attorney Richard Brown called on the state to authorize the use of familial DNA. Brown believes a familial DNA search, which would match DNA from the scene to possible relatives of the killer currently in the state’s database, could yield new information.
The State Commission on Forensic Science will now hold a special meeting to discuss familial DNA searching and whether it should be permitted in New York State. The meeting will take place Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1 Centre St., Manhattan.
“There is no question that DNA can help solve crime, obtain justice for victims, guard against wrongful arrests and conviction and exonerate the innocent,” Commission Chairman Michael C. Green said. “The Commission and its DNA Subcommittee look forward to receiving comments from all those interested as we move forward with a thorough review, based on proven science, to determine whether familial searching should be authorized in New York State.”
All individuals who wish to speak at the meeting must submit written comments relevant to the topic in writing by Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017.
The state Division of Criminal Justice Services, which provides staff support to the Commission and Subcommittee, is accepting submissions via e-mail atforensics@dcjs.ny.gov or surface mail to: Division of Criminal Justice Services, Office of Forensic Services, 80 South Swan St., Albany, New York 12210.
All written comments must be received by the Jan. 18 deadline so Commission and Subcommittee members can receive and review them prior to the joint meeting.
Resorts World Casino NYC and the American Red Cross teamed up once again last Thursday to collect another 29 units of blood.
That means in 2016, the two organizations have collected more than 90 units of blood, surpassing its annual goal.
Nearly 30 people donated to the last blood drive of the year, half of whom are Resorts World employees.
The casino hosted four blood drives in total, collecting a total of 93 units.
“We are excited to work together with the American Red Cross to collect critical resources that enable medical professionals to save countless lives,” said Michelle Stoddart, director of PR and community development at Resorts World. “I was ecstatic to see the results of our final blood drive, where we were able to collect 29 units of blood and surpass our goal for the year.”
Their next blood drive is scheduled for Thursday, April 20, 2017. Two more drives are scheduled for July 13 and October 6.
Councilman I. Daneek Miller is hosting his annual toy drive at Detective Keith Williams Park this Sunday, December 18 at 4 p.m.
According to Miller’s office, for the past six weeks, residents and organizations have been donating new or unwrapped toys to the office. All of them will be distributed to children in need for the holidays.
Santa Claus and Mr. Met will be among the attendees to spread the holiday cheer this weekend.
MCR Development will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the TWA Hotel at JFK International Airport today at 10:30 a.m.
The hotel was designed by architect Eeo Saarinen. The TWA Flight Center will be rehabilitated to its 1962 glory and reopened to the public as part of a 500-room airport hotel.
Elected officials, development partners and MCR Development CEO Tyler Morse will be at the groundbreaking.
Resorts World Casino will host a concert and meet & greet with Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees
on Friday, December 16th at 10:30pmin front of the Sound Booth at Bar360.
Jeff Timmons is a founding member of the Grammy-nominated, multi-platinium R&B band 98 Degrees. He went from a teenage heartthrob in the late 1990s to a successful solo artist, music and television producer and entrepreneur. Timmons launched his solo career in 2002 by touring with songwriter Jim Brickman. Timmons wrote and arranged his first solo album, Whisper That Way, which was released in August 2004. The album reached number 20 on the Adult Contemporary chart. In December 2009, Timmons released his second album, Emotional High.
The member of 98 Degrees became the first white band to sign with Motown Records. Once the group’s creditability was established, Motown released videos on MTV and 98 Degrees became an overnight success! They have attained eight top 40 singles in the US and have sold over 10 million records worldwide.
Tickets begin at $35 and can be purchased at http://www.etix.com/ticket/v/
Officers from the NYPD 106th precinct made a major weapons bust at around 6 a.m. this morning.
According to police, pursuant to an investigation, they obtained a search warrant for a private residence at 114-31 123rd Street in South Ozone Park.
A search of the home yeilded:
• One Raven semi-automatic handgun, .25 caliber
• Eleven rounds of .25 caliber ammunition
• Three rifle-style BB Guns
• One machete
• Two tiger hook swords
• A quantity of marijuana
• A quantity of pills
Police arrested 21-year-old Jason Nero and 20-year-old Hector Rentas, both of the residence, on charges of: two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana.
Police are looking for this man, sketched above, for allegedly shooting two Jamaica residents last month.
Authorities say that on November 27, at approximately 6:56 p.m., a 911 call was placed about two people shot at 163-72 Mathias Avenue.
Cops found an unconscious and unresponsive 58-year-old with multiple gunshot wounds to his torso. The man turned out to be Henry Wright, a state corrections officer.
Police also found a 52-year-old woman, his wife, Sharon Floyd-Wright, with a wound to her left shoulder.
Both were taken to Jamaica Hospital, where they’re in critical condition.
A preliminary investigation found that two suspects, one of which has a teardrop tattoo on his face, pushed their way into the Jamaica home before shooting both victims.
The suspects then fled, one eastbound on Mathias Avenue and the other westbound.
Police are also looking for the car they drive, a light-colored Hyundai Elantra, shown below.
