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Northeast

Autumn leaf-peeping along New York's Hudson River 'chained' to American independence

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Autumn leaf-peeping along New York's Hudson River 'chained' to American independence

Leisurely autumn leaf-peeping and the drama of American independence are linked together in a historical hunt along the Hudson River in New York.

The fall-tinted scenic drive could reveal remnants of an iron-clad testament to patriotism, American industrial spirit and the defiant derring-do of the upstart new nation.

Continental troops, under the orders of Gen. George Washington, linked an iron chain across the width of the Hudson River near West Point. It weighed 65 to 75 tons, according to multiple sources.

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The iron barrier was designed to keep the almighty British navy from controlling the critical waterway and severing rebellious New England from the rest of the American colonies. 

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“I would call the chain an engineering marvel for its time,” Dan Davis, senior education manager of the American Battlefield Trust in Washington, D.C., told Fox News Digital.

What has been preserved of the Great Chain is located at Trophy Point at West Point, N.Y. The display consists of 13 links of the chain (one for each original state), one swivel and one clevis. The signature “S curve” of the Hudson, which made West Point so defensible, is in the background. (Public domain)

“Not only was it an engineering marvel, it made West Point a nearly impenetrable position.”

Washington assigned Polish military engineer Col. Thaddeus Kosciusko to lead the chain gang and hang the iron links across the river.

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“The massive chain [was] made of 1,200 links of wrought iron, stretched 1,700 feet in length … and took forty men a total of four days to install,” according to the Albany Institute of History and Art.

Remnants of the chain and local iron foundries remain. They are hidden around the imposing cliffs and citadel towers of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and amid quaint riverside communities that glow in the natural wonder of the fire-hued Hudson River in autumn. 

People walk through a park next to the Hudson River under a tree whose leaves have turned color on Oct. 25, 2020, in Cold Spring, N.Y. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)

The earthworks that housed the western end of the chain is found at the end of a trail at West Point known by cadets as “Flirtation Walk.”

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Thirteen links of the chain hanging in a ring and flanked by two Revolutionary War cannons, create a prominent West Point landmark at Trophy Point. The site offers dramatic views up the Hudson River portrayed throughout the centuries in American art.

George Washington’s men hung a 65-ton chain across the Hudson River to project West Point during the American Revolution. Remnants of the chain offer an excuse for an autumn drive along the Hudson River. (Stephanie Keith/Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)

A similar ring of remnants of the chain forms a landmark in the west-bank community of Newburgh, New York.

Signs point out the east end of the chain on Constitution Island in Cold Springs, New York.

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Remnants of a 65-ton iron chain that Gen. George Washington’s troops hung across the Hudson River during the American Revolution make for a colorful autumn leaf-peeping history hunt. (The New York Historical Society/Getty Images; Kerry J. Byrne/Fox News Digital; Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)

The charming colonial-era riverside village offers boutiques, bars, bakeries and bookshops and highlights the east-bank history of leaf peeping and history seeking.

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The town earned its name Cold Spring from Washington himself, according to a historical marker in the center of town.

“Just driving the area, you get a sense of the topography and geography of the terrain, the height of the mountains and hills and why West Point, and the chain protecting it, were so important,” said Davis.

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The topography and autumn color may be best viewed from the top of Bear Mountain State Park, a hub of outdoor activities and natural wonders just south of West Point on the west bank of the Hudson River.

The rural appearance, idyllic images and small-town charms belie the history surrounding the region.

People ride on a jeep during a military car parade in Cold Spring, N.Y. Signs in the area point out the east end of the chain on Constitution Island. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)

“From the earliest moments of the War for Independence, each side knew that the key to victory was the Hudson River,” David Levine wrote of “The Great Chain” for Hudson Valley magazine in 2018.

 

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“The river separated the northeast from the rest of the country. If the British took control of the river, the head would be cut off from the body, and both sides knew what would follow,” Levine wrote.

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Northeast

Luigi Mangione case: DOJ demands potential death penalty stay on table for accused assassin

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Luigi Mangione case: DOJ demands potential death penalty stay on table for accused assassin

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Justice Department lawyers pushed back on a series of arguments from accused assassin Luigi Mangione’s defense team — countering that his challenges to the potential death penalty have failed repeatedly in front of federal courts for decades.

Mangione can still receive a fair trial with the government seeking the death penalty, federal prosecutors argued in a 144-page “omnibus opposition” filed Friday.

“Publicity — even intense — is not novel in this district,” Sean Buckley, an attorney for the federal government, wrote to the judge. “Courts routinely try high visibility cases here, with robust prophylaxis against spillover prejudice, including written juror questionnaires probing media exposure, individualized and sequestered voir dire, instructions forbidding media consumption, sequestration of witnesses, and targeted admonitions.”

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Luigi Mangione appears in Manhattan Supreme Court for a hearing in the murder case filed against him for allegedly killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Sept. 16, 2025. (Curtis Means for DailyMail/Pool)

The massive filing served as an opposition to a slew of challenges Mangione’s defense raised in September and October — against the death penalty, against the government’s notice of intent to seek the death penalty and against Mangione’s federal indictment.

Buckley called some of the defense arguments premature, speculative and unsupported by evidence.

Law enforcement has methodically and purposefully trampled his constitutional rights by interrogating him without Miranda warnings in violation of the Fifth Amendment and illegally searching his property without a warrant in violation of the Fourth Amendment.

— Mangione attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo, writing to a judge

“The defense motions have little to no chance of success, and are more to preserve the arguments and raise issues on appeal if Mangione is sentenced to death,” said Neama Rahmani, a Los Angeles trial lawyer and former federal prosecutor.

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Mangione is accused in the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was shot in the back on video outside a Manhattan hotel on Dec. 4, 2024, as he walked to an investor conference that was supposed to start later that morning.

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Luigi Mangione allegedly killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. (AP Photo/UnitedHealth Group via AP)

Mangione faces charges in New York state and at the federal level in connection with the murder — in addition to another set of charges in Pennsylvania in connection with the fake ID and illegal handgun police say they found in his possession when they arrested him at a McDonald’s in Altoona.

But only the federal case carries the potential death penalty, and Buckley argued that the Justice Department would be acting within long-standing legal precedent in seeking it if Mangione is convicted.

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“What the defendant recasts as a constitutional crisis is merely a repackaging of arguments that controlling precedent has repeatedly rejected, and none warrants dismissal of the indictment or categorical preclusion of a congressionally authorized punishment,” he wrote.

UNITEDHEALTHCARE CEO MURDER SUSPECT LUIGI MANGIONE INDICTED IN NEW YORK

A screenshot from surveillance footage released by the NYPD shows an alleged person of interest wanted in connection with the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan on Dec. 4, 2024. (NYPD Crime Stoppers )

Mangione’s defense is fighting on multiple fronts. Earlier this year, his team succeeded in having a New York judge throw out terror charges at the state level.

In the federal case, his lawyers have asked the judge to dismiss charges of murder through use of a firearm and stalking in his federal indictment — and to have the potential death penalty taken off the table. In the New York and federal cases, they are asking the courts to suppress documents seized from his backpack during his arrest as well as statements he made before receiving a Miranda warning.

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“Law enforcement has methodically and purposefully trampled his constitutional rights by interrogating him without Miranda warnings in violation of the Fifth Amendment and illegally searching his property without a warrant in violation of the Fourth Amendment,” Mangione attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo wrote to a New York judge Tuesday.

LUIGI MANGIONE ARGUES DOUBLE JEOPARDY IN BID TO DROP MURDER CASE, SUPPRESS EVIDENCE

Mangione’s lawyers have argued that the search of his belongings without a warrant during his arrest at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s was unlawful. (Southern District of New York)

Buckley countered that the defense argument against those charges is legally flawed, the backpack search would have taken place regardless, and the only pre-Miranda statement prosecutors plan to use against him is when he allegedly lied about his name in response to a question that did not require the Miranda warning.

According to court filings, one of the safety concerns officers on scene had was that there might be a bomb in the bag, which she ruled out after searching it, according to prosecutors.

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“Mangione’s arrest was valid and the search of his backpack was lawful as a search incident to arrest or an inventory search,” Rahmani told Fox News Digital. “Prosecutors have the discretion to seek the death penalty and the defense arguments about pretrial publicity tainting the jury pool and double jeopardy because there are parallel state and federal prosecutions have been recycled and rejected by appellate courts for decades.”

Thompson, 50, was a father of two from Minnesota. He was visiting New York City for an investor conference at the time of his murder.

Judge Margaret Garnett has not yet ruled on Mangione’s motions.

Luigi Mangione enters the courtroom in New York City Criminal Court on Dec. 23, 2024. Mangione was arraigned on state charges for the alleged murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. (Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital)

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She did, however, grant his request to wear civilian clothing to an upcoming hearing on the matter.

Mangione is due back in state court Monday.

“The remaining arguments are mitigation for jurors or the DOJ’s capital case review committee to consider, not something that a judge can use to strike the death penalty at this stage of the proceedings,” Rahmani said. “Bottom line is, there is no meat on the bone, but this is what defense attorneys in capital cases are expected to do to try to save their client’s life.”

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Boston, MA

Skip the chaos and crowds with unique holiday markets are worth the detour – The Boston Globe

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Skip the chaos and crowds with unique holiday markets are worth the detour – The Boston Globe


The holiday season is in full swing: The puffer jackets have been broken out of storage, carols and festive pop classics play throughout every store, and the annual struggle of what gifts to get your loved ones (and that one office White Elephant) is back. If you are looking to skip the long lines (and stinky cheese) at more social media-famous markets, but still want some one-of-a-kind holiday shopping from small businesses, here are some smaller holiday markets to visit this winter.

A CLASSIC CHRISTMAS Reading Memorial High School’s Drama Club (and supporting organizations) will host a Dickens Holiday Marketplace and Craft Fair once again this holiday season. The market, which has run for over 20 years, hosts 55 New England-based vendors selling artisan goods, including wooden cutting boards and goods from Magnus Woodsmith, pottery from Nancy Littlehale, and more. There will also be hands-on crafting opportunities, including coloring and cookie decorating. The Saturday marketplace — including an on-site warm beverage sale — is also a fund-raiser for RMHS’s drama department, raising money to support production equipment, scholarships for graduating students, and other needs. RMHS drama club members dressed in Victorian costumes will roam the fair and perform short skits and sing carols. There will also be tap, jazz, and contemporary dance performances by local troupes in the school’s performing arts center.

Dickens Holiday Marketplace and Craft Fair. Reading Memorial High School, 62 Oakland Road, Reading. Dec. 13, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Entry is free. rmhsdrama.org

Shoppers look through artisan goods from female-owned businesses at Boston Women’s Holiday Market.Cara Loffredo

SUPPORTING WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES Boston Women’s Market hosts its holiday market at Night Shift Brewing in Everett on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. New England-based, women-owned vendors will be selling gift-able goods, including handmade jewelry from ADK Jewelry, natural skincare products from Beauté Noir, and cat toys and playhouses from Cat in the Box. The market will also be host to a family holiday celebration, including free ornament painting and an ugly sweater contest. There will be giveaways throughout the market of Night Shift Brewing gift cards and merchandise. If you’re hungry, Daddy’s Bonetown Burgers has you covered, and specialty holiday cocktails, yet to be announced, make the perfect holiday treat.

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Boston Women’s Holiday Market. Night Shift Brewing, 87 Santilli Highway, Everett. Dec. 13, noon to 5 p.m. Entry is free. bostonwomensmarket.com

A booth at a previous Winter Solstice Indigenous Art Holiday Market with Indigenous art, jewelry, and goods.Jamie Malcolm-Brown

CULTURAL COLLECTIVE In celebration of the season, the Cultural Survival Bazaar will hold a Winter Solstice Indigenous Art Holiday Market on Dec. 13 and Dec. 14 at The Boston Center for the Arts Cyclorama. The market will highlight Indigenous art and artists from around the world, including North and South America, Palestine, East Africa, and more. There will be over 50 vendors, such as Chinampa Temachtiani, which sells jewelry, clothing, and axolotl plushies, Hebron Glass, which sells blown glass goods, and Afri-Root Collective, which sells handmade African art from women artists. The market will also feature live musical performances from Lyla June, Yarina, and more. Looking for a new book to cozy up with this winter? Attendees can also participate in a book swap.

Winter Solstice Indigenous Art Holiday Market. Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont St. Dec. 13 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $10. Free for children under 18. bazaar.culturalsurvival.org/boston

A shopper looks through a box of pre-loved books at a Small Mart Market.Ezra Enzo Photography

SHOPPING SMALL Returning for its fourth year, Small Mart Market is hosting the second of two holiday vintage shopping events in Greater Boston. The holiday market will take place at the Crystal Ballroom with over 50 vendors, including vintage clothing resellers and upcycled fashion designers. Vendors include the market’s organizers, High Energy Vintage, a Somerville-based secondhand clothing and record shop, and Existential Thread, a Rhode Island-based vintage clothing store, as well as others, such as Jessamy Shay, who designs clothing by repurposing garments and fabrics. There will also be artisan goods and artists selling prints, posters, and pottery. The market will also feature a full bar, complete with festive beverages such as a cranberry Moscow Mule and Irish Coffee for purchase.

Small Mart Market Holiday Market, Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville. Dec. 20, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entry is free. smallmartmarket.com

FRIENDLY SHOPPING (AND COMPETITION) The Charles River Speedway and the Brighton Bazaar are partnering for the Bazaar’s 100th event, The Holiday Stroll, on Dec. 20 and 21. The Speedway hosts over 60 local vendors, featuring a variety of artisan goods, including metal art, kitchenware, and decor from Eli West, handmade pottery from Sugalski Ceramics, and more. At the upper courtyard of the Speedway, there will be a gingerbread house building competition on each day of the market. With a $5 buy-in, which can be purchased ahead of time or on site, the competition will last from noon to 3 p.m. Winners will be announced within the week after the market for prizes such as a $75 gift card to a Speedway vendor of their choice or two tickets to a show at The Roadrunner of the winner’s choice. For a less high-stakes activity, there will be card-making stations where attendees can craft personal holiday greetings for loved ones.

The Holiday Stroll. The Charles River Speedway, 525 Western Ave., Brighton. Dec. 20-21, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Entry is free. charlesriverspeedway.com

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Shoppers visit the vendor booths at last year’s Somerville Flea Holiday Market.Greg Ghazil

SECONDHAND STOCKING STUFFERS The Somerville Flea — usually known for holding court in Davis Square in summer and fall — hosts its annual holiday market on Dec. 21 for last-minute shoppers looking for one-of-a-kind secondhand goods. The extensive shopping event will feature around 40 vendors and their curated collections of vintage goods, such as clothes from Dandelion District, books from Hiding in Books, and home decor from Unpredictable Finds. A DJ will play holiday mixes to set the festive mood while you shop. Snacks and beverages will be available at Arts at the Armory’s ROOTED Café.

The Somerville Flea Holiday Markets. Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Avenue, #1C, Somerville. Dec. 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entry is free. thesomervilleflea.com


Isabella Bernstein can be reached at isabella.bernstein@globe.com.





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Pittsburg, PA

Pennsylvania hunter charged after nearly shooting person, police say

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Pennsylvania hunter charged after nearly shooting person, police say


A hunter in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, was charged after nearly shooting a person, according to police. 

Karen Gaus, 42, was arrested and charged with recklessly endangering another person and disorderly conduct in connection with the incident, officials said. 

The Susquehanna Regional Police Department said in a news release that officers responded to Beattys Tollgate Road in East Donegal Township on Nov. 29 for a hunting complaint. Police said a homeowner was outside their residence when they heard multiple gunshots and a bullet passing by. 

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Officers began investigating and found Gaus nearby, who admitted that she was hunting and fired two shots at a deer in the direction of the victim’s home, according to the news release. 

Gaus, according to court documents, is awaiting her preliminary hearing, which is scheduled for Jan. 12, 2026. 

Pennsylvania’s firearms deer season ends on Saturday. It opened on Nov. 29 and included two Sundays: Nov. 30 and Dec. 7. Earlier this summer, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a bill that reversed what state lawmakers called the “outdated” ban on Sunday hunting. 

Before the firearms deer season began, the Game Commission said it expected more than 500,000 hunters would be out and about.

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