Northeast
Republicans rip Hochul's 'inflation refunds' as a bribe to 'make NYers like her'
New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the first initiative of her 2025 State of the State plan: up to $500 in “inflation refunds” for New Yorkers dealing with spiking costs-of-living in the Empire State.
The proposal would take $3 billion in “excess” sales tax revenue that had been “driven by inflation” and return the money to nearly half of the state’s population.
Families making less than $300,000 would be eligible for $500, and individual taxpayers making less than $150,000 would receive $300 under the plan. The governor’s office said the announcement is one of several proposals aimed at lessening the burden on New Yorkers’ cost-of-living.
“Because of inflation, New York has generated unprecedented revenues through the sales tax — now, we’re returning that cash back to middle class families,” Hochul said in a statement Monday.
HOCHUL SPARKS BIPARTISAN OUTRAGE OVER CONGESTION PRICING REBOOT AS DEMS WORRIED TRUMP WOULD BLOCK IT
“My agenda for the coming year will be laser-focused on putting money back in your pockets, and that starts with proposing Inflation Refund checks of up to $500 to help millions of hard-working New Yorkers.
“It’s simple: the cost of living is still too damn high, and New Yorkers deserve a break,” said Hochul, offering a sentiment similar to that repeated by perennial candidate and Rent is Too Damn High Party founder Jimmy McMillan.
However, New York Republicans were not as receptive to Hochul’s plan, as NYSGOP Communications Director David Laska told Fox News Digital the governor appeared simply out to make friends rather than bring about long-term relief.
“With her approval rating deep underwater, Kathy Hochul is resorting to bribing New Yorkers to like her,” Laska said.
HOMAN SCOFFS AT HOCHUL’S SUDDEN OUTRAGE OVER VIOLENT MIGRANTS
“Handing out one-time checks won’t stop the crushing inflation Democrats’ policies have fueled – it will only add to it. New York needs real, permanent solutions: relief from our highest-in-the-nation tax burden and a rollback of job-killing regulations.”
New York City Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli claimed that the $300 offered to middle- and low-income residents would still be less than what is spent on each migrant daily.
“[That] is not that backslapping win the governor thinks it is,” said Borelli, R-Staten Island.
Borelli added that the plan “looks increasingly silly” in the face of Hochul’s successful push for congestion pricing and her borrowing “costly energy cues from the Greta Thunberg School of Energy Policy.”
“Newsflash for Kathy Hochul,” added Rep. Michael Lawler, R-N.Y., “Taking thousands of dollars out of New Yorkers’ left pocket and then putting $500 in their right pocket isn’t a tax cut, it’s an insult.”
State Sen. Rob Ortt, R-Niagara Falls, said that Democrats like Hochul continue to make New York State more expensive despite pleas for relief.
“The governor’s mindset is promising, however words are words,” said Ortt, the top Republican in the chamber.
New York state Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt, R-Niagara Falls. (REUTERS/Jeenah Moon)
Ortt claimed that it is his caucus that is the true voice for hardworking New Yorkers seeking “real affordability… not just one-shot gimmicks.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., said Albany needs to “stop treating New Yorkers like bottomless ATM machines” with their new tolls and tax hikes.
Malliotakis’ constituents now face an extra $9 “congestion” toll to enter Lower Manhattan, on top of an approximate $20 round-trip cost to commute on the state-owned Verrazzano Bridge.
“If she’d allow her constituents to keep more of their hard-earned money from the start, there would be no need for these ‘inflation refund’ checks to begin with.”
Hochul’s office estimated 8.6 million out of 19.5 million New Yorkers would benefit from the planned “refunds.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Hochul for further comment on the criticisms.
Read the full article from Here
Maine
High schools Saturday: Fryeburg baseball escapes against Cape
Noah Day hit an RBI double and Chace Lubchansky ended the game with a walk-off single as top-seeded Fryeburg Academy rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat fourth-seeded Cape Elizabeth, 4-3, in a Class B South baseball semifinal Saturday in Fryeburg.
Fryeburg (15-3) advances to play No. 3 Greely in the regional final on Tuesday in Standish.
The Raiders pulled within a run in the bottom of the fifth when Day scored on an error. Cape (12-6) had taken the lead in the fourth on an RBI double by Finn Connolly, who scored on an error to make it 3-1.
Connolly also had an RBI single in the first inning. Fryeburg scored on an error in the bottom of the first.
GREELY 7, LEAVITT 2: Jonah Clorius pitched a two-hitter and the third-seeded Rangers (13-5) scored five runs in the third inning on their way to a Class B South semifinal win over the second-seeded Hornets (15-3) in Turner.
Clorius allowed one earned run while striking out four and walking two.
Kyle Soule and Jarrett Bush both had two hits and drove in two runs for Greely. Rocky Axelson hit a triple and scored twice.
Ryder Sawyer-Brown and Brody Poland each had a hit for Leavitt.
MARANACOOK 6, OLD ORCHARD BEACH 5: The second-seeded Black Bears (16-2) took a 6-0 lead in the first inning and held off the third-seeded Seagulls (13-5) in a Class C South semifinal in Readfield.
Cam Jones had three hits and two RBI for Maranacook, which advances to the regional final Tuesday at the University of Southern Maine against No. 1 Monmouth Academy. Will Watson had two hits and scored two runs.
Wes Gallant and Aiden Hodgkins both had two hits for Old Orchard Beach, which scored four runs in the sixth and one in the seventh before its comeback bid fell short.
MONMOUTH ACADEMY 13, WAYNFLETE/NYA 3: Bryce Fletcher drove in three runs and Jake Harmon and Noah Schultz knocked in two apiece as the defending Class C champions (17-1) advanced to the regional final by taking down Waynflete/NYA (11-7) in a Class C South semifinal in Monmouth.
Monmouth, the No. 1 seed, will face No. 2 Maranacook (16-2) for the regional championship Tuesday at the University of Southern Maine. The Black Bears dealt the Mustangs their only loss of the season, 3-2, on April 29.
Fletcher finished with three hits, including a double, and scored three runs. Rory and Zane Foyt each had two hits and drove in a run.
Kellen Gardiner doubled and had three of fifth-seeded Waynflete/NYA’s seven hits.
SOFTBALL
CHEVERUS 10, GORHAM 0: Addison DeRoche struck out 10, and the top-seeded Stags (18-0) earned a spot in the Class A South final with a five-inning win over the fourth-seeded Rams (14-4) in Portland.
Cheverus which will face second-seeded Bonny Eagle on Tuesday in Auburn. The Stags are the No. 1 team in the Varsity Maine poll.
DeRoche allowed four hits and walked one.
The game was scoreless until the fourth, when Cheverus struck for five runs. The Stags put the mercy rule into effect by adding five runs in the fifth.
Sadie Collins had two hits, two RBI and scored twice. Anna Goodman and Anna Kennedy-Jensen also recorded two hits, and Tempy Lovejoy smacked a double, as did Goodman.
Sawyer VonderHaar hit a double for Gorham.
LAKE REGION 5, YORK 1: Haley Hamlin struck out 11 while throwing a four-hitter and also was 2 for 3 at the plate as the third-seeded Lakers (14-4) beat the No. 2 Wildcats (16-2) in a Class B South semifinal in York.
Lake Region opened the scoring with two runs in the second inning, then added two more in the third on consecutive singles by Haley Hamlin, Ava Cole and Vylet Robbins.
Emily Blake drove in York’s run with a single in the fourth inning.
The Lakers will play for the regional title Tuesday at St. Joseph’s College against top-seeded Medomak Valley.
NORTH YARMOUTH ACADEMY 10, FOREST HILLS 0: Lily Fortin homered for the game’s first run and struck out 14 while pitching a one-hitter as the second-seeded Panthers (16-1) defeated the third-seeded Tigers (14-3) in a five-inning Class D South semifinal in Yarmouth.
Fortin and Cami Casserly (two hits) both drove in two runs. NYA broke the game open with six runs in the fourth inning.
In the circle, Fortin walked two and allowed only two hitters to put the ball in play. Losing pitcher Janessa Moffitt got the lone hit for Forest Hills.
NYA will play No. 1 Buckfield in the regional final Tuesday at St. Joseph’s College.
DIRIGO 9, OLD ORCHARD BEACH 1: Leah Turnbull tossed a one-hitter, and the top-seeded Cougars (17-1) rolled past the No. 5 Seagulls (10-8) in a Class C South semifinal in Dixfield.
Dirigo will meet second-seeded Monmouth Academy (16-2) in the regional final Tuesday at the University of Southern Maine.
Turnbull struck out four and didn’t allow a walk. She also contributed offensively with a hit, a run and an RBI.
The Cougars finished with 13 hits and didn’t strike out once. Xandria Libby went 3 for 3 and drove in a run. Lana Waite and Abby Luczynski each had a single and a double, Emma Witas also notched two hits, and Zoey Bordeau drove in two runs and scored twice.
Reagan Partridge scored Old Orchard Beach’s run on an RBI double from Hannah Webber.
GIRLS LACROSSE
KENNEBUNK 15, BONNY EAGLE 5: Anna McCarron recorded four goals and two assists to lead the top-seeded Rams (14-1) to a Class A quarterfinal win over the eighth-seeded Scots (9-7) in Kennebunk.
Camdyn Keenan added a goal and seven assists for Kennebunk, the No. 1 team in the Varsity Maine poll. The Rams face No. 4 Cheverus on Wednesday.
Julianna Urban added three goals, Alexandra Foy, Helen Kennie and Madeline Dowling both scored twice, and Sofia Olsen had one goal. Kennebunk’s Eliza Nass and Brielle Thompson combined for five saves.
Elizabeth Hamilton led Bonny Eagle with two goals. Caroline Krunkkala, Kalia Davis and Allie Ryan each were the other goal scorers.
Massachusetts
Brookline rules over Needham again to claim state title
A year later and the ending turned out to be the exact same for the Brookline and Needham boys volleyball teams.
The No. 2 Warriors took home the Division 1 state title for the second year in a row over their Bay State Conference rival and top-seeded Rockets with a 3-1 victory (25-20, 25-22, 23-25, 25-17).
It took two days for Brookline to capture the hardware and a change in venue as the match was suspended Friday night midway through the second set due to poor floor conditions caused by moisture.
The restart at Hopkinton High didn’t halt any of Brookline’s momentum after it took the first set Friday night as the Warriors won the second set, 25-22, before Needham rallied to win the third frame, 25-23.
Brookline bounced back, though, and got a final kill from Amir Tomer to send the Warriors into celebration.
Along with taking down Needham, Brookline also defeated Woburn (3-0), Arlington (3-0), Newton South (3-1) and Natick (3-2) en route to its state title.
New Hampshire
Hudson, NH, man accused of ramming couple’s SUV in drunken road‑rage incident
HUDSON, N.H. — A 70‑year‑old Hudson man is behind bars after police say he rammed another vehicle in a road‑rage attack on Thursday afternoon, tried to pull open the driver’s door and later registered twice the legal limit on a breath test.
Richard Feener was arrested at his home about 30 minutes after the confrontation at Library and Central streets, where a Litchfield, New Hampshire, couple — a 66‑year‑old man and 67‑year‑old woman — told police their SUV was struck multiple times by a white Ford Escape that had been tailgating them since Lowell Road, according to the Hudson Police Department.
The couple told police that at about 3:45 p.m. Feener threw what they described as a “temper tantrum” before intentionally crashing into the rear of their vehicle three times. Police said he then got out, approached the driver’s side door and tried to pull it open while yelling, before returning to his SUV and sideswiping their vehicle as he fled.
No injuries were reported.
A third‑party witness allegedly confirmed the tailgating, the confrontation at the door and the intentional sideswipe.
Police said they traced the Ford’s veteran license plate to Feener’s home on Barbara Lane about 30 minutes after the reported incident. There they found the SUV with a warm hood and fresh damage consistent with the victims’ account.
According to police, Feener told officers from his doorway that he had been home for about four hours and admitted to drinking but claimed he had not driven recently.
When officers pointed out the fresh damage on his vehicle, he allegedly said it had been there for a while. Police said that they could smell the odor of alcohol on his breath, and when asked what time it was, Feener said it was 8 p.m. despite it being hours earlier.
In addition to appearing intoxicated, and giving inconsistent statements, he struggled to complete field sobriety tests. A breath test later registered a blood‑alcohol concentration of 0.16, according to police.
Feener was charged with three counts of reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, a Class B felony; aggravated driving while intoxicated, a Class A misdemeanor; driving under the influence, a Class B misdemeanor; conduct after an accident, a Class A misdemeanor; and disorderly conduct, a violation.
At his arraignment Friday in Nashua District Court, Judge Amy Manchester entered no plea on the felony charges and not guilty pleas on the misdemeanors and violations.
Prosecutors acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations but noted Feener has “little to absolutely no criminal or vehicle history,” citing only a 2002 Massachusetts assault‑and‑battery case that was continued without a finding — a disposition in which a defendant admits the facts but avoids a conviction if they complete probation.
The prosecution described Wednesday’s incident as a “one‑off” and requested $500 cash bail with conditions including no driving, no contact with the victims and mandatory drug and alcohol treatment. The defense agreed, saying the episode stemmed from a substance‑abuse issue.
Manchester rejected the joint recommendation.
“Despite your agreement, I can’t accept this,” she told the attorneys.
Turning to Feener, she added, “I find you to be a danger to the community, and I am going to detain you without bail.”
Feener is scheduled to return to court for a probable cause hearing at 10 a.m. on June 22.
Follow Aaron Curtis on X @aselahcurtis, or on Bluesky @aaronscurtis.bsky.social.
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