Brandi Wells, a Community Health Program Manager at the New York State Department of Health, is under fire for sharing antisemitic content online. In a series of disturbing social media posts exposed by StopAntisemitism.org, Wells has spread hateful rhetoric, making numerous baseless and offensive claims about the Jewish community. Among the content, Wells has shared the insane conspiracy that Jews are part of a “death cult” and perpetuated the conspiracy theory that Jewish people were behind the transatlantic slave trade. Additionally, she has spread the dangerous trope that Jews are part of a satanic cabal manipulating world events. Wells’ inflammatory posts do not stop there.

Two missing hikers were thankfully found in good condition by Chaveirim of Rockland volunteers after being lost all night in Slide Mountain Wilderness. Sources tell YWN that the mother of the of the two hikers, aged 17 and 21, called Chaveirim at around 8:00PM Monday night reporting that their son had called saying they were lost on Slide Mountain, and then lost phone service. Chaveirim deployed dozens of volunteers to the scene and located their car at around midnight.  An intense search was launched on the trails in the area The were found by Chaveirim after being notified by a passing motorist who said she saw two people wandering on a nearby road at around 7:30am. Catskills Hatzolah arrived in the morning hours to assist with the search.

Nearly 650 cyclists from around the world are gearing up for the 15th annual Bike4Chai, a premier two-day cycling event which raises critical funds and awareness for Chai Lifeline, the Jewish community’s leading health and crisis support network. The event kicks off Wednesday morning, August 21, in Pocono Manor, Pennsylvania. Participants will embark on an endurance ride through the scenic Pocono Mountains, with route options of 100, 75, and 58 miles. Each route offers fully stocked rest stops with food and drinks, as well as mechanical and medical support and entertainment along the way. On Thursday, August 22, cyclists will continue with 75 and 50-mile routes, navigating through the Pocono Mountains and upstate New York.

In a remarkable instance of chessed, approximately 30 Chaveirim volunteers from across Boro Park, Queens, Flatbush, Williamsburg, and the Catskills united to help a woman who lost her rings at Hunters Point South Park in Long Island City, Queens. The woman had removed her rings and placed them on her skirt while she and her husband washed their hands. When she stood up, the rings fell to the ground and were lost. Responding to the call for help, Chaveirim members arrived with lighting equipment and metal detectors provided by Rockland Chaveirim. After an extensive five-hour search, conducted late into the night, the volunteers successfully located both rings, much to the relief of the couple. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A New Jersey man has been sentenced to seven years in connection with an arson and antisemitic graffiti last year, authorities said. Ocean County prosecutors said Ron Carr, 35, of Manchester Township was sentenced Friday on guilty pleas to arson, bias intimidation and criminal mischief. The seven-year, five-year and 18-month terms imposed for the convictions are to run concurrently. In a news release, prosecutors said township police were called to the Pine Lake Park area in June 2023 and found 14 homes vandalized with spray paint that included some “Nazi symbolism.” The next day, emergency responders were called to a fire that destroyed one home and damaged three others.

New York City has spent over $5 billion on services for migrants, with nearly $2 billion allocated for housing, according to city data. The financial burden is expected to double, reaching $10 billion by June 30, 2025. Mayor Eric Adams’ administration has acknowledged the crisis, with Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack stating, “This is not a New York City issue or even a United States issue, this is a worldwide issue.” The city is currently caring for over 63,900 migrants across 210 shelter sites. Despite efforts to move migrants out of hotels and into other locations, many hotels remain converted into emergency shelters.

Columbia University President Minouche Shafik has stepped down from her position after just one year, according to reports. Her resignation comes amid a tumultuous period marked by persistent anti-Israel protests, some of which turned destructive. The announcement follows the recent resignation of three university deans, who departed after a disturbing text chain was exposed, in which they belittled concerns about rising anti-Semitism on campus expressed by Israeli and Jewish students. Shafik’s departure, just three weeks before the start of the fall semester. The search for a new president is expected to begin immediately. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The fraud trial against former U.S. Rep. George Santos, slated to start in a matter of weeks, is coming into focus after a federal judge ruled Tuesday that jurors will have their identities kept secret from the public. They won’t, however, be required to fill out a written questionnaire gauging their opinions of Santos when they arrive for jury selection Sept. 9, as his lawyers had requested. Judge Joanna Seybert said during a brief hearing in federal court on Long Island that she agreed with the government’s assessment that a questionnaire would only bog the proceedings down. She said questioning each potential juror in person would allow her and both sides to ask more varied and probing questions to elicit more truthful responses.

A judge ruled Monday that independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s name should not appear on New York’s ballot, saying that he falsely claimed a New York residence on nominating petitions despite living in California. The scion of the famed Democratic political dynasty vowed to appeal, dismissing the ruling as partisan. If the judge’s decision is upheld, it would not only keep Kennedy off the ballot in New York but could also lead to challenges in other states where he used an address in New York City’s suburbs to gather signatures. “The Democrats are showing contempt for democracy,” Kennedy said in a statement, noting the ruling judge is a Democrat. “They aren’t confident they can win at the ballot box, so they are trying to stop voters from having a choice.

Audacy, the parent company of WCBS 880 and 1010 WINS, announced that WCBS 880 will cease its all-news format later this month, ending a nearly 60-year run as a trusted source of information for the New York region. WCBS 880, which debuted as an all-news station in August 1967, will flip to ESPN Radio programming on August 26, under an agreement with Good Karma Brands. The iconic WCBS call letters will be retired and replaced with WHSQ. The station’s legacy includes covering major events with renowned broadcasters, earning a gold standard in radio history. However, Audacy cited significant changes in the news business and headwinds facing local journalism as reasons for the decision. Sister station 1010 WINS@92.3FM will continue as a 24/7 all-news station, serving the New York market.