The operator of a limousine company was spared prison time Thursday in a 2018 crash that killed 20 people when catastrophic brake failure sent a stretch limo full of birthday revelers hurtling down a hill in upstate New York. Loved ones of the dead excoriated Nauman Hussain, 31, as he sat quietly at the defense table during a hearing that was held in a high school gymnasium to provide for social distancing among the many relatives, friends and media members attending. Hussain, who operated Prestige Limousine, had originally been charged with 20 counts each of criminally negligent homicide and second-degree manslaughter in what was the deadliest U.S. transportation disaster in a decade.

Hundreds of people gathered at Bedford Ave and Wallabout Street on Thursday night to protest against missionaries who have been showing up lately in the area. Besides for the massive number of people on the street, many cars passed by honking heir horns – drowning out their microphone. The NYPD responded and had them leave the area. ` (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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As Ida struck the Tri-State area last night, thousands of people instinctively reached out to major Chesed organizations Hatzolah, Shomrim and Chaverim for assistance in various types of emergencies. These organization have proven themselves once again to be the backbone of the Tri-State area Orthodox Jewish communities. Dozens upon dozens of elderly victims were rescued by volunteers from the above three organizations from flooded basements and taken to safety. Chaverim and Shomrim helped hundreds of residents pump water out of their basements. They responded to hundreds of calls for standard motorists, who were frightened and crying as they abandoned their vehicles in strange areas with no one to help them.

A stunned U.S. East Coast faced a rising death toll, surging rivers, tornado damage and continuing calls for rescue Thursday after the remnants of Hurricane Ida walloped the region with record-breaking rain, drowning more than 40 people in their homes and cars. In a region that had been warned about potentially deadly flash flooding but hadn’t braced for such a blow from the no-longer-hurricane, the storm killed at least 45 people from Maryland to Connecticut on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. At least 23 people died in New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy said. At least 12 people in New York City, police said, one of them in a car and 11 in flooded basement apartments that often serve as relatively affordable homes in one of the nation’s most expensive housing markets.

The roof of a commercial building in Flatbush collapsed on Thursday from the heavy rain last night. The FDNY was operating on the scene at 1902 Coney Island Avenue near Avenue P for a partial roof collapse. The location is a vacant one story commercial building. Sources tell YWN it may be under construction. There are no injuries or evacuations reported. [Video and photos via Shimon Gifter] (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, appearing side by side with New York City officials, said she spoke with President Biden today who “guaranteed” full support in the wake of a “devastating” and “record-shattering” storm. “This is the first time we’ve had a flash flood event of this proportion,” she said. “We should expect it the next time,” she said. The governor added that the human loss is “hard to imagine.” For a state that experienced the devastating shore effects of Sandy, Hochul said that this time around, “where we had a vulnerability is in our streets.” The governor noted that the draining systems need to be enhanced and infrastructure investments are paramount.

A woman was R””L Niftar after she was stuck by a vehicle on Myrtle Avenue and Bedford Avenue on Thursday morning. The woman, approximately 65 years old, was with a child when she struck and pinned under a truck. The child is B”H ok. Williamsburg Hatzolah rushed her in traumatic arrest to Brooklyn Hospital, where doctors tried saving her life. Unfortunately, she was Niftar a few minutes later. Sources tell YWN that the child she was babysitting at the time of the tragedy is a relative of hers. Boruch Dayan HaEmmes… RECEIVE BREAKING UPDATES IN LIVE TIME: YWN WHATSAPP STATUS UPDATES: CLICK HERE to join the YWN WhatsApp Status. YWN WHATSAPP GROUPS: CLICK HERE to be added to an official YWN WhatsApp Group. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Amidst the tragic news pouring into YWN today, there is this news item, which had a happy ending. During the peak of last nights deadly flooding in New York City, Hatzalah of Washington Heights and Riverdale Hatzalah proved themselves to be heroes. A car with a woman in active  labor was caught in the gridlock caused by the torrential rains last night–heavy traffic, multiple road closures, and extensive roadway flooding. Hatzolah volunteers from both neighborhoods worked together for over an hour to access the patient, including 2 crew members who took equipment and ran a half-mile to get to her to provide care until the ambulance could arrive. The baby was delivered in the car and, B”H, everyone is healthy & doing well!

On Wednesday, Brooklyn Borough President and Democratic nominee for New York City mayor Eric Adams joined Met Council on Jewish Poverty to distribute emergency kosher food at the Flatbush Community Fund food pantry ahead of Rosh Hashanah – the Jewish New Year. As the need continues to grow to all-time highs, Met Council launched America’s largest kosher food distribution – more than doubling their high holiday food delivery to over 1.34 million pounds to help those struggling to afford their basic staples, as well as the items that are essential for welcoming the Jewish New Year with dignity and joy. The increase in food came via an emergency grant from UJA-Federation of New York.

At least 22 people died, including a New York City toddler, and tens of thousands were overwhelmed by floods as the remnants of Hurricane Ida devastated the tri-state area overnight with historic rainfall, at least one tornado and savage winds. Eight of the confirmed fatalities were in two boroughs — a 2-year-old boy, 45-, 86- and 48-year-old women and 50- and 22-year-old men in Queens and a 66-year-old man in Brooklyn. The other 14 confirmed deaths were in New Jersey, where at least five bodies were found in Elizabeth’s Oakwood Plaza Apartments complex. A mayoral spokeswoman had no details on how they died but noted fire department headquarters nearby were under 8 feet of water.