New York – The S&P 500 index is closing at a record high, surpassing the peak it set last September and recouping all the ground it lost in a nosedive late last year. The Nasdaq index also closed at a record high Tuesday. The market has risen sharply since bottoming out on Christmas Eve, driven [...]

New York – A man convicted of murder in the 2016 death of a New York City runner was sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday. Chanel Lewis was convicted earlier this month of killing Karina Vetrano in a case that stirred urban fears, helped change the state’s DNA-investigation rules and raised questions about race [...]

Tosh Monsey, a unique Hassidic community in Rockland County known for its high academic standards and community outreach, has launched a 24-hour hotline in English – 845-613-3135 – to answer all types of questions on Jewish law. They are the only Hassidic sect in the nation that staffs a hotline with “dayanim,” ordained rabbis with [...]

Washington – The largest firefighters union is preparing to formally endorse Joe Biden’s expected presidential run this week, with group leaders saying they will be “investing” heavily in the former vice president’s anticipated bid. The board of the International Association of Fire Fighters will meet this week to vote on the endorsement. They plan to [...]

New York – Eyeing that can of soda in the supermarket cooler? Or maybe you’re craving a pint of ice cream? A camera could be watching you. But it’s not there to see if you’re stealing. These cameras want to get to know you and what you’re buying. It’s a new technology being trotted out [...]

West Allis, WI – A 24-year-old suburban Milwaukee man says he screamed for about 5 or 10 minutes after realizing he won a $763 million Powerball jackpot — the third largest in U.S. lottery history. Manuel Franco, of West Allis, came forward at a news conference Tuesday in Madison, where Wisconsin’s lottery is headquartered. Franco [...]

New York – Americans are becoming increasingly sedentary, spending almost a third of their waking hours sitting down, and computer use is partly to blame, a new study found. Over almost a decade, average daily sitting time increased by roughly an hour, to about eight hours for U.S. teens and almost 6 1/2 hours for [...]

Washington – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he wants to name a new settlement in the Golan Heights after President Donald Trump out of gratitude for the White House’s recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the territory. Netanyahu was touring the Golan Heights on Tuesday and said there was a “need to express our appreciation” [...]

Washington – The White House is planning to release its long-awaited Middle East peace plan in the next few months. White House senior adviser Jared Kushner said Tuesday that it would be unveiled sometime after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which this year ends on June 4. Kushner, speaking at a conference sponsored by [...]

New York – Kohl’s wants you to skip the post office and bring your Amazon returns to its stores. The department store chain says it will accept Amazon returns at all its 1,150 stores starting in July. Kohl’s has been testing Amazon returns at 100 stores for nearly two years and sees the service as [...]