Governor Hochul Announces Completion of 76-Unit Affordable Mixed-Use Development in Yonkers

The St. Clair Brings Affordable Apartments and Commercial Space to Downtown Yonkers Near Metro-North

 

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the completion of The St. Clair, a 76-unit affordable, mixed-use development in Yonkers. The $60 million project is located in the city’s downtown corridor and combines multi-family residential apartments with street-level retail, dining and commercial uses. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) has created or preserved more than 4,600 affordable homes in Westchester County. The St. Clair continues this effort and is part of the Governor’s $25 billion five-year Housing Plan, which is on track to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.

“The city of Yonkers is thriving and the increased supply of affordable apartments with easy access to public transit, jobs and services is a big reason why,” Governor Hochul said. “With the 76 new homes that The St. Clair brings to the city, the building’s residents will have all they need right at their front door. This development demonstrates how public and private investment can generate economic activity and add to the vibrancy of our downtown areas across the state.”

The St. Clair builds on the State’s efforts to expand housing opportunities near transit hubs and commuter railroad lines. It is a short walk to the MTA Metro-North train station and the Westchester County Bee-Line Bus System. The development is also within walking distance to the city’s waterfront boardwalk, parks, restaurants, pharmacies and a library.

Developed by MacQuesten Development, the ten-story building includes a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments designed to serve households of varying sizes. Apartments are available for households earning up to 80 percent of the Area Median Income. Four apartments are fully-accessible and adapted for residents with mobility disabilities, and two apartments are fully-accessible and adapted for residents with sensory disabilities.

The St. Clair is an all-electric development and includes features that improve energy efficiency, lower energy costs and reduce water consumption.

Additional building amenities include a fitness room, a co-working space, an indoor recreation room, and an outdoor courtyard. There is more than 2,000 square feet of ground floor commercial space, a portion of which is already occupied by a restaurant.

The property was previously a hotel and then a commercial dry-cleaning business, which had been vacant since 2017 after it was demolished.

Financing for The St. Clair included a mix of public and private sources, such as Federal and State Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from HCR that generated more than $25 million in equity, and more than $10 million in HCR subsidy. The development was also supported by $418,000 from the Clean Energy Initiative, a partnership between HCR and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The project received $1.9 million through the County of Westchester’s New Homes Land Acquisition Program and $1.1 million from the City of Yonkers’ HOME program.

The site is participating in the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's successful Brownfield Cleanup Program and may be eligible for $9 million in performance based tax credits administered by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.

Virginia Mental Health Professional Charged in $49M Medicaid Fraud Scheme

 

A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia returned an indictment against Mikia Antoneice Noble, 37, of North Chesterfield, Virginia, for a $49 million mental health crisis services fraud scheme targeting Virginia Medicaid. 

According to court documents, Noble was the co-owner and Chief Operating Officer of Advancing Communities Everywhere LLC (ACE), a mental health provider in the Richmond, Virginia area. In addition to her ownership role, Noble claimed to also work as a mental health professional for ACE. ACE purported to provide mental health services to individuals experiencing acute or significant behavioral health crises but did not provide those services as billed.

As alleged in the indictment, Noble conspired with her co-owner to:

• Bill Virginia Medicaid for crisis services purportedly provided by teams of mental health professionals including a trained and licensed professional, which were instead provided only by a single low-level, less qualified mental health professional;
• Pay over $2 million for hotel room rentals that were offered to Medicaid beneficiaries to illegally induce that to allow ACE to bill for services purportedly provided to them that they did not actually need;
• Falsify medical records by adding signatures of licensed professionals who had not actually participated in providing crisis services;
• Falsify medical records by adding Noble’s own signature falsely representing that she had participated in providing crisis services, when in fact Noble was out of the country; and
• Lie to Medicaid Managed Care Organizations conducting audits of ACE’s crisis services.

From January 2022 through April 2026, Noble allegedly participated in submitting over $49 million in false and fraudulent claims to Virginia Medicaid.

Noble is charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and three counts of health care fraud. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each count.

Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division; First Assistant U.S. Attorney Theophani K. Stamos for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Special Agent in Charge Ian Kaufmann of the FBI Richmond Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Richmond Field Office and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Virginia Office of the Attorney General are investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Lauren Randell and Zachary H. Ray of the Fraud Division’s Health Care Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Day for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

DEC ANNOUNCES PROPOSED RULEMAKING FOR THE PROTECTION OF ADIRONDACK BROOK TROUT PONDS

 

Department of Environmental Conservation

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced proposed regulations to protect populations of Adirondack brook trout, New York’s state fish. The proposals simplify harvest regulations for Adirondack brook trout ponds and prohibit the use of live baitfish in the Adirondack Park in all but 146 waters.  

“DEC is adopting these measures to provide high-quality angling opportunities while also protecting the state’s precious Adirondack brook trout ponds from the harmful effects of unwanted baitfish introductions,” said DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton. “The changes would make fishing regulations easier to understand, while also ensuring the perpetuation of this important resource for generations to come.” 

There are more than 400 managed brook trout ponds in the Adirondack Park. Introduction of baitfish into those ponds represents the primary threat to ponded brook trout populations across the Adirondacks. Baitfish compete with brook trout, resulting in the loss of wild self-sustaining populations. Ponds that are victim to an introduction must be reclaimed with a chemical piscicide and restocked, which is costly and sometimes impossible due to size constraints or other considerations. To date, the State’s baitfish regulations have not adequately protected Adirondack brook trout ponds from either inadvertent or intentional introductions of unwanted baitfish. 

Currently, baitfish are allowed in the Adirondack Park except for 1,211 waters where possession is prohibited. The regulatory structure for these prohibitions is a mix of specific waterbody references, as well as references to waters within a land classification (i.e. Saint Regis Canoe Area), which can be confusing and burdensome to anglers.   

The proposed rule prohibits the use of live baitfish within the Blue Line of the Park and allows for only a small number of exceptions (146 waters). This approach is straightforward and much easier for anglers to understand. It also clearly communicates the serious threat of baitfish introductions to ponded brook trout populations.  

In addition, in this proposal, special harvest regulations that exist on 24 of the approximately 430 brook trout ponds DEC manages are being eliminated. These special harvest regulations have not resulted in a demonstrable benefit compared to the existing statewide regulation of five brook trout per day, any size. Eliminating these unnecessary special regulations will provide the simplicity and consistency needed to promote compliance and provide greater angler enjoyment. 

The proposals are commensurate with DEC’s Adirondack Brook Trout Pond Management Plan, which was finalized in December 2025 after extensive outreach and public comment opportunity.  

The full text and a summary of the proposed regulatory changes, along with a list of proposed waters where live baitfish use will be permitted, are available on DEC’s website Fish and Wildlife Regulatory Revisions - NYSDEC.

DEC is interested in anglers’ viewpoints and encourages public feedback on the proposed regulations. Comments will be accepted through December 28, 2026, and should be emailed to regulations.fish@dec.ny.gov with the subject line “Adirondack Brook Trout Regulations,” or sent by standard mail to: 

NYSDEC 

c/o Inland Fisheries Section 

625 Broadway 

Albany, NY 12233-4753 

Attorney General James Shares Tips to Help Protect New Yorkers from E-Bike Battery Fires

 

Following Deadly Bronx Fire, AG James Reminds New Yorkers About E-Bike Battery Safety

New York Attorney General Letitia James reminded New Yorkers of the dangers caused by electrical bike (e-bike) batteries and provided tips on how to safely handle them. Today’s warning comes after a deadly fire that killed a young child and injured four other individuals at Patterson Houses in the Bronx this morning.

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) is also sharing an informational flyer about e-bike safety tips in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Bengali, and Haitian Creole. Most e-bikes, as well as e-scooters and hoverboards, use powerful lithium-ion batteries that store more energy and are more likely to catch fire than a typical battery. According to the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), these batteries have caused at least 401 fires resulting in 74 injuries and six deaths this year alone.

“I am praying for the family and loved ones of the 11-year-old child lost in this morning’s fire, and I hope for a speedy recovery for the others injured,” said Attorney General James. “Far too many lives have been tragically cut short or forever changed by these batteries. I understand that e-bikes and e-scooters can be necessary tools, so I encourage all New Yorkers to handle these vehicles and their batteries carefully, follow safety precautions, and take necessary steps to avoid potential danger.”

As part of her ongoing efforts to keep New Yorkers safe, Attorney General James recommends consumers take the following steps when using e-bikes:

• Buy your e-bike and battery from a trusted manufacturer.
• Maintain your battery by carefully checking it from time to time. If you notice any strange smells or changes in shape or color, stop using the battery immediately and contact your local fire station or call 911. 
• Store your battery in a safe place.
• Charge your battery using only the cord and power adapter provided by the manufacturer.
• Dispose of your battery at a battery-recycling location. Do not reuse or refurbish used lithium-ion batteries or their parts.

Putting batteries in the trash or recycling them is both dangerous and illegal and can lead to fires on sanitation trucks and in recycling facilities. New Yorkers are encouraged to consult the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Rechargeable Battery Recycling Guide to find safe disposal locations.

WORST OF THE WORST: ICE Arrests Murderers, Pedophiles, and Violent Assailants

 

America is not a dumping ground for the world’s criminals, and ICE will not rest until every criminal illegal alien is removed from our country

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the arrest of more worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens across the country, including those convicted of horrific crimes such as murder, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, and aggravated assault.

“America’s brave ICE agents put their lives on the line every day to enforce U.S. law and arrest criminal illegal aliens. ICE arrested murderers, pedophiles, violent assailants, and other public safety threats,” said Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “Under President Trump’s leadership, DHS is arresting and deporting illegal aliens at a historic pace, delivering the most secure border in American history, and stopping deadly drugs from pouring into our communities.”

Arrests include: 

Rony Izaguirre-Henriquez, a criminal illegal alien from Honduras, convicted for murder, participating in gang activity resulting in death, and assault in Prince George's County, Maryland.

Francisco Chapas-Sanchez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted for predatory criminal sexual assault of a child in Chicago, Illinois.

Jaime Ramirez-Almaraz, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted for aggravated assault and burglary in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Rafael Limber Leon-Garcia, a criminal illegal alien from Ecuador, convicted for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine in the Southern District of Florida.

Fabiola Vega, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute heroin in Waseca, Minnesota. 

Americans can see more public safety threats arrested in their communities on our webpage at WOW.DHS.Gov.

Russian Woman Charged With Federal Hate Crimes For Stabbing Multiple Jewish Individuals

 

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced today that ANNA MOCHALOVA was arrested on charges of committing hate crimes in connection with her assaults of two Jewish men in and around the Diamond District in Manhattan on October 21, 2026.  MOCHALOVA was transferred from state custody earlier today and will be presented in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger.

“This Office will continue to seek justice for victims of hate-based crimes and will aggressively prosecute those who seek to spread bigotry through violence,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald.  “As alleged, Anna Mochalova deliberately and viciously targeted Jewish victims with violence.  Mochalova allegedly stabbed two men specifically because they were Jewish, an attack made all the more terrifying because the specific weapon used—and its potential contents—remain unknown pending further investigation. Mochalova’s alleged actions were an attack on the fundamental right to freely and safely express one’s religious identity in public.”

“Acts of hate and harassment have no place in our city,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “The alleged hate-motivated crimes committed against Jewish members of our community are unacceptable and have no place in New York.  We will continue to use the full force of the law to protect the safety, security, and rights of every New Yorker, including members of our Jewish community.”

“A hate crime is a message written in violence, and this defendant’s message was loud and clear,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch.  “As alleged in the complaint, Anna Mochalova attacked two visibly Jewish New Yorkers, striking fear in an entire community.  Every New Yorker has the right to walk our streets safe from hatred and violence, and the NYPD will always hold those who threaten that right accountable.  I thank the NYPD investigators and our federal partners for responding swiftly to this unacceptable act of hate.”

As alleged in the Complaint and other public filings:[1] 

On or about October 21, 2026, MOCHALOVA attacked two Jewish men in quick succession with a sharp object that is consistent with being a needle in and around the Diamond District in Manhattan.  First, at approximately 5:50 p.m., Victim-1, a Jewish man, was walking along West 47th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues when he noticed MOCHALOVA following him and speaking in Russian.  Shortly thereafter, MOCHALOVA stabbed Victim-1 in his lower back with a sharp object, which Victim-1 described as the feeling of a needle prick. At the time, Victim-1, who has a beard, was wearing attire traditionally worn by Orthodox Jewish men, including a black hat, a black suit, a white shirt, and tzitzit. MOCHALOVA then stalked past him towards Sixth Avenue.  A still image of the assault is depicted below: 

Shortly thereafter, MOCHALOVA approached Victim-2 and a second man (“Individual-1”), who were standing together on the northeast corner of Sixth Avenue and West 45th Street, approximately two blocks south of the location where Victim-1 was assaulted. Victim-2 and Individual-1 are also Jewish men, and both were wearing yarmulkes when MOCHALOVA approached. MOCHALOVA bumped into Victim-2 multiple times. As Victim-2 started to confront MOCHALOVA about her repeated bumps, he observed MOCHALOVA stab him with a sharp object on his right forearm. Victim-2, who speaks Russian, recalls that MOCHALOVA spoke in Russian and told him, in sum and substance, “run away, I have a gun.” MOCHALOVA also asked Individual-1, in sum and substance, if he was Jewish. Individual-1 responded, in sum and substance, “I don’t know, I’m Muslim?” MOCHALOVA told Individual-1 that she “was so sorry” and then fled northbound on Sixth Avenue.

MOCHALOVA, 32, of Russia, is charged with two counts of committing hate crimes, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The statutory maximum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the NYPD.

The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights and Human Trafficking Unit in the Criminal Division, with consultation from the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division.  

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Fifteen Men Charged in Superseding Indictment Targeting a Transnational Methamphetamine and GBL Trafficking Organization

 

Controlled substances and drug paraphernalia seized by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Fifteen defendants are charged in a twelve-count superseding indictment unsealed today in U.S. District Court in connection with a sprawling, transnational drug trafficking organization that imported massive quantities of methamphetamine from California and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) from South Korea for distribution in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere along the East Coast, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

“This organization peddled a deadly combination of meth and GBL, putting lives at risk for profit. They used encrypted apps, shell companies, and the U.S. mail to hide their operation. It didn’t work,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Fifteen defendants now face federal charges. Since my appointment as U.S. Attorney, my office, alongside the Homeland Security Task Force, has seized more than 1,800 pounds of meth. To those flooding our communities with deadly drugs: we will find you, dismantle your operation, and put you behind bars.” 

“The criminals involved in these operations—more than 15 apprehended so far— have pushed too far by distributing dangerous drugs and threatening the well-being of our people, our community, and our children,” said Special Agent in Charge Cindy Marx of the DEA Washington Division. “They operated a complex, multi-layered drug trafficking network stretching from Washington, D.C., and across the East Coast, with active plans to expand their drug trafficking network into other parts of our country. We are going after all of them.  Together with our Homeland Security and Safe and Beautiful Task Force partners, we will succeed.” 

“HSI is proud to stand with our partners from across government to announce another milestone in this Homeland Security Task Force operation. We continue the work of disrupting the networks funneling deadly drugs into the United States and into our communities,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Kai Wah Chan of Homeland Security Investigations - Washington, D.C.  “Protecting the Homeland is not the job of a single agency. Today’s results show that together, we’re making our country safer, one investigation at a time.” 

“Today's indictment sends a resounding message that IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agents are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to aggressively uncover, dismantle, and disrupt drug trafficking network,” said Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Washington D.C. Field Office. “IRS-CI brings unmatched financial investigative expertise to complex criminal cases. Regardless of the complexity of the investigation, whether it is money laundering, Bank Secrecy Act violations, complex financial fraud, or leveraging our tax authority, we will continue to take criminals off the street and dismantle transnational criminal organizations.” 

Yesterday, law enforcement arrested four of the alleged traffickers and executed search warrants across two federal judicial districts: the District of Columbia and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The eleven other defendants previously charged in this case were arrested in late-April and early-May 2026, and eight of the eleven were ordered detained during the pendency of this case. 

During yesterday’s takedowns, law enforcement recovered approximately 13 pounds of methamphetamine, about 1.5 pounds of GBL, additional narcotics including ecstasy pills, and more than $16,000 in cash. 

In aggregate, over the course of the investigation, law enforcement has seized more than 87 kilograms of high-purity methamphetamine, more than 800 kilograms of GBL in the United States, along with more than 57 kilograms of ketamine and additional narcotics. Additionally, working with South Korean law enforcement, U.S. prosecutors and agents traveled to Seoul to identify GBL exporters and disrupt the supply chain at its source. That bilateral cooperation resulted in the arrest of five South Korean nationals by South Korean authorities and, in September 2025, the seizure of approximately 1.5 metric tons of GBL — the largest domestic seizure of a controlled substance ever recorded in South Korea. 

The organization distributed methamphetamine and GBL together for simultaneous consumption in a poly-drug combination known as “sexchem.” The pairing is considered lethal and unpredictable. The investigation identified that local D.C.-based distributors were selling the drugs together as party drugs, compounding the risk to users. The newly-added defendants were bulk distributors of methamphetamine within the District of Columbia, with Martin-Wilson serving as a primary source of supply after the initial indictment and coordinated search and arrest operation was conducted earlier this year. 

This investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division; Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; Homeland Security Investigations Washington Field Office; the DEA New York Division; the DEA Seoul Country Office; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington Division; and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The Arlington County Police Department, Metropolitan Police Department, and Prince George’s County Police Department provided valuable assistance. 

This operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by President Trump’s Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad.  

Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Washington D.C. comprises agents and officers from the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, IRS Criminal Investigations and others with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. 

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

HERNANDEZ PLEDGES $1 BILLION IN ISRAEL BONDS AFTER LEVINE BREAKS HIS PROMISE

 

Standing with members of Brooklyn’s Jewish community in Flatbush, Republican candidate for State Comptroller Joseph Hernandez pledged today that the state pension fund will purchase $1 billion in Israel Bonds. The purchase would add to the fund’s existing holdings and cover what New York City refused to buy..

 

The pledge follows New York City Comptroller Mark Levine’s reversal of his campaign promise to reinvest the city’s pension funds in Israel Bonds, a decision Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he welcomed. The city’s pension funds held Israel Bonds from 1974 until former Comptroller Brad Lander let $39 million lapse in 2023. He never restored them, even after the October 7 attack. Levine campaigned on bringing them back, pointing out that the bonds had never missed a payment in 80 years.

 

The pressure isn’t stopping at City Hall. Activist groups have threatened litigation to force both the city and the state to divest. Tom DiNapoli, who controls the state fund as sole trustee, is running on the Working Families Party line.

 

“Mark Levine promised this community he would bring these bonds back, and when the pressure came, he broke that promise,” said Hernandez. “New York City walked away. I’m stepping in. These bonds have never missed a payment. Standing with our friends is the right thing to do, and it’s a smart investment for pensioners.”

 

“Tom DiNapoli is cut from the same cloth as Levine and Lander,” Hernandez continued. “He’s endorsed by the same Working Families Party pushing politics into our pension fund. New Yorkers deserve moral clarity. When I’m Comptroller, New York keeps its word.”