Latest news with #ChemungCounty
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
New York state could owe $10M for internet famous P'Nut the Squirrel's execution
The owners of P'Nut the Squirrel are reportedly seeking $10million in damages from the State of New York after the social media star was euthanized last year. Peanut, also known as P'nut, and a raccoon named Fred, lived at a New York sanctuary run by Mark Longo and Daniela Bittner at their home in Southport, Chemung County. Both animals were executed after local and state officials took them away in a raid last year. The couple has filed a lawsuit in the New York Court of Claims, arguing that the execution of their pets was a 'senseless act of violence' and 'obscene demonstration of government abuse,' according to court documents obtained by the New York Post. Peanut gained tens of thousands of followers on Instagram, TikTok and other platforms. Online videos show the squirrel skittering on Longo's shoulders, holding and eating waffles and wearing a tiny cowboy hat. In October last year, the Department of Environmental Conservation raided the couple's home to seize Peanut and Fred. According to the agency, they had received several complaints about illegally keeping animals in an unsafe environment. Officials seized the animals, when Peanut bit a state wildlife biologist through a thick leather glove, prompting rabies concerns. Both animals were subsequently euthanized and later tested negative for rabies. News of their deaths made headlines around the world. Longo and Bittner filed a separate suit on June 27 in Chemung County Supreme Court against the county and more than 30 individuals from local and state government over the incident. The couple argues they have suffered emotional trauma and financial losses since the deaths of their pets, according to both lawsuits, the Post reports. Longo said he found Peanut years ago in New York City after the animal's mother was hit by a car. It's against New York state law to possess a wild animal without a license, though Longo and Bittner took steps last year to become wildlife rehabilitators. On October 30, Longo claimed he was trying to get the proper licensing for Peanut to be certified as an educational animal. However, he had failed to comply with state laws that require owners to get a license for a wild animal in time. The Associated Press contributed reporting
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
New York state could owe $10 million for internet famous P'Nut the Squirrel's execution
The owners of P'Nut the Squirrel are reportedly seeking $10million in damages from the State of New York after the social media star was euthanized last year. Peanut, also known as P'nut, and a raccoon named Fred, lived at a New York sanctuary run by Mark Longo and Daniela Bittner at their home in Southport, Chemung County. Both animals were executed after local and state officials took them away in a raid last year. The couple has filed a lawsuit in the New York Court of Claims, arguing that the execution of their pets was a 'senseless act of violence' and 'obscene demonstration of government abuse,' according to court documents obtained by the New York Post. Peanut gained tens of thousands of followers on Instagram, TikTok and other platforms. Online videos show the squirrel skittering on Longo's shoulders, holding and eating waffles and wearing a tiny cowboy hat. In October last year, the Department of Environmental Conservation raided the couple's home to seize Peanut and Fred. According to the agency, they had received several complaints about illegally keeping animals in an unsafe environment. Officials seized the animals, when Peanut bit a state wildlife biologist through a thick leather glove, prompting rabies concerns. Both animals were subsequently euthanized and later tested negative for rabies. News of their deaths made headlines around the world. Longo and Bittner filed a separate suit on June 27 in Chemung County Supreme Court against the county and more than 30 individuals from local and state government over the incident. The couple argues they have suffered emotional trauma and financial losses since the deaths of their pets, according to both lawsuits, the Post reports. Longo said he found Peanut years ago in New York City after the animal's mother was hit by a car. It's against New York state law to possess a wild animal without a license, though Longo and Bittner took steps last year to become wildlife rehabilitators. On October 30, Longo claimed he was trying to get the proper licensing for Peanut to be certified as an educational animal. However, he had failed to comply with state laws that require owners to get a license for a wild animal in time.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Yahoo
2 people shot at post-July 4 disturbance in City of Elmira: Police
Two people were shot in the City of Elmira during a large public disturbance in the early morning hours July 5, the Elmira Police Department said. Officers arrived in the area of Broadway Avenue and Mount Zoar Street shortly after 1 a.m. following a report of a large disturbance, with a crowd of over 100 people reportedly gathered in the streets. Officers were told a firearm was involved in the disturbance, and police found a group of people in the intersection tending to a man in the road, suffering from a gunshot wound to his abdomen. Other officers arriving at the scene observed a black truck leave the area at a high rate of speed, police said. Elmira officers followed the vehicle to the Arnot Ogden Medical Center, where they discovered that the male driver had also suffered a gunshot wound to his left thigh. According to the initial investigation, the man found on the ground at the scene was the intended target of the shooting, and the other man was a bystander struck by a stray bullet, police said. Both men are currently being treated at the hospital. More: New Weird Walter's shop in Big Flats stands out with super premium, handcrafted ice cream The incident remains under investigation and anyone with any information is encouraged to contact the Elmira Police Department at 607-737-5626 or the Tip Line at 607-271-HALT. The Elmira Police Department was assisted by the Chemung County Sheriff's Office, Elmira Heights Police Department, West Elmira Police Department, Horseheads Police Department, New York State Police, Elmira Fire Department, and Erway's Ambulance. This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: 2 people shot at post-July 4 disturbance in City of Elmira: Police
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jordan Yorke wins Elmira City Court primary. See other Chemung County GOP primary results
Republican voters in Chemung County decided several primary contests Tuesday, including a race for Elmira City Court judge, and a handful of town races. In the City of Elmira, voters handed a primary victory to Jordan J. Yorke over Robert D. Siglin with more than 70% of the votes. Final tally was Yorke with 226 votes and Siglin with 89. Yorke is currently an assistant corporation counsel for the City of Elmira. Siglin is an administrative law judge for the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. The city court judge is elected to a 10-year term. Here are the other Republican primary results for Chemung County. Most seats are for four-year terms: Local On the air: Amateur radio buffs will hold ham radio field day in Big Flats. See schedule Adam C. Skinkle, 118 votes (77.63%), Gene E. Purvis, 34 votes (22.37%), write-in 0 votes. Arthur Laurey, 523 votes (40.96%), Joseph C. Brennan, 451 votes (35.32%), Donald W. Zeigler, 296 votes (23.18%), write-in 7 votes (.55%). Rebecca F. Wright, 94 votes (43.12%), Robert B. Ackerley, 89 votes (40.83%), Andrew A. Larison, 35 votes (16.06%), write-in 0 votes. T.J. Swartout, 86 votes (69.92%), Penny L. Flora, 37 votes (30.08%), write-in 0 votes. Joseph A. Emanuel, 79 votes (30.27%), Francis G. Henke, 74 votes (28.35%), Daniel P. Jones, 56 votes (21.46%), Chawn Champlin, 49 votes (18.77%), write-in 3 votes (1.15%). Follow Jeff Murray on X (Twitter) @SGJeffMurray. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Who won 2025 Chemung County Republican primary races
Daily Mail
21-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Pouty upstate New York education worker is busted for sending boy, 14, nude selfies
An education worker was arrested and hit with a slew of charges for allegedly sending a 14-year-old boy naked photographs of herself. Anamaria Milazzo, 22, was arrested in Elmira, New York, a town about an hour south of Syracuse, for sending 'indecent material to minors,' according to the Chemung County Sheriff's Office. She was slapped with a felony charge for sending disturbing content and also faces a misdemeanor charge for endangering the welfare of a child. The shocking claims came to the police's attention on June 9 when a School Resource Officer received a complaint that Milazzo was sending the content to a minor. An investigation revealed that Milazzo was allegedly sending nude selfies to the young teen for three months. The 22-year-old was employed with New York's BOCES program, which stands for Boards of Cooperative Educational Services. BOCES provides programs and services to five city school districts in the state, including New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers, and Syracuse. Officials with the program confirmed to local NBC affiliate, WETM, that Milazzo was terminated from her position. According to police, Milazzo was with the Greater Southern Tier division of BOCES in Chemung County. It's unclear what her role was at the school. Daily Mail reached out to BOCES for comment and additional information on the case. Milazzo wasn't taken into custody but has been issued an appearance ticket at the Wellsburg Village Court. The disturbing allegations come after another young education worker, teacher Christina Formella, 30, was accused of grooming an underage student. Formella appeared in an Illinois court on Tuesday, where she faced numerous charges of sexual assault, indecent solicitation of a child, grooming, and aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Prosecutors alleged that the teacher groomed a 15-year-old male student and had sex with him multiple times at a high school from January 2023 to at least August 2024. The abuse came to light when the unidentified student's mother found inappropriate messages between them on her son's iCloud account. She allegedly sent shocking messages to the boy, including one that states she 'loves having sex' with him. Her next court appearance is scheduled for August 4.
