<p>Christopher Arsenault, 65, founder of the Happy Cat Sanctuary, died in a fire at his Medford home early Monday that also claimed the lives of &quot;numerous&quot; cats, Suffolk County police said. NewsdayTV&#39;s&nbsp;Virginia Huie reports.&nbsp;</p>


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Officials: Founder of animal sanctuary killed in fire

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Suffolk SPCA gave a tour of its mobile MASH unit that will be used to give medical treatment to animals in need of rescue from the Happy Cat Sanctuary fire in Medford.

'The veterinarians can service the animals on an emergency basis'

The federal funding freeze is impacting nonprofits across the country. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports. 

'You're talking about life and death situations'

Volunteers say that rescue efforts at the Happy Cat Sanctuary will take up to two weeks after Monday's fire. 

Rescue efforts at cat sanctuary will take up to two weeks 

Churches are a sanctuary for many, but now places of worship feel less safe for some immigrants living on Long Island, especially those living here illegally. NewsdayTV's Macy Egeland reports. 

'Never know what's going to happen'

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The man killed was a former New York City correction officer, and police had come to the house previously for emotional disturbances, authorities said.

Suffolk police fatally shoot Brentwood man who charged at officers with knife, commissioner says

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About 50 of the cats may become adoptable in the coming weeks while the feral cats will need to be placed with specific rescue groups where they can live undisturbed or be rehabilitated, a sanctuary official said.

Rescuers trap, treat felines who survived Happy Cat Sanctuary fire in Medford

A microquake was recorded last week near the New Jersey epicenter of the 4.8 magnitude earthquake that shook Long Island on April 5, 2024.

Year after 4.8 magnitude earthquake rattled LI, seismic activity continues near epicenter

A Queens man and a Central Islip woman won on scratch-off games, according to state lottery officials.

Jackpot! Two $1M lottery prizes among recent big wins on LI

The percentage of U.S. adults unable to afford or access "quality healthcare" has risen to the highest levels since 2021, according to the West Health-Gallup Healthcare Indices Study.

Inability to pay for or access 'quality healthcare' rises, study finds

Tom Casey, of West Sayville, retired in 1999 from teaching at Walter G. O'Connell Copiague High School. He'd been an officer or a board member of numerous Long Island wildlife and environmental groups for decades.

Former teacher, nature groups devotee dies at 79

The Town of Riverhead approved a ban on signs at public meetings, joining Brookhaven and Suffolk County, with similar policies.

What's behind the sign bans, other debate restrictions at LI meetings?

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Christopher Arsenault, 65, founder of the Happy Cat Sanctuary, died in a fire at his Medford home early Monday that also claimed the lives of "numerous" cats, Suffolk County police said. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports. 

A trio of officers fresh out of the academy helped deliver a baby girl in a car parked on the side of Sunrise Highway in Shirley after a woman went into labor, Suffolk police said.

Special delivery on Sunrise Highway

The names of 29 officers killed in the line of duty are etched into a memorial unveiled outside the PBA headquarters in Brentwood.

Suffolk PBA unveils memorial to fallen police officers

Police have ID'd the victim as Jason Copper, 39, of Sound Beach.

  Police ID driver killed in crash with Medford fire truck

According to Suffolk County police, a man died in a fire in a Manorville retirement community on Tuesday. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa reports.

Resident dies in retirement community fire

 Chairwoman of the Shinnecock Nation Council of Trustees says temporary restraining order on construction build site is is simply a bump in the road. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports. 

'Knew that we were going to be in this battle for the long run'

A Town of Riverhead skate park was renamed in honor of Wesley Dean Ackley, a passionate skateboarder who worked to keep the park free and died of cancer at 27 in January. NewsdayTV's Drew Scott reports.

'He wanted everybody to have the opportunity to skate'

Drones and helicopters flew over the sites of the fires in Suffolk Monday as investigators determined the cause of the fires. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa reports.

Burn ban remains in effect

NewsdayTV meteorologist Rich Von Ohlen says conditions remain very dry on parts of Long Island and beneficial rain is not expected until next weekend. 

'Situation still is difficult across the island' 

Before this year, no raccoon had a case of rabies in Suffolk County since 2009. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports. 

'I have a lot of concerns'

Scenes from Westhampton on Saturday evening as firefighters battled the brush fire.

Watch: Firefighters battle Westhampton fire

NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger is on the scene in Westhampton Beach Sunday, where officials are saying that the fires, which started Saturday night, has been completely 'knocked down.'

'We have about 600 acres burned'

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The driver, 71, died Thursday afternoon after a crash in Plainview involving seven vehicles along a major Long Island roadway, police said.

1 dead, 6 injured in multi-vehicle crash

The venue combines a coffee shop, full bar and three golf simulators.

You can play golf at this new coffee shop in Long Beach

Suffolk SPCA's mobile unit will treat cats rescued from the Happy Cat Sanctuary fire

St. Anthony's girls lacrosse is the top ranked team in the nation and is looking for its sixth consecutive state CHSAA title this season. NewsdayTV's Jolie Katzen reports.

St. Anthony's girls lacrosse ranked No. 1 in the nation as season gets underway

The Grove in East Patchogue is offering 38 apartments, with rents starting at $1,575 for a one-bedroom unit.

Affordable apartment lottery in Suffolk now open

Anthony Raio, Half Hollow Hills senior lacrosse player, is one of Newsday's Top 100 players for 2025 and spoke about his expectations for his team's success this year. NewsdayTV's Carissa Kellman reports.

Half Hollow Hills' Anthony Raio eyes an LI championship

Long Island lost at least 5,800 years of life to fatal crashes in 2023. Newsday examines LI's dangerous roads in a yearlong investigative series. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.

Newsday investigates years of death, injury and heartbreak 

Newsday food writer Andi Berlin learns all about one of Long Island's iconic foods: tidbits.

Ever heard of tidbits?

Get limber, develop muscle and get stronger. NewsdayTV's Macy Egeland visits Monster Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Smithtown.

Fitness Fix: Monster Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano visited Buster Bunny at Wyandanch Plaza. 

Easter Bunny sighting: Wyandanch Plaza 

<a href="https://www.newsday.com/video/newsdaytv-top-stories">Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories</a>

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