His brother Michael had become an informant too, but John Franzese Jr.’s testimony was far more damaging to the mob. And it helped send Sonny Franzese back to jail at 93.


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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 

Jayden Stroman, Patchogue-Medford baseball star and brother of Yankees pitcher Marcus Stroman, spoke about his unusual journey to playing for his hometown team. Newsday Sports' Jolie Katzen reports.

Pat-Med baseball star Jayden Stroman's unusual journey

Accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann was back in court Friday for a pre-trial hearing on DNA evidence. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports. 

Heuermann back in court for pre-trial hearing on DNA evidence 

Explore how social media trends and expectations are driving up costs for bridesmaids, with expenses often entering the thousands.

A $1,000 question: 'Will you be my bridesmaid?'

Newsday sports reporter Laura Albanese checks out the new menu items at Citi Field for the 2025 season.

New food lineup for 2025 Mets season

Lose weight and burn off some steam, NewdayTV's Macy Egeland visits Beast Martial Arts in Oyster Bay.

'Fitness Fix: Beast Martial Arts

The exchange occurred hours before the legislature failed to pass a bill needed to fund Blakeman's $428 million infrastructure plan.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has heated exchange with 2 Democrats

NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano visited the Easter Bunny at the Tanger Outlets in Deer Park, where the Peter's Cottontail Treehouse Workshop will be set up until April 19.

Easter Bunny sighting: Tanger Outlets Deer Park

Selena Gomez and music producer Benny Blanco visited Looney Tunes Record Store in West Babylon on Saturday to promote their new album.

Surprise celebrity appearance at West Babylon record store

Gabrielle Freeman talks to NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano about her inspiration for becoming a Ms. Rachel impersonator.

Ms. Rachel impersonator brings YouTube star to life on LI

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'It's been a great experience to be home'

Police say a 13-year-old boy and his 14-year-old passenger are facing charges for crashing a stolen car in Ridge. 

Teen crashes stolen car on William Floyd Parkway 

Heuermann back in court

A judge has ruled against four Long Island school districts challenging the state's mascot ban.

'They could lose state funding'

Kayleigh Hubschmitt, a senior at Lindenhurst High School, was awarded a $180,000 college scholarship to work towards becoming a military officer.

'I feel like I should give back'

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The state denied the Town of Hempstead Housing Authority tax credits for its plan to rebuild its Franklin Square complex. HUD had alleged the authority excluded disabled people.

Failure to offer public housing to disabled people behind denial of redevelopment plans, feds say

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Suffolk County Executive Edward Romaine said the "Child Fatality Review Team" will review prior cases where children died while in the child protective service system.

Newsday report prompts Suffolk County to put child fatality review team into action

A Missouri driver's experience speaks to frustrations about the school bus camera program.

Missouri man who has never been to NY wrongly sent LI bus camera ticket

A new legal filing claims Hempstead Town and BusPatrol supported violations with windshield bus cameras not meant for enforcement

Drivers: School bus camera tickets backed by unlawful video evidence

Suffolk caseworkers said numerous reports of drug use and neglect against Kerri Bedrick were unfounded.

Long Island 9-year-old said 'bad things' happening at home before his death

A change in Hempstead's contract with BusPatrol could limit the company's liability if tickets were found to be issued without authority.

Town could be on the hook for $20M in school bus camera ticket refunds

The Mejias' difficulties highlight hardships renters encounter despite New York's strong tenant protections.

A family went without heat for months. Their landlord now faces a criminal charge.

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The father of the East Patchogue girl who was allegedly abused in a state facility after she went missing for 25 days argues his daughter's constitutional rights were violated, a legal filing shows. 

Alleged sex trafficking victim's father plans lawsuit 

New York State has approved a plan to test the soil at Bethpage Park, where chemical drums were found buried underground. Newsday reporter Joseph Ostapiuk has the story.

'Waiting to look for additional materials underground'

Additional hours have been added at the DMV for Long Islanders to upgrade their driver's licenses to a federal real ID. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports. 

'It is a huge inconvenience'

Regina Agrusa, superintendent of the Sewanhaka Central High School District, said Elmont High School student-athletes will keep playing games against Bellmore-Merrick schools but with new protections against "hate and harm" following parents' complaints about racist harassment at games in recent years.

New protections against 'hate and harm' 

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

'Sit down! This is my show!'

'The best record store in the New York City area'

Federal data shows public housing complexes for seniors on Long Island failed their inspections. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports. 

'We are human beings that live here'

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education. 

'It could result in issues for students who require special education'

Christopher Miller, of Deer Park, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in the fatal shooting of his father, John Miller, a retired Suffolk police detective.

Deer park man pleads not guilty in fatal shooting of father 

Gary Cowell, of Patchogue, who admitted using an ax to cut up the body of a friend and dispose of her remains, was sentenced to 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa reports.

'I'm never gonna get my mom back'

Police say a retired Suffolk County detective was shot and killed in his Deer Park home Wednesday, following an argument with his son.  

'An argument ensued'   

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On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," two Long Island schools win state basketball titles and 1980s All-Decade Team member Matt Brust joins the show to talk LI hoops history.

SARRA SOUNDS OFF: Two state girls hoops titles, and Matt Brust joins the show

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