Jon Craig

Reporter

jon.craig@dailyvoice.com

Pleasantville native Jon Craig is special editor for the Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Orange and Dutchess Daily Voice sites. He is also the primary reporter for Daily Voice Plus Politics in Westchester and Fairfield.

Jon graduated from Cornell University and received his master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University. Across a 35-year career, he's worked as a reporter for daily newspapers in Chicago, New York, Ohio & Washington, D.C and as managing editor for weekly newspapers in Rye, White Plains and Harrison.

Jon also writes periodically for the Cornell Chronicle.

Career Highlights:

  • Covered Metro-North train wreck that killed a motorist and five commuters, 2015
  • Researched state investigative project for PublicIntegrity.org, 2011-12
  • National MADD award for database analysis of repeat drunk drivers in Ohio, 2008.
  • Henry F. Guggenheim Fellow, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 2010.
  • Sentenced to jail for protecting confidential sources (won on appeal), 1999.
  • Broke 30th anniversary story about Kent State shootings — using FBI records, resurrecting theory a student informant triggered fatal National Guard volley, May 2000.
  • Covered Ground Zero after Sept. 11, 2001, terrorism attacks.
  • Uncovered voting problems before & during presidential recount in Ohio, 2004.
  • Witnessed botched Death Row execution of Romell Broom in 2009, one of more than a dozen I covered; Wrote about three inmates whose death sentences were commuted to life without parole.
  • Won IRE, SDX and multiple national & state awards for series led by Erik Kriss investigating New York General Assembly. 1994.
  • Guest lecturer at universities in NY & Ohio. Taught Syracuse high school journalism class.
  • Co-authored IRE-award winning series on illegal restraints/beatings at juvenile detention centers. Gov. Mario Cuomo had NY inspector general confirm what Hart Seely and I found at Division for Youth & fired top directors, 1993.
  • Survived Air Force Kool School training at North Pole, 1996.
  • Covered Persian Gulf wars, including 2002 bomb missions from Turkey and stateside Army/Air Guard training. 1991.
  • Supervised overnight coverage of Pan Am Flight 103 after Libyan bomb killed 35 Syracuse University students over Lockerbie, Scotland, 1988.
  • Covered aftermath of John F. Kennedy Jr.'s fatal plane crash from Cape Cod, 1999.
  • Greeted Kurt Vonnegut Jr. as Cornell Sun sports editor during daily's 100th anniversary dinner in May 1980. 

Jon Craig's Contributions

Rye High School Graduates Share Musical Talents, Academic Successes Rye High School Graduates Share Musical Talents, Academic Successes
Rye High School Graduates Share Musical Talents, Academic Successes RYE, N.Y. -- Academic excellence, art, music and athletic achievements of Rye High School's Class of 2016 were detailed and displayed during recent commencement ceremonies for 223 RHS graduates.  Frank Alvarez, superintendent of the Rye City School District, said, "Graduation is an opportunity for members of the Class of 2016 to share some of their many talents and interests with the Rye community." Su-Lynn Kok, a first chair violinist for the high school orchestra, sang “For Good” from the musical Wicked. The lyrics recognize two friends about to go their separate ways, Alvarez s…
Federal Judge Says Westchester Must Hire Housing Consultant Federal Judge Says Westchester Must Hire Housing Consultant
Federal Judge Says Westchester Must Hire Housing Consultant This story has been updated. WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- A federal judge on Friday ordered Westchester County government to hire a consultant to comply with a 10-year-old federal housing discrimination lawsuit, saying the county "just walked away from the process." But a spokesman for Westchester County Rob Astorino, who argues the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is "overreaching" while trying to change local zoning laws, said the county will appeal Friday's ruling. During a hearing in Manhattan, U.S. District Judge Denise Cote said Westchester must hir…
Motorists Stuck On Sprain Brook Parkway For Hours After Pool Chemical Spill Motorists Stuck On Sprain Brook Parkway For Hours After Pool Chemical Spill
Motorists Stuck On Sprain Brook Parkway For Hours After Pool Chemical Spill GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Very hot, angry, motorists were stranded on the Sprain Brook Parkway for more than 3 hours overnight, police and town officials said today. A truck carrying toxic swimming pool chemicals crashed about 9:30 P.M. on Wednesday, authorities said.  State Police are investigating the cause of the crash, which town officials said backed up traffic due to poor access for emergency vehicles. Greenburgh's Supervisor Paul Feiner said Thursday that he and town police received numerous complains from motorists who were stuck on the major parkway for hours -- without a clue about wha…
Route 9A Reopens After Serious Accident With Fuel Spill Route 9A Reopens After Serious Accident With Fuel Spill
Route 9A Reopens After Serious Accident With Fuel Spill This story has been updated.MOUNT PLEASANT, N.Y. -- Police said there were no serious injuries on Wednesday due to a multiple-vehicle accident on Route 9A in Mount Pleasant. The accident, which occurred at Dana Road near Home Depot, caused a fuel spill resulting in traffic delays. The site of the accident was the same as a double-fatal accident that killed a motorcyclist last month. On Thursday, a spokesman for the Mount Pleasant Police Department said one person was extricated after being trapped in a vehicle. That person had minor non-life threatening injuries, according to Lt. Michael Pi…
Police Arrest Man For Dealing Painkillers, Pot Police Arrest Man For Dealing Painkillers, Pot
Police Arrest Man For Dealing Painkillers, Pot GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Police arrested a man on multiple drug-related charges, according to a police report released on Thursday.  Greenburgh Police said they arrested Shaun Clarke after an undercover investigation.  Clarke, whose age and address was not released by police, was charged with: two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, two counts of third degree criminal possession of controlled substance, and two counts seventh-degree of criminal possession of a controlled substance. Greenburgh's Police said that Clarke sold Oxycodone pills -- a strong and addictive pr…
Police Investigating Complaint That One Of Its Officers Set Off Fireworks Police Investigating Complaint That One Of Its Officers Set Off Fireworks
Police Investigating Complaint That One Of Its Officers Set Off Fireworks MAMARONECK, N.Y. -- The Village of Mamaroneck is investigating a resident's complaint that one of its police officers may have been setting off his own private fireworks display. A "concerned citizen" contacted Daily Voice by email, saying that one of the village's police officers, who resides on Raleigh Road, sets off his own fireworks display every year -- including this Independence Day.  Mamaroneck Mayor Norman Rosenblum referred the citizen's complaint to village Police Chief Christopher Leahy on Tuesday. "This may cover several different policies/factors that would fal…
Port Chester High School Class Of 2016 Is Largest In Four Decades Port Chester High School Class Of 2016 Is Largest In Four Decades
Port Chester High School Class Of 2016 Is Largest In Four Decades PORT CHESTER, N.Y. -- Port Chester High School's Class of 2016 was the Rye-Port Chester Union Free School District's largest graduating class in 39 years, according to school officials. Speakers at the recent commencement ceremony included Valedictorian Rosa Guerra, Salutatorian Alfred DiLeo, Senior Class President Perla Funes and Michael Arterberry, who was keynote speaker. In his speech, High School Principal Mitchell Combs said, "We are pleased to confer diplomas to 306 students, I’m told the largest graduating class in 39 years." Combs said that 95 percent of Port Chester's g…
Fire At Popular Club Owned By Hall & Oates Musician Ruled 'Not Suspicious' Fire At Popular Club Owned By Hall & Oates Musician Ruled 'Not Suspicious'
Fire At Popular Club Owned By Hall & Oates Musician Ruled 'Not Suspicious' PAWLING, N.Y. -- Monday's fire at Daryl's House Club in Dutchess County has been ruled electrical in origin and "not suspicious," according to Pawling Fire Chief Everett White. White told Daily Voice on Tuesday that the fire originated in a lighted sign in front of the popular club. White said some holiday lights including a string of LED lights connected to the peak of the club's roof could have shorted out, setting off a fire.  Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates is part owner of the establishment. The 69-year-old Hall, regarded as one of the best soul singers of his generation, has …
Playland Fireworks Show Ends With Westchester Police Breaking Up Fights Playland Fireworks Show Ends With Westchester Police Breaking Up Fights
Playland Fireworks Show Ends With Westchester Police Breaking Up Fights RYE, N.Y. — Westchester County Police were called to Rye Playland on Monday night to break up fights after the amusement park's annual Independence Day fireworks display. A desk officer with the county police department confirmed that officers responded to several fights at the county-owned park. The spokesman said that no one was arrested as a result of the fights. No one was seriously hurt, he said. About 10:30 p.m. on Monday, a county police sergeant stationed at Playland reported "numerous fights in progress." One had already been broken up. Another fight was ongoing with more…
Rye Police Hire New Patrol Officer Rye Police Hire New Patrol Officer
Rye Police Hire New Patrol Officer RYE, N.Y. -- The City of Rye Police Department has hired a new patrol officer. Christopher Salguero, 23, a former New York State Park police officer was sworn in as a Rye police officer on Monday. Rye Police Commissioner Michael C. Corcoran, Jr. said Salguero took his oath during a ceremony at City Hall with his family in attendance. Salguero has an associate’s degree from Westchester Community College and has the State University of New York at Albany. Salguero will be assigned to the Rye Police Department’s field training program for the next six weeks to familiarize him with the commun…
10,031 - 10,040 of 11,069 articles