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

Footlight Players Present 'Guys And Dolls' Footlight Players Present 'Guys And Dolls'
Footlight Players Present 'Guys And Dolls' HARRISON, N.Y. -- The Harrison High School Footlight Players are proud to present the iconic American musical "Guys and Dolls." The cast and crew will perform five shows: at 7 p.m. on Thursday March 3, Friday March 4 and Satuday March 5, as well as 1 p.m. matinees on Saturday and Sunday. The shows are in Harrison High School's Performing Arts Center. at Harrison High School. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens. They can be purchased at the door or online by clicking here. s and can be purchased at www.myschoolbucks.com or at the door. Based on the…
Assemblyman Seeks Rail Crossing Safety Study, Cites Fatal Train Crash Assemblyman Seeks Rail Crossing Safety Study, Cites Fatal Train Crash
Assemblyman Seeks Rail Crossing Safety Study, Cites Fatal Train Crash VALHALLA, N.Y. - State Assemblyman Tom Abinanti, a Democrat representing Greenburgh and Mounr Pleasant has called for passage pf his legislation that would direct state Department of Transportation to conduct a statewide study of level grade rail crossings.  Abinanti first introduced the bill after the February 2015 Metro-North crash – the deadliest in the railroad’s history – where a commuter train collided with an SUV at a highway-railroad grade crossing at Commerce Street in Valhalla. Earlier coverage by Daily Voice can be found by clicking here. There have been no physical changes to th…
Archdiocese Of New York Honors Local Resurrection School Teacher Archdiocese Of New York Honors Local Resurrection School Teacher
Archdiocese Of New York Honors Local Resurrection School Teacher RYE, N.Y. --- Mike Meade, a fifth grade teacher at Resurrection School in Rye recently was honored as an “Outstanding Teacher” by the Archdiocese of New York. Timothy McNiff, superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of New York, asked each elementary school in the Archdiocese to submit the name of an outstanding teacher. Resurrection chose to honor Meade for his 26 years of dedicated service to Resurrection, school officials said in a news statement. Admired for his enthusiasm and passion for teaching, Meade is a treasured member of the Resurrection School community, local school offic…
Greenburgh Police, EMTs Respond To Accident Involving Pedestrian Hit By Car Greenburgh Police, EMTs Respond To Accident Involving Pedestrian Hit By Car
Greenburgh Police, EMTs Respond To Accident Involving Pedestrian Hit By Car GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Greenburgh police responded to a report of a suspected hit-and-run accident involving a pedestrian on Monday. Greenburgh Lt. Michael D'Alessio said, "After our investigation it was determined that there was no crime and the driver was located." "The pedestrian was treated at scene and refused medical attention," said D'Alessio, who is commanding officer of Greenburgh's Special Investigation Unit. The original call was to 180 E. Hartsdale Ave., where Emergency Medical Services personnel were summoned to treat a pedestrian with a knee injury.  The car…
Port Chester Students Compete In Annual Poetry Slam Port Chester Students Compete In Annual Poetry Slam
Port Chester Students Compete In Annual Poetry Slam PORT CHESTER, N.Y. -- Eight Port Chester High School students shared compassion and courage on Thursday during the school's 11th annual Phyllis Wheatley Poetry Slam. Topics ranged from date rape and eating disorders to success, self-discovery and inequality. Jennifer Pantoja, moved the audience -- and herself -- to tears while reading her poem, "Until I Was," about her own past life-threatening struggles with weight loss. Kevin DeLaRoca placed second with his poem, "Prisoner to Society." Robert Mickatavage placed third with his poem, "What is Success." Club …
Westchester's Capitol Theatre Packed To Rafters For 'Superman' Benefit Westchester's Capitol Theatre Packed To Rafters For 'Superman' Benefit
Westchester's Capitol Theatre Packed To Rafters For 'Superman' Benefit PORT CHESTER, N.Y. -- The Capitol Theatre hosted a full house Thursday night for a star-studded benefit concert to honor New York City Police Detective Joseph “Superman” Lemm of West Harrison, who was killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan on Dec. 21, 2015. The 45-year-old member of the New York Air National Guard was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star for valor, the nation’s fourth highest military decoration, earlier this month. Lemm is survived by his wife Christine, son, Ryan, 4, and 17-year-old stepdaughter, Brooke Chaco. Brooke, a Harrison High School student, sang ovation-insp…
Hyde Park Teen Charged With Rape Hyde Park Teen Charged With Rape
Hyde Park Teen Charged With Rape HYDE PARK, N.Y. -- An 18-year-old from Hyde Park was charged with felony rape on Wednesday after having sexual intercourse without the victim's consent, according to the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office. Jorge G. Martinez was arrested on a third-degree rape charge for an incident that occurred early Tuesday, according to the Sheriff's Office. Martinez was arrested on Wednesday after an investigation by the Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau. At this time, he is accused of engaging in sexual intercourse with the victim without their consent. Martinez and the victim are known to each other, so…
Mamaroneck Cracks Down On Parking On Village Streets, Activates New Meters Mamaroneck Cracks Down On Parking On Village Streets, Activates New Meters
Mamaroneck Cracks Down On Parking On Village Streets, Activates New Meters MAMARONECK, N.Y. -- Responding to complaints about abandoned cars and longterm parking by train commuters, the Village of Mamaroneck passed a local law on Monday to limit on-street residential parking to one week.  The previous law allowed parking for up to 21 days. The Board of Trustees adopted PLL B-2016 a local law Regarding Vehicles, Abandoned, Chapter 322-1 Parking Limit on Streets from with extension by Village Permit in advance. The Village is preparing a policy and program to provide for residents who anticipate having to park their cars on street for more than seven days. Village…
Anne Fitzsimmons Named First Female Police Chief In White Plains History Anne Fitzsimmons Named First Female Police Chief In White Plains History
Anne Fitzsimmons Named First Female Police Chief In White Plains History This story has been updated. WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- Anne Fitzsimmons, a 36-year officer with the White Plains Department of Public Safety, was promoted as the city's police chief on Monday.  Fitzsimmons previously served as assistant chief.  She was named acting chief last month after former White Plains Police Chief James Bradley was named the city’s new Deputy Public Safety Commissioner, a position White Plains had not funded since 2010. Bradley, who served with the force for 42 years, was chief for 25 years before retiring on Jan. 7 to take the deputy commissioner post. White Plains May…
Police Release Photos From Armed Robbery At Gas Station Off Route 100A Police Release Photos From Armed Robbery At Gas Station Off Route 100A
Police Release Photos From Armed Robbery At Gas Station Off Route 100A THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED GREENBURGH, N.Y. - A man armed with a gun held up a gas station in Greenburgh Monday night. Greenburgh police said the robbery occurred about 10:45 p.m. at a 24-hour Shell station at 425 Dobbs Ferry Road near West Hartsdale Road.  Upon arrival, police were informed by the victim that he was just robbed at gunpoint. The victim stated that a male white, short wearing a dark knit cap and dark sweater having a slight beard entered the premise, walked to the ATM, stepped up to the counter and brandished a handgun, Greenburgh police said on Tuesday.  The suspect orde…
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