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

Harrison's Pet Rescue Has More Dogs, Cats, Puppies Ready For Adoption Harrison's Pet Rescue Has More Dogs, Cats, Puppies Ready For Adoption
Harrison's Pet Rescue Has More Dogs, Cats, Puppies Ready For Adoption HARRISON, N.Y. -- At a loss for a holiday gift for a loved one? Pet Rescue of Harrison has an answer: The non-profit animal facility at 7 Harrison Ave. recently rescued a batch of dogs and puppies from a "high kill" shelter in Louisiana. Pet Rescue also offers cats and kittens for adoption. Caroline Walker, a volunteer, said that on Nov. 21, Pet Rescue transported newly rescued dogs to Harrison "where tails are wagging as they await their forever families."  The canines answer when called by such names of Bitty, Dodger, Miki, Tinkerbelle, Tweetie and Winnie. (The last t…
Mamaroneck Schools Activate 'Hour Of Code,' Expand Computer Studies Mamaroneck Schools Activate 'Hour Of Code,' Expand Computer Studies
Mamaroneck Schools Activate 'Hour Of Code,' Expand Computer Studies MAMARONECK, N.Y. -- Coding has become an integral part of the Mamaroneck School District’s curriculum, with a new elementary computer science program launching in January and more advanced coding and programming continuing through middle school and high school. In 2016, elementary school pupils will learn how to program computers -- writing programs to solve problems, create digital art and craft interactive stories -- using web-based software through code.org​ and S​cratch, a coding platform developed by MIT. This week, Mamaroneck Schools, along with millions of students around the world …
White Plains High Students 'Perform Beautifully' At State Music Conference White Plains High Students 'Perform Beautifully' At State Music Conference
White Plains High Students 'Perform Beautifully' At State Music Conference WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- Five White Plains High School students were selected to perform in the 2015 New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Winter Conference in Rochester last week.  It's considered the highest honor a New York State music student can receive. Representing White Plains were: Meredith Abato on violin; Sarah Samaranayake, viola; Isabelle Levine, soprano; Jacob Brady, bassoon; and Elana Hausknecht, euphonium. The students participated in three days of intense rehearsals with conductors from across the country and then performed in Kodak Hall at the Eastman Theatre for …
Columbus Elementary School Troubadors Sing In The Holiday Season Columbus Elementary School Troubadors Sing In The Holiday Season
Columbus Elementary School Troubadors Sing In The Holiday Season MOUNT PLEASANT, N.Y. -- The Columbus Troubadors helped usher in the holiday season on Friday by performing favorite songs during the annual tree lighting ceremony at Mount Pleasant Town Hall. Under the direction of music teacher Michael Hood, the Columbus Elementary School Troubadors provided a festive program that included Winter Wonderland, Jingle Bells, Hannukkah, Oh Hannukkah and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.  The Troubadors' performance was followed by the tree lighting and a visit from Santa.
Dutchess County Man Sent To Prison In Domestic Violence Case Dutchess County Man Sent To Prison In Domestic Violence Case
Dutchess County Man Sent To Prison In Domestic Violence Case POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- Dutchess County Court Judge Peter M. Forman sentenced Henry A. Rivera to one to three years in state prison as a second felony offender, according to the Poughkeepsie Journal. Rivera, 36, of Hyde Park pleaded guilty to a felony charge of aggravated family offense, a felony, on Oct. 29, the Journal reported. A person is charged with aggravated family offense if they commit certain specified misdemeanor offenses --- to protect domestic violence victims from repeat offenders. Forman imposed the standard fines and surcharges of $375 and issued an order of protection on be…
Police: Dad, Daughter Bought Heroin With Intent To Sell In Hudson Valley Police: Dad, Daughter Bought Heroin With Intent To Sell In Hudson Valley
Police: Dad, Daughter Bought Heroin With Intent To Sell In Hudson Valley WARWICK, N.Y. -- A 52-year-old Greenwood Lake man and his teenage daughter were arrested Sunday after they bought about 90 baggies of heroin in Passaic County, N.J., according to police. Town of Warwick police said Bennet Palazzolo, 52, and his daughter, Grace, 19, are accused of buying heroin in New Jersey with the intent to sell it from their Orange County neighborhood on East Shore Road. Grace Palazzolo was additionally charged with tampering with physical evidence and littering, police said. After police tried to pull Bennet Palazzolo's car over, his daughter reportedly tossed a brick …
Rye Appoints Michael Corcoran New Police Commissioner Rye Appoints Michael Corcoran New Police Commissioner
Rye Appoints Michael Corcoran New Police Commissioner RYE, N.Y. -- Rye's City Council unanimously approved the appointment of Michael C. Corcoran as the police commissioner effective Feb. 1, 2016. The City Council gave its approval and consent at its regular meeting on Wednesday night. Rye City Manager Marcus Serrano said that “after a national search and intensive interview process, I am proud to have appointed (Corcoran) and appreciate the City Council’s support in affirming my appointment." Under the City Charter, Serrano has the authority to appoint the police commissioner.  In a press statement, Serrano said: “Mr. Corcoran comes to…
Call For Arms By Ulster County Sheriff Spurs Public Debate Call For Arms By Ulster County Sheriff Spurs Public Debate
Call For Arms By Ulster County Sheriff Spurs Public Debate KINGSTON, N.Y. -- Ulster County Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum's statement encouraging licensed handgun owners to carry weapons prompted a firestorm of public reaction -- both pro and con. Van Blarcum's position was posted on the Ulstate County Sheriff's Office Facebook page, on Thursday. The sheriff's comments follow highly-publicized shootings including last month's terrorist attack in Paris and Wednesday's attack at a Social Services center in San Bernardino, Calif., where 14 people were killed by a man and a woman. Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnwright posted this on his blog on …
State Assemblyman Opposes 'Wild West' Reaction To Gun Violence State Assemblyman Opposes 'Wild West' Reaction To Gun Violence
State Assemblyman Opposes 'Wild West' Reaction To Gun Violence This story has been updated. WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. -- A state assemblyman representing the towns of Greenburgh and Mount Pleasant said he favors strong background checks on gun owners -- not a "Wild West" solution. "We have guns in the hands of the wrong people. That's the problem. Let's devise a solution," Assemblyman Tom Abinanti said on Friday. The state legislator from Pleasantville was reacting to Ulster County Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum's statement encouraging licensed handgun owners to carry weapons. Van Blarcum's position was posted on the Ulstate County Sheri…
Putnam County Sheriff Voices His Support For Licensed Guns Putnam County Sheriff Voices His Support For Licensed Guns
Putnam County Sheriff Voices His Support For Licensed Guns PUTNAM COUNTY, N.Y. -- Following a statement by Ulster County Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum encouraging licensed handgun owners to carry weapons that prompted a firestorm of public reaction -- both pro and con -- Putnam County Sheriff Donald Smith issued a statement of his own. Van Blarcum's position was posted on the Ulstate County Sheriff's Office Facebook page on Thursday. Smith's comments follow highly-publicized shootings including last month's terrorist attack in Paris and Wednesday's attack at a Social Services center in San Bernardino, Calif., where 14 people were killed by a man and a w…
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