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 Neck Softball Team Snags 1st Section 1 Championship Since 2002 Rye Neck Softball Team Snags 1st Section 1 Championship Since 2002
Rye Neck Softball Team Snags 1st Section 1 Championship Since 2002 ROCKLAND COUNTY, N.Y. – It's been quite a season for Rye Neck High School's Joan Spedafino. On May 1, Spedafino became the winningest softball coach in Section 1 history, with her 447th career victory over 30 years, as reported here by Daily Voice. On Saturday, her team closed out the joyful month with an 8-2 Section 1 Class B victory over Valhalla. It gave Rye Neck its first sectional title since 2002, advancing the Panthers to State playoffs. During the regular season, the Panthers lost to Valhalla, 18-1. And last spring, Rye Neck lost the Section 1 final to the Vikings, who were f…
Some White Plains Residents Question Firing Of Public Works Commissioner Some White Plains Residents Question Firing Of Public Works Commissioner
Some White Plains Residents Question Firing Of Public Works Commissioner This story has been updated. WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- This week's firing of White Plains Department of Public Works Commissioner Joseph "Bud" Nicoletti Jr. continues to attract criticism from some city residents. About 60 of his supporters attended Wednesday's special meeting at City Hall. NIcoletti showed up to watch the Common Council vote 5-2, with Mayor Thomas Roach casting the fifth vote to let him go after 30 years of employment with the city. He'd been DPW commissioner since 1992.. Longtime Democratic district leader Carry Kyzivat wrote Roach and other members of the Common Counc…
Greenburgh Supervisor Feiner Reflects On Al DelBello's Impact Greenburgh Supervisor Feiner Reflects On Al DelBello's Impact
Greenburgh Supervisor Feiner Reflects On Al DelBello's Impact TARRYTOWN, N.Y. -- Friends and associates of Al DelBello said the former Westchester county executive treated everyone with respect, inspiring them to become better people. They spoke at Tappan Hill Mansion Thursday during a memorial service for DelBello, 80, of Lewisboro who died on May 15.  "Al encouraged my involvement,'' said Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner. "He spoke at a rally I organized for bike paths. After he won his election as county executive, he invited me to be part of his honor guard at his first inauguration. And, he appointed me to his Bicycle Task Force. . . .He was…
Hundreds Attend Memorial Service For Former County Executive Al DelBello Hundreds Attend Memorial Service For Former County Executive Al DelBello
Hundreds Attend Memorial Service For Former County Executive Al DelBello This story has been updated. TARRYTOWN, N.Y. -- Westchester County's economic comebacks of the past half century were retold by Alfred DelBello's son and 11 of his closest colleagues at a memorial service. More than 300 people attended the celebration of DelBello's life at Tappan Hill Mansion. DelBello, 80, of Lewisboro became Westchester's first Democrat to serve as county executive in 1973 and was reelected twice. He served as lieutenant governor for three years during the late Mario Cuomo's first term as governor. DelBello died May 15 from injuries suffered in a fall . Mario Cu…
Former County Exec Al DelBello Will Be Remembered In Thursday Service Former County Exec Al DelBello Will Be Remembered In Thursday Service
Former County Exec Al DelBello Will Be Remembered In Thursday Service TARRYTOWN, N.Y. -- A memorial service for former Westchester County Executive Alfred DelBello is set for 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Tappan Hill Mansion in Tarrytown. The Lewisboro resident died on May 15 at the age of 80. DelBello's wife, Dee, told The New York Times that he died from injuries suffered in a fall last month.  DelBello was Westchester's first Democrat to hold the office of county executive in 1973 and he was re-elected twice. DelBello began his political career in the 1960s as a Yonkers City Council member and then its mayor. DelBello returned to the private sector as a par…
Peekskill Native George Pataki To Enter Presidential Race In New Hampshire Peekskill Native George Pataki To Enter Presidential Race In New Hampshire
Peekskill Native George Pataki To Enter Presidential Race In New Hampshire This story has been updated. GARRISON, N.Y. -- Political pundits ruled George Pataki out as a contender when he challenged Mario Cuomo for governor in 1994 -- and won. The Garrison resident and former mayor from Peekskill is used to running as an underdog. He's already considered a long shot in a crowded field of Republican candidates for president.  The lanky, soft-spoken former three-term governor plans to launch his first presidential campaign on Thursday in Exeter, N.H. Now living in the Putnam County hamlet of Garrison, Pataki has visited New Hampshire nine times during the past…
Odell Backs Proposal To Toughen State Law Against Sexual Assaults On Campus Odell Backs Proposal To Toughen State Law Against Sexual Assaults On Campus
Odell Backs Proposal To Toughen State Law Against Sexual Assaults On Campus PURCHASE, N.Y. -- Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell made a special trip to Manhattanville College on Tuesday to endorse a plan to strengthen state law related to sex crimes, especially those on college campuses. While there are no colleges or universities in Putnam County, Odell said changes in the law proposed by Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino would help victims of all sexual assaults. "Sexual assaults and rapes are violent crimes,'' Odell said during a news conference at the college in Purchase. Sarah Tubbs of Montrose, who reported she was raped at Stony Brook Uni…
Manhattanville College Hosts Press Conference On Combating Sexual Assaults Manhattanville College Hosts Press Conference On Combating Sexual Assaults
Manhattanville College Hosts Press Conference On Combating Sexual Assaults PURCHASE, N.Y. -- Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino detailed his proposal for toughening New York state's enforcement against sexual assault -- especially on college campuses. During a news conference at Manhattanville College on Tuesday, Astorino was joined by Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell, several victims' advocates and a woman from Montrose who was raped at Stony Brook College. Astorino said his four-point plan would improve upon Gov. Andrew Cuomo's campus assault bill, which awaits approval by the State Legislature.  “Colleges are good at educating young adults,…
Unexpected Fireworks Prompt Greenburgh Residents To Fear Attack Unexpected Fireworks Prompt Greenburgh Residents To Fear Attack
Unexpected Fireworks Prompt Greenburgh Residents To Fear Attack GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Residents who live near Metropolis Country Club called Town of Greenburgh police Sunday night concerned they were under some kind of attack. It turns out that the country club, located at 289 Dobbs Ferry Road (Route 100B), was exploding fireworks for its private club members. The golf club had the proper permits, according to Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner, but neither he nor other Town Board members were notified or they would have alerted residents in advance of the loud fireworks display. Feiner said he will require all future fireworks permit holders to pos…
Thornwood, Valhalla Memorial Day Parades Include American Legion Ceremonies Thornwood, Valhalla Memorial Day Parades Include American Legion Ceremonies
Thornwood, Valhalla Memorial Day Parades Include American Legion Ceremonies MOUNT PLEASANT, N.Y. -- Town of Mount Pleasant residents get their pick of Memorial Day commemorations on Monday. There's a 9:30 a.m. parade in Valhalla and another one across town in Thornwood at 10:30 a.m. Both parades conclude with ceremonies and refreshments sponsored by American Legion posts. Valhalla's parade begins at Westlake Drive behind the Valhalla Methodist Church and proceeds south on Columbus Avenue. Its ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at Village Green. Hot dogs, ice cream and refreshments will be served by American Legion Post 1038 after the parade and ceremony. Thornwood's…
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