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

Port Chester Landscaper Pulls Down Record $571K Empire City Casino Jackpot Port Chester Landscaper Pulls Down Record $571K Empire City Casino Jackpot
Port Chester Landscaper Pulls Down Record $571K Empire City Casino Jackpot PORT CHESTER, N.Y. -- A landscaper from Port Chester won the largest jackpot in Empire CIty Casino's eight-year history on Friday night, playing on a penny slot machine. Manuel Esteche won $571,049 by spending $2.50 with a spin on the Bally Blazing 7 Hot Shots slot machine at 11:30 p.m., according to a casino spokesman. The Yonkers casino reports that another slot machine has racked up more than $868,000 in potential winnings -- which would be a new record. Esteche could not be reached for comment this week. He owns Esteche Landscaping Corp.  Here are the top five Empire City C…
Woman Struck By Car In Mamaroneck Escapes Serious Injury Woman Struck By Car In Mamaroneck Escapes Serious Injury
Woman Struck By Car In Mamaroneck Escapes Serious Injury MAMARONECK, N.Y. -- Town of Mamaroneck police say a woman was struck by a car in the unincorporated part of the town on Wednesday at the corner of Palmer Avenue and Weaver Street. No one was seriously hurt, police said. The 56-year-old woman told police she was crossing Weaver Street following the "walk" signal, when a male driver turned left from Palmer Avenue onto Weaver Street. No tickets have been issued. The driver told police the traffic light had turned green. No additional details were available.  
Greenburgh Gas Station Robbery Resembles Other Area Heists Greenburgh Gas Station Robbery Resembles Other Area Heists
Greenburgh Gas Station Robbery Resembles Other Area Heists GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Greenburgh police detectives are investigating the Feb. 25 robbery of a Mobil gas station on Knollwood Road, which was similar to others in the area. Two male robbers fled with an unspecified amount of cash, police said. Greenburgh Police Captain Brian Ryan said, "There are similarities with respect to the suspect description and modus operandi. We are working with other police jurisdictions to establish a link with respect to these incidents to the same robbery crew." The investigation is ongoing, Ryan said on Tuesday.  
Father Hid Computer Hard Drive After Harrison Murder-Suicide, Report Says Father Hid Computer Hard Drive After Harrison Murder-Suicide, Report Says
Father Hid Computer Hard Drive After Harrison Murder-Suicide, Report Says HARRISON, N.Y. -- Police hope that data from the late Glen Hochman's computer may yield new details about why the retired White Plains police officer murdered two of his three daughters before killing himself on Feb. 21, according to LoHud.com Although the hard drive was smashed and stashed in a bin under a pile of wires and electronic equipment, Harrison investigators believe data can still be retrieved from it. Because it was apparently purposely removed from the computer and hidden, Marraccini told LoHud it may contain significant information. Hochman, 52, shot his two youngest daugh…
Mamaroneck Schools Cancel Afternoon, Evening Events Due To Snow Forecast Mamaroneck Schools Cancel Afternoon, Evening Events Due To Snow Forecast
Mamaroneck Schools Cancel Afternoon, Evening Events Due To Snow Forecast MAMARONECK, N.Y. -- Due to the weather forecast of more snow, all afternoon and evening activities, including Children’s Corner, have been cancelled for Tuesday, March 3 in the Mamaroneck Union Free School District. The only exception is the business portion of Tuesday night’s Board of Education meeting.  The Mid-Year Review on Special Education has been rescheduled to be part of the April 7 school board study session. 
Hartsdale IHOP, Charity Make Tasty Combination On National Pancake Day Hartsdale IHOP, Charity Make Tasty Combination On National Pancake Day
Hartsdale IHOP, Charity Make Tasty Combination On National Pancake Day WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. -- IHOP locations, including four in Westchester, served guests a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes Tuesday on the 10th annual National Pancake Day to raise awareness and funds for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Since all voluntary donations to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals stay local, contributions made Tuesday at area IHOP restaurants will benefit Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center and the care of the region’s most seriously ill and injured children. Jack Pastor, a first-grader in Rye Brook, enjoyed breakfast at …
Police Pursue Bank Robbery Suspect In Downtown Rye Police Pursue Bank Robbery Suspect In Downtown Rye
Police Pursue Bank Robbery Suspect In Downtown Rye RYE, N.Y. -- Rye police are investigating a Sunday afternoon robbery at TD Bank in the heart of downtown Rye. Police said a 6-foot-tall white male wearing a black winter hat and full-length trench coat walked into TD Bank at 38 Purchase St. at about 12:43 p.m. Sunday. The suspect handed a teller a typed note demanding cash, police said. The robber left the bank and walked into an adjoining municipal parking lot where a dye packet was activated, police said. Police said witnesses observed a white male shaking out his clothes in the parking lot. The clothes were covered in "red powd…
Greenburgh Honors Centenarian Coast Guard Trailblazer Greenburgh Honors Centenarian Coast Guard Trailblazer
Greenburgh Honors Centenarian Coast Guard Trailblazer GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Olivia J. Hooker, the first African-American woman to enlist in the U.S. Coast Guard and a former professor at Fordham University, was honored by the Greenburgh Town Board on her 100th birthday on Wednesday. Hooker, who lives in Greenburgh, was honored by Town Clerk Judith Beville and Town Board members during their regular meeting on Wednesday.  In 1921, Hooker witnessed race riots in Tulsa, Okla., and 24 years later, she became the first black woman to enlist in the Coast Guard. The Wall Street Journal recently published a front-page profile about her in its New Yo…
White Plains YWCA Hosts Musical Family Fun Day White Plains YWCA Hosts Musical Family Fun Day
White Plains YWCA Hosts Musical Family Fun Day WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- The snow was falling again Sunday, but families were nice and warm in the lower lounge of the YWCA, where Zev Haber’s band Pretzelstein played tunes for children of all ages. Families danced and bopped to the music while enjoying a myriad of activities, arts and crafts, and making new friends during Family Fun Day at the YWCA on North Street. Danielle Cylich, chief operating officer at the YWCA of White Plains & Central Westchester, said, “It’s wonderful having families come out to enjoy movement, music and melodies. This warm, friendly event for young children…
Mount Vernon Wins Boys Basketball Crown; Three Title Games Moved To Monday Mount Vernon Wins Boys Basketball Crown; Three Title Games Moved To Monday
Mount Vernon Wins Boys Basketball Crown; Three Title Games Moved To Monday WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- Mount Vernon High School's varsity boys basketball team beat Clarkstown South on Sunday, 78-67, to win the Section 1 Class AA championship at Westchester County Center. Senior Marlon Taylor got into foul trouble early but managed to lead the Knights to qualify for state championship playoffs. Three other Section 1 basketball title games were postponed until Monday, March 2 due to Sunday's snowy conditions. Here's the schedule for Monday: Section 1 Class AA girls final: Ossining vs. Lourdes, 3 p.m. Section 1 Class A girls final: Peekskill vs. Albertus Mag…
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