Suffolk lawmakers are trying their hardest to keep energy drinks like Red Bull out of the hands of minors.

Red Bull may give you wings, but the energy drink companies’ attempts to reach minors may soon be grounded on the eastern half of Long Island.

Suffolk County lawmakers approved three controversial bills Tuesday aimed at keeping energy drinks out of the hands of minors, citing health concerns, over objections of beverage industry lobbyists who called it unfair. County Executive Steve Bellone has not signaled whether he will sign the bills into law.

The proposals include legislation prohibiting the sale and distribution of energy drinks to minors at county parks, prohibiting energy drink companies from mailing energy drink coupons and free...| read more ››

Smithtown Democrats have picked a former county judge along with a longtime party activist to run for town board in November.

Adam Halpern, a prosecutor in Suffolk County's Traffic and Parking Violations Agency and a former 4th District County Court judge, and activist Richard Macellaro, a retired home health care administrator, have been named to challenge Republican councilmen Kevin Malloy and Thomas McCarthy.

Halpern, 53, of Hauppauge, and Macellaro, 60, of Kings Park, were endorsed by the town Democratic committee at its nominating convention on Monday at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 25 hall in Hauppauge.

The committee also formally endorsed Steven E. Snair, 31, a Nesconset foreclosure attorney, to run for town supervisor. Republican Supervisor Patrick Vecchio,...| read more ››

On Tuesday night, I was honored to deliver my second State of the County address as Suffolk County Executive. If you missed it, you can view it here.

I talked about the progress we have made over the first year of our Administration as well as the significant challenges still facing Suffolk County. This year, I declared that the State of our County is "rebuilding" in the wake of crises ranging from our budget to Superstorm Sandy.

As you know, I inherited a budget deficit that was estimated at more than $400 million over three years and rather than continuing the infighting that had ground our county to a halt, I rolled up my sleeves and worked with the...| read more ››

Steve Bellone, the Suffolk County executive, signed an executive order on Nov. 14 requiring county agencies to translate essential public documents and forms into six languages besides English and to provide translation services for residents who don’t speak English well.

The goal is to make government more accessible to residents, especially in emergencies, and could be especially valuable to residents in Suffolk County, which covers central and eastern Long Island and is far more diverse than its bedroom-community stereotype suggests. The county has 1.5 million residents, 20 percent of whom speak languages other than English at home. The order applies to the top six: Italian, Mandarin, Spanish, Polish, French Creole and Portuguese.

Mr. Bellone’s order is more than a common-sense...| read more ››

WASHINGTON — After fierce lobbying by political leaders in states across the Northeast, the House of Representatives on Tuesday night approved a long-awaited $50.7 billion emergency bill to provide help to victims of Hurricane Sandy.
Related

The aid package passed 241 to 180, with 49 Republicans joining 192 Democrats. The Senate is expected to pass the measure, and President Obama has expressed support for it.

The $50.7 billion — along with a nearly $10 billion aid package that Congress approved earlier this month — seeks to provide for the huge needs that have arisen in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and other states since the hurricane struck in late October.

The emergency aid measure would help homeowners whose homes...| read more ››

It’s been less than two days since Al Krupski won a lopsided victory to become the North Fork’s county legislator-elect, but he already has committee assignments and a new office. And he knows there’s a lot more ahead as he says farewell to the Southold Town Board and hello to the Suffolk County Legislature.

Mr. Krupski will take the oath of office next Thursday, Jan. 24 — where has yet to be determined — with his term officially beginning on Friday. First, however, there’s the business of the county Board of Elections certifying the election results. The BOE is already into the “recanvassing,” the standard post-election review of all the ballots, and could declare Mr. Krupski the winner sometime next...| read more ››

After a stunning landslide victory Tuesday in his race for Suffolk County's 1st Legislative District seat, Southold farmer Albert Krupski Jr. started Wednesday by taking care of business.

After breakfast, he drove around town picking up campaign signs.

Krupski became the first Southold Town resident ever elected to the county legislature, and only the second Democrat elected in the district, which covers the North Fork and the northeastern part of Brookhaven Town.

Krupski, 52, of Cutchogue, who has served on the Southold Town board since 2005, defeated Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter by better than a 2-1 ratio. The unofficial count was 6,561 to 3,182. He beat Walter in 19 of 22 of Riverhead's election districts.

The legislature's 1st District...| read more ››

Southold Town will have to find another councilman.

Southold Town Councilman Al Krupski defeated Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter during a special election Tuesday night for a seat on the Suffolk County Legislature.

Unofficial results on the Suffolk County Board of Elections website show Krupski with 6,561 votes to Walter's 3,182 – 67 percent of the vote – with all 65 election districts reporting.

Krupski thanked a crowd of Democrats at Dark Horse Restaurant in downtown Riverhead, though said the upcoming resignation from his current post will be bittersweet.

"It's been a great experience learning the whole district and the whole county," he said, adding later that "it's really hard to have to leave such a good group of workmen....| read more ››

If you are registered to vote in Brookhaven Election Districts 40, 113 or 141 and your normal polling location is Ridge Fire House, your polling location has been relocated. All others will vote at their regular polling locations. | read more ››

To the Residents of Suffolk's First Legislative District:

My campaign for Suffolk County Legislator in the 1st district has been an incredibly positive learning experience.

I have met many people throughout the entire district who have a strong understanding of what is important to their community. My record of land preservation, environmental protection, and having a business friendly attitude has resonated to those who do not know me personally but favor that kind of government.

With a history of 20 years serving the as town trustee and seven-plus years as town board member it can be attested by those who know me that I have forged a legacy of not serving one political party or faction, but rather the entire...| read more ››