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Friday, February 4, 2022
Vol. 71, No. 5
VALENTINE’S DAY GUIDE
REDISTRICTING PLAN SHAKES UP L.I.
SUOZZI BLASTS HOCHUL AGAIN
PAGES 31-42
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State’s mask mandate could stay until March Hochul’s order granted a reprieve by court BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE’S OFFICE
Parents and children advocating for making masks optional in school gathered at the Nassau County Legislative Building on Monday with County Executive Bruce Blakeman.
New York’s mask mandate, issued by Gov. Kathy Hochul, was granted a reprieve by a state appellate court on Monday, which could result in protective face coverings remaining in schools and indoor settings until March 2. Officials said the mandate, which expires Feb. 10 for indoor settings and Feb. 21 for schools, can stay in effect until at least March 2, the deadline for the state to file documents for its appeal of a lawsuit filed by a group of 14 parents. The law-
suit, filed on Jan. 24, claims Hochul’s mask mandate was unconstitutional. “I commend the Appellate Division, Second Department for granting a full stay to keep our masking regulations in place for the duration of our appeal,” Hochul said in a statement following the court’s ruling Monday. “My primary responsibility as Governor is to keep New Yorkers safe. Mask regulations keep our schools and businesses safe and open, protect vulnerable New Yorkers, and are critical tools as we work to get through this winter surge.” Continued on Page 55
Suit filed against Durst’s second wife L. Success-based law firm charges wrongful death on behalf of McCormack family BY R OB E RT PELAEZ
Durst, filed a wrongful death action against the late real estate scion’s second wife, according to The family of Robert Durst’s a statement from attorney Robfirst wife, Kathleen McCormack ert Abrams.
The Lake Success-based attorney representing the McCormack family said the legal action against Debrah Charatan, Robert Durst’s second wife, was filed because she allegedly anticipated that a Houston court would name her as the executor of Durst’s last will and testament. The announcement was
made on Monday, the 40th anniversary of Kathleen Durst’s disappearance, and claims that Charatan will be left with her husband’s share of the family trusts. A graduate of New Hyde Park Memorial High School, Kathleen McCormack married Durst in 1971. She disappeared on Jan. 31, 1982, and her body
was never found. Thirty-six years after her disappearance, she was declared dead by a Manhattan court in 2017. Last year the Westchester County district attorney’s office reopened the cold case investigating Kathleen Durst’s disappearance, resulting in a Westchester grand jury indicting Continued on Page 56
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