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  • Local 66 Members Rip Slaughter Campaign Spending

    Local 66 Members Rip Slaughter Campaign Spending

    SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y. — Members of Laborers Local 66 are criticizing the union’s political stipend program as Josh Slaughter, one of the organization’s political officials, campaigns for State Assembly.

    Local 66’s own website says members who participate in political action are eligible to receive $50 stipends for every four-hour shift and directs members interested in participating to Slaughter. The union currently lists Slaughter as its PAC Director.

    Several Local 66 members who spoke with AUXIO.TV say they believe union resources are being used to benefit Slaughter’s Assembly campaign and object to members being paid to participate.

    “He’s helping himself to our union money for his political campaign and that’s wrong,” one Local 66 member said.

    The member added that some workers continue to support incumbent Assemblyman Joe DeStefano.

    “Many of us are supporting Assemblyman Joe DeStefano, as we have in the past,” the member said. “If members want to help Slaughter, go ahead, but they shouldn’t be paid for it with our dues money.”

    AUXIO.TV has not independently confirmed which union account or funding source is used to pay the stipends, and Local 66’s public political-action page does not identify the source of those funds.

    Another member questioned the relationship between Slaughter’s union political role and his candidacy.

    “Josh is the political guy for the union and now he’s the candidate,” the member said. “That’s what members are upset about.”

    Slaughter has longstanding ties to Local 66. The union currently identifies him as PAC Director and also lists him among its leadership as an auditor and PAC coordinator. In testimony submitted to the New York State Assembly in 2023, Slaughter described himself as a “proud member” of Local 66 and said he served on its executive board.

    The dispute comes as Slaughter challenges DeStefano in the 3rd Assembly District.

    For the members speaking out, the issue is less about whether union members should participate in politics and more about whether a stipend program should be used when the union official overseeing political activity is also running for office.

    AUXIO.TV has reached out to Laborers Local 66 and the Slaughter campaign for comment.

    SUFFOLK NEWS NOW | Presented by AUXIO.TV

  • LaLota Visits Fishers Island, Highlights Aging Infrastructure Needs

    LaLota Visits Fishers Island, Highlights Aging Infrastructure Needs

    FISHERS ISLAND, N.Y. — Congressman Nick LaLota visited Fishers Island to review infrastructure challenges facing the remote Southold Town community, including its aging power and water systems.

    LaLota said the island is dealing with an aging submarine power cable and more than 20 miles of vulnerable water mains. He said his office is working with local leaders to identify federal resources that could help strengthen those systems.

    Fishers Island’s geographic isolation makes reliable infrastructure especially important. The island sits roughly 30 miles from the North Fork and has previously received federal support for transportation-related infrastructure, including funding for Elizabeth Field airport. 

    The congressman has also backed other infrastructure projects across Suffolk County, including water-main, drainage, roadway and public-safety improvements through federal community project funding. 

    LaLota said the goal is to work with local officials to pursue federal funding that can address Fishers Island’s long-term infrastructure needs.

    EAST END NEWS NOW | Presented by AUXIO.TV

  • In This Corner: Magic City Boxing Is Building More Than Fighters

    In This Corner: Magic City Boxing Is Building More Than Fighters

    By Kevin K-Solo Madison | AUXIO Sports

    Magic City Boxing Athletic Club in East Orlando is using the sport for something bigger than wins and losses.

    The nonprofit boxing gym combines real boxing instruction with youth mentorship, fitness programs and an amateur competition pathway. Its youth program focuses on fundamentals, discipline and confidence, with scholarships available for families who need help covering training costs. (Magic City Boxing Athletic Club)

    For athletes who want to compete, Magic City provides a progression from fundamentals to controlled sparring and sanctioned amateur bouts, with USA Boxing-certified coaches guiding the process. Nobody is pushed into the ring, and sparring has to be earned. (Magic City Boxing Athletic Club)

    That’s what a boxing gym is supposed to do.

    Teach the sport. Build discipline. Give young people a place to grow.

    Magic City Boxing is showing that sometimes the most important victories happen long before the bell rings.

    — Kevin K-Solo Madison

    IN THIS CORNER | AUXIO SPORTS

  • In This Corner: Rockin’ Fights 55 Returns to Huntington

    In This Corner: Rockin’ Fights 55 Returns to Huntington

    By Kevin Madison | AUXIO Sports

    Long Island boxing returns to The Paramount in Huntington on Saturday, October 10, as Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing presents Rockin’ Fights 55.

    The professional boxing card is set for 7:30 p.m. and is expected to feature local matchups, rising contenders and familiar Rockin’ Fights names as the lineup continues to take shape. (Star Boxing)

    The Paramount has become an important home for boxing on Long Island, giving fighters a strong local stage and fans a chance to experience the action up close.

    With more matchups still to be announced, Rockin’ Fights 55 is shaping up to be another night worth watching for Long Island fight fans.

    — Kevin Madison

  • AUXIO.TV CEO Addul Ali Meets Actor Kevin Sorbo at 2026 Salt & Light Conference

    AUXIO.TV CEO Addul Ali Meets Actor Kevin Sorbo at 2026 Salt & Light Conference

    MARION, NC — AUXIO.TV President and CEO Addul Ali met actor, director, producer and author Kevin Sorbo Friday during the 2026 Salt & Light Conference in Marion, North Carolina.

    The three-day conference, organized by the North Carolina Faith & Freedom Coalition, opened September 25 at Nebo Crossing Church and continues through September 27. Organizers describe the annual gathering as focused on faith, culture, public policy and civic engagement. 

    Sorbo is among the conference’s featured speakers and is also scheduled to headline a Friday evening Freedom Dinner before the opening-night general session. The conference program lists additional speakers from entertainment, ministry, media and government. 

    Ali’s meeting with Sorbo came as AUXIO.TV continues developing its programming and relationships across entertainment, faith, culture and public affairs.

    For AUXIO, the encounter also reflects the network’s broader effort to connect with personalities and organizations operating across the different areas its programming covers.

    Sorbo is best known for his acting career and has increasingly worked on faith-oriented film and media projects. His official studio schedule lists the Salt & Light Conference as part of his September 2026 appearances. 

    The Salt & Light Conference is in its ninth year and includes general sessions, breakout programming and special events throughout the weekend. 

  • Romaine Declares State of Emergency as Nor’easter Approaches Suffolk County

    Romaine Declares State of Emergency as Nor’easter Approaches Suffolk County

    HAUPPAUGE, NY — Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine announced Friday afternoon that he has signed a state of emergency as Suffolk County prepares for an incoming nor’easter expected to affect Long Island through the weekend.

    Romaine announced the action alongside Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, saying the declaration was issued in preparation for the storm’s expected regional impact.

    The move follows precautionary steps already taken by Suffolk County ahead of deteriorating weather conditions. On September 24, Romaine announced restrictions across the county parks system, including the suspension of beachfront camping and outer-beach driving, with conditions scheduled to be reevaluated as the storm progresses. 

    County officials said campers should prepare for heavy rainfall and strong, sustained winds. Hard-sided campers and RVs may remain at certain locations on a site-by-site basis, while tent camping and campfires were also scheduled for suspension during the storm period. 

    The state-of-emergency declaration gives county government additional flexibility to coordinate departments, emergency-management operations and public-safety resources as conditions develop.

    Suffolk’s geography makes coastal storms particularly significant. With communities stretching across both the Atlantic Ocean and Long Island Sound, strong winds and elevated water levels can affect beaches, low-lying roads, waterfront neighborhoods and marine operations across the county.

    Romaine’s announcement came from Suffolk County’s emergency operations setting with representatives from public safety and emergency-response agencies present.

    Residents are being urged to monitor official county alerts and adjust weekend plans as necessary. Suffolk County maintains its SuffolkAlert system for emergency notifications, while county officials continue to post storm-related updates through official government channels. 

  • NC BILL WOULD CREATE NEW PATH FOR HAIR BRAIDERS

    NC BILL WOULD CREATE NEW PATH FOR HAIR BRAIDERS

    RALEIGH, N.C. — A proposal moving through the North Carolina General Assembly could reduce the amount of formal training and bureaucracy for people who want to professionally braid hair, while maintaining state certification and safety requirements.

    Senate Bill 808, the Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners Amendments, would create a separate state certification specifically for hair braiders. Under the latest version of the legislation, an applicant would complete at least 24 hours of approved hair-braiding instruction, pass an examination administered by the North Carolina Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners and pay the required fees.

    The change would create a significantly shorter pathway than North Carolina’s existing natural-hair-care specialist license, which currently requires 300 hours of education. SB 808 would also reduce that broader natural-hair-care requirement from 300 hours to 150 hours.

    The distinction matters because the bill narrowly defines hair braiding as braiding, twisting or wrapping hair without chemicals, adhesives or heat applied to natural hair. The definition allows decorative elements such as beads and thread as well as minor trimming associated with braiding.

    For people interested only in braiding hair professionally, the legislation could therefore eliminate the need to complete training covering a much broader range of natural-hair-care services.

    The proposal could also expand where braiders can work. Certified hair braiders and licensed natural-hair-care specialists would be permitted to braid at fairs, street festivals, farmers markets, local fundraisers and similar events approved by the state board.

    The legislation does not eliminate regulation of hair braiding. Braiders would remain subject to state oversight, including certification, an examination, annual renewal and continuing-education requirements. The latest proposal sets the hair-braider certification fee at $10 per year.

    That creates the central policy question surrounding the legislation: how much training should North Carolina require for a profession whose practitioners may perform braiding without providing chemical or other broader cosmetology services?

    Supporters of reducing occupational barriers can point to the dramatically shorter pathway to legally enter the profession. Maintaining certification, examinations and continuing education, meanwhile, preserves a state role in sanitation, safety and consumer protection.

    SB 808 was introduced by Republican Sens. Amy Galey, Tim Moffitt and Norman Sanderson. The Senate approved an earlier version, and the legislation subsequently underwent changes in House committees.

    As of September 25, 2026, SB 808 has not become law. The General Assembly’s official legislative history lists its most recent action as a June 30 referral to the House Rules, Calendar and Operations Committee.

    If lawmakers ultimately approve the current language, the major cosmetic-art changes are scheduled to take effect December 31, 2026.

    For North Carolina’s professional hair braiders, the debate is ultimately about where the state should draw the line between occupational access and consumer protection.

    Source: North Carolina General Assembly — Senate Bill 808, Sixth Edition; nonpartisan Legislative Analysis Division.

  • Transit Labor Advocate Tramell Thompson Pushes Back on MTA Contract Demands

    Transit Labor Advocate Tramell Thompson Pushes Back on MTA Contract Demands

    NEW YORK, NY — Transit labor advocate Tramell Thompson, founder of Progressive Action, is pushing back against the MTA’s latest contract demands, arguing that workers are being asked to give up too much in exchange for raises.

    In a recent social media post, Thompson criticized MTA leadership and Chair and CEO Janno Lieber, saying transit workers are being asked to surrender work-rule protections, pay more toward healthcare and then face criticism for working overtime when the system remains understaffed.

    “The MTA wants transit workers to give up work rules for raises, pay MORE for healthcare, and then complains when workers take overtime to perform work that STILL has to get done,” Thompson wrote.

    Thompson, who founded Progressive Action and has worked inside New York City Transit, has built a following around rank-and-file labor issues, workplace safety and union accountability. His social media profile also makes clear that his views are his own and are not presented on behalf of any union or other entity. 

    The dispute comes amid ongoing negotiations between the MTA and Transport Workers Union Local 100, which represents tens of thousands of New York City Transit employees.

    According to TWU Local 100, management proposals presented during bargaining have included higher employee healthcare contributions, changes to prescription benefits, tighter sick-leave rules and changes affecting overtime eligibility and premium pay. The union has opposed many of those proposals. 

    Lieber has publicly said the MTA wants to revisit certain work rules and healthcare costs as part of a new contract, arguing that the agency needs greater flexibility and more consistent employee availability. He has described some existing provisions as outdated and said collective bargaining is the appropriate venue for changing them. 

    Thompson’s response reflects the other side of that argument.

    He said transit employees worked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, often in difficult underground conditions, and continue to keep the system operating every day.

    “If overtime is the problem, HIRE ENOUGH PEOPLE!” Thompson wrote. “If workplace health is the concern, MAKE THE WORKPLACE HEALTHIER!”

    He added that workers are not seeking special treatment but are negotiating over the value of the work they perform.

    The union itself has made similar arguments during negotiations, saying its members are seeking substantial wage increases while resisting proposals that would increase healthcare costs or reduce contractual protections. 

    The current dispute underscores a familiar tension in public transit labor negotiations: management is seeking lower costs and greater operational flexibility, while workers are trying to preserve compensation, benefits and longstanding workplace protections.

    For Thompson, the central issue is whether workers should be asked to finance their own raises through concessions elsewhere in the contract.

    The negotiations remain ongoing, and no final agreement has been announced.

  • Suffolk OTB Growth Continues as Jake’s 58 Expands Hiring in Islandia

    Suffolk OTB Growth Continues as Jake’s 58 Expands Hiring in Islandia

    ISLANDIA, NY — Suffolk County Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation is continuing to expand its presence in the county, with Jake’s 58 Casino Hotel now hiring as growth continues at the Islandia property.

    Suffolk County has promoted a Jake’s 58 job fair on September 24, with two hiring sessions scheduled at the casino hotel on Express Drive North in Islandia. The county’s event notice says Jake’s 58 is growing and is looking for additional employees to join the operation. 

    The hiring comes as Suffolk OTB advances a major expansion of Jake’s 58. The previously announced project includes additional gaming space, new food and beverage offerings, a convention center, an ultra lounge with an outdoor terrace, expanded parking and other amenities. Suffolk OTB has said the project is expected to create additional permanent jobs while also supporting hundreds of union construction positions. 

    The expansion represents a significant turnaround for Suffolk OTB, which emerged from bankruptcy after Jake’s 58 proved financially successful. Suffolk County budget documents show the casino generated revenue above the minimum levels originally guaranteed to the county, and Suffolk OTB was able to pay off its creditors in full in 2020. 

    Jake’s 58 also plays a broader public role because Suffolk OTB operates as a public-benefit corporation. County workforce-development materials note that proceeds from the operation support New York State education funding, while Suffolk County also receives revenue from OTB operations. 

    The property’s continued growth has also been accompanied by community giving. Jake’s 58 recently highlighted an $11,683.65 donation generated through its “Donate Your Change” program for the Christopher G. Scherer Semper Fi Fund, supporting service dogs for wounded veterans. 

    For Suffolk OTB, the combination of expansion, hiring, public revenue and community partnerships reflects an organization that has moved well beyond its earlier financial struggles.

    The September job fair adds another immediate sign of that growth, with Jake’s 58 looking to add workers as the Islandia operation continues expanding.

  • DeStefano Helps Secure Nearly $370,000 to Support Suffolk Families Through Colonial Youth & Family Services

    DeStefano Helps Secure Nearly $370,000 to Support Suffolk Families Through Colonial Youth & Family Services

    MORICHES, NY — Assemblyman Joe DeStefano helped secure a $369,861 New York State grant for Colonial Youth & Family Services, directing additional state resources toward programs that serve children and families across Suffolk County.

    Colonial Youth & Family Services is a Moriches-based nonprofit that has served the community for decades with programs focused on childcare, counseling, family support and youth development. The organization says its services are designed to support the physical, emotional and social well-being of children and their families. 

    The grant is administered through the New York State Office of Children and Family Services and gives Colonial additional funding to support its community-based work.

    Colonial’s programs include childcare, individual and family counseling, youth volunteer opportunities and family assistance for residents facing financial hardship. Its family assistance program provides emergency food, school supplies, holiday assistance, heating and electric support and referrals for families in the William Floyd School District. 

    That makes the grant significant beyond the dollar amount itself. The funding supports an organization whose services directly reach families dealing with everyday challenges ranging from childcare needs to food insecurity and utility costs.

    Colonial was originally established to serve the William Floyd School District area, including Mastic, Mastic Beach, Shirley and the Moriches, though its nonprofit structure allows it to provide services more broadly across Suffolk County. 

    The organization is led by a local board that includes Nick Taylor, President; Don Sarno, Treasurer; and Raheem Soto, Vice President.

    For Suffolk families who rely on community organizations for counseling, childcare or emergency assistance, the state grant adds resources behind services already operating locally.

    DeStefano’s role in helping secure the funding also places the award within a broader public-policy question: how state dollars are directed back into community organizations providing direct services to residents.

    For Colonial Youth & Family Services, the nearly $370,000 grant represents another source of support for work that reaches children, parents and families throughout the region.