Politics & Government

Suffolk Notebook: West Nile Confirmed, Judge Censured

Virus found in mosquitoes in Islip.

The dangerous West Nile virus was detected in Suffolk County this week when mosquitoes in Gardiner County Park tested positive for the disease.

The news comes a week after a dead crow found in Northport tested positive for the virus.

West Nile, which has become a repeat problem on Long Island in the Summer, is particularly dangerous to humans for the neurological effects it could present.

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Not all people infected develop the disease, and some symptoms could include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services said.

There have been no human cases reported in Suffolk in 2012 to date.

Find out what's happening in Three Villagewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The county so far has limited insecticide spraying to areas on Fire Island, though in the past other areas in Suffolk County have been treated.

Suffolk Judge Censured for Poker Games
County District Court Judge Paul Hensley this week was censured by the state for appearing to endorse and playing in private poker games that took place at the Fraternal Order of Eagles clubhouse in Northport.

According to the Associated Press report, Hensley didn't do anything illegal, but they ruled that his attendance "was inconsistent with his role as a judge and his obligation to respect and comply with the law, because he was voluntarily in the presence of those who were violating the law."

The state panel charged the game's organizer with breaking the law since he was keeping a portion of the pot.

An undercover police officer collected the information about the games.

Bellone Taps Human Rights Leaders
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone this week named a slate of new appointees to its Human Rights Commission, a group that patrols for discrimination and other rights abuses in the county.

Bellone named Luis Rodriguez and Dr. Luis Valenzuela to the commission, and re-appointed chairperson Rabbi Dr. Steven A. Moss, vice-chair Lynda Perdomo-Ayala and members Michele Del Monte and Dr. Carolyn Peabody to new terms.


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