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8  THE COURIER SUN  •  FEBRUARY 16, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com Queens senators help pass bill for expanded criminal DNA tests BY ANTHONY GIUDICE agiudice@ridgewoodtimes.com @A_GiudiceReport Days before the state Commission on Forensic Science is scheduled to hold a special hearing on familial DNA testing, the State Senate passed a bill — co-sponsored by Senators Joseph Addabbo and Tony Avella — to allow the use of expanded genetic testing. Before DNA testing led to the arrest of 20-year-old Chanel Lewis in the murder case of Howard Beach’s Karina Vetrano, local elected officials and the Vetrano family called on the state Commission on Forensic Science to adopt familial DNA testing to help police solve heinous crimes when all other investigative leads were exhausted. “I continue to believe that this type of search is an important resource in violent criminal investigations where the trail seems to be getting colder and colder,” Addabbo said. “It took six long and painful months for the investigators to identify and arrest a suspect in Karina’s case. Against great odds, our law enforcement agencies did a tremendous job in connecting the dots between the suspect’s earlier suspicious behavior, a 911 call, and the murder.” Familial DNA testing would allow investigators to use the state’s DNA Database to find close relatives of a suspect, when their DNA does not provide a match. This could lead to major breakthroughs in cases where other methods have failed. Under the legislation (S.2956A), the DNA Subcommittee of the New York State Commission on Forensic Science would make a report by the end of 2017 that recommends the best practices for the procedure. Several other states across the country have already approved familial DNA testing, and have used it to solve previously unsolved cases. “Our state has the capability and the technology to find murderers, rapists and other felons. We should not sit idly by, while those criminals walk on our streets,” Photo by Anthony Giudice/QNS The state Senate voted to pass a bill that would allow investigators to use familial DNA testing in some cases. Addabbo said. “Our state should take a positive step towards protecting the public and incorporate familial DNA as another investigative tool for law enforcement.” There are, however, opponents to familial DNA testing. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Illinois believes familial DNA testing violates privacy issues. The piece of legislation will now be considered by the Assembly. Real estate site Brownstoner is now part of Schneps BY CATE CORCORAN AND ROBERT POZARYCKI editorial@qns.com @QNS Schneps Communications, which publishes QNS and The Queens Courier, Courier Sun, Ridgewood Times and Times Newsweekly, announced on Feb. 9 that it acquired the Brooklyn-based Brownstoner, a website dedicated to real estate and business news. The acquisition marks Schneps Communications’ latest expansion into Brooklyn. Last year, it acquired Brokelyn, a lifestyle and entertainment blog geared toward Brooklyn residents living on a budget. Schneps Communications also publishes the Home Reporter and Brooklyn Spectator, which it acquired in 2011, and Brooklyn Reporter. “Together we now offer the biggest reach of any media company in Brooklyn,” said Joshua Schneps, owner, co-publisher and chief executive officer of the family firm, one of the largest publishers in Brooklyn and Queens, and Brownstoner’s new publisher. The acquisition of Brownstoner will also bring some benefits to QNS users. In the weeks to come, QNS and other digital platforms owned by Schneps Communications will begin utilizing Brownstoner’s technology, such as with the introduction of real estate and business services directories. These directories, which will be located on the home page, enable users to find and search for properties that are on the market across Queens, or find a home improvement professional. The acquisition includes Brownstoner editorial and advertising. The digital media agency aspect of Brownstoner offers clients digital marketing expertise, content creation and targeted reach online and through social media channels. “We have been working with Josh and the Schneps team for several years,” said Kael Goodman, founder and chief executive officer of digital marketing agency Blank- Slate, which acquired Brownstoner in 2015. “We helped Schneps with the acquisition of Brokelyn and now we are thrilled to be able to put Brownstoner in Schneps’ hands too.” BlankSlate will provide web development and license its real estate and local marketing solutions to Schneps for Brownstoner and its other publications. Cate Corcoran will continue to lead Brownstoner’s content team and Brad Einhorn will continue to lead sales. Schneps Communications is the largest privately owned publisher of community newspapers, magazines, local websites and events serving Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island and Long Island. Its 35 events include the Best of Brooklyn Food and Beer Festival and Star Network business events such as Brooklyn Power Women in Business and the Brooklyn Real Estate Conference. Launched in 2004 during a new wave of real estate investment and construction in Brooklyn, Brownstoner chronicles change in Brooklyn through the lens of real estate and renovation. Brownstoner also hosts real estate listings, a community forum for connecting with neighbors, and a directory of home improvement professionals. Karina Vetrano Screenshot of Brownstoner’s home page


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