Top 10 Most-clicked Long Island Press Local News Stories of 2018

10. Remains Scattered on LI Linked, ID’d As Actor’s Son

pjimage 21 — Ali A. Fakhri, left, was found dead on Long Island. His father, Jamil Fakhri, was a popular Pakistani television actor.

A human skull found in Ronkonkoma two years ago belonged to a an actor’s son whose torso was discovered at a Melville landfill seven years prior, the Press first reported this summer.

9. Small Craft Brewing Sets Sail in Amityville

pjimage 36 — Brothers Gerald and Greg Sims opened Small Craft Brewery in Amityville.

In lighter news, one of Long Island’s newest craft breweries, the nautical-themed Small Craft Brewing in Amityville, opened its tasting room to much fan fare in March.

8. Bald Eagles Soar Over LI Once Again

shutterstock 378981046 1 — Bald eagles soar over LI once more. (Shutterstock)

Designated our national symbol in 1782, bald eagles once blanketed America with hundreds of thousands of nesting pairs. Their rising numbers on LI drew much interest.

7. 5 Long Islanders Competing in 2018 Winter Olympics

pjimage 2 — From left to right: John Daly, Matthew Gilroy, Devin Logan, Justin Krewson and Matt Mortensen (Team USA photos).

Long Islanders watched with great interest as five hometown heroes were among 242 members of Team USA who went for the gold in the 2018 Winter Olympics this February in PyeongChang, South Korea.

6. UFO Investigator: LI Sightings Soar

pjimage 54 — From left ti right: A photo of an alleged UFO sighting in East Setauket, a Holstville woman’s sketch of a craft she says she saw near her home, and a photo of another alleged UFO, this time in Port Jefferson.

Also drawing interest was the fact that Suffolk County led New York State in the number of UFO sightings reported during the 2001-2015 period. Nassau County ranks fourth.

5. NY’s Biggest Dumping Bust Nabs 24 on LI

Two dozen suspects were arrested on Long Island in what New York State officials billed as the largest bust of its kind cracking down on illegal dumping of construction and demolition waste.

4. Democrats Win NY Senate Majority After LI Upsets

constitutional convention — The New York State Capitol Building in Albany.

Democrats unseated three New York State Senators on Long Island and picked up a fourth seat previously held by a Republican, which flipped control of the chamber from the GOP to the Dems.

3. Nassau Cops Accused in Drug Ring, Casino Robbery Plot

Jake's 58 Hotel & Casino — Jake’s 58 Hotel & Casino in Islandia opened for business on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017 (Long Island Press photo)

In one of the most shocking cases of the year, three Nassau County police officers were among 11 people arrested in four indictments alleging a local drug dealing ring and a thwarted Long Island casino robbery plot, Suffolk County prosecutors said.

2. Judge Orders SCPD To Turn Over Shannan Gilbert 911 Tape

A Suffolk County judge ordered police to produce the recording of the 911 call made by a woman whose disappearance led to the discovery of the Long Island Serial Killer’s dumping grounds. But as of this post, police were still appealing the ruling and have yet to turn over the tape.

Netflix Making Lost Girls Movie About Long Island Serial Killer Case

Lost Girls, a movie based on the nonfiction book of the same name chronicling the unsolved Long Island Serial Killer case, is set to be turned into a movie, Netflix announced in May. After this post, the crew was spotted shooting scenes on LI.

RELATED STORY: Top 11 Long Island Stories of 2018