The Associated Press is reporting New York is launching a statewide campaign against distracted driving as part of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. State and local police will increase the number of patrols and checkpoints through Mon., Apr. 10, as part of Operation Hang Up. The same effort last year resulted in more than 18,000 tickets being issued, including more than 2,000 for distracted driving. State officials report an increase of more than 900 percent in tickets for texting while driving statewide from 2011 to 2016. While citations for texting are on the rise, tickets for cell phone use are declining. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.