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AD At School District In Westchester Accused Of 'Sextortion' Of Teen AD At School District In Westchester Accused Of 'Sextortion' Of Teen
AD At School District In Westchester Accused Of 'Sextortion' Of Teen This story has been updated. An athletic director at a school district in Westchester County has been arrested and charged in connection with allegedly extorting a teenager to send sexually explicit images and videos. Thomas James Puccini, 28 years old and employed as the Interim Director of Physical Education, Health, and Athletics by the Eastchester Union Free School District, was arrested on Friday, Nov. 1. He was charged with felony grand larceny in the fourth degree and was arraigned in White Plains City Court by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. Puccini has been pla…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Westchester Man Nabbed For Sexually Exploiting Boy Gets More Charges: Feds Westchester Man Nabbed For Sexually Exploiting Boy Gets More Charges: Feds
Westchester Man Nabbed For Sexually Exploiting Boy Gets More Charges: Feds More details have emerged about a Northern Westchester man accused of sexually exploiting a teenage boy, federal officials announced.  Bedford Hills resident James Collins Jr., age 67, was arrested on sexual exploitation charges on Wednesday morning, Jan. 24, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced.  According to federal officials, on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, Collins tried persuading an undercover agent posing as a 15-year-old boy to meet him at a library in New Castle to engage in sexual activities.  Earlier Report - Man Engages in Sexua…

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by Ben Crnic
Lifestyle
Entrepreneur From Westchester Earns Spot On Forbes' 30 Under 30 List Entrepreneur From Westchester Earns Spot On Forbes' 30 Under 30 List
Entrepreneur From Westchester Earns Spot On Forbes' 30 Under 30 List For Northern Westchester native Tom Weingarten, simply following his passion for sports and coaching and taking a chance ended up bringing him to a level of success that is now earning recognition from major national outlets. Weingarten, age 29, who serves as the chief growth officer for sports media company Overtime, was named on the 2024 Forbes 30 Under 30 list, which is released annually and features 600 successful young entrepreneurs, stars, and leaders who have already exhibited plenty of potential.  Since Weingarten joined Overtime in 2015 as a startup, it has grown to have …

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by Ben Crnic
News
Condoms, Rope Found On NY Man Who Blackmailed Minors Into Sending Nudes, Feds Say Condoms, Rope Found On NY Man Who Blackmailed Minors Into Sending Nudes, Feds Say
Condoms, Rope Found On NY Man Who Blackmailed Minors Into Sending Nudes, Feds Say A New York man is in federal custody after allegedly blackmailing several underage girls into sending him sexually explicit images. Long Island resident Brandon Kern, age 29, of Bayport, was arraigned on multiple charges in Central Islip federal court on Wednesday, Nov. 22. An investigation found that between December 2020 and October 2021, he posed as a teenager on Snapchat in order to convince at least six underage girls to send him sexually explicit photos and videos. Some of the victims were as young as 12 years old, according to the FBI. When the girls attempted to block him, Kern al…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Teacher From Westchester Caught With Child Porn, Trying To Hack Teen's Social Media: Feds Teacher From Westchester Caught With Child Porn, Trying To Hack Teen's Social Media: Feds
Teacher From Westchester Caught With Child Porn, Trying To Hack Teen's Social Media: Feds A 27-year-old teacher from Northern Westchester faces decades in prison after authorities discovered his possession of child pornography and an attempt to hack into a student's social media account, officials said. Yorktown resident and teacher Giuseppi Micciari, age 27, was arrested on child pornography charges and presented in White Plains federal court on Wednesday, Nov. 1, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced.  According to federal officials, Micciari's arrest followed a review of his cell phone conducted by authorities that revealed th…

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by Ben Crnic
News
High School Teacher From Westchester Sends Sexual Pictures To Undercover Agent: Feds High School Teacher From Westchester Sends Sexual Pictures To Undercover Agent: Feds
High School Teacher From Westchester Sends Sexual Pictures To Undercover Agent: Feds A 34-year-old high school teacher from Westchester faces child pornography charges after sending sexually explicit pictures to an undercover agent posing as a 13-year-old girl, federal officials said. Hartsdale resident Kostas Fekkas, age 34, was arrested on Thursday, Sept. 14 on child pornography charges and presented in White Plains federal court, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced.  According to federal officials, before his arrest, Fekkas, also known as “Constantine Fekkas" and “C.J. Justice" had been a teacher at a public c…

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by Ben Crnic
Lifestyle
New Survey Reveals Gen Z’s Favorite Restaurant New Survey Reveals Gen Z’s Favorite Restaurant
New Survey Reveals Gen Z’s Favorite Restaurant When it comes to satisfying those hunger pangs, it turns out nothing does it for Zoomers quite like the delectably irresistible taste of America’s favorite chicken shack. A new survey by investment firm Piper Sandler found that Generation Z’s favorite restaurant is Chick-fil-A. Of those polled, 18 percent picked the Atlanta-based chicken chain as their favorite place to eat, followed by Starbucks (17 percent) and Chipotle (13 percent). The restaurant category was just one of several that was gauged as part of Piper Sandler’s 44th semi-annual “Taking Stock With Teens” survey, which includ…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
'Dangerous Predator': NY Man Who Made Sexually Explicit Videos Of 9-Year-Old Sentenced 'Dangerous Predator': NY Man Who Made Sexually Explicit Videos Of 9-Year-Old Sentenced
'Dangerous Predator': NY Man Who Made Sexually Explicit Videos Of 9-Year-Old Sentenced A New York man who filmed himself sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl and sent child pornography to minors is heading to prison, thanks in part to the bravery of a Connecticut teenager. Manuel Geovanny Torres Rivas, age 27, of Hempstead on Long Island, was sentenced to 25 years behind bars Friday, Oct. 14, in federal court in Central Islip. The sentence followed his January 2022 guilty plea to sexual exploitation of a child. Federal investigators began looking into Torres Rivas after a 13-year-old Connecticut girl told her school that a user on the social networking app Snapchat had sent h…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Raping 14-Year-Old He Met On Snapchat Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Raping 14-Year-Old He Met On Snapchat
Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Raping 14-Year-Old He Met On Snapchat A Hudson Valley man has been arrested after allegedly meeting a 14-year-old girl online and having sex with her on multiple occasions. Orange County resident Marco J. Rivera, age 22, of Washingtonville, was arrested by the Ulster County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday, Sept. 21 for the incidents which took place in July 2020. According to the Sheriff's Office, in June detectives received information from the Village of Walden Police Department about an incident involving a 20-year-old male who had sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old female in July 2020.  Through investigation, it was …

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Man Accused Of Trying To Rape Hudson Valley Middle School Student Man Accused Of Trying To Rape Hudson Valley Middle School Student
Man Accused Of Trying To Rape Hudson Valley Middle School Student A man has been charged with allegedly traveling to attempt to rape a Hudson Valley 13-year-old girl at an area hotel. Thomas Rivera, age 32, of Lauderhill, Florida, was arrested on Tuesday, June 7, for communicating online with the girl and persuading her to meet him in Dutchess county to engage in sex, said Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. According to the allegations in the complaint filed on Friday, June 3, in White Plains federal court in April the town of Poughkeepsie Police department received a report from the town of Hyde Park Police regarding …

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Hudson Valley Man Admits To Killing Bat Inside Cave Hudson Valley Man Admits To Killing Bat Inside Cave
Hudson Valley Man Admits To Killing Bat Inside Cave A Hudson Valley man has admitted to animal cruelty charges for killing a bat in a Putnam County cave, SPCA officials announced. Putnam County SPCA Chief Ken Ross said that Caleb Shuk, age 20, of Philipstown, has pleaded guilty to one count of animal cruelty following an incident in May last year that led to his arrest. Shuk was arrested on May 4, 2021, and charged with torturing a bat resting against a rock wall in the Sunken Mines Caves location in Putnam County. Ross said that Shuk used a large rock to crush the bat repeatedly - all while shouting curses about COVID-19 and laughing - cau…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
11-Year-Old In Hudson Valley Accused Of Making Snapchat Threat Targeting School 11-Year-Old In Hudson Valley Accused Of Making Snapchat Threat Targeting School
11-Year-Old In Hudson Valley Accused Of Making Snapchat Threat Targeting School An 11-year-old girl has been identified as the social media user who made a threat on Snapchat targeting a Hudson Valley school district, officials announced. In Dutchess County, the Poughkeepsie City School District announced that a minor has been identified as the person responsible for making a threat through the social media platform on Tuesday, March 22. A spokesperson for the district said that the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department was notified by the FBI at approximately 2:50 a.m. on Tuesday morning about a threat of a shooting that was flagged by Snapchat stemming from the city…

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by Zak Failla
News
Two Schools In Hudson Valley Go Remote After Social Media Threats Two Schools In Hudson Valley Go Remote After Social Media Threats
Two Schools In Hudson Valley Go Remote After Social Media Threats Two schools in the Hudson Valley have moved to remote learning following a social media threat. Both Poughkeepsie Middle School and Poughkeepsie High School will be operating on a remote learning schedule on Monday, March 21, due to the social media threat made against both schools, according to a message on the district's website.  Students and staff are expected to engage in remote learning using the one-hour delay schedule, the district said. "Parents should check their child's social media accounts and share any concerning material with law enforcement," the district added. No o…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
Threats Targeting Hudson Valley Schools Deemed Not Credible, Buildings To Reopen Threats Targeting Hudson Valley Schools Deemed Not Credible, Buildings To Reopen
Threats Targeting Hudson Valley Schools Deemed Not Credible, Buildings To Reopen Social media threats that forced a Hudson Valley middle school and high school to close for two days were deemed not credible and the buildings are scheduled to reopen with new security measures put in place, officials announced. In Dutchess County, the Poughkeepsie City School District canceled classes at the two buildings on Tuesday, Feb. 22, and Wednesday, Feb. 23 due to a social media threat that was made on Snapchat. Original story - Social Media Threat Leads To Closure Of School Districts In Hudson Valley In the afternoon on Feb. 23, a spokesperson for the district announced tha…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Threat Leads To Second Closure Of Hudson Valley Schools Threat Leads To Second Closure Of Hudson Valley Schools
Threat Leads To Second Closure Of Hudson Valley Schools Classes have been canceled for the second straight day in a Hudson Valley school district that was targeted by threats made on social media. In Dutchess County, Poughkeepsie City Schools Superintendent Eric Jay Rosser announced that the high school and middle school would be closed on Wednesday, Feb. 23 for the second straight day after a threat was made on Snapchat. On Tuesday, Feb. 22, both the Poughkeepsie City and Wappingers Central school districts were forced to close some buildings due to threats made toward them. Earlier story - Social Media Threat Leads To Closure Of School Dist…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Charli D'Amelio, Age 17, Of Fairfield County Is Outearning Top CEOs By Millions Charli D'Amelio, Age 17, Of Fairfield County Is Outearning Top CEOs By Millions
Charli D'Amelio, Age 17, Of Fairfield County Is Outearning Top CEOs By Millions A teen social media star from Connecticut is outearning some of the most successful CEOs in the US by millions of dollars, according to new reports by Forbes and the Wall Street Journal. With 133 million TikToker followers, 17-year-old Fairfield County resident Charli D'Amelio, of Norwalk, who started posting to TikTok in 2019 -- has the video-sharing app's largest following, Forbes says. Last year, she brought in $17.5 million. The median pay for chief executives of S&P 500 companies in 2020 was $13.4 million, the WSJ reports. Darren Woods was the highest-earning CEO of 2020, brin…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
'Specific Threat' Leads To Shift To Remote Learning At School District In Westchester 'Specific Threat' Leads To Shift To Remote Learning At School District In Westchester
'Specific Threat' Leads To Shift To Remote Learning At School District In Westchester A threat described by district officials as being "specific" has prompted a  school district in Westchester to switch to remote learning on Friday, Dec. 17. "This morning, we learned about a specific threat made on Snapchat against the high school," Pelham Public Schools Acting Superintendent of Schools Dennis R. Lauro said in an email to the school community. "Out of an abundance of caution, all of our schools will shift to a full virtual day, today, Friday, Dec. 17." Westchester County Police Department issued an alert on Thursday, Dec. 16 after getting a tip from its School Resource…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
Westchester HS Goes Remote Amid 'Concerns' Following Threat Westchester HS Goes Remote Amid 'Concerns' Following Threat
Westchester HS Goes Remote Amid 'Concerns' Following Threat An area high school went remote after a social media post considered a threat toward the building left some district officials with lingering concerns. In Northern Westchester, Bedford Central Schools Superintendent Joel Adelberg said that administrators were alerted to “a disturbing post” on Snapchat that was shared among the Fox Lane High School community and was being considered as a perceived threat on Sunday, Dec. 12. Earlier story - Fox Lane HS Student Makes Threatening Social Media Post Ultimately police were called to the school to investigate, and the threat was deemed to be not c…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
High School Student In Westchester Makes Threatening Social Media Post High School Student In Westchester Makes Threatening Social Media Post
High School Student In Westchester Makes Threatening Social Media Post A social media post considered a threat toward a Northern Westchester high school that went viral online led to an extensive police presence and investigation in and outside the building. In Bedford, Schools Superintendent Joel Adelberg said that administrators were alerted to “a disturbing post” on Snapchat that was shared amongst the Fox Lane High School community and was being considered as a perceived threat on Sunday, Dec. 12. Upon notification of the threat, Adelberg said that the school district contacted its School Resource Officer, the Bedford Police, and the Westchester County Po…

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by Zak Failla
News
Authorities ID Juvenile Accused Of Making Threat To Westchester High School Authorities ID Juvenile Accused Of Making Threat To Westchester High School
Authorities ID Juvenile Accused Of Making Threat To Westchester High School Police have identified the person responsible for making a threat on social media against a high school in Northern Westchester. The Ossining Police Department reported on Saturday, Nov. 13, that detectives with assistance from outside agencies have closed their investigation into the threat that was made against Ossining High School and its students on Thursday, Nov. 11. Earlier report - Police Investigate Social Media Threat To Ossining High School CASE CLOSED! It’s nice when we can share good news. In this case, we can now talk about yesterday’s threat and... Posted by Ossining P…

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by Nicole Valinote
Schools
Social Media Threat Leads To Early Dismissal Of School In Hudson Valley Social Media Threat Leads To Early Dismissal Of School In Hudson Valley
Social Media Threat Leads To Early Dismissal Of School In Hudson Valley Students at a Hudson Valley high school were dismissed early after a threat was made on social media. In Dutchess County, John Jay High School in Hopewell Junction was dismissed at approximately 11 a.m., on Wednesday, Nov. 3, Principal David Kedzielawa said in a message released to parents in the district. According to Kedzielawa, the threat was made on Snapchat “threatening the school community.” Kedzielawa said that the district has contacted law enforcement and is working inc coordination with the Office of the Superintendent, East Fishkill Police, and State Police. “Please understand…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Some School Districts In Hudson Valley Increase Security After Apparent National Threat Some School Districts In Hudson Valley Increase Security After Apparent National Threat
Some School Districts In Hudson Valley Increase Security After Apparent National Threat Alarms were sounding among some school districts in New York amid threats being made on social media as part of what is seemingly a national scheme. On Sunday, Oct. 24, in the Hudson Valley, the Village of Walden Police Department in Orange County received a complaint in reference to a social media post that went viral on Snapchat. “I had to make a new account so they don’t trace me,” the threat posted by “Alex Anderson” reads. “But me and a couple of my friends have been bullied for so long and we can’t deal with it anymore. “We plan on shooting up Central High School around 10 to 11 Am …

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by Zak Failla
News
Man Admits To Posing As Teen To Receive Explicit Videos Of Fairfield County Girl Man Admits To Posing As Teen To Receive Explicit Videos Of Fairfield County Girl
Man Admits To Posing As Teen To Receive Explicit Videos Of Fairfield County Girl This story has been updated. A 36-year-old out-of-state man has pleaded guilty to the distribution of child pornography in connection with a Fairfield County case. Brian Grinnell, of Lakewood, Ohio (near Cleveland), pleaded guilty on Monday, April 19 in Hartford for posting nude videos of a 12-year-old New Canaan girl on a popular video-sharing service, said Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut. According to court documents and statements made in court, in March 2020, Grinnell posed as a 15-year-old girl and met a New Canaan girl, who at the time w…

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by Kathy Reakes
Politics
Pelosi Laptop Thief's Dad Busted On Child Porn Charges In Undercover Sting Pelosi Laptop Thief's Dad Busted On Child Porn Charges In Undercover Sting
Pelosi Laptop Thief's Dad Busted On Child Porn Charges In Undercover Sting The father of a Pennsylvania woman who stole Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's laptop was busted on child porn charges after asking an undercover detective posing as a teenage girl online to film herself using the bathroom, news reports say. Rickey Williams, 55, -- a security guard from Dauphin County -- was communicating with the detective under the belief he was a girl on the Snapchat app, Fox43 says citing the criminal complaint. During the course of this alleged communication, Williams, of Steelton, requested a video of the girl using the bathroom, Local21news reports. …

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by Jillian Pikora
Police & Fire
Police: Greenwich Man Busted Selling Ecstasy To Teens, Some Hospitalized Police: Greenwich Man Busted Selling Ecstasy To Teens, Some Hospitalized
Police: Greenwich Man Busted Selling Ecstasy To Teens, Some Hospitalized A Fairfield County man has been busted for allegedly selling Ecstasy to teens through Snapchat, causing some to need medical attention. Farhaan Rajput, age 20, of Greenwich, was arrested on Tuesday, March 2, by Greenwich Police after the department's Narcotics Section obtained information that he was allegedly selling to teens in Greenwich, Captain Mark E. Zuccerella said. It was alleged that some of his customers were young as 14-years-old and others may have suffered medical emergencies requiring them to be hospitalized, Zuccerella said. During the investigation, it was also learned…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
FBI Asks For Help Identifying Possible Victims Of Westchester Man Facing Child Porn Charge FBI Asks For Help Identifying Possible Victims Of Westchester Man Facing Child Porn Charge
FBI Asks For Help Identifying Possible Victims Of Westchester Man Facing Child Porn Charge Authorities are asking for help in identifying possible victims from throughout the country in a sextortion investigation involving a New York man from Westchester County.  The FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force and Port Chester Police Department issued the joint advisory on Friday, Feb. 5. Investigators arrested Jose Zafra on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, and charged him with the production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), or what is commonly known as child pornography. Based on the criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of New York, investigators allege Zafra …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
New Hudson Valley Resident Charged For Role In Capitol Riot New Hudson Valley Resident Charged For Role In Capitol Riot
New Hudson Valley Resident Charged For Role In Capitol Riot Another Hudson Valley man is facing federal charges for his alleged role in the deadly pro-Trump riot at the U.S. Capitol after being caught on camera, sharing and receiving photos on social media. Dutchess County resident William Vogel, of Pawling, was apprehended for his role in the Wednesday, Jan. 6 riot after being connected through images and video posted on Snapchat and conversations on Facebook that were later flagged by FBI investigators, authorities said. According to an FBI joint terrorism task force officer, videos with the Snapchat usernames “will vogel” and “willvogelmusic…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Don Jr. Leaves NY As City Cancels Trump Organization Contracts, PGA, Corporate America Cut Ties Don Jr. Leaves NY As City Cancels Trump Organization Contracts, PGA, Corporate America Cut Ties
Don Jr. Leaves NY As City Cancels Trump Organization Contracts, PGA, Corporate America Cut Ties Donald Trump Jr. has become the latest member of the First Family to flee New York amid more fallout tied to the circumstances surrounding his father's unprecedented second impeachment. According to reports, Trump Jr. is following in the footsteps of his sister, Ivanka, who already left New York to establish residence in Florida. The move comes as the PGA moved the 2022 championship from the Trump golf course in Bedminister, New Jersey, and corporate America began severing all ties with the much-maligned president. Reports stated that Trump Jr. is looking at homes in Jupiter, Florida, less…

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by Zak Failla
News
Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Sexually Exploiting Three 13-Year-Olds Online Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Sexually Exploiting Three 13-Year-Olds Online
Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Sexually Exploiting Three 13-Year-Olds Online A 29-year-old Hudson Valley man was arrested for the sexual exploitation of three young teens online following an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigative Division. Orange County resident Jonathan Weiss, also known as "Ian_Jameson," of Middletown, has been charged with communicating with three different underage victims online and directing them to take sexually explicit images and send them to Weiss. "Jonathan Weiss's alleged crimes are abhorrent and predatory," ," said Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. "Using a common socia…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
Westchester Middle School Students Caught In Racist Videos On Social Media Westchester Middle School Students Caught In Racist Videos On Social Media
Westchester Middle School Students Caught In Racist Videos On Social Media For the second time in a week, a Westchester school district is dealing with racist posts by students on social media. Videos of students in New Rochelle, some of whom have been confirmed to attend Albert Leonard Middle School, were involved in videos on multiple social media platforms that included ethnic slurs and language. The videos of students were reportedly on Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and others using offensive racial slurs. “We are horrified to have learned about a vicious act of racism in the District perpetrated on social media, involving the vilest of ethnic slurs …

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by Zak Failla
News
Teens In Westchester Arrested After Threatening To Shoot Up High School Teens In Westchester Arrested After Threatening To Shoot Up High School
Teens In Westchester Arrested After Threatening To Shoot Up High School Two students are in police custody after allegedly making threats on social media to shoot up a Westchester High School. The Yonkers Police Department received reports of school shooting threats making the rounds on social media against students at Lincoln High School at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 13, Det. Lt. Dean Politopoulos said. The threats contained specific language to carry out a school shooting with an intended number of victims to occur on Friday, Oct. 25, during a pep rally, prompting a police investigation. Investigators found several social media posts that were …

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by Zak Failla