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Education Funding

Politics
Heated Westchester Race Most Expensive Congressional Primary Ever With $25M Spent Heated Westchester Race Most Expensive Congressional Primary Ever With $25M Spent
Heated Westchester Race Most Expensive Congressional Primary Ever With $25M Spent The closely-watched Democratic race between Westchester County Executive George Latimer and incumbent Rep. Jamaal Bowman for New York's 16th District seat is about to come to a close as the most expensive congressional primary in history, according to reports. CBS News says nearly $25 million has been raised and spent during the race, which will be decided on Primary Election Day on Tuesday, June 25. Over half of this amount, $16 million, has been put toward anti-Bowman attack ads and was largely spent by United Democracy Project, a super PAC of the pro-Israel group American Israel Public…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Proposed $6M Budget Cuts At Hudson Valley School District Spark Outrage Proposed $6M Budget Cuts At Hudson Valley School District Spark Outrage
Proposed $6M Budget Cuts At Hudson Valley School District Spark Outrage A Hudson Valley school district has sparked outrage among residents by proposing a budget for the next year that contains at least $6 million in cuts, which could affect many student programs and teaching jobs.  At a Board of Education meeting in Putnam County held on Tuesday night, March 12 at Carmel High School, countless community members spoke out about the budget, proposed by the Carmel Central School District for the 2023-2024 school year.  According to district documents, the budget could include at least $6 million in cuts to teaching jobs, after-school programs, fie…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Big Win: $50K Powerball Tickets Sold At Westchester County Store Big Win: $50K Powerball Tickets Sold At Westchester County Store
Big Win: $50K Powerball Tickets Sold At Westchester County Store Three people are each tens of thousands of dollars richer after winning Powerball tickets were sold in stores on Long Island and in Westchester. Chiefs fans aren’t the only winners coming out of this weekend, according to New York Lottery officials. Multiple third-place-winning Powerball tickets, worth $50,000 each, were sold in the state for the Saturday, Feb. 10 drawing in Suffolk and Westchester counties: Waverly Express Mart, located at 1106 Waverly Avenue in Holtsville 7-Eleven, located at 112 Route 100 in Somers A third ticket, worth the same amount, was sold in Manhattan at a new…

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by Sophie Grieser
Sports
Here's How Much Mobile Sports Betting Has Generated For NY In 1st Year, Where It's Going Here's How Much Mobile Sports Betting Has Generated For NY In 1st Year, Where It's Going
Here's How Much Mobile Sports Betting Has Generated For NY In 1st Year, Where It's Going New York State has raked in some serious cash since mobile sports betting was legalized one year ago. In all, the Empire State has collected more than $709.2 million in tax revenue on such betting, the highest in the nation, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office. Another $200 million was collected from licensing fees. That revenue came from the more than $16 billion that was wagered on sports since betting was first allowed in January 2022. So, where is all that tax revenue going? The overwhelming majority, nearly $700 million, goes toward education funding, the governor’s office said. …

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by Michael Mashburn
Lifestyle
Man Wins NY Lottery Prize Payout Of $7 Million Man Wins NY Lottery Prize Payout Of $7 Million
Man Wins NY Lottery Prize Payout Of $7 Million A man in New York is in a new tax bracket after cashing in a lottery ticket worth millions. Surjit Chumbers, of Jackson Heights, Queens, has claimed a $1,000 “A Day For Life” top prize from the CASH4LIFE drawing on Sunday, July 11, which guarantees a minimum prize payout of $7 million. The ticket was purchased at the Stop & Carry Convenience store on Northern Boulevard in Jackson Heights. The winning numbers of the draw were 12-16-40-54-60 with the Cash Ball 02. Lotto officials said that Chumbers elected to receive his prize in a single, lump-sum payment totaling $4,285,680 after re…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Hudson Valley Woman Wins $10 Million NY Lottery Prize Hudson Valley Woman Wins $10 Million NY Lottery Prize
Hudson Valley Woman Wins $10 Million NY Lottery Prize A Hudson Valley woman is the region's newest millionaire. Dutchess County resident Joanne Massarelli, of Hyde Park, has claimed a $10 Million top prize on the 200X New York State Lottery scratch-off game on Thursday, June 17. The winning ticket was purchased at Smokes 4 Less at 4290 Albany Post Rd. in Hyde Park, State Lottery officials said. Massarelli opted to receive her $10 million in a single lump-sum payment of $6,510,000 after required withholdings, the officials announced. "As of this writing, there are three of the 200X scratch-off tickets with top prizes of $10 million that have …

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
School Budgets Pass In All But One District In Hudson Valley School Budgets Pass In All But One District In Hudson Valley
School Budgets Pass In All But One District In Hudson Valley Only one district in the Hudson Valley failed to have its school budget denied by voters. Voters came out in force on Tuesday, May 18, and all budgets were passed in Rockland, Westchester, and Putnam counties outside of the Carmel School District, where voters narrowly rejected the spending plan by less than 200 votes. In Putnam County, the Carmel Board of Education will have to propose a new budget that voters will decide on in a second vote after residents denied the previous spending plan by a 1,296 to 1,125 vote, or adopt a contingency budget. The Carmel School Board said it will mee…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Cuomo Vetoes 'Forgiveness Bill' For Area School District Cuomo Vetoes 'Forgiveness Bill' For Area School District
Cuomo Vetoes 'Forgiveness Bill' For Area School District New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo vetoed a bill that would have offered relief to an area school district that finds itself in financial trouble due to administrative mistakes. Cuomo vetoed a “forgiveness bill” earlier this month that would have provided the Mahopac Central School District with $3.1 million in relief after a paperwork snafu. The decision has drawn the ire of some local politicians. “By all accounts, when the state changed the application process for school districts applying for building aid, there was some confusion, and a number of districts submitted applications with err…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Vote Now: Who Won Cuomo-Nixon NY Democratic Primary Debate? Vote Now: Who Won Cuomo-Nixon NY Democratic Primary Debate?
Vote Now: Who Won Cuomo-Nixon NY Democratic Primary Debate? Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Democratic challenger Cynthia Nixon engaged in a heated debate focusing on corruption, personal finances and who would be better to battle President Donald Trump. Cuomo, a second-term incumbent, promised not to run for president in 2020 during the hour-long debate at Hofstra University on Wednesday, Aug. 29. Both candidates accused each other of interrupting and lying.  Cuomo was grilled about pushing to name the Tappan Zee Bridge after his father, a decision that remains controversial in the Hudson Valley. “The Tappan Zee Bridge is no more,” he said, noting that a &qu…

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by Jon Craig
News
Seven Charged In Elaborate, Multi-Million Dollar Scam Involving Hudson Valley Schools Seven Charged In Elaborate, Multi-Million Dollar Scam Involving Hudson Valley Schools
Seven Charged In Elaborate, Multi-Million Dollar Scam Involving Hudson Valley Schools Seven Hudson Valley residents have been charged in a “wide-ranging” multi-million dollar scheme to defraud a federal “E Rate” subsidy program involving school technology funding earmarked for underprivileged children. Geoffrey Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the unsealing of an indictment, which charges seven Monsey, Monroe and Spring Valley residents with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud charges. Those charged include Monsey residents Simon Goldbrenner, 55, Ben Klein, 39, Sholem Steinberg, 39, and Aron Melber, 42. Monroe res…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
NYS PTA Calls On Cuomo To Help Westchester School District's Budget Gap NYS PTA Calls On Cuomo To Help Westchester School District's Budget Gap
NYS PTA Calls On Cuomo To Help Westchester School District's Budget Gap With hundreds of jobs and several programs on the line as the Yonkers School District faces a multi-million dollar budget gap, the New York State PTA is calling on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to “help fix this funding inequity,” in the form of $16.3 million. The PTA noted that the schools are facing a $21.3 million budget gap for the upcoming year, that could lead to the elimination of 251 educators and staff members from city schools. In response, they’ve circulated an online petition to be sent to Cuomo. Citing a rise in employee salaries and benefits, the rising cost of utilities, transpo…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
New Rochelle BOE Proposes New Schools Budget After First Fails New Rochelle BOE Proposes New Schools Budget After First Fails
New Rochelle BOE Proposes New Schools Budget After First Fails After being the only Westchester County school district to have its budget rejected earlier this month, the New Rochelle Board of Education has drafted a new budget that stays within the state-mandated tax cap. This week, the Board unanimously adopted a new $270,381,160 spending plan that “stays within the state tax cap, preserves programming and includes funds to add school counselors and several other positions as well as safety and security measures.” Earlier this month, voters rejected the district’s initial proposed budget with 3,116 votes against and 1,689 in favor of the proposed $27…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Westchester Voters OK School Budgets, Except In One District Westchester Voters OK School Budgets, Except In One District
Westchester Voters OK School Budgets, Except In One District Every Westchester school district, except one, passed proposed school budgets on Tuesday: New Rochelle's $272.8 million budget, which would have raised spending by 5 percent next year, was defeated by a vote of 3,119 to 1,689.The results remain unofficial pending the counting of all affidavit ballots. The only other district to propose spending above the state-imposed tax cap -- Mamaroneck Union Free School District -- easily passed its proposed $138.9 million budget by a vote of 1,346 to 383. New Rochelle's District administration and Board of Education said they will begin working togethe…

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by Jon Craig
Schools
Bronxville Voters Approve $24.8M Schools Bond With No Tax Impact Bronxville Voters Approve $24.8M Schools Bond With No Tax Impact
Bronxville Voters Approve $24.8M Schools Bond With No Tax Impact Although voter turnout was low, the Bronxville community overwhelmingly approved a near $25 million schools bond referendum that will help officials address needs at the building and in the district. Voters approved the $24.8 million bond referendum with an unofficial tally of 511 “yes” votes against 97 “no” votes, the district announced on Tuesday night, stating that they will begin addressing facility needs, infrastructure improvements and program-related enhancements. There is expected to be no tax increase as a result of the bond, district officials stated, due to several million dollar…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
$64.8M School Bond Proposal Approved By Scarsdale Voters $64.8M School Bond Proposal Approved By Scarsdale Voters
$64.8M School Bond Proposal Approved By Scarsdale Voters After much discussion and debate, voters in Scarsdale ultimately decided to approve a near $65 million schools bond, most of which will be used to fund projects for the Greenacres School expansion. Scarsdale residents came out in force on Thursday to vote on the bond, which has been a topic of debate for months. Ultimately, approximately 65 percent of voters approved the bond, with a final tally of 1,253 “yes” votes against 667 “no” votes. The bulk of the bond will be put towards the expansion and renovation of Greenacres, which has been under discussion for more than a year. In total, appr…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
$12.5 Million Bond Vote For Westchester Middle School Repairs Tuesday $12.5 Million Bond Vote For Westchester Middle School Repairs Tuesday
$12.5 Million Bond Vote For Westchester Middle School Repairs Tuesday Residents of the Port Chester-Rye Union Free School District are being asked to vote on their second major construction project in less than a year due to emergency repairs required at Port Chester Middle School.  The vote to approve $12.5 million in renovations is set for Tuesday, Feb. 6 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m in the Port Chester Middle School gymnasium. This project primarily addresses the recent emergency safety work and necessary reconstruction at Port Chester Middle School for a long-term, safe and cost-effective solution. Temporary repairs at Port Chester Middle School cost $1.6 millio…

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by Jon Craig
Politics
Gov. Cuomo Unveils State Budget Gov. Cuomo Unveils State Budget
Gov. Cuomo Unveils State Budget New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo unveiled his $168 billion 2018-2019 budget to lawmakers on Tuesday. Cuomo's budget includes a three-percent increase in funding for schools and a one-percent increase in funding for higher education. The budget also increases funding for capital projects by 14 percent and health care by three-percent. The budget also reduces spending on transportation, community colleges, mental hygiene and state agencies. State aid to municipalities and counties will be frozen.  The governor said his office is still working on a plan to combat the new federal tax reform bill tha…

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by Sam Barron