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Kindergartener Hands Out Alcohol In Jell-O At PA School: Superintendent Kindergartener Hands Out Alcohol In Jell-O At PA School: Superintendent
Kindergartener Hands Out Alcohol In Jell-O At PA School: Superintendent A Pennsylvania kindergartener handed out alcoholic Jell-O cups to classmates at school, alarming parents and prompting a hospital visit, school officials said. The incident happened at Johnstown Elementary School in Cambria County earlier on Wednesday, May 14, according to a statement from Greater Johnstown School District Superintendent Dr. Amy Arcurio. Three students reportedly ingested alcohol from the Jell-O shots before staff intervened. All affected children were evaluated by the school nurse and then taken by EMS to a local hospital for further treatment. Parents met their children t…

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by Jillian Pikora
Schools
Principal Suspended Amid Parent Outcry Over Leadership Concerns At Suffolk County School Principal Suspended Amid Parent Outcry Over Leadership Concerns At Suffolk County School
Principal Suspended Amid Parent Outcry Over Leadership Concerns At Suffolk County School A Long Island school principal has been suspended amid growing community backlash over his leadership and alleged mismanagement. Daniel McKeon, the principal of Longwood Middle School in Middle Island, has been placed on “administrative reassignment," district superintendent Lance Lohman confirmed in a letter to parents. While Lohman declined to provide specifics, citing personnel confidentiality, the move comes as a Change.org petition calling for McKeon’s dismissal gains traction. The petition, started by a group of concerned parents and community members, accuses McKeon of fostering a “…

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by Michael Mashburn
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He Flunked Out Of Rutgers In 1957; At 85, Aerospace Engineer Graduates As Oldest Student Ever He Flunked Out Of Rutgers In 1957; At 85, Aerospace Engineer Graduates As Oldest Student Ever
He Flunked Out Of Rutgers In 1957; At 85, Aerospace Engineer Graduates As Oldest Student Ever Tom Maniscalco was 18 when he first stepped onto the Rutgers campus in 1957. Nearly 70 years later, he’s graduating. At 85 years old. The Garfield resident will earn a master’s degree in engineering this week, becoming Rutgers’ oldest graduate in school history, the university said. “It’s a sense of accomplishment at my age,” Maniscalco said. Maniscalco originally enrolled at Rutgers to study mechanical engineering, but flunked out after one semester. He got an A in calculus and a B in physics, but failed engineering drawing. “Of all things, engineering drawing! And I became a design engi…

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by Cecilia Levine
Schools
Student Injured In Hit-Run Crash Steps From Suffolk County Middle School Student Injured In Hit-Run Crash Steps From Suffolk County Middle School
Student Injured In Hit-Run Crash Steps From Suffolk County Middle School A 14-year-old student was injured by a hit-and-run driver outside a Long Island middle school. Emergency crews in Wyandanch were called to Milton Olive Middle School on Garden City Avenue for a crash involving a pedestrian at around 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 9. Arriving crews found a 14-year-old boy who had been struck by a car near the intersection of Garden City Avenue and 35th Street, a Suffolk County Police spokesperson confirmed to Daily Voice. The victim was taken by ambulance to Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip with minor injuries, police said. The suspect vehicle, d…

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by Michael Mashburn
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LI School Lacrosse Coach 'Sextorted' 13-Year-Old Boy, DOJ Says LI School Lacrosse Coach 'Sextorted' 13-Year-Old Boy, DOJ Says
LI School Lacrosse Coach 'Sextorted' 13-Year-Old Boy, DOJ Says A New York school lacrosse coach is accused of coercing a teen boy into sending him sexually explicit content using a fake identity online, federal prosecutors said. Joseph Garofalo, of Valley Stream, is charged with sexual exploitation of a minor, according to a federal criminal complaint filed in the Eastern District of New York on Friday, April 18. Garofalo, an assistant lacrosse coach at Valley Stream Central High School, was arrested following a months-long investigation by the FBI’s Long Island Child Exploitation Task Force. According to a criminal complaint, Garofalo posed as someon…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
Freshman Arsonist Set Numerous Fires At NY College Dorm While Classmates Slept, Police Say Freshman Arsonist Set Numerous Fires At NY College Dorm While Classmates Slept, Police Say
Freshman Arsonist Set Numerous Fires At NY College Dorm While Classmates Slept, Police Say A 19-year-old student is accused of intentionally setting numerous fires at a New York college dorm as his classmates slept. Joshua Thomas, of Saratoga County, was arraigned on arson charges in Albany County Court on Wednesday, May 7, a spokesperson for the DA’s office told Daily Voice. An investigation found that Thomas–a freshman at Siena College in Loudonville–poured rubbing alcohol on the ground and used a lighter to start a fire outside a dorm room in Hines Hall just after 3 a.m. on Friday, April 25, prosecutors said. At the time, two female students were asleep inside. Thomas then w…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
NY School District's Transgender Athlete Policy Sparks Federal Investigation NY School District's Transgender Athlete Policy Sparks Federal Investigation
NY School District's Transgender Athlete Policy Sparks Federal Investigation The Trump administration has opened an investigation into a public school district in upstate New York over its policy permitting transgender athletes. Rep. Elise Stefanik confirmed that the US Department of Education is investigating the Saratoga Springs City School District for alleged Title IX violations “after my strong public advocacy," in a post on X Tuesday, May 6. Stefanik linked to a New York Post article in which Education Secretary Linda McMahon confirmed that the administration was looking into whether the district discriminated against girls by allowing biological boys to play …

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
Phone Ban: NY To Become Largest State With Bell-To-Bell Restrictions On Student Smartphones Phone Ban: NY To Become Largest State With Bell-To-Bell Restrictions On Student Smartphones
Phone Ban: NY To Become Largest State With Bell-To-Bell Restrictions On Student Smartphones New York classrooms are dialing down distractions. Come this fall, all K-12 public schools in New York will implement bell-to-bell bans on student cell phone use, Gov. Kathy Hochul's office announced Tuesday, May 6. The sweeping new policy, part of the state’s 2026 budget agreement, prohibits students from using internet-enabled personal devices anywhere on school grounds from the first bell to the last—including during lunch and study hall periods. “New York was the first state to target addictive social media feeds — and now we’re the largest state to restrict smartphones in schools thr…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
Millions To Have Paychecks Garnished As Federal Student Loan Collections Restart Millions To Have Paychecks Garnished As Federal Student Loan Collections Restart
Millions To Have Paychecks Garnished As Federal Student Loan Collections Restart Millions of Americans may soon have their wages garnished as the Trump administration resumes student loan collections paused since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. About 5.3 million borrowers are set to receive wage garnishment notices in the summer of 2025, according to the Department of Education. The federal government officially restarted student loan debt collections on Monday, May 5. Nearly 195,000 borrowers began receiving 30-day warning letters from the Treasury Department. Their Social Security or other federal benefits will be seized through the Treasury Offset …

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by Chris Spiker
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Record Student Loan Borrowers Face Default As Collections Resume, Grads Enter Weak Job Market Record Student Loan Borrowers Face Default As Collections Resume, Grads Enter Weak Job Market
Record Student Loan Borrowers Face Default As Collections Resume, Grads Enter Weak Job Market A record number of federal student loan borrowers are seriously delinquent as debt collections resume after a five-year pause, while new college graduates face tough employment prospects. The Education Department restarted collecting defaulted federal student loan debt on Monday, May 5. Collections were paused at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The move threatens to seize tax refunds and garnish paychecks from millions of Americans in default on their loans. The Education Department said about 42.7 million people owe more than $1.6 trillion in student loan d…

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by Chris Spiker
Schools
13-Year-Old Girl Targeted In Lewd Exposure Incident Near Hicksville School: Nassau Police 13-Year-Old Girl Targeted In Lewd Exposure Incident Near Hicksville School: Nassau Police
13-Year-Old Girl Targeted In Lewd Exposure Incident Near Hicksville School: Nassau Police A 13-year-old girl was the victim of a lewd act by a man in an SUV just outside Hicksville, Nassau County Police announced on Thursday, May 1. The incident happened at 11:15 a.m. on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, as the girl was walking along 4th Street near Jerusalem Avenue, close to Hicksville High School. According to detectives, the girl noticed a grey Nissan Rogue parked at the corner of 4th Street and Division Avenue. The driver made a U-turn, traveled eastbound, and slowly passed the girl while making continuous eye contact. The man then stopped near Jerusalem Avenue. As the girl walked…

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by Jillian Pikora
Schools
Student Scored $127K In Aid With University Application Full Of Lies — Now He’s In ICE Custody Student Scored $127K In Aid With University Application Full Of Lies — Now He’s In ICE Custody
Student Scored $127K In Aid With University Application Full Of Lies — Now He’s In ICE Custody A student who faked his way into Lehigh University and received over $127,000 in aid is now in ICE custody — marking the school’s third international student in recent years to face criminal charges, including one who poisoned his roommate and another who used a fake death certificate to win a full scholarship. All three have since been removed or are being deported. Cryilstan Sowah-Nai, originally from Ghana, pleaded no contest to securing execution of documents by deception on Monday, April 28, according to the Northampton County District Attorney’s Office. Investigators say he misrepresen…

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by Jillian Pikora
Schools
National Teacher Of Year Named As Woman Who Returned Home To Teach With Mentor National Teacher Of Year Named As Woman Who Returned Home To Teach With Mentor
National Teacher Of Year Named As Woman Who Returned Home To Teach With Mentor A Pennsylvania high school teacher has been named the 2025 National Teacher of the Year, education officials announced Tuesday, April 29. Ashlie Crosson teaches English and journalism at Mifflin County High School in Lewistown, where she also helps students publish a newspaper, magazine, and run social media accounts. She earned the national title after being selected as Pennsylvania’s 2024 Teacher of the Year by the state Department of Education. Crosson started teaching in Delaware in 2011, later returning to Pennsylvania to work in the Bellefonte Area School District while earning her m…

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by Jillian Pikora
Schools
Trump Weighs In On LI School Mascot Battle: ‘Long Live The Massapequa Chiefs!’ Trump Weighs In On LI School Mascot Battle: ‘Long Live The Massapequa Chiefs!’
Trump Weighs In On LI School Mascot Battle: ‘Long Live The Massapequa Chiefs!’ President Donald Trump is throwing his support behind a Long Island school district fighting to keep its Native American-themed mascot. Trump came to the defense of the Massapequa Chiefs, blasting New York’s push for a rebrand as “ridiculous” and “an affront to our great Indian population," in a Truth Social post on Monday, April 21. The school district has been ordered to retire its decades-old mascot under a 2023 New York State mandate banning Indigenous-themed names and logos in public schools. “I agree with the people in Massapequa, Long Island, who are fighting furiously to keep the M…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
150+ College Leaders Blast Trump For 'Unprecedented Overreach' On Higher Education 150+ College Leaders Blast Trump For 'Unprecedented Overreach' On Higher Education
150+ College Leaders Blast Trump For 'Unprecedented Overreach' On Higher Education More than 150 college leaders issued a scathing letter criticizing the Trump administration's escalating threats against universities. The American Association of Colleges and Universities released the public letter on Tuesday, April 22. The group of university presidents accused President Donald Trump of "unprecedented government overreach," warning that the crackdown could harm students and democracy. Trump has demanded that colleges eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, along with other orders aimed at limiting campus activism. The Trump administration has paused…

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by Chris Spiker
Schools
IRS May Withdraw Harvard's Tax-Exempt Status As Fight Between Trump, University Escalates IRS May Withdraw Harvard's Tax-Exempt Status As Fight Between Trump, University Escalates
IRS May Withdraw Harvard's Tax-Exempt Status As Fight Between Trump, University Escalates The Trump administration is weighing whether to revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status—an unprecedented and aggressive move that has escalated tensions between the Ivy League institution and the federal government, according to reports from The Washington Post and CNN. According to two people familiar with the matter, the Internal Revenue Service is preparing to rescind Harvard’s long-standing nonprofit designation, CNN reported. A final decision could be announced soon. Related: Obama Calls Out Trump Over "Unlawful" $2 Billion Cuts to Harvard The effort follows the White House’s …

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by Josh Lanier
Schools
Casting Call: Extras, Crew Sought For Student Film Production On Long Island Casting Call: Extras, Crew Sought For Student Film Production On Long Island
Casting Call: Extras, Crew Sought For Student Film Production On Long Island Got a few hours to spare and dreams of seeing yourself on the big screen (or at least a student film)? You’re in luck — a Hofstra University senior is calling action on his capstone project this weekend, and he’s looking for extras to bring it to life. Tyler Habib, a senior film student at Hofstra, is set to shoot a pivotal graduation scene for his short film “Graduation Day” on Sunday, April 20, at the Cultural Center Theater on campus.  The budding writer and director posted a casting call in the “Long Island Casting Calls” Facebook group, asking for: 30 extras ages 15 to 25 20 e…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
‘Unlawful’: Obama Defends Harvard Against Trump’s $2B Funding Threat ‘Unlawful’: Obama Defends Harvard Against Trump’s $2B Funding Threat
‘Unlawful’: Obama Defends Harvard Against Trump’s $2B Funding Threat Former President Barack Obama is lending his voice to support Harvard University after the prestigious Ivy League school dared President Donald Trump to follow through on his threatened $2 billion federal funding freeze if the school didn’t comply with his administration’s new guidelines. Among other demands, Trump wants Harvard to dismantle its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs; ban masks at campus protests; implement a merit-based admissions and hiring system; and reduce the influence of faculty and administrators he claims are “more committed to activism” than education, a letter …

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by Josh Lanier
Schools
School Employee Had 'Inappropriate' Conversations With Students At NY Campus: Cops School Employee Had 'Inappropriate' Conversations With Students At NY Campus: Cops
School Employee Had 'Inappropriate' Conversations With Students At NY Campus: Cops A school employee was placed on leave after allegedly having inappropriate conversations with students at a campus in upstate New York, police said. Schoharie County resident Paul Hallock, 65, of Cobleskill, was arrested Thursday, April 10, following a New York State Police investigation into alleged misconduct at William H. Golding Middle School. An investigation found that Hallock, who works as a lunch monitor at the school, engaged in inappropriate conversations with multiple students between October 2024 and February of this year, according to police. Troopers opened a formal investig…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
Villanova Student Removed From Campus After Assault Outcry, Won’t Walk At Graduation Villanova Student Removed From Campus After Assault Outcry, Won’t Walk At Graduation
Villanova Student Removed From Campus After Assault Outcry, Won’t Walk At Graduation A Villanova University student who recorded another student’s sexual assault will not walk at the school’s graduation ceremony following intense backlash, the victim's attorney told Daily Voice on Wednesday, April 9. Juan Eguiguren, a Villanova senior, was present during the assault of a female classmate, according to a lawsuit and campus petition. Rather than intervening, Eguiguren allegedly took photos of the incident and later slept in the same room, organizers of the campaign allege. In the underlying case, Elijah Joseph Katzenell, 22, of Camp Hill, PA (according to the Pennsylvania S…

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by Jillian Pikora
Schools
Veteran Suffolk Teacher Dies Weeks After Brother: 'Unwavering Dedication' To Students Veteran Suffolk Teacher Dies Weeks After Brother: 'Unwavering Dedication' To Students
Veteran Suffolk Teacher Dies Weeks After Brother: 'Unwavering Dedication' To Students A beloved Long Island teacher who spent nearly 25 years shaping young minds died just weeks after her brother. Laurette LaPrarie, a fourth grade teacher at Ridge Elementary School, died Sunday, March 23, at the age of 56, according to her obituary. A cause of death was not given. LaPrarie’s death came just weeks after that of her brother, physical education teacher Jacque LaPrarie Sr., of Farmingville, relatives said. “It is with an extremely heavy heart and deep sadness that I share the heartbreaking news of the passing of one of our most beloved teachers Mrs. Laurette LaPrarie,” reads a…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
Kermit The Frog Confirmed As 2025 UMD Commencement Speaker — And The Internet Has Best Reaction Kermit The Frog Confirmed As 2025 UMD Commencement Speaker — And The Internet Has Best Reaction
Kermit The Frog Confirmed As 2025 UMD Commencement Speaker — And The Internet Has Best Reaction It's not easy being green, or delivering an epic commencement speech.  But Kermit the Frog, a Peabody Award winner and best-selling author (and muppet) will do both in May, when he will return to the campus where he was first brought to life (by creator and alum Jim Henson, Class of 1960) to deliver the commencement speech in May. The school made the announcement this week, and the internet's reaction is everything you could've ever hoped for. "Kermencement," one absolute genius commented on UMD's post on Facebook. Others begged for the event to be live-streamed, while many …

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Twins Endured 'Years Of Terror' Being Bullied At Patchogue School, Parents Claim In Lawsuit Twins Endured 'Years Of Terror' Being Bullied At Patchogue School, Parents Claim In Lawsuit
Twins Endured 'Years Of Terror' Being Bullied At Patchogue School, Parents Claim In Lawsuit A pair of twins endured relentless bullying at their Long Island school—physical assaults, cruel taunts, and even the circulation of an illicit photo—while their parents begged administrators for help, only to be met with silence and retaliation, a federal lawsuit alleges. The suit, filed in the Eastern District of New York in February, accuses the Patchogue-Medford School District of failing to protect the male and female students from relentless bullying, harassment, and discrimination—despite repeated pleas for help. District officials ignored formal complaints, failed to intervene in da…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
Mystery Man On Bike Stalks Girl Outside East Islip School, Mom Warns Other Parents Mystery Man On Bike Stalks Girl Outside East Islip School, Mom Warns Other Parents
Mystery Man On Bike Stalks Girl Outside East Islip School, Mom Warns Other Parents A Long Island mother is urging parents to stay alert after her 11-year-old daughter was allegedly followed by a man on a bicycle near her middle school. In a post shared on in the “Islip Terrace and All of the Islips” Facebook group on Tuesday, March 18, Charine Andersen detailed the unsettling encounter that took place as her daughter was leaving East Islip Middle School on Spur Drive. A Hispanic man in his 60s rode up to her daughter and spoke to her, but she couldn’t fully understand what he was saying—except for the words “bunny” or “hunny," she said. When the girl asked him to repeat h…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
12-Year-Old's Instagram Photo Of Gun Lands Copiague Middle Schooler In Handcuffs: Police 12-Year-Old's Instagram Photo Of Gun Lands Copiague Middle Schooler In Handcuffs: Police
12-Year-Old's Instagram Photo Of Gun Lands Copiague Middle Schooler In Handcuffs: Police A 12-year-old boy is accused of making threats against a Long Island middle school. Suffolk County Police responded to Copiague Middle School, located on Great Neck Road, for a 911 call at around 6:45 a.m. Monday, March 10. School administrators told officers that the student posted a picture of a gun on Instagram, police said. Following an investigation, officers determined that the threat was not credible, police said. The boy was arrested on suspicion of making a threat of mass harm. The student, who was not identified due to his age, will be arraigned in Suffolk County Family Court at…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
Students Feel Record Stress Over Admissions, Two NY Colleges Among Top 10 Dream Schools: Survey Students Feel Record Stress Over Admissions, Two NY Colleges Among Top 10 Dream Schools: Survey
Students Feel Record Stress Over Admissions, Two NY Colleges Among Top 10 Dream Schools: Survey For high school seniors, spring is a nerve-wracking time as college decisions roll in — but the class of 2025 is more stressed than ever, according to a new survey. The Princeton Review said 73 percent of students and parents reported "high" or "very high" stress over the admissions process. That's the highest level in the 23-year history of the College Hopes & Worries Survey, which had its 2025 edition released on Tuesday, Mar. 4. The 2025 survey polled 9,317 students and parents about a wide variety of college-related issues. Financial Pressures, Testing, AI Concerns Financial s…

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by Chris Spiker
Schools
11 Students Hospitalized After THC Gummies Handed Out At Suffolk County School 11 Students Hospitalized After THC Gummies Handed Out At Suffolk County School
11 Students Hospitalized After THC Gummies Handed Out At Suffolk County School Around a dozen students were sickened after ingesting marijuana gummies at a Long Island middle school. A student at William Floyd Middle School in Moriches handed out edible THC gummies to around a dozen students who became ill on Monday morning, March 3, the William Floyd School District confirmed. Suffolk County Police and medics responded to the campus at around 11:15 a.m. for reports that multiple students had overdosed.  In all, 11 students were taken to local hospitals for treatment, district officials said. No additional details were given. “We are grateful to our first respo…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
Six NY Colleges Named To Most Beautiful Campuses In US List: See Why Six NY Colleges Named To Most Beautiful Campuses In US List: See Why
Six NY Colleges Named To Most Beautiful Campuses In US List: See Why Choosing a college is about more than academics, sports, and social life — campus beauty can also make a lasting impression. Travel magazine Conde Nast released its 2025 list of the 54 Most Beautiful College Campuses in the United States. Across the Northeast, several schools stand out for their historic architecture, stunning landscapes, and picturesque settings. Whether framed by rolling hills, autumn foliage, or Gothic spires, these colleges offer students an inspiring backdrop for their studies. Connecticut Wesleyan University was recognized for utilizing Greek Revival a…

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by Chris Spiker
Schools
Al Roker Surprised With Honorary Doctorate From NY College: 'I Am Thrilled' (VIDEO) Al Roker Surprised With Honorary Doctorate From NY College: 'I Am Thrilled' (VIDEO)
Al Roker Surprised With Honorary Doctorate From NY College: 'I Am Thrilled' (Video) You may call him Dr. Roker. Longtime Today show weatherman Al Roker got an unexpected forecast of his own: Siena College is awarding him with an honorary doctorate degree. And the news came in the most fitting way possible–on live TV. During a special “breaking news” segment by the college’s student-run SCTV News team on Wednesday, Feb. 26, Roker joined from the Today studios in Manhattan to give a campus-centric forecast for Loudonville. After assuring students that the frigid days were numbered, Roker heard from Siena alum and NBC executive producer Tom Mazzarelli, who had a forecast of…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
NY's Education Performance Analyzed In New Study: See How It Stacks Up NY's Education Performance Analyzed In New Study: See How It Stacks Up
NY's Education Performance Analyzed In New Study: See How It Stacks Up Several Northeast states are among the most educated in the US, excelling in school quality, college attainment, and overall academic achievement, a new study said. Massachusetts was ranked as the country's most-educated state, according to a WalletHub study released on Monday, Feb. 10. Maryland was second, followed by Vermont, Colorado, and Connecticut in the top five. The study analyzed all 50 states using 18 factors, including educational attainment, quality, and achievement gaps. "There's a strong correlation between being more educated and receiving higher compensation," said Wal…

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by Chris Spiker
Schools
Student Threatened 'Mass Harm' At Suffolk County High School, Police Say Student Threatened 'Mass Harm' At Suffolk County High School, Police Say
Student Threatened 'Mass Harm' At Suffolk County High School, Police Say A student is accused of making threats against a Long Island high school. Officers responded to Huntington High School at around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb, 11, after being tipped off that a student had made a “threat of mass harm” against the campus on Snapchat, Suffolk County Police said. Following an investigation, Second Precinct officers arrested a female student, 18, on suspicion of making a threat of mass harm. She was expected to undergo evaluation and be arraigned at a later date. Authorities did not publicize the student’s name or speculate on a possible motive for the alleged thre…

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by Michael Mashburn