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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…
Veteran LI Teacher Dies Weeks After Brother, Remembered For '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…
Twins Endured 'Years Of Terror' Being Bullied At LI School, Parents Claim In Federal 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…
Education Pays: Northeast States Among Nation's Best In School Quality, College Attainment
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…
Dialing It Back: NY Students Would Be Barred From Using Phones During School Day Under Proposal
Students could soon go from scrolling to schooling.
A bold initiative unveiled by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday, Jan. 22, would restrict smartphone use in all K-12 schools during the entire school day, including lunch time.
The proposal, introduced as part of the governor’s 2026 Executive Budget, aims to prioritize student learning and mental health, Hochul’s office said.
“From parents and teachers, to social justice and law enforcement leaders, New Yorkers agree that our young people succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling,” Hochul said.
Under the…
Man Exposes Himself Near Elementary School: Nassau Police
A Dix Hills man is accused of exposing himself in a vehicle parked near an elementary school in Uniondale, police announced on Saturday, Jan. 18.
Willian Portillo Melara, 29, of 3 Foxridge Circle, was arrested following the incident, which occurred on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at 2:40 p.m., Nassau County police said.
Portillo Melara was reportedly sitting inside a white Honda Pilot parked on Dale Place near Smith Street, in the vicinity of the Smith Street School, when he was seen exposing and touching himself inappropriately by a 22-year-old woman, detectives said.
The victim immediately wen…
'Highly-Regarded' LI Coach, Mentor Honored Following Death In Rollover Crash
The Long Island athletic community is mourning the loss of a beloved high school basketball coach following his untimely death.
Darrell Sumpter, a dedicated assistant varsity basketball coach at William Floyd High School, died Friday, Dec. 13, in a wreck on Sunrise Highway in Shirley, as Daily Voice reported. He was 51.
The William Floyd School District confirmed his passing in a letter to parents the following day.
“Mr. Sumpter was a proud William Floyd graduate, a longtime community member, a family man, and a highly-regarded coach and mentor for our boys’ and girls’ basketball programs,…
Recall Of 11.7M Pounds Of Meat, Poultry: List Released Of LI Schools That Received Products
A preliminary list has been released of schools that received items that were part of a nationwide recall of millions of pounds of meat and poultry products over fears they may be contaminated with Listeria.
The initial recall involving the manufacturer, Bruce Pac, was for 9,986,245 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) products sold at Walmart, Target, Amazon, Trader Joe's, 7-Eleven, Aldi, and other stores. It was announced on Wednesday, Oct. 9.
Earlier this week, the recall was expanded to include 11,765,285 pounds of products, the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspectio…
Beloved Farmingdale Educators Killed In Bus Crash Get Posthumous Street Naming
Long Island leaders are honoring two beloved educators a year after they were killed in a bus crash.
The Town of Oyster Bay unveiled two new street signs in Farmingdale honoring late Farmingdale High School band director Gina Pellettiere and retired teacher Beatrice “Bea” Ferrari during a ceremony held Tuesday, Oct. 8.
Pellettiere, age 43, of Massapequa, and Ferrari, age 77, of Farmingdale, died when a charter bus carrying the school’s marching band to a band camp in Pennsylvania overturned on I-84 in Orange County, in the town of Wawayanda, on Sept. 21, 2023.
At least 43 people were also…
