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…
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…
NY School Lacrosse Coach 'Sextorted' 13-Year-Old Boy, DOJ Says NY School Lacrosse Coach 'Sextorted' 13-Year-Old Boy, DOJ Says
NY 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…
Freshman Arsonist Set Numerous Fires At Siena College Dorm While Classmates Slept, Police Say Freshman Arsonist Set Numerous Fires At Siena College Dorm While Classmates Slept, Police Say
Freshman Arsonist Set Numerous Fires At Siena 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…
Local School District's Transgender Athlete Policy Sparks Federal Investigation Local School District's Transgender Athlete Policy Sparks Federal Investigation
Local 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 …
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…
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 …
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…
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…
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…
Trump Weighs In On NY School Mascot Battle: ‘Long Live The Massapequa Chiefs!’ Trump Weighs In On NY School Mascot Battle: ‘Long Live The Massapequa Chiefs!’
Trump Weighs In On NY 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…
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…
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 …
‘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 …
School Employee Had 'Inappropriate' Conversations With Students At Capital Region Campus: Cops School Employee Had 'Inappropriate' Conversations With Students At Capital Region Campus: Cops
Paul Hallock Had InappropriateTalks With Students: 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…
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…
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 …
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…
11 Students Hospitalized After THC Gummies Handed Out At NY School 11 Students Hospitalized After THC Gummies Handed Out At NY School
11 Students Hospitalized After THC Gummies Handed Out At NY 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…
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…
Al Roker Surprised With Honorary Doctorate From Siena College: 'I Am Thrilled' (VIDEO) Al Roker Surprised With Honorary Doctorate From Siena College: 'I Am Thrilled' (VIDEO)
Al Roker Surprised With Honorary Doctorate From Siena 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…
Student, 14, Threatens Shooting At Schenectady High School, Police Say Student, 14, Threatens Shooting At Schenectady High School, Police Say
Student Threatens Shooting At Washington Irving School: Cops A 14-year-old boy is accused of threatening to kill a classmate at a Capital Region school. Schenectady School District officials contacted police after learning that a student at Washington Irving School had threatened a 14-year-old classmate via Snapchat late Saturday night, Feb. 22, Schenectady Police said. Officers identified the suspect and determined that he threatened to bring a gun to school and kill one of his classmates following a dispute earlier in the week, police said. The teen was arrested on suspicion of aggravated harassment, a misdemeanor. His name was not publicized due …
Education Pays: Northeast States Among Nation's Best In School Quality, College Attainment Education Pays: Northeast States Among Nation's Best In School Quality, College Attainment
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…
New Study Reveals Shocking Amount Of Phone Use By Teens While At School New Study Reveals Shocking Amount Of Phone Use By Teens While At School
New Study Reveals Shocking Amount Of Phone Use By Teens While At School A brand-new study has uncovered surprising trends in teen phone use during school hours, raising fresh concerns about digital distractions in the classroom. The study, published by JAMA Pediatrics on Monday, Feb. 3, found that students spent a significant portion of the school day on their phones, with messaging, Instagram, and video streaming among the most-used apps. Researchers also noted that a quarter of students logged more than two hours of screen time during class. In addition, students whose parents held bachelor’s degrees or higher spent about a half-hour less on their phones dur…
NY Unveils Media Literacy Toolkit For Schools To Combat 'Scourge' Of Misinformation NY Unveils Media Literacy Toolkit For Schools To Combat 'Scourge' Of Misinformation
NY Unveils Media Literacy Toolkit For Schools To Combat 'Scourge' Of Misinformation New York is joining the fight against fake news. Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled the state’s first “Media Literacy” toolkit to help educators teach students how to critically analyze and assess information, particularly online. The initiative, announced Thursday, Jan. 23, follows growing concerns about misinformation, social media influence, and the role of online radicalization in recent violent incidents, including the Buffalo mass shooting, Hochul’s office said. “Whether it’s cell phones and social media or the scourge of misinformation teens encounter each day, I’m taking action to protect …
Student Busted With Loaded Gun At Capital Region College Dorm, Police Say Student Busted With Loaded Gun At Capital Region College Dorm, Police Say
Student Busted With Loaded Gun At Capital Region College Dorm, Police Say A college student is facing weapons charges after allegedly bringing a loaded gun to his Capital Region dorm room. Jalen Brown, 20, was arrested at Bryant and Stratton College’s student housing complex on Union Drive in Albany on Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 22, according to Albany Police. Officers responded to the University Heights College Suites at around 5 p.m. after campus security reported a student with a handgun in their dorm room. Investigators located Brown as he returned to his room and found a loaded 9mm handgun, police said. “Through investigation, it was determined that there…
Dialing It Back: NY Students Would Be Barred From Using Phones During School Day Under Proposal Dialing It Back: NY Students Would Be Barred From Using Phones During School Day Under Proposal
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…
Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm
Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm Fewer high school graduates began college this fall, with enrollment in that age group dropping 5 percent from last year, according to an analysis by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.  Four-year institutions were hardest hit, with public colleges seeing an 8.5 percent drop in first-year enrollments and private nonprofit colleges reporting a 6.5 percent decline.  This trend poses significant challenges for colleges and universities, particularly those reliant on tuition revenue.  As the competition for students intensifies, institutions face mounting pressur…
West Point Grad From Region Awarded Rhodes Scholarship West Point Grad From Region Awarded Rhodes Scholarship
West Point Grad From Region Awarded Rhodes Scholarship A West Point grad from the region is one of only 32 students nationwide to be awarded a Rhodes Scholarship at the University of Oxford in the fall of 2025. Orange County resident Shepherd Dzina of Tuxedo Park and three other cadets were awarded the scholarship on Saturday, Nov. 16. Dzina is an economics major currently serving as the Brigade Executive Officer at West Point, managing logistics and operations for over 4,400 cadets. He also leads the Finance Club and conducts research with the Army’s Office of Economics and Manpower Analysis. He has interned with the US International Develop…
Online Threat Leads To Increased Security At School In Region Online Threat Leads To Increased Security At School In Region
Online Threat Leads To Increased Security At School In Region Parents and students can expect to see extra police on the campus of a middle school in the region after a threat of violence was made over social media. Enlarged City School District of Middletown Superintendent Amy Creeden said the threat was received late Monday, Nov. 11, in Orange County at Monhagen Middle School in the town of Wallkill. The threat, which Wallkill Police are actively investigating, was made on social media by an unidentified user who created a fake, well-known username in an attempt to gain attention. Creeden said the threat has been shared rapidly by and among students…
Meeting Explains New Electric School Buses Coming To School District In Region Meeting Explains New Electric School Buses Coming To School District In Region
Meeting Explains New Electric School Buses Coming To School District In Region Residents will have a chance to ask questions during an upcoming meeting when they will be asked to approve spending $2.27 million on electric school buses in a school district in the region. The meeting is in Dutchess County from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 6, at Franklin D. Roosevelt High School at 156 S Cross Road in Staatsburg. Hyde Park Central School District officials said attendees will learn everything about implementing electric buses during the panel discussion. Representatives from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and Leonard Bus Sales …