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Politics
Elmo's LinkedIn Goes Viral After Federal Layoff — Yes, You Read That Right Elmo's LinkedIn Goes Viral After Federal Layoff — Yes, You Read That Right
Elmo's LinkedIn Goes Viral After Federal Layoff — Yes, You Read That Right Even Elmo isn't immune to cuts by the Trump administration.  With the president canceling certain grants that will greatly impact PBS, the historic puppet is looking for a job, according to a hilarious — and sad — "LinkedIn" post that went viral on social media.  "Unfortunately, Elmo was recently laid off because of the federal budget cuts," the post on a since-deleted account reads. "Elmo worked at Sesame Street for 45 years. Elmo is sad. Elmo loved his time at Sesame Street."  Following President Trump signing an executive order to halt federal funding to PBS — the station that created a…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Bill Gates To Donate Nearly All His Wealth In 20 Years: 'Too Many Urgent Problems To Solve' Bill Gates To Donate Nearly All His Wealth In 20 Years: 'Too Many Urgent Problems To Solve'
Bill Gates To Donate Nearly All His Wealth In 20 Years: 'Too Many Urgent Problems To Solve' Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said he'll give away virtually all of his fortune and permanently close his foundation by the end of 2045. Gates announced his massive philanthropy plans in a blog post on his website on Thursday, May 8. The billionaire also said the third-largest charitable foundation in the world will be shuttered on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2045. The Seattle businessman said he'll donate more than $100 billion over the next 20 years in what he calls the "last chapter" of his career. The Gates Foundation was created in 2000 by Gates and his ex-wife Melinda Gates French. …

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by Chris Spiker
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
HV Math Teacher Busted With Child Porn Following Cybertip, Police Say (UPDATE) HV Math Teacher Busted With Child Porn Following Cybertip, Police Say (UPDATE)
HV Math Teacher Busted With Child Porn Following Cybertip, Police Say (Update) Police identified a Hudson Valley teacher who was arrested on charges related to child pornography. Sullivan County resident Christopher Dedonato, 26, of Liberty, was taken into custody Monday, May 5, following an investigation by New York State Police. Dedonato has worked as a math teacher at Liberty High School since 2022, according to his LinkedIn profile. Prior to that, he worked as a substitute teacher for both the Liberty Central and Beacon City school districts. New York State Police opened an investigation after receiving a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploit…

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by Michael Mashburn
Lifestyle
Here's Where NY Ranks Among Best States In US, And Why Here's Where NY Ranks Among Best States In US, And Why
Here's Where NY Ranks Among Best States In US, And Why A newly released report has ranked all 50 states in the United States from top to bottom based on a variety of factors, providing insight into the best states to live in. Utah has been recognized as No. 1 in the U.S. News Best States rankings for the third consecutive year. However, the report encompasses a broader scope, highlighting various states that also excel in several key areas. Historically, Utah was often associated with three main attributes: the film Footloose,’ green Jell-O, and a youthful workforce. Curtis Blair, president and CEO of the Provo-based Utah Valley Chamber of Comm…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
HS Teacher Arrested In Child Porn Case In Hudson Valley HS Teacher Arrested In Child Porn Case In Hudson Valley
HS Teacher Arrested In Child Porn Case In Hudson Valley A high school teacher in Sullivan County has been arrested on charges related to child pornography, district officials confirmed Monday evening, May 5. The teacher arrested works at Liberty High School, according to the Liberty Central School District, which said it was made aware of the arrest on Monday evening. The charges involve sharing child-related pornographic content on social media, district officials said. The district said it was first made aware of the investigation on Thursday, April 22. At that time, the teacher was placed on immediate paid administrative leave, pending the o…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Portnoy Sends 'Morons' To Tour Auschwitz After Antisemitic Incident At Barstool Philly Bar Portnoy Sends 'Morons' To Tour Auschwitz After Antisemitic Incident At Barstool Philly Bar
Portnoy Sends 'Morons' To Tour Auschwitz After Antisemitic Incident At Barstool Philly Bar Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy said he’s turning an antisemitic incident at a Barstool-affiliated bar in Philadelphia into a teaching moment by sending the two young people responsible to tour Auschwitz. In an "emergency press conference" on Instagram Sunday, May 4, Portnoy described how a sign that read “F— the Jews” was ordered with bottle service at the Sanson Street Bar in Center City. The incident, Portnoy said, left him furious. “Two hours ago you literally could’ve cooked an egg on my head that’s how much steam and heat were coming out of my ears,” Portnoy said, noting that he…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
NY's Foster Care System Ranked Outside US Top 10, New Study Says: Here's Why NY's Foster Care System Ranked Outside US Top 10, New Study Says: Here's Why
NY's Foster Care System Ranked Outside US Top 10, New Study Says: Here's Why Northeast and mid-Atlantic states showed wide disparities in foster care quality, with some ranking among the nation's best and others falling behind, according to a new study. SmileHub released its 2025 list of States With the Best Foster Care Systems on Tuesday, April 29. The study analyzed every state using 19 key foster care metrics, from adoption timelines and high school graduation rates to monthly stipends. The ranking used a weighted scoring system across three categories: foster youth baselines, community environment and support systems, and legal support. …

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by Chris Spiker
News
Long Island Teacher Dies After Suffering Medical Episode In Front Of Students: Report Long Island Teacher Dies After Suffering Medical Episode In Front Of Students: Report
Long Island Teacher Dies After Suffering Medical Episode In Front Of Students: Report A Long Island school district is mourning the loss of one of its middle school teachers who reportedly died days after suffering a medical episode in front of students. Adrian Weger Gilmore, who taught at the Albert G. Prodell Middle School in Shoreham died on Thursday,  April 24, according to multiple news outlets citing district officials.  News 12 Long Island reported the district sent a letter to the community on Tuesday, April 22 saying that a staffer suffered a medical emergency that was witnessed by students. County police confirmed they responded to the school for a case involving a…

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
Family Killed In Crash Will Be Laid To Rest Together Family Killed In Crash Will Be Laid To Rest Together
Family Killed In Crash Will Be Laid To Rest Together A mother, her teenage daughter, and her sister who were killed in a crash on Saturday, April 19 in Connecticut will be laid to rest together this weekend. Services for Florinda Antonia Tineo, 50, her daughter Gabriela Johailiz Difo, 17, and her sister Jeannette Tineo, 48, will be held Friday, April 25 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Duksa Family Funeral Homes at Newington Memorial. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow on Saturday, April 26 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 626 Willard Ave., with burial at West Meadow Cemetery. Maritza Smith, 56, of New Britain also died in the cra…

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by Cecilia Levine
Politics
Popular Sauce Brand Responds To Education Secretary Linda McMahon's AI Gaffe Popular Sauce Brand Responds To Education Secretary Linda McMahon's AI Gaffe
Popular Sauce Brand Responds To Education Secretary Linda McMahon's AI Gaffe A popular bottled sauce brand is sizzling after US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon mistakenly referred to AI (short for Artificial Intelligence) as "A1." McMahon made the blunder repeatedly when speaking at an annual gathering of education and learning leaders, the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit, in San Diego last week. "Kids are sponges," McMahon said at one point. "They just absorb everything. “It wasn’t all that long ago that it was, ‘We’re going to have internet in our schools!’” McMahon said. “Whoop! Now let’s see A1” — pronouncing it 'A-One' instead of 'A-Eye' — “and how can…

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by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
The Untold Story Of Milton Hershey Revealed In True Chocolate Tale 'HERSHEY' Movie The Untold Story Of Milton Hershey Revealed In True Chocolate Tale 'HERSHEY' Movie
The Untold Story Of Milton Hershey Revealed In True Chocolate Tale 'Hershey' Movie A sweeping new movie will pull back the foil on the true story behind America’s most iconic chocolate bar, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts announced on Tuesday, April 8. "HERSHEY," starring Finn Wittrock ("American Horror Story") and Alexandra Daddario ("The White Lotus"), will bring to life the love, heartbreak, and grit of Milton and Catherine Hershey, whose vision changed millions of lives — not just with candy, but with compassion. Filming begins in May 2025 across Pennsylvania, with a nationwide release planned for 2026 to coincide with America's 250th birthday. Directed by Mark W…

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by Jillian Pikora