Fair 76°
Schools
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 …

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Teen Shot In Region: May Have Been Self-Inflicted Wound, Police Say Teen Shot In Region: May Have Been Self-Inflicted Wound, Police Say
Teen Shot In Region: May Have Been Self-Inflicted Wound, Police Say Authorities are investigating whether or not a gunshot wound suffered by a 14-year-old boy in the Hudson Valley was self-inflicted following his contradictory account of events, police said. The incident happened on Monday, Jan. 27, around 3 p.m., when City of Newburgh Police responded to a report of gunfire in the area of 175 Robinson Ave (Route 9W).  Officers arrived to find the teen suffering from a gunshot wound to his groin. They immediately began life-saving measures before the boy was transported to Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh. He was later transferred to…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
BOE Addresses Superintendent's Suspension Amid Ongoing Investigation In Region (UPDATE) BOE Addresses Superintendent's Suspension Amid Ongoing Investigation In Region (UPDATE)
BOE Addresses Superintendent's Suspension Amid Ongoing Investigation In Region (Update) The Newburgh Enlarged City School District Board of Education has issued a public statement addressing the recent suspension of Superintendent Jackielyn Manning-Campbell, confirming that the decision was made as part of an ongoing investigation and legal proceedings.  In a statement made to Daily Voice on Monday, Jan. 27, Board President Christine Bello emphasized the importance of fairness and confidentiality during this process.  "The Board understands the concerns and emotions surrounding this decision," Bello said, adding, "Our priority is to ensure fair and thorough proc…

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by Ben Crnic & Michael Mashburn
Schools
Newburgh Superintendent Suspended, Report Says: BOE Stays Silent Newburgh Superintendent Suspended, Report Says: BOE Stays Silent
Newburgh Superintendent Suspended, Report Says: BOE Stays Silent Newburgh Superintendent Jackielyn Manning-Campbell was suspended with pay during a special board meeting of the Newburgh Enlarged City School District on Thursday, Jan. 23, she confirmed to News12. The board voted 5-4 in favor of the action. Board of Education members declined to comment on the matter, referring to Manning-Campbell only by her identification number, 12325, rather than by name. Earlier that day, Manning-Cambpell released a statement regarding a recent budget audit that allegedly found a multi-million dollar surplus. The suspension came days after police responded to th…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
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…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
$50K Scheme: Former Top School Officials Spent Funds On Personal Items In Region, DA Says $50K Scheme: Former Top School Officials Spent Funds On Personal Items In Region, DA Says
$50K Scheme: Former Top School Officials Spent Funds On Personal Items In Region, DA Says Two former administrators at a Westchester County school district serving at-risk students have been charged with multiple public corruption offenses after using $50,000 for personal items, prosecutors announced. Rockland County resident Oliver Levy, age 55, of Stony Point, the former superintendent of the Greenburgh-Graham Union Free School District, and Surendra Kumar, 48, of Yonkers, a former security system specialist, were arraigned on Wednesday, Jan. 22, on charges including second- and third-degree grand larceny and corrupting the government, the Westchester County District Attorney's…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Teens Killed In Christmas Crash In Region Remembered For Kindness, Love Teens Killed In Christmas Crash In Region Remembered For Kindness, Love
Teens Killed In Christmas Crash In Region Remembered For Kindness, Love A devastating Christmas night car crash in the region claimed the lives of two teens from Orange and Sullivan counties, including one who was preparing to celebrate his 16th birthday. The crash, which happened in the Sullivan County village of Liberty on Wednesday, Dec. 25, claimed the lives of 17-year-old Orange County resident Hannah Reggio of Middletown and 15-year-old Sullivan County resident Joseph Young of Fallsburg, police said.  The crash occurred around 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 25, on Route 52 near Sullivan Avenue, when a 2017 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup truck collided with a …

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
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…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Ivy Leaguer From Prominent Family Officially Charged With CEO's Murder, Faces Extradition To NY Ivy Leaguer From Prominent Family Officially Charged With CEO's Murder, Faces Extradition To NY
Ivy Leaguer From Prominent Family Officially Charged With CEO's Murder, Faces Extradition To NY An Ivy League-educated high school valedictorian from a privileged, politically connected family has been charged with the execution-style murder of the CEO of one of the nation's largest healthcare providers after a days-long manhunt. Click here for a new, updated story - CEO Murder: Whiz Kid Suspect May Have Spiraled After Traumatic Back Surgery New York prosecutors have formally charged 26-year-old Luigi Nicholas Mangione, a native of Towson, Maryland, with the fatal shooting of United Healthcare executive Brian Thompson.  The incident occurred outside the New York Hilton in midt…

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by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
Hudson Valley Welcomes New Licensed Pot Dispensary Hudson Valley Welcomes New Licensed Pot Dispensary
Hudson Valley Welcomes New Licensed Pot Dispensary A new pot shop is set to elevate the cannabis retail experience in a town in the region as its first state-licensed recreational dispensary. The new store, Dutchess Roots, located in the Town of Poughkeepsie, broke ground on Monday, Nov. 25, at 2615 South Road. The dispensary is nestled behind Buff City Soap and opposite The Yoga House, with plans to open its doors in Spring 2025. Town Supervisor Rebecca Edwards expressed enthusiasm for the new venture and stressed the town's commitment to regulated and safe cannabis sales.  Officials said Dutchess Roots aims to integrate into the co…

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by Daily Voice
Politics
Linda McMahon Picked To Head Department Of Education Linda McMahon Picked To Head Department Of Education
Linda McMahon Picked To Head Department Of Education President-elect Donald Trump named Linda McMahon, a prominent figure in business and politics, the next Secretary of the Department of Education. Trump noted McMahon's two years working on the Connecticut Board of Education when nominating her as the nation's top teacher. “As Secretary of Education, Linda will fight tirelessly to expand 'Choice' to every State in America, and empower parents to make the best Education decisions for their families,” Trump said in a statement that promised she would be a “fierce advocate for Parents’ Rights.” Related: Dr. Oz Tapped To Oversee Medicare, Medi…

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by Josh Lanier
News
New Update: Accused Killer Of 15-Year-Old Boy From Region In US Illegally, ICE Says New Update: Accused Killer Of 15-Year-Old Boy From Region In US Illegally, ICE Says
New Update: Accused Killer Of 15-Year-Old Boy From Region In US Illegally, ICE Says A 40-year-old man who allegedly shot his girlfriend and her two children in Northern Westchester and then led authorities on a 12-hour manhunt is in the United States illegally and has had past encounters with Border Patrol, officials said. Fernando Andres Jimenez Meza, who allegedly shot and killed 15-year-old Michael Raimondi and injured his mother and brother during an incident in the Baldwin Place section of Somers on Monday, Oct. 28, is an unlawfully present citizen of Chile, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokesperson said on Friday, Nov. 1. He entere…

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by Ben Crnic