Pilot Uninjured After Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing At High School In Westchester (UPDATE) Pilot Uninjured After Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing At High School In Westchester (UPDATE)
Pilot Uninjured After Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing At High School In Westchester (Update) This story has been updated.  A pilot came out unscathed after being forced to make an emergency landing at a high school in Westchester County following a mechanical issue.  The landing happened Tuesday afternoon, May 26, at Rye Neck High School on Hornidge Road in Mamaroneck, when the aircraft landed on one of the school's athletic fields, according to Rye Neck Union Free School District Superintendent Michael Burke and City of Rye Police. Burke said the helicopter had a mechanical issue before the landing.  The pilot was the only one inside the aircraft and was not …
Too Many Students Are Getting A's At Harvard: Faculty Just Made It Even Harder Too Many Students Are Getting A's At Harvard: Faculty Just Made It Even Harder
Too Many Students Are Getting A's At Harvard: Faculty Just Made It Even Harder Harvard University faculty voted to cap the number of A grades undergraduate students can receive beginning in 2027, according to multiple news reports, including CBS. Faculty approved the measure in a 458-201 vote, limiting A grades to 20 percent per class, with professors allowed to award four additional A grades beyond the cap. The policy will apply only to undergraduate students, according to the university. A-minus grades and lower grades will not be affected under the new rules. Faculty also rejected a separate proposal that would have allowed individual courses to opt out o…
Board Of Ed To Discuss Closing School In Westchester As Part Of Addressing $101M Budget Gap Board Of Ed To Discuss Closing School In Westchester As Part Of Addressing $101M Budget Gap
Board Of Ed To Discuss Closing School In Westchester As Part Of Addressing $101M Budget Gap A Westchester County school's future depends on decisions made in an upcoming Board of Education meeting, officials said.  The possible closure of School 21 in Yonkers will be discussed during a Board of Education meeting on Tuesday night, May 20, according to Yonkers Public Schools Superintendent Anibal Soler, Jr. Soler said the potential closure would be recommended in his proposed budget for the 2026-27 school year to address a $101 million structural budget gap.  The superintendent said the idea is part of an overall recommendation to address the district's financial situatio…
Westchester Students Perform National Anthem At Yankee Stadium For Second Straight Year Westchester Students Perform National Anthem At Yankee Stadium For Second Straight Year
Westchester Students Perform National Anthem At Yankee Stadium For Second Straight Year Dozens of student musicians from a Westchester County school district recently took center stage at Yankee Stadium, performing the National Anthem before a Yankees home game against the Baltimore Orioles earlier this month. Mamaroneck Public Schools announced Monday, May 18, that 39 students from the district’s elementary schools, Hommocks Middle School, and Mamaroneck High School participated in the performance.  The students are members of the Larchmont Mamaroneck Youth Orchestra, which also includes young musicians from neighboring school districts. The group was founded by Chatswor…
These Westchester Students Earned Prestigious National Merit $2,500 Scholarships These Westchester Students Earned Prestigious National Merit $2,500 Scholarships
These Westchester Students Earned Prestigious National Merit $2,500 Scholarships More than two dozen students from Westchester County have been named winners of prestigious National Merit $2,500 Scholarships, awarded to some of the nation’s top graduating high school seniors.  The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the winners this week, naming 2,500 students nationwide who were selected from more than 15,000 finalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program.  According to NMSC, winners were chosen based on academic achievement, PSAT/NMSQT scores, leadership, extracurricular involvement, essays, and recommendations from school officials. …
Student's Realistic BB Gun Triggers Lockdown At School In Westchester Student's Realistic BB Gun Triggers Lockdown At School In Westchester
Student's Realistic BB Gun Triggers Lockdown At School In Westchester A student's realistic-looking BB gun triggered a lockdown and police response at a Westchester County school, authorities said. The incident happened around 11:30 a.m. on Monday, May 11, while classes were in session at Irvington High School, according to the Irvington Police Department.  School administrators immediately activated lockdown procedures after receiving information that a student may have had a weapon. Officers were then provided with the student’s location and responded to the school immediately, police said.   During the investigation, officers found what the…
Antisemitic Symbols Found In High School Classroom In Hudson Valley Antisemitic Symbols Found In High School Classroom In Hudson Valley
Antisemitic Symbols Found In High School Classroom In Hudson Valley An investigation is underway after antisemitic symbols were discovered inside a classroom at a Rockland County high school.  Nyack Public Schools Superintendent Lizzette Ruiz-Giovinazzi informed families in a letter sent Thursday, May 7, that the symbols were found at Nyack High School at the end of the school day.  She said the Clarkstown Police Department was immediately notified, and the district is now working with law enforcement on next steps.  District leaders condemned the incident and reaffirmed their stance against hate and bias. "We denounce all acts of antisemit…
Major Cyberattack Disrupts Classes For Thousands Of Colleges, Schools: What To Know Major Cyberattack Disrupts Classes For Thousands Of Colleges, Schools: What To Know
Major Cyberattack Disrupts Classes For Thousands Of Colleges, Schools: What To Know Schools nationwide are able to use a popular class management system after a cybersecurity incident locked out teachers and students, exposing personal data for millions of users. Canvas was "fully back online" on the morning of Friday, May 8, according to education technology company Instructure's website. The platform used by about 9,000 K-12 schools and universities was down for several hours on Thursday, May 7, in a data breach claimed by the hacking group ShinyHunters. Instructure said it first detected suspicious activity in Canvas on Wednesday, April 29. While the …
Swatting Group ‘Purgatory’ Linked To 10+ Hoax Active Shooter Calls As FBI Charges Suspect Swatting Group ‘Purgatory’ Linked To 10+ Hoax Active Shooter Calls As FBI Charges Suspect
Swatting Group ‘Purgatory’ Linked To 10+ Hoax Active Shooter Calls As FBI Charges Suspect A swatting group calling itself Purgatory is believed to be behind more than 10 hoax active shooter reports that triggered lockdowns at universities nationwide — and now, federal prosecutors have filed charges against a suspect tied to the spree, officials announced Thursday, April 30. Villanova At The Center The wave of hoaxes began on Aug. 21 at Villanova University, where families and new students attending orientation Mass were sent scrambling after an alert warned of an “ACTIVE SHOOTER” on campus. Students and parents barricaded doors and hid as heavily armed officers flooded the Main L…
Ex-Penn State Professor Who Raped Dog In State Forest Sentenced: Court Docs Ex-Penn State Professor Who Raped Dog In State Forest Sentenced: Court Docs
Ex-Penn State Professor Who Raped Dog In State Forest Sentenced: Court Docs A former Penn State professor accused of repeatedly raping his dog in a state forest has learned his fate in court, according to newly filed documents. Themis Matsoukas, 64, of State College, was sentenced on Wednesday, April 22, in Huntingdon County Court, records show. He pleaded guilty to open lewdness and indecent exposure, and was found guilty of sexual intercourse with an animal, according to the court summary. For the animal-related charge, Matsoukas was sentenced to a term of confinement of one to four months in a county correctional facility, court records state. He received n…
Yorktown Student Named Among First 2026 National Merit Scholars Yorktown Student Named Among First 2026 National Merit Scholars
Yorktown Student Named Among First 2026 National Merit Scholars Several high-achieving students from Westchester County have been named among the first group of 2026 National Merit Scholarship winners, earning prestigious corporate-sponsored awards for their academic excellence.  The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced around 700 winners nationwide on Wednesday, April 22, in the first round of the 71st annual program. These students were selected from a pool of more than 15,000 finalists based on academic performance, extracurricular involvement, leadership, and potential for success in college. Among the honorees are four students fro…
National Teacher Of The Year Goes To Same State As Last Year National Teacher Of The Year Goes To Same State As Last Year
National Teacher Of The Year Goes To Same State As Last Year A Pennsylvania educator has earned the nation’s top teaching honor for the second year in a row, state officials announced. Leon Smith, a teacher at Haverford High School in Havertown, has been named the 2026 National Teacher of the Year, Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe said on Tuesday, April 21. Smith, who was named Pennsylvania’s 2025 Teacher of the Year, becomes the latest educator from the Commonwealth to receive the national recognition. “Pennsylvania is honored to have, for the second year in a row, an educator from our great Commonwealth named National Teacher of…
Westchester Student Wins $1K National Award For Road Safety Idea Westchester Student Wins $1K National Award For Road Safety Idea
Westchester Student Wins $1K National Award For Road Safety Idea A Westchester County student has earned national recognition — and a $1,000 prize — for a creative idea aimed at making roads safer. Paolo Marena, a junior at John F. Kennedy Preparatory School in Somers, took first place in SCHOTT’s annual Innovation Challenge, a nationwide STEM competition that encourages students to develop glass-based solutions to real-world problems. Marena’s winning concept focuses on improving visibility of road signs on poorly lit roads. His design uses vehicle headlights as a light source, capturing and redirecting that light through fiber optic cables to illuminat…
Westchester School District Responds After Sitcom Posts On Facebook Page Spark Concern (UPDATE) Westchester School District Responds After Sitcom Posts On Facebook Page Spark Concern (UPDATE)
Westchester School District Responds After Sitcom Posts On Facebook Page Spark Concern (Update) This story has been updated.  A Westchester County school district is working to regain control of its Facebook page after a pair of unusual posts sparked confusion — and concern — among community members The posts, made on Monday, April 13, appeared to promote the sitcom "Two and a Half Men," featuring clips and captions unrelated to school operations or district updates.  One post included the caption “2003 - 2023 ❤️ Two and a Half Men,” while another encouraged viewers to “Watch the full episode, link on our profile!” alongside hashtags tied to the television show. The conten…
Gasoline Mistake Sparks Explosion At Amish School House In PA, 3 Burned Girls Airlifted To NY Gasoline Mistake Sparks Explosion At Amish School House In PA, 3 Burned Girls Airlifted To NY
Gasoline Mistake Sparks Explosion At Amish School House In PA, 3 Burned Girls Airlifted To NY An explosion caused by a fuel mix-up left three girls with severe burns at an Amish schoolhouse in Pennsylvania, according to a fundraiser created to support their recovery. The incident happened at the Hidden View Amish Schoolhouse in Spartansburg on Friday, March 27, when gasoline was accidentally used to start a wood stove instead of kerosene, according to the GoFundMe organizer. The blast severely burned a teenage teacher and two young girls, all of whom were flown by helicopter to hospitals in Buffalo, New York. One of the children was later transferred to a hospital in Rochester,…
WATCH: NY Children Bamboozled By Outdated School Technology In Viral Video WATCH: NY Children Bamboozled By Outdated School Technology In Viral Video
Watch: NY Children Bamboozled By Outdated School Technology In Viral Video A New York school district’s video of middle school children being bewildered by outdated technology has gone viral. In the clip, which racked up more than 2 million views on Instagram, various children at a Niskayuna Central school approach an overhead projector and attempt to guess what it is. A couple students even try to see something in the bulb or on the (empty) projector’s surface. View this post on Instagram “I do not know what this is,” the first student in the video says. “Looks very old.” “Is it an X-ray machine?” one guesses. “I …
Westchester Superintendent Announces Retirement After Over 30 Years Serving Kids Westchester Superintendent Announces Retirement After Over 30 Years Serving Kids
Westchester Superintendent Announces Retirement After Over 30 Years Serving Kids A Westchester County superintendent has announced he will retire at the end of the year, bringing to a close more than three decades in education.  Peekskill City School District Superintendent David Mauricio shared the news in a message to families on Friday, April 10, saying he plans to step down on Dec. 31, 2026. He has led the Peekskill district for the past eight years and said the decision comes with “mixed and heartfelt emotions.” "Leading as the superintendent for the past 8 years in Peekskill has been an incredible honor, and after 32 years serving children in …
Northeast Grad Schools Among Nation's Best Programs In New Rankings Northeast Grad Schools Among Nation's Best Programs In New Rankings
Northeast Grad Schools Among Nation's Best Programs In New Rankings Graduate programs across the Northeast are being recognized among the best in the nation, according to a new report. U.S. News & World Report released its 2026 Best Graduate Schools rankings on Tuesday, April 7. The list evaluates programs in several fields, including business, law, medicine, engineering, education, and nursing. The media outlet said it compared grad programs based on factors like research performance and career outcomes. "We know a graduate degree is a major commitment," said LaMont Jones, managing editor of education at U.S. News. "That is why we are dedica…
School Announces Closure At End Of Year In Westchester County School Announces Closure At End Of Year In Westchester County
School Announces Closure At End Of Year In Westchester County A longtime Catholic school in Westchester County will shut its doors at the end of the academic year, officials announced.  Sacred Heart School, which opened in 1953 and is located in Hartsdale, will close at the conclusion of the 2025–2026 school year, according to a letter sent to families on Monday, March 16, by the Archdiocese of New York’s Superintendent of Schools Office.  The decision follows a two-year review process involving Catholic parishes and regional elementary schools across the archdiocese. "As a result of this process, we have come to the difficult determination…
Students From Yorktown, Ardsley Win $25K Each In Prestigious National Science Competition Students From Yorktown, Ardsley Win $25K Each In Prestigious National Science Competition
Students From Yorktown, Ardsley Win $25K Each In Prestigious National Science Competition Two Westchester County high school seniors have each earned $25,000 awards after being named finalists in one of the nation’s most prestigious science competitions.  Jashvi Desai of Yorktown Heights and Khushi Karthikeyan of Ardsley were among the 40 finalists nationwide in the 2026 Regeneron Science Talent Search, a nationally recognized competition that honors outstanding high school seniors for original scientific research.  The finalists were selected from more than 2,600 entrants representing 826 high schools across the United States and internationally. Both Westchester stu…
NY Teacher Who Wished Death To Trump Supporters Keeps Job NY Teacher Who Wished Death To Trump Supporters Keeps Job
NY Teacher Who Wished Death To Trump Supporters Keeps Job A Long Island teacher who wished President Trump’s supporters a slow and painful death in a Facebook post last year will keep her job, an arbitrator ruled. Pamila Pahuja, who taught science at R.C. Murphy Junior High School in Stony Brook, won her case against Three Village School District, which sought to fire her, Newsday reported Monday, March 9. In January 2025, days before Trump’s second inauguration, Pahuja shared a Facebook post hoping for “all Trump supporters” to “slowly wither away while struggling to gasp.” “That’s what you want for people you deem not worthy right?” she wrote. …
Legendary Hall Of Fame Track Coach At School In Westchester Retires After Over 50 Years Legendary Hall Of Fame Track Coach At School In Westchester Retires After Over 50 Years
Legendary Hall Of Fame Track Coach At School In Westchester Retires After Over 50 Years After more than half a century on the track and in the classroom, a Hall of Fame coach at a Westchester County school is calling it a career.  Jan Mitchell, who spent 51 years building the track and cross-country programs at New Rochelle's Iona Preparatory School into statewide powerhouses, announced his retirement this week. Over five decades, he helped turn the school into one of the most successful programs in New York State history. The numbers alone tell the story. Under Mitchell’s leadership, Iona Prep athletes earned more than 800 All-County honors, won over 100 sectional…
Lakeland Copper Beech Middle School, Closed By Burst Pipes, Announces Reopening Date Lakeland Copper Beech Middle School, Closed By Burst Pipes, Announces Reopening Date
Lakeland Copper Beech Middle School, Closed By Burst Pipes, Announces Reopening Date A Northern Westchester middle school will reopen for in-person learning after frozen and burst pipes forced the building to close earlier this month, district officials announced.  In a message to the school community, Lakeland Central School District Superintendent Dr. Karen Gagliardi said Lakeland Copper Beech Middle School, located in Yorktown Heights, would reopen on Monday, Feb. 23.  The damage originally occurred on Feb. 9, when frozen pipes burst and affected multiple rooms throughout the building.  Since then, district staff and contractors have been workin…
Magic Cut Short: NY Band's Disney Dream Grounded After Flight Canceled: 'Devastating' Magic Cut Short: NY Band's Disney Dream Grounded After Flight Canceled: 'Devastating'
Magic Cut Short: NY Band's Disney Dream Grounded After Flight Canceled: 'Devastating' Their Disney dream vanished before takeoff. Dozens of Long Island marching band students were left stranded at JFK Airport for hours after their long-awaited flight to Disney World was canceled. The Kings Park High School marching band, color guard, and kick line arrived at JFK shortly after 5 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, for a scheduled Delta flight to Orlando only to be informed the flight had been canceled, Kings Park Superintendent Timothy Eagen told Daily Voice. Attempts to split the group onto multiple flights were rejected after proposed itineraries would have separated students from cha…
'Prolific Serial Pedophile' Teacher Sexually Abused NY Children Decades Ago, Jury Finds 'Prolific Serial Pedophile' Teacher Sexually Abused NY Children Decades Ago, Jury Finds
'Prolific Serial Pedophile' Teacher Sexually Abused NY Children Decades Ago, Jury Finds A retired Long Island elementary school teacher was found guilty of sexually abusing children decades ago, marking the first time he has been held criminally accountable. Thomas Bernagozzi, 75, of Babylon, was convicted Friday, Feb. 13, in Suffolk County Court of course of sexual conduct against a child, criminal sex act against a child, and possessing a sexual performance by a child. Jurors acquitted him of two additional counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child. Bernagozzi was arrested in December 2023 following a Suffolk County Police investigation that determined he sexuall…
Substitute Fired After Racist Comment Caught On Video At NY Middle School Substitute Fired After Racist Comment Caught On Video At NY Middle School
Substitute Fired After Racist Comment Caught On Video At NY Middle School A substitute teacher was fired after a racially offensive remark directed at a student was captured on video inside a New York middle school. The incident happened in Saratoga County, in an eighth-grade classroom at O’Rourke Middle School in Burnt Hills. A video widely shared online appears to capture the substitute teacher telling a student, “Take your cotton-picking hands to yourself.” That remark was directed at a Black student, according to multiple reports. The comment was heard in the background of a Chromebook video journal a student was recording for a class assignment. School lead…
Adelphi Professor Accused Autistic Freshman Of AI Cheating — Judge Tossed Violation Adelphi Professor Accused Autistic Freshman Of AI Cheating — Judge Tossed Violation
Adelphi Professor Accused Autistic Freshman Of AI Cheating — Judge Tossed Violation An Adelphi University freshman is celebrating after a Nassau County judge ruled he did not cheat on a paper with artificial intelligence and ordered the university to wipe the violation from his academic record. In a decision issued Thursday, Jan. 29, Nassau County Supreme Court granted Orion Newby’s petition and annulled both the violation and the university’s denial of his appeal. Newby, who is on the autism spectrum, sued the university in July 2025, challenging its finding that he committed plagiarism during the previous fall semester, as Daily Voice reported. According to the petition…
Wrestling Coach Molested Child At NY Elementary School, Police Say Wrestling Coach Molested Child At NY Elementary School, Police Say
Wrestling Coach Molested Child At NY Elementary School, Police Say A man who worked as an assistant wrestling coach at a Long Island elementary school stands accused of molesting a student on campus, police said. The incident occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 23, 2025, at Lido Elementary School in Lido Beach, according to Nassau County Police. Investigators determined that John Anfossi, 54, touched a juvenile female student in a “sexually inappropriate manner” during a wrestling practice session at the school, police said. Anfossi, of Long Beach, was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child. He was arraigned at First District…
NY Coach Admits Blackmailing Minors Into Sending Sexually Explicit Images NY Coach Admits Blackmailing Minors Into Sending Sexually Explicit Images
NY Coach Admits Blackmailing Minors Into Sending Sexually Explicit Images A former Long Island high school assistant coach admitted in federal court that he sexually exploited dozens of minors online, using threats and blackmail to coerce children into sending explicit images. Joseph Garofalo, 21, of Valley Stream, pleaded guilty in Central Islip Thursday, Feb. 5, to sexual exploitation of a child, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. At the time of the crimes, Garofalo was employed as an assistant lacrosse coach at Valley Stream Central High School. Investigators determined he used social media to contact minors and engage …
School Officials Confirm ICE Activity Reported In Westchester, Reassure Families School Officials Confirm ICE Activity Reported In Westchester, Reassure Families
School Officials Confirm ICE Activity Reported In Westchester, Reassure Families A Westchester County school district is reassuring families after confirming that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were in the area looking for a specific individual. In a message sent to families on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 4, Bedford Central School District officials acknowledged concerns circulating in the community about ICE's presence in Mount Kisco and emphasized that schools remain safe and supportive spaces for students. “We have heard and now confirmed reports that ICE was in Mount Kisco this morning looking for a specific individual,” Superintendent Rob Gl…
10 Scholar-Athletes Commit To College Athletics On Signing Day At Westchester School 10 Scholar-Athletes Commit To College Athletics On Signing Day At Westchester School
10 Scholar-Athletes Commit To College Athletics On Signing Day At Westchester School Ten student-athletes at a Westchester County school officially took the next step in their academic and athletic careers during a National Signing Day celebration this week. Officials at Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle said the event recognized 10 senior scholar-athletes who have committed to continue competing at the collegiate level across Division I, II, and III programs.  Athletic Director Ryan Mahoney, along with school leaders and coaches, praised the students for balancing athletics with academics and representing Iona Prep with discipline and sportsmanship. T…