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  • AAA warns drivers to be careful leading up to "rutting season"

    AAA warns drivers to be careful leading up to "rutting season"
    2026/10/15
    New York's Class of 2026 had a higher mean SAT score than the national average and the state's highest participation rate since 2020, according to a Newsday analysis. Michael R. Ebert reports in NEWSDAY that data recently released by the College Board details how the more than 127,000 students who took the standardized exam in New York during the 2025-26 school year performed. Long Island-specific data was not available.New York’s test-takers achieved a mean SAT score of 1,053, up eight points from last year and outperforming the national mean for the fifth straight year. The national mean score for the Class of 2026 was 1,045.The last time that New York’s high schoolers underperformed when compared with the national mean score was in 2021. That year, students statewide had a mean score of 1,057, compared with the national mean score of 1,060, according to the College Board.New York’s mean score of 1,053 for 2026 was the highest among its SAT test-takers since 2022, while the percentage of students statewide in the highest-scoring subgroup was also the most since 2022.This year, 9% of students statewide had SAT scores between 1,400-1,600, equaling the national average. By comparison, New York’s percentage of students scoring 1,400-1,600 was 8% in 2024 and 2025, 7% for 2023, and 9% for 2022, according to the College Board.Statewide, high schoolers achieved higher scores on the SAT’s math portion this year with 11% of test-takers earning the highest scores of 700-800, while 9% of students achieved that mark in the test’s reading and writing portion. The 11% scoring at 700-800 in math was the state’s highest percentage since 2022, when that figure was also 11%, according to the College Board.A total of 127,180 high school seniors took the SAT in New York, representing 63% of all those eligible. That's the highest percentage since the Class of 2020, when 160,484, or 79%, of the state’s estimated population of high school graduates took the test, according to the College Board.The most popular intended major for New York’s SAT test-takers was business, followed by clinical sciences.***It's rutting season, and AAA Northeast is warning drivers to be careful out there — especially in rural Suffolk County.John Valenti reports in NEWSDAY that the annual deer mating season is one of the most hazardous times for drivers in the Northeast. One east end town, Southold, leads New York State in deer-related crashes between 2021 and 2024, AAA said in a statement yesterday.The number of Long Island crashes involving deer rose 75% over eight years to the highest level on record, Newsday reported earlier this year. While most of the crashes occur in Suffolk County, Nassau County's North Shore communities have also seen an uptick.The AAA said more than 40% of all deer-strike incidents occurred between September and December, prime rutting — or, mating — season for wild hoofed animals: deer, elk and moose.Between 2021 and 2024 the AAA said the Town of Southold recorded 790 crashes involving deer strikes by drivers, while 599 were recorded in Town of Brookhaven and 526 were tallied in the Town of Southampton. The three towns were among the top 10 municipalities in the state for deer strikes in that time period, AAA said.Statistics also found more than 20% of all deer crashes occurred in November, with drivers almost 2½ times more likely to be involved in a deer-related crash in November than any other month.The peak risk period for deer strikes is early morning and late-afternoon / early-evening, AAA said.Peak crash time frames are between 6 and 10 a.m. and between 3 and 7 p.m.AAA Northeast senior manager for public affairs Robert Sinclair Jr. said the natural inclination of drivers confronted with a deer in the road was to take evasive action to avoid a crash.The advice of experts? Don't overreact."If you're in an area where deer are prevalent — wooded areas, areas where you know there's wildlife — watch the side of the road, be aware," Sinclair said. "Especially, at dawn and dusk. Especially, at dusk, which is prime time for deer. ... And the big thing is do not swerve. If you swerve, you hit a tree, you hit a pole, you hit a car — maybe you even have a head-on collision."Terrible as this sounds, Sinclair said: "Most times, it's better to just hit the deer."And, Sinclair said, don't brake hard, either. "You hit the brakes hard and it causes the front end of the car to dive. That can allow a deer to roll up onto your hood and through the windshield. And that can kill you."As he said: "The best advice is just slow down. Be aware. Pay attention."***Greenport’s 36th Annual Maritime Festival is ready to set sail this coming weekend, staying true to its commitment to highlighting the nautical heritage of this seaside community. The event kicks off with the Friday night Land & Sea Gala, this year being held in the American Legion Hall on Third Street — a change in venue from Mitchell Park due to ...
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  • Democratic candidate for 1st Congressional District Chris Gallant raises nearly $1,000,000 after intimate photos go viral

    Democratic candidate for 1st Congressional District Chris Gallant raises nearly $1,000,000 after intimate photos go viral
    2026/10/19
    New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law Saturday a bill that quadruples tax credits for volunteer first responders.The bill, passed unanimously by the State Senate and Assembly earlier this year, raises the annual tax credit for volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers from $200 to $800. The benefit for married joint filers rose from $400 to $1,600.Joseph Ostapiuk reports in NEWSDAY that the signing delivered a legislative win for fire officials who say greater incentives are needed to stave off significant declines in the ranks of volunteer firefighters. The statewide force has declined one-third from 120,000 in the early 2000s to around 80,000, fire officials have said. While the decrease has stabilized in recent years, advocates said more has to be done to recruit young volunteers.Volunteer fire and elected officials said the tax-credit legislation will help retain firefighters and EMS members in departments on Long Island.Donald Farrell, president of the Firefighters Association of the State of New York, called the bill a "tremendous victory for New York's volunteer fire and EMS service.” Other recent bills aimed at improving volunteer recruitment and retention include legislation signed last year phasing out PFAS forever chemicals in firefighter protective equipment and extending the ability of fire department-run ambulances to recover costs of service from insurance companies through 2031.Improving incentives for volunteer first responders is needed to ensure there are enough people to respond to calls across the state, said Billy Theis, chairman of the Nassau and Suffolk Fire Districts Legislative Committee. A 2023 Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) analysis found a statewide paid firefighter service would cost $4.7 billion annually, triggering significant property tax increases."When we get the call, somebody's in trouble," Theis said before the bill signing. "We have to have the tools, we have to have the people to be there."***A New York-based pediatric health network and an IT management company will pay $2.7 million to New York and Connecticut after a data breach that impacted hundreds of thousands of residents, New York State Attorney General Letitia James' office said Friday.Brianne Ledda reports in NEWSDAY that James and Connecticut Attorney General William Tong secured the settlement from Boston Children's Health Physicians, which has two locations in Suffolk County, Long Island - Smithtown and Miller Place - and from XTIUM, which provided network security services to Boston Children's Health Physicians {BCHP}. The companies will pay $2.1 million to New York and $540,000 to Connecticut. Besides the payout, the settlement also requires the companies to strengthen data security and for BCHP to pay additional sums to the states if it does not comply.Impacted residents will have fraud alert coverage through the settlement, a state spokesperson said."Institutions trusted with sensitive private health data have a critical responsibility to protect it from bad actors," James said in a news release. "BCHP knew its data security features were inadequate but did not fix them, exposing the information of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers to hackers."In an August 2024 breach, hackers accessed 18 of XTIUM's client networks, including BCHP's, stealing records for around 825,000 New York and 62,871 Connecticut residents, the state said. The stolen information included the Social Security and driver's license numbers of more than 170,000 New York residents.***The Express News Group’s Express Sessions series returns this coming Thursday, October 22, with a conversation on deer and tick control to identify solutions to reduce ecological damage and tickborne illness.Titled “Out of Control: How the East End Can Get a Grip on Deer & Tick Populations,” Thursday’s event will run from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at The American Hotel in Sag Harbor over lunch.The panel will include North Haven Village Trustee Claas Abraham, East Hampton Town Councilman Tom Flight, Dr. Sandeep Gandhi of the Regional Tick-Borne Disease Center at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, New York State Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni and Michael Tessitore of Suffolk County Deer Management.Visit ExpressSessions102226.eventbrite.com for further info and to purchase a ticket.***At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the seemingly endless number of people critically ill or killed by the disease had cast many Long Island healthcare professionals on the front lines into emotional despair and anguish.It had become clear to the leaders of health systems across the region that many physicians, nurses and other medical staff needed to get a handle on their mental health amid a medical crisis like none they'd seen before.John Asbury reports in NEWSDAY that the burnout rate among physicians and nurses — already at the crisis stage before the pandemic began in 2020 — has continued to spike in the years ...
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  • NYC enacts one-year moratorium on student-facing AI

    NYC enacts one-year moratorium on student-facing AI
    2026/09/24
    Citing the need to "protect the human connection, curiosity and creativity" in learning, New York City officials announced earlier this month that the nation's largest school system would enact a one-year moratorium on "student-facing" generative artificial intelligence from preschool through eighth grade. Companion chatbots would be prohibited across all grades and screen time limits would be imposed for students in eighth grade and below.NYS Gov. Kathy Hochul has also signaled interest in regulating how AI is used in the classroom.But Darwin Yanes reports in NEWSDAY that on Long Island, educators say AI is here to stay, and they must adapt. For some districts, that has meant incorporating AI through means like chatbots that can offer personalized lessons while others are taking a more cautious approach, studying how best to use it in the classroom.Kenneth Bossert, president of the New York State Council of School Superintendents, told NEWSDAY that each district is taking the approach that makes the most sense for its staff and students. "There are certainly districts that are at a different comfort level with how they've incorporated AI and AI platforms," he said. "Some [are] more forward-facing, directly working with students. Others [are] limiting AI resources to that used by administration and the teachers. It's definitely a time of careful investigation."Bossert, who is also the Great Neck schools superintendent, said what many districts have in common is that they restrict AI for primary school learners."As it becomes more age- and developmentally-appropriate, there's a greater exploration and greater application," he said.The Brookings Institution found in a January report that while AI could provide benefits such as saving teachers time when it came to lesson planning, grading and assessing students, it could also threaten students' safety, undermine their cognitive and emotional development and degrade trust in education. In addition to outlining the potential dangers and benefits of AI, the authors of the Brookings study recommended developing regulations to protect students' data and emotional well-being and fostering AI literacy among teachers and families.***Mostly sunny skies and breezy conditions today across Long Island will give way to thickening clouds by the evening and likely showers, along with the potential for flooding and high winds, the result of a nor'easter forming off the Atlantic coast.Forecasters said offshore winds could hit 60 mph by the weekend, bringing the potential for widespread moderate coastal flooding for southern Nassau during times of high tide Friday evening and Saturday morning, the National Weather Service said.Wind gusts will increase as the weekend gets closer, with a predicted 39 mph for Montauk today and 47 mph Friday. Offshore wind gusts will reach as high as 60 mph tomorrow.The National Weather Service has issued gale warnings on ocean waters out to more than 20 miles off the coast through Friday. Gale watches on eastern Long Island Sound and the South Shore bays were converted to gale warnings for Friday.Newsday meteorologist Geoff Bansen said while it is still too early to confirm an official weather model, the nor'easter looks like it will remain offshore with its center coming about as close as Block Island. Ocean waves could reach as high as between 7 and 10 feet, the service said.The Cross Sound Ferry canceled all trips between Orient and New London, Connecticut, due to "impending weather and sea conditions," the operator said on its website. ***A free marine wildlife conservation and safety event will be held Sunday, October 4, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sag Harbor Fire Department, 1357 Brick Kiln Road in Sag Harbor.The event is being organized by Quincy Renaud, a Life Scout with Sag Harbor Troop 455, as part of his Eagle Scout Service Project, in partnership with Ellie Sywak, education and outreach coordinator at the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society.The event will teach community members and recreational boaters how to identify marine wildlife in distress, what to do when an animal is found and whom to contact for assistance. Attendees also can learn about sea turtle rehabilitation, receive a free boat sticker and participate in a child-friendly activity.Scouts from Troop 455, ages 11 to 17, will assist with the event.The event coincides with the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society’s 10th anniversary of rehabilitating sea turtles and responding to stranded seals and whales. It also comes following the signing of New York’s Whale Awareness Act, which adds educational guidelines for boater safety courses aimed at preventing vessel strikes.That’s Saturday, October 4 at 11 a.m. at the Sag Harbor Fire House on Brick Kiln Road.***Water quality in Long Island Sound appears to be improving, according to testing by the nonprofit Save the Sound, but many bays showed poor levels of oxygen needed to sustain marine life. The organization ...
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  • Southampton Village issed state of emergency following Saturday thunderstorms

    Southampton Village issed state of emergency following Saturday thunderstorms
    2026/07/07
    Southampton Village has issued a state of emergency in response to Saturday night’s thunderstorm that will remain in effect through Friday, July 10, at 9 a.m.A brush amnesty will be extended to village residents until Friday to allow for residents to put storm debris out for pickup as part of cleanup efforts from the storm.Dan Stark reports on 27east.com that Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine shared on Sunday afternoon that a local state of emergency was declared on Saturday night in response to the thunderstorm. The state of emergency will last 30 days in Suffolk County.PSEG Long Island said that it had restored power to over 23,600 customers who were affected by the semi quincentennial storm, which brought wind gusts as high as 84 mph, hail and heavy rain to Suffolk County. The update noted that eastern Suffolk County was the hardest hit.The Town of Southampton has issued a brush amnesty to residents until tomorrow - Wednesday, July 8 - to allow residents to dispose of storm debris to transfer stations as part of cleanup efforts from the storm, according to Southampton Town Councilwoman Cyndi McNamara.Meanwhile, Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the Alive on 25 Summer Block Party event scheduled for Thursday, July 9 has been postponed, Riverhead Town Supervisor Jerry Halpin announced yesterday.The decision to postpone the event came in consultation with event organizer Diane Tucci of Main Street Agency, the Town Board and Riverhead Police Chief Ed Frost, due to the widespread impacts of the July 4 storm and continuing rain, according to a press release issued by Halpin’s office last night.The postponement will give residents, vendors, and town staff extra time to handle storm recovery and allow utility crews to restore power to all residents.***A 6-year-old girl died Saturday morning of a presumed drowning after police said she fell into the waters of a fast-moving creek in Tuckahoe while trying to retrieve a lost shoe and was swept into the Great Peconic Bay.John Valenti reports in NEWSDAY that Southampton Town police said officers, including from the marine patrol, as well as Southampton firefighters and volunteer ambulance crews responded to a 911 call received at 8:09 a.m. Saturday about a possible drowning off a beach on Sebonac Inlet Road. Officers initiated CPR on the girl, identified as Kiara Paolasin, of Brooklyn, after she was pulled from the water unresponsive by a kayaker, police said.Despite those efforts, police said Kiara was transported to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.Police said an initial investigation indicates the girl was at the beach with family members to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend. In an account based on witness information, police said, "The child went into the water to retrieve footwear that was floating away and slipped and got pulled into the current."According to police, a 16-year-old family member attempted to reach the girl, but was unable to do so due to the swift current.Police said family members were able to flag a kayaker in the area, who then paddled to the unresponsive girl and pulled her from the water.The investigation is ongoing with the Suffolk County Medical Examiner's Office to determine the cause of death. Detectives are asking anyone with information on the incident to call them at 631-702-2239 or 631-728-3454.Information can also be forwarded using the police email tip-line at crimetips@southamptontownny.gov.***As college application season approaches, the Amagansett Library is launching a new program to help local high school students navigate one of the most challenging parts of the admissions process: the personal essay.The library will offer free, individualized one-on-one college essay support from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, July 17; Friday, August 21; and Saturday, September 19. Students may reserve a time slot through the library’s website or simply drop in during program hours, as appointments are not required.Designed to meet students wherever they are in the writing process, the sessions will provide personalized guidance on every stage of the college essay, from brainstorming topics and organizing ideas to drafting, revising, editing and final proofreading.The volunteer-led program is intended to help students develop essays that authentically reflect their experiences while strengthening their writing and storytelling skills.The organizers hope the free service will make the college application process less intimidating while giving students the confidence to tell their unique stories in their own voices.By offering individualized assistance at no cost, the library aims to provide an accessible resource for students and families during a pivotal stage in the college admissions journey.***U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer recently announced a request for $273.5 million in funding for research of ticks and tickborne diseases in the 2027 federal budget. The initiative would add $90...
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