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Albany, NY
Your Community
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…
Albany, NY
Your Community
Cancelling That Gym Membership Is About To Get Much Easier Under NY Law
Ready to ditch that New Year’s fitness resolution already? New York is making it easier. A new state law set to take effect on Saturday, Feb. 1 requires gyms and health clubs to process and issue refunds within 10 business days of receiving a membership cancellation request. Gymgoers also cannot be penalized if the request is made within the first three days of signing a gym contract. The new law comes as welcome news for gym-goers who have long faced challenges when trying to cancel memberships. Democratic State Sen. Roxanne Persaud, who sponsored the bill, said it will empower New Yorke…
Riverhead, NY
Your Community
From Transgender Athletes To Mask Ban: These Political Stories Had Long Island Talking In 2024
From a historic presidential conviction to heated debates over mask bans and transgender athletes, 2024 was a political whirlwind that kept Long Islanders talking, tweeting, and taking sides. Here are some of the most-read Daily Voice politics stories from across Nassau and Suffolk counties this year. The US House voted to expel New York Rep. George Santos from office Friday, Dec. 1. US House/Martin Falbisoner George Santos Announces Comeback Bid For NY Congressional Seat: 'Off To The Races' Disgraced former New York Rep. George Santos mounted – and quickly rescinded – a comeback…
Albany, NY
On Your Side
Minimum Wage To Increase In NY: Here's When, How Much
New Yorkers earning minimum wage will see an increase in their paychecks. This change, which takes effective on Wednesday, Jan. 1, is part of a broader state initiative aimed at easing the financial burden of rising living costs. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the plan as part of a multi-year agreement with the state legislature. In New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County, the hourly pay will increase from $16 to $16.50. Meanwhile, the rest of the state will see a jump from $15 to $15.50. Further annual adjustments linked to inflation will begin in 2027. …
Bay Shore, NY
Your Community
Oppenheimer Ave? Proposal To Rename Bay Shore Street After 'Father Of A-Bomb' Raises Eyebrows
A proposal to rename a New York street after the so-called father of the atomic bomb is raising eyebrows. Long Island’s Frank Flynn took to Facebook on Christmas Eve to announce he was starting a petition to rename Bay Shore’s South Saxon Avenue to Oppenheimer Avenue – after theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer. “Why? I’m glad you asked,” the Bay Shore native wrote on the “Original Islip This & That” Facebook group Tuesday, Dec. 24. “Well it turns out that world-renowned scientist and father of the A-bomb, Robert Oppenheimer, lived in a vacation house on Saxon Avenue! So why not…
Albany, NY
Your Community
Polluters Pay Up: NY Law Forces Fossil Fuel Companies To Fund Climate Protections
New York is making polluters pay up. A landmark law signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday, Dec. 26, created a “Climate Superfund” requiring large fossil fuel companies to pay for critical projects aimed at protecting residents from severe weather impacts like flooding and extreme heat. The move is meant to shift the cost of climate resilience projects from New Yorkers to those most responsible for the pollution, Hochul’s office said. “With nearly every record rainfall, heatwave, and coastal storm, New Yorkers are increasingly burdened with billions of dollars in health, safety, and envir…
Albany, NY
Breaking News
Restaurant Reservation ‘Black Market’ Target Of NY Law Signed By Gov. Hochul
New Yorkers can now enjoy fairer access to coveted restaurant reservations. A new law signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday, Dec. 19, prohibits third-party reservation platforms from arranging reservations without a restaurant's consent. The platforms often charge consumers additional fees, creating a costly “black market” for popular dining spots and making it harder for diners to secure tables without paying a premium. “We’re putting an end to the predatory black market for restaurant reservations — protecting consumers and businesses, and giving everyone a chance to get a seat at the …
Mineola, NY
Breaking News
Grounded: FAA Temporarily Bans Drones Over Parts Of Long Island Amid Mystery Sightings
Think twice about launching that drone. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued temporary flight restrictions over parts of Long Island on Friday, Dec. 20, amid mysterious drone sightings in the region. Restrictions are in effect until Sunday, Jan. 19, over locations determined by the FAA to be critical infrastructure sites, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office. Among the Long Island locales on the list are Oceanside, Roslyn Heights, Levittown, Melville, and Commack. "Since mid-November, New York has been carefully monitoring reports of drone activity and we have been communic…
White Plains, NY
Breaking News
Mystery Drones Over Westchester: County Executive, Feds Pushes For Answers
Westchester County Executive George Latimer is calling on the federal government to take action and provide answers after a series of mysterious drone sightings in the region have sparked fear and confusion among residents. In a letter addressed to President Joe Biden and read aloud during a press conference on Monday, Dec. 16, Latimer highlighted growing public concern following recent incidents, including one that temporarily shut down Stewart International Airport in Orange County on Friday, Dec. 13, and raised anxieties about safety at Westchester County Airport. “I have spok…
National Interest
CEO Murder: Manhattan Grand Jury Indicts Luigi Mangione, Could Be Extradited To NY In Days
Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing former UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury on Tuesday, Dec. 17. Mangione is charged with one count of first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism and two counts of second-degree murder. Mangione, a 26-year-old Maryland native, had fled New York City after the high-profile targeted assassination outside the New York Hilton in Manhattan on Wednesday, Dec. 4. UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. UnitedHealthcare After a days-long manhunt, Mangione was apprehended at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsy…
Mineola, NY
Breaking News
Mysterious Drones Spotted Over Long Island Amid Growing Local, State Monitoring Efforts
Mysterious drones that have sparked concerns across New Jersey and New York in recent weeks have now been spotted over Long Island. Local town Facebook and Nextdoor groups were inundated with reported sightings of the so far unexplained aircraft over the weekend, including in Oyster Bay, Huntington Station, Seaford, Northport, West Babylon, and Smithtown. The drones, first reported in mid-November over New Jersey, have caused disruptions and rampant speculation across the region. Notably, operations at Stewart International Airport in New Windsor were halted for nearly an hour on Friday, De…
Mahopac, NY
Breaking News
New Drone Detection System Coming To NY After Incident Forces Stewart Airport To Shut Down
Following an incident at a New York airport that disrupted operations, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that federal partners are deploying a state-of-the-art drone detection system to New York State. The announcement follows a significant disruption in Orange County on Friday, Dec. 13, at Stewart International Airport in New Windsor, where a drone forced a temporary shutdown of the airport’s runways, delaying flights. State and federal agencies are continuing their investigation into the incident. After that event, Hochul called for additional resources to bolster drone detection and response …
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