Westport, CT
Schools
Jensen Ackles Shares Life Lessons With Westport Grads: 'Find Those People, Be Those People' Jensen Ackles Shares Life Lessons With Westport Grads: 'Find Those People, Be Those People'
Jensen Ackles Shares Life Lessons With Westport Grads: 'Find Those People, Be Those People' "The Boys" star Jensen Ackles built his commencement speech around a simple message for Connecticut graduates: the people who help you through life's toughest moments matter most. Ackles, who lives in Southport, gave the commencement speech to Greens Farms Academy's graduating high school class last week. The 48-year-old actor wove humor, career lessons, and personal reflection into a speech that encouraged the Westport students to value the relationships that carry them through setbacks and self-doubt. View this post on Instagram Ackles …

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by Josh Lanier
Red Hook, NY
Schools
4 Bard College Graduates Win 2026 Fulbright Awards 4 Bard College Graduates Win 2026 Fulbright Awards
4 Bard College Graduates Win 2026 Fulbright Awards Four Bard College graduates have received 2026–27 Fulbright Awards for research, teaching, study, and community work overseas. According to Bard College, the awards went to Danika Dortch, Peter Fields, Annaliese Simons, and Shosha Wheeler. Dortch, a Literature major at the College and a French Horn Performance major at the Bard Conservatory, will conduct an independent project in Brno, Czech Republic. Her work will focus on composer Leoš Janácek and his influence on writer Milan Kundera, with archival research on Janácek, Kundera, and Moravian folk music tied to Czech national identity. Fi…

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by Daily Voice
Newburgh, NY
Schools
Mount Saint Mary Students Begin Summer Research Program Mount Saint Mary Students Begin Summer Research Program
Mount Saint Mary Students Begin Summer Research Program A new group of Mount Saint Mary College students has started an eight-week summer research program in Newburgh. The college’s 2026 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience program, known as SURE, began Monday, May 18. According to Mount Saint Mary College, the program matches students from a range of academic disciplines with faculty mentors for focused scholarly and creative work. The opening session included academic planning and team-building activities on campus before students began research work. Participants receive a stipend and free campus housing while taking part in the program.…

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by Daily Voice
Little Falls-Woodland Park, NJ
Schools
Berkeley College Online Alumna Named NY Higher Ed Trailblazer Berkeley College Online Alumna Named NY Higher Ed Trailblazer
Berkeley College Online Alumna Named NY Higher Ed Trailblazer A Berkeley College Online alumna has been named to City & State New York’s 2026 Trailblazer in Higher Education list. Annetta Ramtahal, campus operating officer of Berkeley College Online, was recognized among leaders who reshape academics and advocacy for students and help them access critical opportunities, according to Berkeley College. Ramtahal joined Berkeley College in 2015 as a marketing assistant before moving into campus operations. She was appointed campus operating officer of Berkeley College Online in 2021. City & State said Ramtahal “has collaborated with her colleague…

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by Daily Voice
Newton-Andover, NJ
Schools
SCCC Art Gallery Renamed For $1.247M Donor William Finch SCCC Art Gallery Renamed For $1.247M Donor William Finch
Sccc Art Gallery Renamed For $1.247M Donor William Finch Sussex County Community College has renamed its Art Gallery in Newton for William S. Finch, whose lifetime giving to the college now totals $1,247,000. The William S. Finch Art Gallery was officially renamed during a ceremony held on May 1, 2026, according to Sussex County Community College. Finch’s support includes a recent $500,000 gift to the SCCC Foundation. His giving has supported educational opportunities at the college and the cultural life of the campus and surrounding community. The gallery showcases work by students, faculty, and regional artists. Per Sussex County Community Col…

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by Daily Voice
Severna Park, MD
Schools
Severna Park Student Among Maryland's Presidential Scholar Semifinalists Severna Park Student Among Maryland's Presidential Scholar Semifinalists
Severna Park Student Among Maryland's Presidential Scholar Semifinalists A student from Severna Park. Four from Howard County. Four more from Richard Montgomery alone. Thirteen Maryland public school seniors have been named semifinalists for the 2026 US Presidential Scholars Program, placing them among just 627 students nationwide still in contention for one of the country's highest honors for graduating high school students. The students, representing five Maryland school systems, were selected for achievements in academics, the arts, career and technical education, leadership, and community service. Established in 1964, the program annually recognizes excepti…

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by Zak Failla
Jersey City, NJ
Schools
VIDEO: Mom's Arrest At BOE Meeting In Jersey City Sparks Firestorm VIDEO: Mom's Arrest At BOE Meeting In Jersey City Sparks Firestorm
Video: Mom's Arrest At BOE Meeting In Jersey City Sparks Firestorm A Jersey City mom was arrested at a Board of Education meeting last week, sparking outrage from a city councilwoman, a sharp response from the school board president, and a GoFundMe launched to support the woman’s legal defense. Emily Pecot was charged with criminal trespass following the Thursday, May 21 meeting, according to municipal court records. The offense happened around 8:30 p.m., and Pecot is scheduled to appear in Jersey City Municipal Court on Tuesday, June 9. Video of Pecot's arrest was shared to Instagram by the Jersey City Times. Pecot’s remarks (1:39:51) focused on decorum a…

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by Cecilia Levine
Harrison, NY
Schools
Purchase College Named One Of The Best Drama Schools In The World For 2026 Purchase College Named One Of The Best Drama Schools In The World For 2026
Purchase College Named One Of The Best Drama Schools In The World For 2026 Purchase College has again been named one of the world’s top drama schools for 2026 by The Hollywood Reporter. According to Purchase College News, the school was included on The Hollywood Reporter’s list, “The 25 Best Drama Schools in the World,” released for 2026. The ranking weighs overall training, cost, facilities, industry connections, and other factors. Alumni outcomes are also considered. Scroll through a sample of Purchase College alumni from the first 50 years here. Click here to learn more about Acting BFA at Purchase College.

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by Daily Voice
Mamaroneck, NY
Schools
Pilot Uninjured After Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing At Rye Neck High School (UPDATE) Pilot Uninjured After Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing At Rye Neck High School (UPDATE)
Pilot Uninjured After Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing At Rye Neck High School (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 …

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by Ben Crnic
South Riding, VA
Schools
Hidden Filming Investigation At Freedom High School Expands Beyond Campus, Sheriff Says Hidden Filming Investigation At Freedom High School Expands Beyond Campus, Sheriff Says
Hidden Filming Investigation At Freedom High School Expands Beyond Campus, Sheriff Says A hidden filming investigation tied to a Virginia high school is now expanding beyond campus after detectives identified at least one additional location and charged a minor. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office announced on Friday, May 22, that a juvenile male is facing charges tied to an unlawful filming investigation connected to Freedom High School. Authorities say the case remains active and investigators now believe unlawful filming may have happened in at least one other location outside the original incident. Exactly where the additional filming allegedly occurred has not been relea…

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by Zak Failla
Arlington, MA
Schools
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…

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by Cecilia Levine
York, PA
Schools
Inmate Stabbed Multiple Times Inside York County Prison: PSP Inmate Stabbed Multiple Times Inside York County Prison: PSP
Inmate Stabbed Multiple Times Inside York County Prison: PSP An inmate was hospitalized after a stabbing inside York County Prison, Pennsylvania State Police announced on Thursday, May 21. The assault happened between two adult inmates at the prison in York County, according to a release from PSP York. The victim suffered several puncture wounds to his body and was taken to an area hospital for treatment, state police said. He is expected to survive. Pennsylvania State Police Troop J’s Major Case Team is investigating the stabbing, which happened on Thursday, May 21, according to the release. Charges against the accused inmate are pending, and t…

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by Jillian Pikora
Lexington Park, MD
Schools
15-Year-Old Great Mills HS Student Carrying Pocketknife Threatened To Stab Teacher: Sheriff 15-Year-Old Great Mills HS Student Carrying Pocketknife Threatened To Stab Teacher: Sheriff
15-Year-Old Great Mills HS Student Carrying Pocketknife Threatened To Stab Teacher: Sheriff Things got heated at a Southern Maryland High School on Thursday morning when a student threatened to stab a teacher, officials say. On Thursday, May 21, the School Resource Officer assigned to Great Mills High School was notified by administrators that a student had threatened a teacher, according to the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office. The student did not make good on the verbal threat, but was busted with a pocketknife in his pants pocket during the investigation. The 15-year-old student was charged with possession of a dangerous weapon on school property and disruption of school ope…

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by Zak Failla
Carmel, NY
Schools
Putnam Sheriff Launches Scholarship Fund — Here's How Students Can Earn $500 Putnam Sheriff Launches Scholarship Fund — Here's How Students Can Earn $500
Putnam Sheriff Launches Scholarship Fund — Here's How Students Can Earn $500 A new scholarship fund launched by Putnam County Sheriff Brian Hess aims to support graduating seniors across the county who demonstrate leadership, integrity, and dedication to their communities.  The Brian Hess Scholarship Fund of Putnam County, Inc. officially announced its launch on Tuesday, May 19. According to the organization, the scholarship program will award one graduating senior from each of Putnam County’s five high schools with a $500 scholarship to help cover college, trade school, university, or other accredited post-secondary educational expenses. The fund said the…

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by Ben Crnic
Yonkers, NY
Schools
Board Of Ed To Discuss Closing School In Yonkers As Part Of Addressing $101M Budget Gap Board Of Ed To Discuss Closing School In Yonkers As Part Of Addressing $101M Budget Gap
Board Of Ed To Discuss Closing School In Yonkers 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…

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by Ben Crnic
Stafford, VA
Schools
Antisemitic Graffiti Found In Stafford High School Bathrooms Sparks Increased Police Presence Antisemitic Graffiti Found In Stafford High School Bathrooms Sparks Increased Police Presence
Antisemitic Graffiti Found In Stafford High School Bathrooms Sparks Increased Police Presence Students returning to Stafford High School on Wednesday will see an increased police presence on and around campus after hateful, antisemitic graffiti was found in student bathrooms. A joint investigation was launched by the Stafford County Sheriff's Office and Stafford Public Schools following hateful rhetoric and threats found inside student bathrooms this week. While investigators say they have not found evidence of a credible threat against the school community, the nature of the graffiti was serious enough for law enforcement to increase its presence at the school out of caution. Offi…

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by Zak Failla
Mamaroneck, NY
Schools
Mamaroneck Students Perform National Anthem At Yankee Stadium For Second Straight Year Mamaroneck Students Perform National Anthem At Yankee Stadium For Second Straight Year
Mamaroneck 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…

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by Ben Crnic
Wheaton-Glenmont, MD
Schools
School Bus Carrying Children Rear-Ended By Tesla In Glenmont: Police (DEVELOPING) School Bus Carrying Children Rear-Ended By Tesla In Glenmont: Police (DEVELOPING)
School Bus Carrying Children Rear-Ended By Tesla In Glenmont: Police (Developing) A school bus loaded with children was involved in a crash at a busy Maryland intersection on Monday afternoon, police say. Shortly before 3 p.m. on May 18, officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police were called to the intersection of Ingram Lane and Tivoli Lake Boulevard in Glenmont, where there was a reported crash involving the bus. Police say the Tesla rear-ended the bus, which had 10 students on board. No students were injured. According to the department, the driver of the Tesla was evaluated by Montgomery County Fire and Rescue personnel but was not transported to the h…

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by Zak Failla
Lykens Valley, PA
Schools
School Paraprofessional Accused Of Raping Teen Girl At PA Home School Paraprofessional Accused Of Raping Teen Girl At PA Home
School Paraprofessional Accused Of Raping Teen Girl At PA Home A Pennsylvania middle school paraprofessional and youth sports volunteer is accused of raping a 15-year-old girl at his home, according to Lycoming Regional Police. Brian S. Witner, 39, of River Mill Road in Jersey Shore, was arrested Friday, May 8, after investigators said DNA evidence linked him to the assault reported by the teen in December. The girl disclosed the alleged assault to school officials at BLAST IU on Dec. 4, prompting an immediate report to police, according to investigators. Witner, who worked as an in-school suspension paraprofessional at Jersey Shore Area Middle School…

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by Jillian Pikora
White Plains, NY
Schools
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. …

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by Ben Crnic
Port Jefferson, NY
Schools
Port Jefferson Teacher Semifinalist For ‘America’s Favorite’ — But Still Needs More Support Port Jefferson Teacher Semifinalist For ‘America’s Favorite’ — But Still Needs More Support
Port Jefferson Teacher Semifinalist For ‘America’s Favorite’ — But Still Needs More Support A Long Island educator competing to be “America’s Favorite Teacher” has advanced to the competition’s semifinal round but still faces an uphill battle. Melissa McMullan, a sixth-grade teacher at JFK Middle School in Port Jefferson, won her quarterfinal group at the last second following a furious late-night push on Thursday, May 7, she shared with Daily Voice. But with semifinal round voting set to end Thursday, May 14, McMullan sat in fifth place in her eight-person group on Wednesday afternoon, May 13, with only the top vote-getter making the final round. “This entire contest is a s…

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by Joe Wilkinson
Rivertowns, NY
Schools
Student's Realistic BB Gun Triggers Lockdown At School In Irvington Student's Realistic BB Gun Triggers Lockdown At School In Irvington
Student's Realistic BB Gun Triggers Lockdown At School In Irvington 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…

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by Ben Crnic
Waynesboro, PA
Schools
Teacher Charged With Attempted Rape Of Child: PA AG Teacher Charged With Attempted Rape Of Child: PA AG
Teacher Charged With Attempted Rape Of Child: PA AG A teacher is accused of attempting to rape a child after allegedly arranging to meet someone who he believed was an 11-year-old boy and the child’s father at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania, Attorney General Dave Sunday announced on Friday, May 8. Justin L. Pavetto, 37, of Butler County, was arrested this past weekend following an investigation by the Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section and the FBI, according to the release. Pavetto was employed as a teacher at New Horizon School, a public special needs school in Beaver County, at the time of his arrest, authorities said. The a…

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by Jillian Pikora
Nyack-Valley Cottage, NY
Schools
Antisemitic Symbols Found In Nyack High School Classroom Antisemitic Symbols Found In Nyack High School Classroom
Antisemitic Symbols Found In Nyack High School Classroom 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…

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by Ben Crnic
Hartford, CT
Schools
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 …

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by Chris Spiker
Germantown, MD
Schools
Anti-Semitic Graffiti Suspects Caught On Camera Walking Away From Greenwood ES: Police Anti-Semitic Graffiti Suspects Caught On Camera Walking Away From Greenwood ES: Police
Anti-Semitic Graffiti Suspects Caught On Camera Walking Away From Greenwood ES: Police Three suspects accused of scrawling anti-Semitic graffiti across a Maryland elementary school were caught on surveillance cameras casually walking away from the scene in the middle of the night, police say. Now Montgomery County detectives are trying to figure out who they are. The vandalism happened around 3 a.m. Saturday, May 2, at Greenwood Elementary School on Gold Mine Road in Montgomery County, according to police. Investigators say anti-Semitic graffiti was spray-painted on both a wall and the side of the school's roof in Germantown. Surveillance images released by detectives show …

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by Zak Failla
Port Jefferson, NY
Schools
America’s Favorite Teacher? Port Jeff Middle School Educator Competes For The Honor America’s Favorite Teacher? Port Jeff Middle School Educator Competes For The Honor
America’s Favorite Teacher? Port Jeff Middle School Educator Competes For The Honor A beloved Long Island middle school teacher is competing to be “America’s Favorite Teacher” and has already reached the quarterfinals. JFK Middle School sixth-grade teacher Melissa McMullan, 54, was in third place in her group with hours to go in the voting process on Thursday, May 7. Only the first place teachers in each group of 16 advance to the semifinals when voting ends at 10 p.m. Thursday, according to the organization’s website. McMullan has taught in Comsewogue School District since 2001, according to her LinkedIn page. After the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010, she and h…

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by Joe Wilkinson
Hackensack, NJ
Schools
Hackensack BOE Races To Pass $169M Budget As 100+ Employees Face Layoffs Hackensack BOE Races To Pass $169M Budget As 100+ Employees Face Layoffs
Hackensack BOE Races To Pass $169M Budget As 100+ Employees Face Layoffs Hackensack school officials are expected to vote Wednesday, May 6, on a proposed $169 million budget as the district faces more than 100 staffing cuts and a growing financial crisis. The special Board of Education meeting was scheduled ahead of a May 7 state deadline to approve and submit the district’s 2026-27 budget. The district’s financial problems surfaced publicly over the past several months during a series of tense board meetings focused on layoffs, spending cuts, and emergency borrowing plans. At a March 25 special meeting, district officials discussed plans to eliminate about 100…

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by Cecilia Levine
Quarryville, PA
Schools
School Bus T-Boned By Box Truck Running Red Light In Lancaster County Crash School Bus T-Boned By Box Truck Running Red Light In Lancaster County Crash
School Bus T-Boned By Box Truck Running Red Light In Lancaster County Crash A school bus was struck by a box truck that ran a red light, triggering multiple crashes and traffic delays in Lancaster County on Monday morning, May 4. The crash happened just before 6 a.m. at Penn Grant Road and Route 222 in West Lampeter Township, according to township police. A white box truck heading east on Penn Grant Road went through a red light and slammed into a school bus as it was making a left turn, resulting in a T-bone collision. No students were on the bus at the time, officials confirmed. The box truck driver was taken to a hospital with minor injuries and is expected to …

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by Jillian Pikora
Drexel Hill-Upper Darby, PA
Schools
Two Villanova Hoaxes Tied To National Swatting Spree; FBI Charges Suspect (UPDATE) Two Villanova Hoaxes Tied To National Swatting Spree; FBI Charges Suspect (UPDATE)
Two Villanova Hoaxes Tied To National Swatting Spree; FBI Charges Suspect (Update) 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…

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by Jillian Pikora
Conshohocken-Plymouth Meeting, PA
Schools
17 Schools Set To Close As $3B Philadelphia Facilities Plan Passes After Chaotic Vote 17 Schools Set To Close As $3B Philadelphia Facilities Plan Passes After Chaotic Vote
17 Schools Set To Close As $3B Philadelphia Facilities Plan Passes After Chaotic Vote A controversial plan to close 17 Philadelphia schools and reshape the district passed after a tense and chaotic meeting on Thursday, April 30, as community outrage forced multiple interruptions before the final vote. The Philadelphia Board of Education approved the $3 billion facilities master plan following hours of protests, two recesses, and a shift to a virtual format, resulting in the measure passing just after 6 p.m., according to officials and reports. The proposal had been delayed the previous week to allow for more public input, but tensions escalated as students, parents, teacher…

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by Jillian Pikora