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LI Dad Dies Suddenly Playing Hockey — Just After Wife’s Breast Cancer Battle, Fundraiser Set LI Dad Dies Suddenly Playing Hockey — Just After Wife’s Breast Cancer Battle, Fundraiser Set
LI Dad Dies Suddenly Playing Hockey — Just After Wife’s Breast Cancer Battle, Fundraiser Set A Long Island dad died suddenly Monday night, Aug. 3, and the community rallied around his wife and two children. Scott Coppola was playing hockey, “one of many sports he loved,” when he died, according to an online fundraiser set up for his family. “Scott was the guy who lit up every room he walked into: the life of the party, equally happy cracking jokes with the adults or playing catch with the kids,” organizer Alison Miller wrote in the GoFundMe. “He never missed a chance to end a family wedding with a heartfelt rendition of ‘American Pie.’” Coppola’s wife, Tara, recently battled breas…

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by Joe Wilkinson
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‘A Hero Needs A Hero’: Former LI Fire Chief Searches For Kidney Donor ‘A Hero Needs A Hero’: Former LI Fire Chief Searches For Kidney Donor
‘A Hero Needs A Hero’: Former LI Fire Chief Searches For Kidney Donor A longtime Long Island firefighter and former NYPD detective desperately needs a kidney and is reaching out to the community in search of a donor. John Gillen, of Wantagh, was chief of the Wantagh Fire Department for 10 years, worked in the department for more than three decades, and was also a detective squad commander in the NYPD. “The majority of my dad’s life, he has given his life to other people,” one of Gillen’s daughters said in an Instagram video shared Monday, Aug. 3 by the fire department. Even when Gillen was no longer chief, he was still the first person on the scene of a Want…

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by Joe Wilkinson
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Dave Portnoy Was Shocked He’d Never Tried This NY Pizza Joint — Here’s What He Thought Dave Portnoy Was Shocked He’d Never Tried This NY Pizza Joint — Here’s What He Thought
Dave Portnoy Was Shocked He’d Never Tried This NY Pizza Joint — Here’s What He Thought Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy had some surprising praise for a Capital Region pizza joint in his latest “One Bite” review. Portnoy, 49, found himself at Cusato’s Pizzeria in Ballston Spa, about 15 miles south of his home in Saratoga Springs. He cut the pizza review video despite the rain and shared it Thursday, July 30 on YouTube. “Looks pretty good,” Portnoy says before taking a bite. “Good undercarriage…very good,” he says after taking his first bite. Then after a pause, “Eh, pretty good.” “This is a basic, a little doughy, but good rainy Sunday football…” Portnoy continues before…

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by Joe Wilkinson
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LI Water Main Break Floods Busy Interchange With Traffic Trouble LI Water Main Break Floods Busy Interchange With Traffic Trouble
LI Water Main Break Floods Busy Interchange With Traffic Trouble A water main break on Long Island snarled traffic at a busy interchange and left dozens of homes and businesses without water Tuesday, Aug. 4. The trouble in Amityville began late Monday, Aug. 3 near Route 110 and Sunrise Highway, the Amityville Police Department said. Crews closed the southbound lanes of Route 110 to repair the break, diverting traffic onto Sunrise Highway while also closing the Route 110 on-ramp into Tuesday afternoon, officials said. Several homes remained without water throughout Tuesday, according to the Suffolk County Water Authority’s website. A traffic camera captu…

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by Joe Wilkinson
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Former Mob Prosecutor Sworn In As SDNY's New Chief, Succeeds Jay Clayton Former Mob Prosecutor Sworn In As SDNY's New Chief, Succeeds Jay Clayton
Former Mob Prosecutor Sworn In As Sdny's New Chief, Succeeds Jay Clayton The Southern District of New York has a new top federal prosecutor following the resignation of US Attorney Jay Clayton.  Jamie McDonald was sworn in as United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York on Wednesday, July 29, after being appointed by Chief US District Judge Laura Taylor Swain.   McDonald succeeds Jay Clayton, who resigned earlier in the day after being confirmed by the US Senate as the nation's new Director of National Intelligence. McDonald previously served as an Assistant US Attorney in the Southern District's Criminal Division through 2017, wh…

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by Ben Crnic
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Defendant To Superintendent: Nassau District Brings Back Leader It Sued Months Earlier Defendant To Superintendent: Nassau District Brings Back Leader It Sued Months Earlier
Defendant To Superintendent: Nassau District Brings Back Leader It Sued Months Earlier One of Long Island’s biggest school districts voted to bring back its superintendent on Wednesday night, July 22. The Freeport school board voted 4-1 to reinstate Fia Davis — just months after suing her and more than a year after placing her on suspension, Newsday reported. Davis will resume her duties on Monday, Aug. 3, according to News 12 Long Island. She had been getting paid since her suspension in April 2025. Freeport Schools — a giant district with more than 6,000 students, including 2,200 at the high school — has been going back-and-forth on Davis’s fate since hiring her in August …

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by Joe Wilkinson
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LI High School Cancels Football Despite Recent Back-To-Back Titles LI High School Cancels Football Despite Recent Back-To-Back Titles
LI High School Cancels Football Despite Recent Back-To-Back Titles A Long Island high school has canceled its football program for the 2026 and 2027 seasons, despite a recent track record of success. Holy Trinity High School in Hicksville will not field a varsity team for the next two years, Newsday reported Wednesday, July 15. The school had hired a new coach, Cain Mack, for the 2026 season, but he resigned suddenly late last week, according to an administration letter obtained by Newsday. Mack’s resignation was “not what we expected,” Holy Trinity Principal Brian Colomban wrote in the letter. He called Mack’s decision “not an easy one.” In 2025, Holy T…

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by Joe Wilkinson
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Family-Owned Italian Restaurant Closes After 47 Years In Nassau County Family-Owned Italian Restaurant Closes After 47 Years In Nassau County
Family-Owned Italian Restaurant Closes After 47 Years In Nassau County A family-owned Italian restaurant on Long Island has closed after more than 47 years in business. Piccolo Ristorante on Sunrise Highway in Bellmore served its final customers on Friday, July 3, according to announcements on its website and social media pages. Owner Tom Valenti Jr. told Newsday he hoped to keep things running and didn’t make a final decision to close shop until Thursday, July 2. He said “a myriad of reasons” meant the restaurant was “being forced to reconsider what we’re going to be doing.” Piccolo opened in 1979 and even briefly expanded to Carle Place in 2009, though that…

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by Joe Wilkinson
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Fans Design NHL Jersey? Islanders Offer Unique Opportunity Fans Design NHL Jersey? Islanders Offer Unique Opportunity
Fans Design NHL Jersey? Islanders Offer Unique Opportunity Always wanted to design an NHL jersey? Now’s your chance. The New York Islanders have launched a fan contest to create one of their jerseys for the 2027-28 season, the team announced Wednesday, July 8. In addition to standard home and away uniforms, teams wear alternate third jerseys about a dozen teams each year, and the Islanders are asking fans to submit their best ideas for that sweater. The team created an online design template for fans to use, ensuring they meet NHL standards while encouraging them to express creativity. Fans have until Friday, July 24 to submit their ideas. After …

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by Joe Wilkinson
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Beach Bird Flies South: Hit LI Chicken Joint Opens Second Location Beach Bird Flies South: Hit LI Chicken Joint Opens Second Location
Beach Bird Flies South: Hit LI Chicken Joint Opens Second Location A popular Long Island chicken restaurant has opened a second location, taking its tenders, nuggets, wings, and sandwiches to a new crowd. Beach Bird, which first opened three years ago in Oyster Bay, held the grand opening of its second location in Long Beach on Saturday, July 4. “Our soft launch is behind us and our doors are wide open — we cannot thank you enough for all the kindness and excitement from this community already. It means the world to us,” the restaurant shared in a social media post. The menus at both locations are similar, including the $33 bird basket offering three tend…

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by Joe Wilkinson
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Stony Brook Student Accused Of Running Meth Operation From Dorm Room Indicted Stony Brook Student Accused Of Running Meth Operation From Dorm Room Indicted
Stony Brook Student Accused Of Running Meth Operation From Dorm Room Indicted A Stony Brook University student accused of selling methamphetamine from his campus dorm room has been indicted on multiple felony drug charges, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Thursday, June 18. William Turri, 20, of Fairport, was indicted on charges including Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree after an investigation into alleged drug sales at Stony Brook University, prosecutors said. The indictment follows Turri's arrest on April 27, when Suffolk County police …

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by Jillian Pikora
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26 School iPads Stolen During Late-Night Break-In At Nassau County Elementary 26 School iPads Stolen During Late-Night Break-In At Nassau County Elementary
26 School iPads Stolen During Late-Night Break-In At Nassau County Elementary A late-night break-in at a Long Island elementary school left dozens of student devices missing, police announced on Wednesday, June 17. An unknown suspect entered Chatterton Elementary School, located at 108 Merrick Rd. in Merrick, through an unlocked rear window around 10:55 p.m. on Sunday, June 14, according to Nassau County detectives. Investigators said the intruder damaged window screens, causing approximately $300 in damage, before entering the school. Once inside, the suspect stole 26 Apple iPads and then fled in an unknown direction, police said. Officers responded to the school…

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by Jillian Pikora