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Student Sets Off Pepper Spray On CT School Bus, Prompting Emergency Evacuation Student Sets Off Pepper Spray On CT School Bus, Prompting Emergency Evacuation
Student Sets Off Pepper Spray On CT School Bus, Prompting Emergency Evacuation A Meriden school bus was evacuated Wednesday afternoon, May 21, after a student discharged pepper spray, authorities said. The incident occurred as the bus traveled past Ceppa Field on Gale Avenue. An email to police seeking information on the number of students on board, the school they attend, and how many were treated for injuries was not immediately returned. Meriden firefighters responded to the scene and decontaminated the bus. There were no serious injuries, Meriden police said. Some children were transferred to a different bus, while others were picked up by parents at Ceppa Field.…

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by Josh Lanier
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Kindergartener Hands Out Alcohol In Jell-O At PA School: Superintendent Kindergartener Hands Out Alcohol In Jell-O At PA School: Superintendent
Kindergartener Hands Out Alcohol In Jell-O At PA School: Superintendent A Pennsylvania kindergartener handed out alcoholic Jell-O cups to classmates at school, alarming parents and prompting a hospital visit, school officials said. The incident happened at Johnstown Elementary School in Cambria County earlier on Wednesday, May 14, according to a statement from Greater Johnstown School District Superintendent Dr. Amy Arcurio. Three students reportedly ingested alcohol from the Jell-O shots before staff intervened. All affected children were evaluated by the school nurse and then taken by EMS to a local hospital for further treatment. Parents met their children t…

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by Jillian Pikora
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He Flunked Out Of Rutgers In 1957; At 85, Aerospace Engineer Graduates As Oldest Student Ever He Flunked Out Of Rutgers In 1957; At 85, Aerospace Engineer Graduates As Oldest Student Ever
He Flunked Out Of Rutgers In 1957; At 85, Aerospace Engineer Graduates As Oldest Student Ever Tom Maniscalco was 18 when he first stepped onto the Rutgers campus in 1957. Nearly 70 years later, he’s graduating. At 85 years old. The Garfield resident will earn a master’s degree in engineering this week, becoming Rutgers’ oldest graduate in school history, the university said. “It’s a sense of accomplishment at my age,” Maniscalco said. Maniscalco originally enrolled at Rutgers to study mechanical engineering, but flunked out after one semester. He got an A in calculus and a B in physics, but failed engineering drawing. “Of all things, engineering drawing! And I became a design engi…

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by Cecilia Levine
Schools
Southington Students Charged After Setting School Laptops On Fire In Dangerous TikTok Trend Southington Students Charged After Setting School Laptops On Fire In Dangerous TikTok Trend
Southington Students Charged After Setting School Laptops On Fire In Dangerous TikTok Trend Two Connecticut high school students have been arrested and charged after police said they triggered an evacuation last week by causing their school-issued laptops to produce toxic smoke as part of a viral social media trend, according to reports. Southington High School was evacuated on Wednesday, May 7, after two teens reportedly inserted metal objects into the laptops’ ports, causing the electrical components inside to spark and catch fire, Southington police said. The dangerous trend is known as the "Chromebook Challenge." Multiple schools in Connecticut have been evacuated or disrupted…

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by Josh Lanier
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CT High Softball Coach Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Students On Campus: Police CT High Softball Coach Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Students On Campus: Police
CT High Softball Coach Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Students On Campus: Police A Connecticut high school softball coach has turned himself in to police on Friday, May 9, after investigators accused him of sexually assaulting multiple students at school. Cary Nadel, 70, of Wilton, was charged with risk of injury to a minor and four counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, according to Norwalk police. Nadel, who coached at Norwalk High School, was accused on April 1 of inappropriate behavior and unwanted touching of students on campus, police said. The Norwalk Police Department’s Special Victims Unit investigated the claims and found them credible, authorities said…

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by Josh Lanier
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Plainville Middle School Student Hospitalized, Charged After TikTok Laptop Fire Stunt: Police Plainville Middle School Student Hospitalized, Charged After TikTok Laptop Fire Stunt: Police
Plainville Middle School Student Hospitalized, Charged After TikTok Laptop Fire Stunt: Police A Connecticut middle school student who was hospitalized for smoke inhalation has now been charged with intentionally setting the laptop fire that led to the emergency, authorities said. Plainville firefighters responded to the Middle School of Plainville on Thursday, May 8, around 10:15 a.m., after a school-issued laptop began smoking. The school was evacuated, but students were later allowed to return once the building was deemed safe, Plainville police said.  The teen was reportedly following a social media trend called the "Chromebook Challenge" when he stuck scissors into the mac…

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by Josh Lanier
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Millions To Have Paychecks Garnished As Federal Student Loan Collections Restart Millions To Have Paychecks Garnished As Federal Student Loan Collections Restart
Millions To Have Paychecks Garnished As Federal Student Loan Collections Restart Millions of Americans may soon have their wages garnished as the Trump administration resumes student loan collections paused since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. About 5.3 million borrowers are set to receive wage garnishment notices in the summer of 2025, according to the Department of Education. The federal government officially restarted student loan debt collections on Monday, May 5. Nearly 195,000 borrowers began receiving 30-day warning letters from the Treasury Department. Their Social Security or other federal benefits will be seized through the Treasury Offset …

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by Chris Spiker
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Record Student Loan Borrowers Face Default As Collections Resume, Grads Enter Weak Job Market Record Student Loan Borrowers Face Default As Collections Resume, Grads Enter Weak Job Market
Record Student Loan Borrowers Face Default As Collections Resume, Grads Enter Weak Job Market A record number of federal student loan borrowers are seriously delinquent as debt collections resume after a five-year pause, while new college graduates face tough employment prospects. The Education Department restarted collecting defaulted federal student loan debt on Monday, May 5. Collections were paused at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The move threatens to seize tax refunds and garnish paychecks from millions of Americans in default on their loans. The Education Department said about 42.7 million people owe more than $1.6 trillion in student loan d…

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by Chris Spiker
Schools
Student Scored $127K In Aid With University Application Full Of Lies — Now He’s In ICE Custody Student Scored $127K In Aid With University Application Full Of Lies — Now He’s In ICE Custody
Student Scored $127K In Aid With University Application Full Of Lies — Now He’s In ICE Custody A student who faked his way into Lehigh University and received over $127,000 in aid is now in ICE custody — marking the school’s third international student in recent years to face criminal charges, including one who poisoned his roommate and another who used a fake death certificate to win a full scholarship. All three have since been removed or are being deported. Cryilstan Sowah-Nai, originally from Ghana, pleaded no contest to securing execution of documents by deception on Monday, April 28, according to the Northampton County District Attorney’s Office. Investigators say he misrepresen…

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by Jillian Pikora
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National Teacher Of Year Named As Woman Who Returned Home To Teach With Mentor National Teacher Of Year Named As Woman Who Returned Home To Teach With Mentor
National Teacher Of Year Named As Woman Who Returned Home To Teach With Mentor A Pennsylvania high school teacher has been named the 2025 National Teacher of the Year, education officials announced Tuesday, April 29. Ashlie Crosson teaches English and journalism at Mifflin County High School in Lewistown, where she also helps students publish a newspaper, magazine, and run social media accounts. She earned the national title after being selected as Pennsylvania’s 2024 Teacher of the Year by the state Department of Education. Crosson started teaching in Delaware in 2011, later returning to Pennsylvania to work in the Bellefonte Area School District while earning her m…

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by Jillian Pikora
Schools
Cheng Out As CSCU Chancellor, Board Begins Search For Interim Replacement Cheng Out As CSCU Chancellor, Board Begins Search For Interim Replacement
Cheng Out As Cscu Chancellor, Board Begins Search For Interim Replacement Connecticut’s college system is preparing for a major leadership change.  The Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education announced Monday, April 28, that it will not extend the contract for Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) Chancellor Terrence Cheng past its current end date of June 30, 2026. However, beginning on July 1, 2025, Cheng will move into a new position as strategic advisor to the board. An interim chancellor is expected to be named in the coming weeks. "We thank Chancellor Cheng for his hard work, partnership, and dedication to the system," …

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by Josh Lanier
Schools
‘Oscars Of Teaching’: Norwich Teacher Turns College 'Pipe Dreams' To Launchpad For Students ‘Oscars Of Teaching’: Norwich Teacher Turns College 'Pipe Dreams' To Launchpad For Students
‘Oscars Of Teaching’: Norwich Teacher Turns College 'Pipe Dreams' To Launchpad For Students Jessica Chapman, a dedicated social studies teacher at Norwich Free Academy (NFA), has been nationally recognized with the 2024 Milken Educator Award—and a $25,000 cash prize—for her outstanding work in the classroom and beyond. The award celebrates Chapman’s innovative teaching and her ability to inspire students from all backgrounds to aim higher. Chapman was honored in Los Angeles by Milken Educator Awards Founder Lowell Milken during a special event for this year’s awardees. Each winner receives an all-expenses-paid trip, access to a nationwide network of over 3,000 top educators, and pr…

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by Josh Lanier