Al Roker Surprised With Honorary Doctorate From NY College: 'I Am Thrilled' (VIDEO) Al Roker Surprised With Honorary Doctorate From NY College: 'I Am Thrilled' (VIDEO)
Al Roker Surprised With Honorary Doctorate From NY College: 'I Am Thrilled' (Video) You may call him Dr. Roker. Longtime Today show weatherman Al Roker got an unexpected forecast of his own: Siena College is awarding him with an honorary doctorate degree. And the news came in the most fitting way possible–on live TV. During a special “breaking news” segment by the college’s student-run SCTV News team on Wednesday, Feb. 26, Roker joined from the Today studios in Manhattan to give a campus-centric forecast for Loudonville. After assuring students that the frigid days were numbered, Roker heard from Siena alum and NBC executive producer Tom Mazzarelli, who had a forecast of…
NY's Education Performance Analyzed In New Study: See How It Stacks Up NY's Education Performance Analyzed In New Study: See How It Stacks Up
NY's Education Performance Analyzed In New Study: See How It Stacks Up Several Northeast states are among the most educated in the US, excelling in school quality, college attainment, and overall academic achievement, a new study said. Massachusetts was ranked as the country's most-educated state, according to a WalletHub study released on Monday, Feb. 10. Maryland was second, followed by Vermont, Colorado, and Connecticut in the top five. The study analyzed all 50 states using 18 factors, including educational attainment, quality, and achievement gaps. "There's a strong correlation between being more educated and receiving higher compensation," said Wal…
New Study Reveals Shocking Amount Of Phone Use By Teens While At School New Study Reveals Shocking Amount Of Phone Use By Teens While At School
New Study Reveals Shocking Amount Of Phone Use By Teens While At School A brand-new study has uncovered surprising trends in teen phone use during school hours, raising fresh concerns about digital distractions in the classroom. The study, published by JAMA Pediatrics on Monday, Feb. 3, found that students spent a significant portion of the school day on their phones, with messaging, Instagram, and video streaming among the most-used apps. Researchers also noted that a quarter of students logged more than two hours of screen time during class. In addition, students whose parents held bachelor’s degrees or higher spent about a half-hour less on their phones dur…
NY Unveils Media Literacy Toolkit For Schools To Combat 'Scourge' Of Misinformation NY Unveils Media Literacy Toolkit For Schools To Combat 'Scourge' Of Misinformation
NY Unveils Media Literacy Toolkit For Schools To Combat 'Scourge' Of Misinformation New York is joining the fight against fake news. Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled the state’s first “Media Literacy” toolkit to help educators teach students how to critically analyze and assess information, particularly online. The initiative, announced Thursday, Jan. 23, follows growing concerns about misinformation, social media influence, and the role of online radicalization in recent violent incidents, including the Buffalo mass shooting, Hochul’s office said. “Whether it’s cell phones and social media or the scourge of misinformation teens encounter each day, I’m taking action to protect …
Superintendent Suspension: Newburgh District Names Acting Replacement Amid Controversy Superintendent Suspension: Newburgh District Names Acting Replacement Amid Controversy
Superintendent Suspension: Newburgh District Names Acting Replacement Amid Controversy Nearly a week after suspending its superintendent as part of an ongoing investigation and legal proceedings, the Newburgh Enlarged City School District Board of Education has named her acting replacement.  In a meeting on Tuesday night, Jan. 28, the district's Board of Education named Dr. Lisa Boun Acting Superintendent of Schools in a 5-4 vote.  Boun's appointment, which will go into effect on Tuesday, Feb. 11, follows the suspension with pay of Superintendent Jackielyn Manning-Campbell on Thursday, Jan. 23.  This action followed a recent budget audit alleged…
BOE Addresses Newburgh Superintendent's Suspension Amid Ongoing Investigation (UPDATE) BOE Addresses Newburgh Superintendent's Suspension Amid Ongoing Investigation (UPDATE)
BOE Addresses Newburgh Superintendent's Suspension Amid Ongoing Investigation (Update) The Newburgh Enlarged City School District Board of Education has issued a public statement addressing the recent suspension of Superintendent Jackielyn Manning-Campbell, confirming that the decision was made as part of an ongoing investigation and legal proceedings.  In a statement made to Daily Voice on Monday, Jan. 27, Board President Christine Bello emphasized the importance of fairness and confidentiality during this process.  "The Board understands the concerns and emotions surrounding this decision," Bello said, adding, "Our priority is to ensure fair and thorough proc…
School Bus Crash Injures 2 Students In Hudson Valley School Bus Crash Injures 2 Students In Hudson Valley
School Bus Crash Injures 2 Students In Hudson Valley Two students were injured in a crash involving a school bus in Sullivan County. It happened in the hamlet of Rock Hill, on Highway 17 near Bridgeville Road, at around 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 27. A bus operated by Rolling V Bus Corporation was carrying two Liberty Central School District students, as well as students from other districts, when the bus was involved in a crash, the district said. The two Liberty students were taken to a hospital. The extent of their injuries, their ages, and additional details about the crash were not immediately available. In a statement, the school district th…
Superintendent Suspended Days After Shooting Outside Newburgh School Superintendent Suspended Days After Shooting Outside Newburgh School
Superintendent Suspended Days After Shooting Outside Newburgh School Newburgh Superintendent Jackielyn Manning-Campbell was suspended with pay during a special board meeting of the Newburgh Enlarged City School District on Thursday, Jan. 23, she confirmed to News12. The board voted 5-4 in favor of the action. Board of Education members declined to comment on the matter, referring to Manning-Campbell only by her identification number, 12325, rather than by name. Earlier that day, Manning-Cambpell released a statement regarding a recent budget audit that allegedly found a multi-million dollar surplus. The suspension came days after police responded to th…
Dialing It Back: NY Students Would Be Barred From Using Phones During School Day Under Proposal Dialing It Back: NY Students Would Be Barred From Using Phones During School Day Under Proposal
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…
Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm
Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm Fewer high school graduates began college this fall, with enrollment in that age group dropping 5 percent from last year, according to an analysis by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.  Four-year institutions were hardest hit, with public colleges seeing an 8.5 percent drop in first-year enrollments and private nonprofit colleges reporting a 6.5 percent decline.  This trend poses significant challenges for colleges and universities, particularly those reliant on tuition revenue.  As the competition for students intensifies, institutions face mounting pressur…
Victim Stabbed During Student-Involved Fight Outside Hudson Valley HS Victim Stabbed During Student-Involved Fight Outside Hudson Valley HS
Victim Stabbed During Student-Involved Fight Outside Hudson Valley HS At least one person was injured during a student-involved fight and stabbing mere steps from a Hudson Valley high school. The Sullivan County incident happened in the town of Liberty, just outside Liberty High School, at the end of the school day on Thursday, Dec. 12. A fight broke out between a group of Liberty students and others who are not students, and at some point one of the non-students was stabbed, the Liberty Central School District said in a letter to parents. The victim ran to the campus and sought medical attention, and a medevac helicopter landed on the school’s football fiel…
West Point Grad From Orange County Awarded Rhodes Scholarship West Point Grad From Orange County Awarded Rhodes Scholarship
West Point Grad From Orange County Awarded Rhodes Scholarship A West Point grad from the region is one of only 32 students nationwide to be awarded a Rhodes Scholarship at the University of Oxford in the fall of 2025. Orange County resident Shepherd Dzina of Tuxedo Park and three other cadets were awarded the scholarship on Saturday, Nov. 16. Dzina is an economics major currently serving as the Brigade Executive Officer at West Point, managing logistics and operations for over 4,400 cadets. He also leads the Finance Club and conducts research with the Army’s Office of Economics and Manpower Analysis. He has interned with the US International Develop…