Verne Gay and Lisa Irizarry

Dandan Zou covers education for Newsday. Previously, she worked for a community newspaper in Maryland and a personal finance magazine in Washington, D.C. Arielle Martinez has been a data reporter at Newsday since 2021.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Dandan Zou and Arielle Martinez

Alfonso Castillo has been reporting for Newsday since 1999 and covering the transportation beat since 2008.&nbsp;Arielle Martinez has been a data reporter at Newsday since 2021.

Alfonso A. Castillo and Arielle Martinez

Honors and Awards: Honorable Mention, Associated Press Sports Editors, Feature Writing, 2013; First Place, Professional Football Writers of America, News Writing, 2007; Second place, Associated Press Sports Editors, Game Story Writing, 1999; and First Place, New Jersey Press Association, Sports News Writing, 1991.



	Education: Ithaca College

Brian Heyman

Long Island

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Las Vegas Sands wants to add one lane on each side of a stretch of the Meadowbrook Parkway in order to blunt the impact of a new casino-resort.

Las Vegas Sands proposes Meadowbrook Parkway expansion 

A tipster says he told the state about buried drums at Bethpage Community Park nearly a decade ago. Newsday's Ken Buffa reports.

Uncovering the truth about the chemical drums

The family of accused Gilgo Beach killer Rex Heuermann will be moving out of their Massapequa Park home. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa reports.

Heuermann's wife 'no longer feels connected' to their family home

Darius Paduch, a former LI urologist, was sentenced to life in prison by a federal judge for repeated sexual abuse of his male patients. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa reports.

Former urologist gets life sentence 

Brian Cordovano, of Ronkonkoma, was sentenced by a Suffolk judge to 30 years for killing a friend and another man over a loan. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa reports.

LI man killed longtime friend and another person over a loan

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"At the end of the day, you want to prioritize the relationship over the political point of view," said LIU Post psychology professor Mark Sirkin.

Pass the potatoes and shove the politics? Tips for surviving holidays in politically divided families

Long Island Article Bottom Module

State police said the crash occurred north of the Southern State near Uniondale.

1 dead in Meadowbrook Parkway crash

The property was listed for sale over the summer, only to be pulled from the market. Now, town and county officials are weighing an effort to preserve the building, which was built in 1910. 

'Great love on the corner': Future of historically Black church property uncertain

The rain brings temporary relief to a historically dry fall season.

Chances for rain last through Saturday, as LI's drought status goes to 'severe'

County spending on outside law firms has more than doubled since 2022.

'Spiraling out of control:' Nassau County spending on private law firms to get audit

Long Island's driest autumn in decades has sparked dozens of brush fires and questions about what it could mean over time.

Rain on LI not enough to end region's drought

Of 261 requests by federal immigration enforcers so far this year, the Adams administration has rejected all but 11.

NYC used to help deport thousands. This year's total: 11

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An NYPD officer shot and killed a robbery suspect Tuesday in Queens during a gunfight that left both the officer and a bystander wounded.

Gunfight leaves suspect dead; cop, bystander wounded

The mother of a man who died of a fentanyl overdose at the Nassau County jail alleges correction officers failed to provide adequate care for her son before he died.

Lawsuit alleges jail staff failed in overdose death

Southold Police Chief Steve Grattan said three people who were inside the house at the time of the fire made it out safely. Those residents reported that a fourth person who was on the second floor of the home may have been trapped inside.

One dead in Mattituck house fire

New York City officials said a homeless man allegedly went on an unprovoked stabbing spree across town in Manhattan Monday, killing two men and a woman.

NYC stabbing suspect arrested by cop who hails from LI

Brookville Village Police Chief Kenneth Lack says license plate readers are an essential tool for law enforcement. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports. 

More eyes on the roads

Nassau and Suffolk police on Saturday night shut down illegal street takeovers at a Uniondale parking lot and the Ronkonkoma train station, where more than 40 cars had gathered. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

'Crazy to do it in the train parking lot'

Newsday education reporter Dandan Zou talks about how some LI school districts are dealing with the financial strain of sex abuse settlements. 

'The taxpayers need to know what you are doing'

Clarke field hockey player Rebecca Palumbo was diagnosed with Stage 3 Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. She has since beaten cancer and returned to the sport. NewsdayTV's Jolie Katzen reports.

'When I found out it was cancer, it was scary'

NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano got a sneak peek at "Disney on Ice: Let's Dance," which is at UBS Arena through Nov. 17.

'One big Disney dance party'

Here's how these Long Island content creators use TikTok to build their careers.

Meet the Long Islanders making it big on TikTok 

A Newsday investigation shows that about 70% of tickets issued by Suffolk County for school bus camera violations in 2023 took place on roads that students don't cross. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

'Ridiculous tickets that are illogical'

Charges again North Merrick's James Luca were upgraded after he allegedly tried to blow up the Nassau Department of Social Services building using a propane tank. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa reports.

'Allegedly placed several propane tanks ... at the doors of the DSS building'

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More rain for LI ... Thanksgiving travel ... Penny trial continues ... FeedMe: Holiday pies

More rain for LI ... Penny trial continues ... FeedMe: Holiday pies

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Find out what's happening with Nassau & Suffolk news, Long Island schools, plus the latest crime, courts, politics. Coverage includes Fire Island, the Hamptons & North Fork.

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