JoNel Aleccia

I started working at Newsday in December 2022, jumping into the former U.S. Rep. George Santos coverage. It&rsquo;s my first workplace in the U.S., but I bring years of experience of in-depth reporting and data storytelling from national media outlets in Russia and Kyrgyzstan. I also did a fellowship at The Marshall Project, a national U.S. media organization focused on criminal justice reform, before landing at Newsday.

Born and raised in Russia, I wanted to be a journalist since childhood when I interviewed all the people in my family. In high school, I started a school newspaper and reported for a local radio station. Having graduated from journalism school, I started working as a TV producer at a national broadcasting company. That&rsquo;s where I produced reports about political protests, North Korea and people who lost their loved ones in terrorist attacks.

Unable to continue my career amidst growing censorship in Russia, I went to study abroad, and this is when I discovered data journalism. This changed my life. I fell in love with data immediately. I saw how it can help us tell stories, impossible to find otherwise.

Data journalists analyze and scrutinize government statistics and other data for the public interest and publish it in a digestible format for everyone to use.

I want to use my data skills to find and cover the trends and patterns happening here on Long Island. Data can help us tell representative stories &ndash; in other words, everyone would be able to see themselves in it. With data we can even build a tool, like a searchable database, so that Long Islanders can look up what happens in their specific town or school district, and make a data-informed decision about their vote or how to spend their money.

Newsday has a unique role as &ldquo;the Long Island newspaper&rdquo;, serving the communities of Nassau and Suffolk. So, Newsday, like no one else, is positioned to be getting the data on all the various aspects of life &mdash;from health care and education to politics and business&mdash;across Long Island. We analyze this information and publish stories that provide the necessary context for our readers.

Our subscribers also gain access to interactive tools, particularly maps and databases, which help them look closer at their communities. Will my school district get more or less money in state aid than last year? Is my town going to be affected by the flood? How does my vote affect the election outcome?

As an investigative data reporter, I want to look where nobody else has looked before and ask the questions nobody ever asked. And I will be able to answer them with data.

Anastasia Valeeva

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Anastasia&rsquo;s passion for journalism can be traced back to her childhood in Russia, interviewing family members, studying in college and working in media abroad. She&rsquo;s now an investigator for Newsday analyzing statistics and data to reveal the real story behind the numbers for you.

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Newsday Journalists: Anastasia Valeeva

Newsday

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

Education: City University of New York at Queens College



	Lisa Colangelo has covered health since joining Newsday in 2019. She previously worked at the New York Daily News, where she covered City Hall and the Borough of Queens. Prior to that, she worked as a statehouse reporter in Trenton for the Asbury Park Press in New Jersey, a reporter in the Bucks County Bureau of the Philadelphia Inquirer and a staff writer at the North Jersey Herald &amp; News.

Lisa L. Colangelo

Long Island

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"I am terrified for the people of Long Island," one official said about the region, where 14% of drivers involved in deadly crashes did not have a license. Newsday examines LI's dangerous roads in a yearlong investigative series. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.

LI’s 50,000 unlicensed drivers are far more likely to cause fatal crashes

The cats, who appeared 'neglected,' are being treated at an animal shelter.

'It's about providing forever homes'

The FDNY partnered with the National Institute of Standards and Technology for a three-day drone and robotics training in new technology that can be used to save lives.  

LI first responders take lessons for using robotics, drones

Suffolk officials are pushing for education and awareness to help curb the increase of infant deaths due to unsafe sleeping conditions. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports. 

Education, awareness for unsafe infant sleeping practices

NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa spends the day making dogs look and feel good with mobile pet groomer "The Ruff Life."

LI Works: The ruff life of a mobile pet groomer

The driver was charged with murder, accused of slamming his pickup into the motorcyclist off the Long Island Expressway in North Hills.

Motorcyclist killed in 'road rage' crash with pickup truck driver, police say

Newsday food writer Erica Marcus visits Gra-Bar in Copiague to learn about local versus non-local fish.

Is the fish on your restaurant dish local?

The Town of Babylon Kite Festival, held at Overlook Beach on Sunday, drew thousands and raised money for scholarships. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

Kites take flight for good cause at Babylon festival 

Alibi Lounge in Farmingdale is being transformed into a sweet destination.

Candy-themed popup opens in Farmingdale

Long Island ABATE holds event in Hauppauge to promote awareness of motorcycle safety and distracted driving.

Long Island ABATE raises money for motorcycle safety

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St. Anthony's High School senior, Anthony Pagliuca, explains what it's like to return to the pitching mound, after he survived a September crash that left him hospitalized for months. 

'It means a lot' 

Nassau County's Traffic and Parking Violations Agency has stopped hearing cases for school bus camera violations, with no indication as to when they might resume. Newsday investigative reporter Payton Guion has the story.

'We don't know when these might resume'

'This is a great collaboration' 

Some real estate experts are concerned about the potential effect of the economic outlook on the spring market. Newsday business reporter Jonathan LaMantia has the story.

'We're still seeing pretty steady growth'

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Protection could prove critical as the Trump administration proposes new rules to weaken the federal Endangered Species Act.

LI's newest endangered species include a shore bird, bat and a prehistoric fish

Long Island Article Bottom Module

Terrance Dougherty, 36, of Oyster Bay, pleaded not guilty to five counts of grand larceny and one count of a scheme to defraud.

LI real estate lawyer spent $1.2M of client escrow funds on luxury lifestyle, DA says

Doctors said the high school senior was "on the brink of death" when he was pulled from the wreckage of a car that killed two of his friends.

'Nothing shy of a miracle': LI teen who survived crash to pitch in game dedicated to lost friends

Raskin plans to address more than 1,000 residents in Patchogue, which is represented by Rep. Andrew Garbarino.

Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin to host in-person town hall in Patchogue 

It's part of a push to remake a blighted industrial area. 

Westbury OKs $97M apartment complex near LIRR station, with 12% for affordable housing

New Image Realty, agent Mark Abramson and former landlord Leigh Koch have all been ordered to pay fines to the Division of Human Rights.

Brokerage firm, real estate agent and landlord ordered to pay $16,500 over housing discrimination

It is a major move toward a revamp of the long-struggling Sunrise Mall after a real estate group bought the property at a steep discount in 2020.

LI mall to be demolished, owner seeks subdivision approval

Long Island Video Playlist

 Chairwoman of the Shinnecock Nation Council of Trustees says temporary restraining order on construction build site is is simply a bump in the road. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports. 

'Knew that we were going to be in this battle for the long run'

The Trump administration ordered an immediate cease to the wind project near the coast of Long Beach, stating the Biden administration rushed the permit process. Newsday reporter Robert Brodsky reports.

'That work has ceased immediately'

President-elect Donald Trump is looking to make major changes that could impact the U.S. economy. Newsday's business reporter James T. Madore has more. 

What Trump's economic plan could mean for LIers

The Trump administration has stated that beginning on May 5, the Education Department will begin collecting student debt. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.

'There will be some adverse impact'

'We had a few good runs today'

Nassau officials on Wednesday revealed the identity of Gilgo Beach homicide victim Jane Doe No. 3 and the toddler linked to her via DNA analysis. NewsdayTV's Macy Egeland reports.

'If you knew Tanya please let us know'

Newsday investigative reporter Jim Baumbach looks at the process that school districts must undergo to discipline a teacher or administrator.

'A long process that's very costly'

Former LI congressman George Santos will be required to enter a federal prison on July 25, 2025. Newsday TV's Andrew Ehinger reports. 

'Polar opposite of what a public servant should be'

Newsday real estate reporter Jonathan LaMantia looks at Long Island home prices, which rose to a $705,000 median sales price (excluding the East End) in the first quarter of 2025. 

'They don't anticipate things changing'

The nonprofit is now suing the daughter of its founder, Christopher Arsenault, over the sanctuary's property following a fatal fire. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports. 

'Let's do what's best for the cats'

Nassau officials on Wednesday revealed the identity of Gilgo Beach homicide victim Jane Doe No. 3 and her toddler daughter. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.

Las Vegas Sands has ended its $6 billion proposal to build a casino at Nassau Coliseum. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa reports.

Coliseum casino bid canceled due to 'market conditions'

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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.

Lisa L. Colangelo

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