By Steve Levy   Late-night host Stephen Colbert lied to the public when he said that the CBS Network prevented him from airing an interview with a Democratic Senate candidate from Texas. The reality is that the lawyers for CBS clearly advised Colbert that, if he was going to air an interview of one Democratic candidate for Senate, it might trigger the FCC’s equal time doctrine, which would require the network to allow other candidates in the Democratic primary, as well as Rep

By Thomas Nothel   The Planting Fields Foundation has announced a $100,000 grant from Bank of America in support of the highly anticipated “Oudolf Garden” opening this fall.   The grant advances the Foundation’s vision to create a world-class four-season garden that “inspires visitors, strengthens community connections, and enriches Long Island’s cultural and environmental life.”   The Oudolf Garden will be a dynamic one-acre landscape adjacent to the historic Rose Arbor, off

By Thomas Nothel   Students at both North Shore High School in Glen Head, and Northport High School staged recent student walk-outs to protest the controversial actions of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).   ICE has received criticism over their killing of two US citizen protestors in Minnesota, and attracted protests nationally over their efforts to apprehend some of the 13 million criminal and other illegal aliens inside the US.   On Friday February 6th Nort

By Sophia Ancona   Love was certainly in the air this past Friday, February 13th, as Oyster Bay Supervisor Joe Saladino played Cupid to several dozen couples who came to renew their marriage vows.   The event at Oyster Bay Town Hall has become a wonderful tradition, where many couples gather for the Valentine’s Day Vow Renewal Ceremony hosted by town supervisor Joseph Saladino and Town Clerk Rich LaMarca.    This heartwarming event welcomed couples ranging from newlyweds to t

By Rupert Deedes     Last week the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act - to improve integrity and reduce the risk of fraud in elections - by a narrow vote of 218–213.   The two members from Long Island's north shore - Nick LaLota (R-NY1 Huntington, East End) and Thomas Suozzi (D-NY3 Oyster Bay, N Hempstead) came out on opposite sides.   The bill would imposing stricter documentation requirements for voter registration and b

By Mark Demetropoulos   A huge fire broke out last week at a home in Manorhaven in Port Washington, destroying a residential home, and displacing five local residents. Over 50 volunteer fire fighters from various areas of the county worked together magnificently to prevent the fire from spreading to other homes, according to the Nassau County Fire Marshal. According to the Fire Marshal, fire trucks were first dispatched from the Port Washington Fire Department at approximatel

By Ishan Shah Multiple rounds of gunfire erupted last week outside the Starbucks coffee shop in downtown Huntington, sending a local resident to the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds. Arrested is Huntington resident John Rech, age 71, of Huntington. Rech claimed that the younger man assaulted and chased him, which forced him to draw his gun and open fire outside the Starbucks. Police say the incident occurred after a dispute led to the older man being threatened and chase

By Steve Levy   Little attention has been given to a landmark Court verdict this past month that awarded $2 million to a young woman who had her breasts surgically removed by doctors who, the jury claimed, pressured the young woman - and her family - to undergo a sex change operation at the age of 16. Many commonsense Americans who have enormous sympathy for those going through gender dysphoria were nevertheless appalled by a cottage medical industry that developed to push ch

By Leader Staff   Bill Bleyer, a local historian and Chair of Friends of the Bay, will be publishing a book on "Shipwrecks of Long Island" thanks to a generous grant from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation.   The Riverhead-based Gardiner Foundation supports historical projects on Long Island and around the region, and has provided a $3,000 grant towards publication of “Shipwrecks of Long Island.”  The book is expected to be published by the History Press in late fall o

By Aman Verma   If you received tips or overtime pay in 2025, you may be eligible for a new deduction when you file your income tax return. Both deductions can be claimed whether or not you itemize deductions. But various rules and limits apply. Also be aware that such income may still be fully taxable for state and local income tax purposes. And federal payroll  taxes still apply to tips and overtime income you deduct for federal  income  tax purposes.   Deducting Tips   Eli