Latest news with #AristideEconomopoulos
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hope Scholarship board says voucher can't be used on ammunition, witchcraft herbs, animals and more
The Hope Scholarship is clarifying how students can use the money for education expenses after parents asked to purchase ammunition, live animals, witchcraft herbs and a cauldron. (Aristide Economopoulos for NJ Monitor) West Virginia's school voucher program, the Hope Scholarship, is clarifying how students can use the money for education expenses after parents asked to purchase ammunition, gaming consoles, live animals, witchcraft herbs and more through the program. 'We had the request for witchcraft herbs and a cauldron,' said Amy Willard, assistant treasurer for the Hope Scholarship Program, at a May 16 scholarship board meeting. The request was denied. The Hope Scholarship, which launched four years ago, provides roughly $4,900 per student in tax-payer funds to be used for private schooling tuition, homeschooling, microschools and more. Around 11,000 students used the program during the 2024-25 school year. Parents who utilize the Hope Scholarship for homeschooling use a portal to purchase a wide range of educational materials, like curriculums, iPads, water tables, bee keeping materials under $200 and more from vendors. Parents are permitted to use the money for horseback riding lessons and dance studio fees. Hope Scholarship funds are not sent to the parents. Carrie Hodousek, communications director for the State Treasure's Office, said some items are pre-approved and don't require a manual review by the board. Other items are reviewed by an individual or multiple individuals either in the Treasurer's Office and/or the Office's contracted program manager, she explained. 'These items are brought to the board for approval or disapproval,' she said. On May 16, the Hope Scholarship Board issued an updated list of unallowable expenses based on parents' requests. Along with witchcraft herbs, live animals and ammunition, the board said the funds may not be used on these additional items and more: travel sports fees; household furniture, including desks and couches; virtual reality equipment; athletic equipment in excess of $500; medications and supplements; chicken brooders; heat lamps and chicken coops in excess of $400. 'In none of these instances were these items successfully purchased without authorization from the board,' Hodousek said. 'If items are placed on the non-qualifying expense list, it means that the Treasurer's Office did not allow those purchases to go through and then requested guidance from the Hope board as to whether they should be permissible expenses,' she added. The Hope Scholarship program is expected to grow to 50,000 students by 2026, and the price tag has already raised concerns among the GOP-led Legislature, who largely back the program as part of their school choice push. Lawmakers recently approved $97 million for the Hope Scholarship for the upcoming school year — up from this year's $58 million in funding for the program. It was the largest funding increase requested by Gov. Patrick Morrisey in his first budget proposal. In 2027, its price tag is expected to skyrocket to around $300 million, when the program will open up to all students in the state. 'We are leaving other vitally necessary programs underfunded because of an increase in this line item,' Del. Elliott Pritt, R-Fayette, said in April as the House debated bills that funded the program. Pritt, a public school teacher, noted the state's public employee's insurance program, which insures teachers, continues to struggle. Democratic lawmakers in the House proposed a bill banning the use of Hope Scholarship funds at out-of-state schools, but the measure wasn't taken up for consideration during the legislative session. More than $122,000 in Hope funds were used at out of state schools last school year. Public school leaders have said the growing number of students using the program has continued to financial issues as the state is facing a wave of school closures. Under the current school funding formula, counties receive state funding based on the number of students. West Virginia is also experiencing an overall population decline. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Citing ongoing lawsuit, committee opts to defer proposals to alter Maine's 72-hour waiting period
Guns are shown at Caso's Gun-A-Rama in Jersey City, New Jersey, which has been open since 1967. (Photo by Aristide Economopoulos/NJ Monitor) Maine lawmakers will wait to take action on proposed legislation regarding the state's 72-hour waiting period for firearm purchases. The Legislature's Judiciary Committee unanimously voted to carry over LD 208, a proposal from House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor) to repeal the law passed just last year that requires someone who sells a firearm to wait three days before delivering it to the buyer. However, the committee was divided on whether to carry over an identical bill, LD 1230, with Democrats voting in support and Republicans opposed. The votes taken Friday were not an absolute, but rather a request of the presiding officers who have the final say on what will be carried over. After the waiting period took effect in August, opponents filed a lawsuit in November claiming it violates the Second Amendment rights of people who have passed background checks. Earlier this year, a U.S. District Court judge sided with the gun rights advocates and temporarily paused the waiting period. Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey appealed the decision, but a federal appeals court last week refused to reinstate the waiting period while the lawsuit unfolds. Over the past few weeks, Senate co-chair Anne Carney (D-Cumberland) encouraged the committee to carry over Faulkingham's bill and kill the other proposal to streamline the committee's work and allow time for the legal process to play out before making any changes. However, multiple Republicans on the committee said they did not want their names on the record as voting against the bill. 'I'm not going to have my name on that report and follow me forever,' said Rep. Jennifer Poirier (R-Skowhegan), though she agreed it's important to carry over one of the bills in case changes need to be made. Stuck at a stalemate, Carney suggested Friday that the committee vote to carry over both bills, but Republicans also raised concerns with this approach. Committees are only allowed to carry over a limited number of bills from the first to second session, so some Republicans were concerned carrying over identical proposals would waste one of those slots and lead to Senate president and speaker of the House of Representatives killing one of the bills. 'Why can't we have a conversation on the floor?' asked Rep. Rachel Henderson (R-Rumford), encouraging the committee to advance LD 1230 this session Rep. Adam Lee (D-Auburn), who voted to carry over both proposals, said his understanding was that the committee decided to not work on either bill while the lawsuit is ongoing. Since the committee hasn't fully workshopped the bills, Lee said sending one to the chamber floors wouldn't make sense. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
New York Post
26-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
This Memorial Day, salute the small-business owners who make summer happen
Memorial Day Weekend has always been a milestone for me. Back when I was a kid, our family vacationed at the Jersey Shore each summer, and Memorial Days was the official kick-off to summer — always full of anticipation and fun. But from the age of 15, that milestone took on more meaning as I officially started working in the hospitality and tourism industry. Armed with that summer job, I had a first-hand view of what it took to run a business. From the start, I loved hospitality — the thrill of welcoming folks who'd chosen to spend their vacations with us. I also witnessed the angst of running a business — the fire inspections, code inspections, and pool inspections. The economic cycles and affordability fears. There were worries about cash flow, marketing, purchasing and maintenance. 5 Hospitality entrepreneur Curtis Bashaw has evolved from a teenage hotel worker decades ago, to a hotel portfolio owner and former Republican Senate candidate. He bullish is on his state's beloved summer tourism sector, but worries about it longterm viability. Aristide Economopoulos But while the responsibilities of running a business may have appeared daunting, they were also thrilling. And so, after college, I returned to the Shore and began my official career in hospitality and tourism. As a year-round employee, I was mentored by managers and owners. I was an insider now. Each year, I reveled in the build-up to the tourism season – that frenzied rush as everyone readied their businesses for their summer debut. 5 Baron's Cove in San Harbor, one of the newest additions to the Cape Resorts collection, which has expanded from the Jersey Shore to the Hamptons. Trevor I opened The Virginia Hotel in Cape May in 1989, and then took on the task of restoring and reopening the historic Congress Hal nearby. I grew my business from just 40 employees to multiple shops, restaurants, and hotels. Today, our team is 1,300 workers strong. As I think about my 36th Memorial Day as a small business owner, I feel a sense of pride and accomplishment, but I also worry about the ability of today's young people today to find the same opportunities I enjoyed as an entrepreneur. Simply put, regulations and red tape are strangling small businesses. The cost of goods and products are skyrocketing along with inflation. There are more licensees to apply for each and every year. Whether opening a new hotel or simply a lemonade stand, dreaming big has never felt tougher. There are fewer owner-operators today, replaced by big corporations. With all the hurdles small businesses now face, there are fewer incentives to take the plunge. Even generational businesses are losing their next generations — parents not wanting to saddle their kids with the stresses they endured. Or the children wanting an easier life. 5 Bashaw is worried about over-taxation and over-regulation making it impossible for a new generation of young entrepreneurs to succeed. Aristide Economopoulos New Jersey is an especially difficult place to do business. Over regulated, over-taxed and one of the most expensive states in the nation, many entrepreneurs are seeking better opportunities in better places. Small businesses are on the front line of the economy. They hire teens and first-time employees. Yet, they do not have the advocates, nor the resources, to lobby against ill-conceived, one-size-fits-all legislation. Just this spring, New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities approved a 20% across-the-board increase on electric rates for homeowners and businesses alike. In the state Legislature, a bill was proposed and considered to eliminate the tipped worker minimum wage — which would force restaurants and bars into a 200% increase in their wages. Additionally, this year's state budget proposes raising taxes on alcohol and a number of recreational activities, ranging from bowling to laser tag to miniature golf. Not surprisingly, NJBIA's 2025 Regional Business Climate Analysis, shows New Jersey ranks dead last in the region in cost competitiveness and business taxes for a seventh consecutive year. A similar study by Wallet Hub ranks the Garden State as the third-worst state to start a business in 2025. 5 The Sandpiper Beach Club in Cape May, NJ, where Bashaw first got his start in the hospitality business. Cape Resorts Last year, I drove 80,000 miles across New Jersey as a candidate for the United States Senate. I talked to voters of every party and demographic, and there was one common theme — they were all worried that their kids and grandkids would not be able to find opportunities in New Jersey. They were concerned that the next generation is unable to raise a family in the Garden State they call home. Fortunately, the Jersey Shore is still made up of mostly small businesses. It is in the DNA of our culture, and the backbone of our communities. It's not too late to reenergize our great Garden State. We need to trust our employers – the vast majority of small business owners are good, hard-working community minded people. We need to unshackle them from burdensome regulations. We must make our state more affordable — from energy, to housing, to taxes. To do this, we need to leave behind one-party rule and engage in a serious, constructive dialogue about our future. 5 The Pridwin on Shelter Island, the latest addition to the Cape Resorts family. So, as you enjoy this very special weekend, think about your favorite traditions along shorelines across the New York region. Thank those owners and hospitality workers who are there for you, and eager to serve you. And do your part to help bring New Jersey back from the brink by voting for practical, common-sense candidates in the upcoming primaries. I may not have won my Senate seat, but elections have never mattered more. Curtis Bashaw is the owner of Cape Resorts.
New York Post
04-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Fetid LI home had dead cats in freezer, dead kittens in boxes — and even seasoned rescuers were gagging at the stench
Two dozen dead cats were stashed in the freezer, while the remains of newborn kittens were found inside old cat food boxes — as new details emerge about a putrid feline-infested Long Island home. The stench inside the Bohemia house where as many as 100 feral and stray cats — both dead and alive — were found Saturday was so severe when authorities arrived that one animal rescue worker threw up after going inside and ended up in the emergency room, officials told The Post. 'There's kittens and Chewy boxes throughout the house,' Tammy Gatto, a volunteer with Long Island Cat and Kitten Solutions, said Sunday — referring to the online pet food retailer. 'It was crazy. There had to be like a hundred Chewy boxes in the entire house. They were scattered in every room, and there were little bodies, dead bodies, inside. 5 Nearly 100 cats were found living in putrid conditions in a home on Long Island — with 24 found dead in a freezer. Aristide Economopoulos for The NY Post 5 Cats in the window of a Long Island home where as many as 100 strays had been living in horrid conditions. Aristide Economopoulos for The NY Post 'I had to take five breaks [Saturday], and I was only in there for two and a half hours,' she added. 'We were wearing protective suits like hazmat suits and we had respirators and it was still really tough.' Firefighters responded to the Westminster Drive home, once valued at $725,000 but now condemned, around 3 p.m. Saturday after neighbors reported a stomach-turning ammonia smell emanating from the property — and walked into the gruesome scene. 5 The SPCA of Suffolk County said some cats found in a Bohemia home were so sick that several had to be euthanized Suffolk County SPCA 'We were called in and we found 28 deceased cats, over 50 cats alive,' Roy Gross, chief of the Suffolk County SPCA, told The Post. 'Those cats are right now with volunteer veterinarians, and they have a long road ahead of recovery. They're all very sick — three of the cats had to be euthanized last night.' The frightened kittens, seen clawing at windows from inside the house on Saturday, were caught by animal rescue workers, who displayed their scratched-up hands as proof of the how wild the kitties are. Neighbors said cats have long flocked the property, where the homeowners put out food for dozens of strays who were eventually taken inside — with the issue growing worse after the homeowner's wife died several weeks ago, leaving her 75-year-old husband to care for the feline swarm. 5 Official said one responder was so sickened by the stench in the cat infested Bohemia home that they were hospitalized. John Roca 'He was feeding the cats in the backyard for years,' one neighborhood resident said. 'I mean, I would smell the urine, but I like cats. But we never smelled anything like this. I mean, I feel sick to my stomach right now. They kept the windows closed. Now with the windows open, Oh my God!' The home is owned by Steven Glantz, according to property records. A man identified as Glantz ouside the home on Sunday declined to comment. SPCA officials said the cost of caring for the surviving cats is at $10,000 and rising, prompting the agency to ask for contributions to help or for vets to volunteer their time to help. 5 Veteran animal rescue veteran John Debacker shows the scratches from cats rescued in a squalid Bohemia home. John Roca 'This wasn't the worst I've seen, but it was pretty bad inside,' John Debacker, head of Long Island Cat and Kittn Solutions, said outside the home. 'There were Chewy boxes in every room with holes in them. Mothers like a secure place to give birth and we found kittens, newborns, inside the Chewy boxes. 'Someone who was in there yesterday started vomiting and had to be taken to the hospital,' Debacker said. 'When the investigation is over, people will be able to adopt these cats.'
New York Post
04-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Dem Rep. Jamie Raskin packs out LI town hall with nearly 2K residents: ‘We are being governed by morons'
Nearly 2,000 residents packed a weekend town hall on Long Island with Dem Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin — a rare in-person political forum in a deep-red county where GOPers have been avoiding such events. The massive turnout was so high that an overflow center was needed for the main site, the Patchogue Theater — and highlighted the growing frustration of Suffolk County residents who say they've been left in the dark by their Republican reps. 'My friends, we are being governed by morons,' Raskin, a constitutional lawyer, told the crowd. 'But the more difficult the struggle, the more glorious the victory. 6 Dem Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin's weekend town hall on Long Island with almost 2,000 residents was in a deep-red county where GOPers have been avoiding such events. Aristide Economopoulos 'I know I'm not your first choice — it would have been better to have your own representatives here,' Raskin added, referring to local GOP Reps. Nick LaLota and Andrew Garbarino. Republican pols have been dodging local public town halls in favor of tightly controlled teleconferences or private events after several heated meetings in recent months. Raskin, who sits on key House committees, told the attendees that if Republican lawmakers won't host in-person events, he'll gladly travel to their districts and speak further with their constituents himself. The congressman spoke and took questions on a slew of issues affecting the region — from proposed cuts to Medicaid and Medicare to the SALT cap, tariffs, taxes and inflation. Addressing the crowd in the Republican stronghold, Raskin said that while he primarily identifies as a 'progressive liberal,' he also considers himself a 'conservative' in the sense that he wants to conserve the Constitution, the environment, Social Security, individual rights and religious freedom. He acknowledged that Democrats haven't done enough to earn the vote of the working class. 6 The event took place at the Patchogue Theater for The Performing Arts. Aristide Economopoulos for The NY Post 6 The turnout led to an overflow center being needed for the main site, highlighting the growing frustration of residents who say they've been left in the dark by their Republican reps. Aristide Economopoulos 6 'I know I'm not your first choice — it would have been better to have your own representatives here,' Raskin added, referring to local GOP Reps. Nick LaLota and Andrew Garbarino. Aristide Economopoulos for The NY Post Trump won Suffolk County with about 55% of the vote in 2024 — a 10-point lead over Kamala Harris, according to data from the Suffolk County Board of Elections. Some residents said they left the event feeling inspired and hopeful, while others simply felt angry that their own congressmen won't hold similar events. 'Where I live out east, Congressman LaLota doesn't have town halls,' said Jim Casey, a senior citizen who attended the rally. 'He held one phone town hall in March, and he only took eight questions.' 6 'My friends, we are being governed by morons,' Raskin said. 'But the more difficult the struggle, the more glorious the victory. Aristide Economopoulos for The NY Post Casey and others told The Post they believe lawmakers who back the current economic agenda may be dodging accountability as prices rise because of tariffs. Garbarino held a virtual town hall in early April that drew more than 10,000 people, according to his office, though it is not clear how many constituents had the chance to speak. 'I wish our representatives had the balls to face us in person and say the things they had to say to our faces like this guy did — and he's not even from here,' said a resident who asked not to be identified, referring to Raskin. 6 'I wish our representatives had the balls to face us in person and say the things they had to say to our faces like this guy did — and he's not even from here,' one resident said. Aristide Economopoulos for The NY Post Raskin's Patchogue appearance follows a nationwide tour he and other Dem progressives — including New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Texas Rep. Jasmine Crocket and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz — have launched in recent months, targeting Republican strongholds in a bid to win over working-class voters. Still, not everyone welcomed the visit. Protesters circled the venue in trucks draped with Trump flags, blasting the song, 'Sweet Victory.' 'The Patchogue Theater should have never allowed that communist to speak there,' said a resident who did not attend the event and asked not to be identified. Before the forum, LaLota released a statement calling Raskin a 'hyper-partisan' liberal who is 'completely out of touch with Suffolk County.' Raskin fired back by saying that if drawing nearly 2,000 people in LaLota's own district is considered 'out of touch,' then Republicans may be in for a rude awakening come November.
