🌱 Gang Beating Pleas + Mask Mandate Stay + New Voting Districts

Happy Wednesday, Five Towns! Let's get you all caught up on what's happening locally to start today off on an informed note.

First, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy and milder. High: 41 Low: 37.

Here are the top three stories in Five Towns today:

1. Three of seven defendants from Long Beach facing gang assault charges for a 2019 after-school fight that led to the stabbing of Oceanside High School senior Khaseen Morris pleaded guilty Monday: Javonte Neals, Sean Merritt and Marquis Stephens Jr., all 20. (Subscription: Newsday)
2. The New York State Appellate Court stayed Gov. Kathy Hochul's mask mandate for indoor places to March 2, as the appeal continues. The mandate applies to all indoor places, business and schools. (LI Herald)
3. Democrats proposed new election districts on Monday that would create majority minority districts for the Senate and Assembly on Long Island. In Nassau County's 6th District, represented by Sen. Kevin Thomas (D-Levittown), whites would no longer be more than 50 percent of the district’s population. (Subscription: Newsday)

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Today in Five Towns:

• COVID-19 testing, Woodmere Education Center, 8 to 11 a.m.

From my notebook:

• Nassau County Police Department shares mug shots of subjects are wanted for felony and misdemeanor crimes in Nassau County. (Facebook)
• Hewlett-Woodmere Public Schools has in-person pre-K registration today at 9:45 a.m. (Facebook)
• Suburbs101 looks at living in Woodmere, the hamlet's statistics and demographics and median home value of $700,000. (Suburbs101.com)

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• Long Beach Polar Bear Splash Benefiting Make-A-Wish (February 6)
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You're all caught up for today. I'll see you around!

— Jackie