New York State Senator Michael Balboni (R-East Williston) has been appointed co-chairman of a national task force investigating homeland security issues affecting US states. FULL STORY

Superintendent of Schools for the Mineola School District Dr. Lorenzo Licopoli sent out a letter dated July 25 to parents and guardians of students in the school district that a registered level 2 sex offender is living in Mineola. FULL STORY

The Original Long Island Riptide, Long Island's premiere girls fast pitch organization, will conduct open tryouts for the 2006 season at Island Trees High School on Saturday, Sept. 10 and Sunday, Sept. 11 from 9 to 11 a.m. for girls 9- to 12 years old; from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for girls 12 to 14 years old; and from 2 to 4 p.m. for girls 15 to 18 years old. The fee is $15 and girls from throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties are welcome to participate. For more information, call 343-2300 or 578-3261. Additional information is also available at http://eteamz.active.com/LIRiptide. FULL STORY