Appointed to the Senate Majority Task Force on Local Emergency Preparedness a year ago, in January 2002 the senator was appointed by the National Conference of State Legislatures to the Task Force on Protecting Democracy, a position that has kept him in regular contact with Homeland Security Director Thomas Ridge. Working closely with his constituents and local officials, Balboni keeps his district abreast of events, all the while working towards ''regionalization'' goals. FULL STORY

A 16-year-old Westbury High School student working at a Hicksville division of Chase Bank through a school internship, was arrested last week for allegedly changing customers' credit card account information in the computer and purchasing more than $30,000 of sports paraphernalia over the Internet. FULL STORY

Assemblyman Maureen O'Connell (center) recently presented the Carle Place Little League with a state grant in the amount of $6,000 for the purchase of equipment and uniforms. The check was presented to Carle Place Little League President Dan Minchella (second from left), who was joined by league officers Frank Voce, John Williams, Dennis O'Leary and the girls softball league officer Barbara Senia. FULL STORY