Issue Hot Topic in Town of Hempstead -- Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon announced that a grand jury would investigate the issue of illegal housing over the next six months to determine the cause of illegal housing. Dillon said the investigative grand jury will hear and examine evidence concerning offenses, misconduct, nonfeasance and neglect in public office, whether criminal or otherwise and will possibly issue a report. FULL STORY

To Provide Funding Toward Community Center, School District -- Neptune Regional Transmission System (RTS), LLC, developer of the Neptune undersea electric transmission project between New Jersey and Long Island, announced that it has closed financing totaling more than $600 million in debt and equity for construction of a 660-megawatt, 65-mile electric underwater and underground direct-current line from New Jersey to New Cassel. With one megawatt enough to support 1,000 average-size homes, the project will enable the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) to provide power from New Jersey and the mid Atlantic and southeastern states to 660,000 homes annually through the Neptune system by summer 2007. The project was approved by LIPA in September 2004 and construction is slated to begin next month. FULL STORY

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Acting Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan announced that DEC and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) will offer a free freshwater fishing clinic on Saturday, Aug. 13 at McDonald's Pond in Hempstead Lake State Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. FULL STORY

Carle Place resident Stephen Schultz, 17, has been selected for the 2005 Empire State Games Men's Hockey Team to be held in the Hudson Valley region July 28 through July 31. Last year, Schultz was an alternate. Schultz recently completed his junior year at St. Mary's High School in Manhasset where he plays for the varsity A hockey team. This past season, Schultz scored two goals in 5-3 championship game vs. Orchard Park (Buffalo), giving St. Mary's the NY State Championship title. FULL STORY