Northeast
Connecticut considers banning legacy admission preferences at public and private universities
Connecticut lawmakers are considering banning the use of legacy and donor preferences in admissions to all colleges and universities across the state, including private ones like Yale University.
A bill was advanced to the Senate floor on Thursday, days after Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed legislation barring consideration of a student’s familial ties to a public college or university when being considered for admission. The first such law was signed in Colorado in 2021.
There has been pushback to Connecticut’s bill from some private institutions in the state, including Yale, which have argued the state should not be dictating how they make admissions decisions, just like it shouldn’t dictate decisions on curriculum and faculty hiring. But proponents note how these schools, which receive substantial tax benefits for their non-profit status, have the power to provide all kinds of students with a ticket to an elite world.
CONNECTICUT UNIVERSITY DORM FIRE FORCES DOZENS OF STUDENTS INTO TEMPORARY HOUSING
“If you look at leaders of Fortune 500 companies, you look at members of Congress, United States Supreme Court justices, this really matters to how our society operates,” said Democratic state Sen. Derek Slap, co-chair of the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee.
An Associated Press survey of the nation’s most selective colleges in 2022 found that legacy students in the freshman class ranged from 4% to 23%, though many schools declined to provide basic data in response to AP’s request. The AP found that at four schools — Notre Dame, USC, Cornell and Dartmouth — legacy students outnumbered Black students.
Slap noted how the U.S. Supreme Court last summer struck down affirmative action in college admissions, proving they don’t have institutional freedom to make preferences based on race.
A woman walks by a Yale sign reflected in the rainwater on the Yale University campus on Aug. 22, 2021, in New Haven, Connecticut. Connecticut lawmakers are considering banning the use of legacy and donor preferences in admissions to all colleges and universities across the state. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)
“I think it’s egregious, though, that this preference, the one for wealthy folks, remains,” he said.
Republican Sen. Kevin Kelly said he has heard from private schools in his district, especially faith-based colleges, that are concerned about how they would be impacted by the legislation. He said the ability of institutions of higher education to “exercise their freedom to teach how they are and what they are” has helped to create “American exceptionalism.”
“I think when the state government starts to interfere in that process, we’re not only interfering in private relations of institutions, but we’re also interfering in that American excellence,” he said.
Jeremiah Quinlan, dean of Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid at Yale University, recently told state lawmakers that the school agrees with the “central aim” of the bill, which is to enroll more low-income and first-generation students. But in addition to the state overstepping its bounds, he said the bill doesn’t address the key challenge of providing less advantaged students with the resources needed to prepare for college and graduate on time.
He also said Yale’s undergraduate admissions office strives to “assemble a group of the most promising students from the most diverse collection of backgrounds.” He said undergraduates from families that can’t afford the full cost of attending Yale receive a need-based scholarship that covers tuition, housing, meals, travel, books and personal expenses.
Last year, Wesleyan University, another private school in Connecticut, announced it was ending its policy of giving preferential treatment in admissions to those whose families have historical ties to the school.
The bill, which cleared the committee on a vote of 18-4, moves to the Senate for further action.
Read the full article from Here
It’s finally that time of year. warmer weather is here, and outdoor dining is right around the corner.
In Maine, that’s the real sign that spring has arrived. Restaurants, cafés, and bars start setting up their patios and sidewalk tables, and suddenly everything feels right in the world. After a long, tough winter, it’s a simple but welcome reminder that we made it through.
It also means Maine is gearing up for another year of hordes of tourists rolling into the state to enjoy all it has to offer. And local fare is certainly high on that list—because it’s, well, delicious.
How Great is Maine as a Foodie State?
We spend massive amounts of time discussing and dissecting every little aspect of the Maine restaurant scene. Whether it’s Portland, the surrounding area, Bar Harbor, Central Maine, the Midcoast, the Western Foothills, or the Southern Coast, this state is an absolute gold mine.
Oxbow Beer Garden via Facbeook
With warmer weather and longer days rolling in, I thought it’d be fun to take a look at some of the state’s best restaurants for outdoor seating—the spots that not only serve great food but also offer beautiful views of Maine’s charming towns and stunning landscapes.
Outdoor dining has absolutely blown up in Maine since 2020, with countless restaurants making use of any available outside space. It’s been a huge hit with both locals and tourists.
We put out the call for the joints Mainers say have the best outdoor dining—the restaurants that help shape a community and keep our stomachs full.
Jones Landing via Facebook
Now, thanks to our stations’ social media, we can finally put some names to those establishments.
What are the Best Maine Restaurants for Outdoor Dining?
Below is a list of many of the restaurants that were suggested to us. They vary in size, concept, and location. Some have opened recently, while others have been community staples for years. But they’re all true Maine originals.
READ MORE: Maine’s Chase’s Daily Named One of America’s Best Vegetarian Restaurants
You can check out the full list below. Hope you’re hungry—I know I am.
35 Maine Restaurants with the Best Outdoor Dining
Thanks to our great listeners we were able to compile a list of many of Maine’s restaurants with the best outdoor dining.
These great spots can be found across the state and waiting for you to give them a try.
How many have you been to? How many would you like to try for the first time?
Gallery Credit: Chris Sedenka
2026’s Biggest Rock Tours
Rock reunions are creating some of the biggest headlines for 2026 – but there are lots of other huge shows on the way.
Gallery Credit: Nick DeRiso
There is a heavy police presence in a section of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, on Wednesday afternoon due to what authorities are describing only as an “ongoing incident.”
“There is currently a heavy police presence on Salem Road due to an ongoing incident,” Tewksbury police said in a social media post just before 1 p.m. “Motorists are advised to avoid the area and seek alternate routes if possible. Please allow emergency personnel the space they need to respond safely and efficiently”
No further details were released. Police said they will provide updates as more information becomes available.
New Hampshire
Hiker who set out in warm spring weather found dead after snowstorm in New Hampshire mountains
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A Massachusetts hiker who set out in warm spring weather was found dead deep in New Hampshire’s White Mountains after a snowstorm dumped several inches of snow in the area, authorities said.
Kent Wood, 61, of West Roxbury, was discovered Tuesday evening on a remote section of the Kinsman Pond Trail in Franconia Notch, about 5.5 miles from his vehicle, according to New Hampshire Fish and Game.
Wood had driven to Franconia Notch on April 17 for a weekend camping and hiking trip, and set out on a hike the next morning in warm, clear weather, officials said. Family and friends last heard from him Saturday afternoon.
When he failed to return or make contact for two days, officials said relatives reported him missing Tuesday morning, prompting a large-scale search.
HIKER IDENTIFIED, POPULAR TRAIL CLOSED AFTER DEADLY FALL A UTAH’S ZION NATIONAL PARK
An aerial view of Franconia Notch State Park in New Hampshire, where a hiker was found dead on Tuesday. (Joseph Sohm/Universal Images Group, File)
Rescuers quickly learned Wood had packed for mild conditions, not the three to five inches of snow that fell in the area between Sunday and Monday.
Fog hovers over a narrow road through Franconia Notch in the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire on Dec. 27, 2021. (Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis)
Search teams from Fish and Game, PEMI Valley Search and Rescue, and the Army National Guard launched a coordinated effort, focusing on the Lonesome Lake and Kinsman Pond areas.
FAMILY’S SPRING BREAK HIKE TURNS INTO LIFE-OR-DEATH RESCUE AFTER PARENT FALLS 70 FEET OFF UTAH CLIFF
Conservation officers located Wood’s body around 7:41 p.m. Tuesday. Crews carried him out overnight, reaching the trailhead shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday.
Franconia Notch and the Appalachian Trail are seen in New Hampshire on Sept. 21. (Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Since Friday, six hikers from Massachusetts have been rescued in the White Mountains, Fish and Game said.
Officials are reminding hikers that winter conditions still grip the mountains, with snow, freezing temperatures and rapidly changing weather.
-
Hawaii2 minutes agoHawaiian Just Erased Free Meals From Hawaii Flights
-
Idaho8 minutes agoAvista planned power outage rescheduled in Genesee
-
Illinois14 minutes agoFirst annual Illinois Film Festival set for Wilmette in August
-
Indiana20 minutes agoIllinois takes steps to keep Bears out of Indiana. What happened?
-
Iowa26 minutes agoWrongful death suit filed for prospective Univ. of Iowa student killed in car crash
-
Kentucky38 minutes agoSadiqa Reynolds removed from U of L board, as Kentucky Senate doesn’t confirm her
-
Louisiana44 minutes agoMom whose 3 children were killed in Louisiana mass shooting still has bullet lodged in face — and sometimes thinks kids are alive
-
Maine50 minutes agoThese are the Best Outdoor Dining Joints in Maine, According to Locals