The U.S. Department of Education has launched an investigation into the Connetquot school district for "actively taking steps to erase its Native American mascot and imagery," the federal agency announced yesterday. Darwin Yanes reports in NEWSDAY that the Connetquot School District, whose nickname is the Thunderbirds, has fought a state mandate banning such imagery in public schools. But in a letter to the community in June, Connetquot schools Superintendent Joseph T. Centamore said the district was "exploring options for an alternative mascot name that remains relatable to our community, such as 'Thunder,' while maintaining imagery that feels familiar to our history, including the lightning bolt and eagle-like bird."

The federal Education Department's Office of Civil Rights determined in May that the state's ban violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination in federally funded education programs on the basis of race, color, or national origin.

"The Department of Education has been clear with the state of New York: It is neither legal nor right to prohibit Native American mascots and logos while celebrating European and other cultural imagery in schools," U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a news release Tuesday. "New York’s patronizing attitude toward Native Americans must end. We will continue to support the Native American community and ensure their heritage is equally protected under the law."

New York State Education Department spokesman J.P. O'Hare said in a statement to Newsday: "All but one school district in New York — Massapequa — has either complied with or is actively working to comply with the state’s regulations regarding the use of Indigenous mascots ... Like the previous 'investigation' involving the state Education Department, we anticipate that the U.S. Department of Education will ignore the law — including the unsuccessful lawsuits filed by Long Island school districts — in favor of its predetermined outcome."

The New York State Board of Regents in 2023 banned the use of Native American mascots, team names and logos in public schools. Local Native American groups have said the school districts' mascots and imagery promote "a stereotypical image" of their community and damage Indigenous children's self-esteem.

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Federal immigration agents were seen outside a house on Scuttlhole Road in Bridgehampton yesterday, where they took one person into custody, local officials confirmed. As reported on 27east.com, several agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and possibly other law enforcement agencies were recorded on video by passersby gathered outside a house on Scuttlehole Road before sunrise on Tuesday. Southampton Town Police Chief James Kiernan said that his department was asked to send officers to the scene to keep traffic on the roadway flowing safely during the morning rush hour since the agents conducting the raid came in at least a half-dozen vehicles that had nowhere to stop but on the road shoulder. Chief Kiernan said the ICE agents had a warrant for the arrest of a person believed to be in the Bridgehampton house, but he did not know who the person was.

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A new bottle-guzzling sculpture was unveiled yesterday in downtown Riverhead, near the River and Roots Community Garden and playground adjacent to the intersection of West Main Street and Griffing Avenue in Riverhead. The four-foot by seven-foot receptacle is made of mesh wire and recycled materials.

This is Riverhead Town’s second “litter critter”; a similarly eye-catching fish-shaped receptacle has been helping curb litter at Iron Pier Beach in Northville since last year.

Alek Lewis reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the bee was designed and built by local sculptor Clayton Orehek and funded by the North Fork...