Editor’s note — This is the second in a series of stories that will explore the results of a Newsday/Siena Research Institute survey on how Long Islanders view their life satisfaction. Today’s story focuses on issues of livability. A future story will explore opportunity on Long Island.

Long Islanders overwhelmingly believe they have a high quality of life on Long Island, but they have doubts about how long they’ll be able to afford to live here, according to the results of a Newsday/Siena Research Institute Quality of Life survey.

Long Island performed well on many measures of livability, such as public safety, high-performing schools, access to nutritious food and quality health care.

Most Long Islanders reported positive views on the quality of public education, with 69% responding positively to 27% who offered a negative response. Similarly, survey participants had a favorable view of the availability of health care with a 68% to 30% margin of positive-to-negative responses. 

“Long Island is a fantastic place for raising a family,” said Daniel Gonzalez, 30, who lives in East Meadow. “There’s access to so many things for a family, and the education system is incredible.”

But some Long Islanders questioned whether they will be able to stay here long term.

The majority of respondents rated their ability to age in place on Long Island as either fair or poor, outnumbering those who rated their ability “excellent” or “good” by a margin of 54% to 42%.

“You see a majority questioning whether that’s something they’re going to succeed at,” said Siena pollster Don Levy. “It raises questions of affordability, social services, perhaps the weather, and housing. Is Long Island adequately planning and developing the appropriate housing that would facilitate folks who have lived [here] their whole lives to successfully age in place?”

Aging in place is typically defined as the ability for seniors to stay in their homes as they get older. But some younger respondents interviewed by Newsday said they interpreted the question as a referendum on whether they could advance through stages of life here from finding a job to starting a family.

The survey polled 802 respondents between May 27 and June 16 on questions about their quality of life on Long Island. It had a margin of error of 4.3 points.

Catherine Krueger, 75, of Bay Shore, said she rated the quality of life on Long Island as “only fair” primarily because of the cost of living. Krueger, a special education teacher, said it’s hard to keep up with expenses for costs, such as her Medicare Advantage premiums and car repairs, as a single person on Long Island.

Krueger, who rents a basement apartment, said she’s daunted by paying for housing as she gets older and as she might need more help at home.

“I’m very thankful that I am still able to work and hope to continue doing that for some time,” she said, “but it can be difficult, especially if you’re alone.”

Seniors weren’t the most pessimistic about aging in place. Respondents ages 35 to 54 were more likely to respond negatively about aging in place, at a margin of 59% to 39%. That compares with 49% of those ages 55 or older who doubted they could age in place. 

Renters were the group most likely to doubt their ability to age in place, at 69%.

Gwen O’Shea, CEO at Community Development Long Island, said she wasn’t surprised that middle-age Long Islanders had such a pessimistic view given the high cost of living, which raises the stakes for anyone suffering a setback, such as a medical emergency or a layoff. 

“You’re spending so much of your income on your monthly costs. A big piece of that may be a mortgage or may be rent,” she said. “There’s no room for a misstep or a loss in income for the majority of Long Islanders.”

CDLI, a Melville-based affordable housing nonprofit, offers several programs that can help people stay in their homes, including foreclosure prevention counseling and grants to make repairs or accessibility modifications.

O’Shea said she was struck that it was not just low-income Long Islanders, but those whose households earn $100,000 or more who felt pessimistic about aging in place.

“The affordability crisis is hitting everyone right now,” she said.

Martha McKenzie, a 37-year-old lawyer, said she and her husband have appreciated the friendliness of their neighbors and the quality of health care since moving to Kings Park from Brooklyn in 2022. But as they look to buy a house, they’re considering options in Texas where she believes they will get more for their money and pay lower property taxes.

“Our experience here has been wonderful. We love the people and the scenery,” said McKenzie, “but why does a house that’s basically a gut renovation cost $650,000?”

Long Islanders were also critical of the responsiveness of local government, with 63% responding that it does an “only fair” or “poor” job of responding to the needs of residents. 

Althea Denegall said she would prefer to live in a more walkable community. Denegall, a Valley Stream resident in her late 50s, said she plans to look for job opportunities in other states when she finishes her studies in health care management at St. John’s University.

Denegall said she doesn’t like how much she needs to drive on Long Island and that she often needs to go to big-box stores to find the best prices on groceries.

“I have to drive everywhere. I can’t really walk to any store,” Denegall said. “So I don’t think I’m going to stay here. Once I finish my degree program, I’ll be looking for another state to live in or another city.” 

Strong marks for safety

Long Islanders overwhelming feel safe in their communities. Of respondents, 95% said it is “very likely” or “somewhat likely” that a typical person in their community would feel safe and secure at home.

“That is almost an unheard of score in polling,” Levy said.

That held true across most demographics and political affiliations. Hispanic residents said people were likely to feel safe at a slightly lower rate, 90%. People who rented their homes had the lowest positive response rate, at 89%.

The majority of Long Islanders also responded that police do an “excellent” or “good” job keeping residents safe, by a margin of 73% to 27%.

Those responses differed across racial lines. Of white respondents, 82% said police were doing an “excellent” or “good” job compared with 60% of Hispanic respondents and 59% of Black respondents.

Gonzalez said he was recently impressed when police showed up within minutes of his call to report a car crash in his neighborhood. He said he feels safe here and believes he got a high-quality education at East Meadow High School, where he played the trumpet in its award-winning marching band.

Gonzalez, a mechanical engineer, said he would be willing to continue to endure Long Island’s traffic if he can eventually afford to buy his own home. He is living with his parents while he saves to buy a house or condo rather than spending money on rent.

“The only unfortunate thing in terms of living on Long Island is the cost of living has continued to go up over the years,” Gonzalez said. “That would be the only driving factor to have me move away from Long Island, should I move away.”

Jonathan LaMantia covers residential real estate and other business news on Long Island. He previously covered the business of health care for Crain’s New York Business.

“Success is where preparation meets opportunity.”

Preparation helped separate Tom Brady from the rest of the pack during his 23-year NFL career, leading him to win a record seven Super Bowl titles. Now, as a broadcaster, Brady continues to prepare at a high level, which has also made him a great interview, too. 

That was apparent in Brady’s sit-down with Joel Klatt on the most recent episode of “The Joel Klatt Show: Big Noon Conversations.” In his nearly 30-minute interview with Klatt, Brady was highly opinionated about the state of college football, while also delivering honesty and self-reflection in his first season as FOX Sports’ lead NFL game analyst. 

Here’s a look at the highlights from Brady’s conversation with Klatt, which you can watch in its entirety here. 

Brady is unsure if he would’ve finished his college football career at Michigan if he were in Ann Arbor today

With the college football landscape rapidly changing, stories like the one Brady experienced at Michigan have become rare. Brady went from a seventh-string, redshirt freshman to having to split reps with Drew Henson by the time he became the team’s starting quarterback.

When Klatt asked Brady if he would’ve stuck around at Michigan, Brady didn’t give a definitive answer. However, Brady reflected on his time at Michigan as a good period of self-growth, teaching him to overcome adversity.

“It’s such a hypothetical situation to think about,” Brady said. “The only thing I can answer is to say that, based on what my experience was, I wouldn’t want it any other way than the way that I did it. My college experience was very challenging. It was very competitive. The lessons I learned in college that I referred to earlier, and certainly about competition, those traits transformed my life as a professional. 

“I was ready to compete against anybody because the competition in college toughened me up so much that I had a self-belief and self-confidence in myself that whatever it was I faced, I could overcome that.”

Would Tom Brady have finished his career at Michigan if he played in today’s landscape?

As the transfer portal has become more prevalent and a popular option for players when they don’t win starting jobs, Brady implored parents of student athletes to allow them to face an uphill battle.

“You can’t expect a 17 or 18-year-old to make these great decisions. They’re young. They don’t have life experience,” Brady said. “It should be the parents. Be a good parent. Teach your kid the right values. What’s going to sustain them in their careers over a period of time? 

“Whether it’s football or whether it’s business or whether it’s teaching or law school or medical school or a trade, whatever you want to do, you’re going to have to go through hard things in your life. You’re going to have to make tough choices.”

He’s also unhappy with the state of college football and QB development

As Brady shared that he enjoyed his college experience despite his hard path to becoming Michigan’s starting quarterback, he expressed an overall distaste with today’s college game. He called out those who value money above all else in the name, image and likeness (NIL) era, placing some of the blame on those who enable student athletes to think that way.

[Read more: ‘Priorities Are a Bit Messed Up’: Tom Brady Speaks on State of College Football]

“When I was in college, I got a $400 scholarship check. It seemed like I was rich,” Brady said. “We got pizza cards to go to dinner, and we had a training table, and it was an amazing experience. We didn’t think about the money. These kids are such young ages. Their frontal lobes aren’t even fully developed yet, and now we’re tempting them with real-life, adult situations and their parents, and now they have agents. 

“I’m sure it’s a very confusing time, and I’m sure a lot of parents are confused. I’m sure a lot of kids are confused, but because we’re just talking about money, money, money, money, like, that’s the only value in college? Is that what we’re saying That, to me, [shows] the priorities are a bit messed up.”

Tom Brady analyzes the challenges of today’s college football landscape

Brady’s also a bit unhappy with the on-field product. He called out coaches for failing to develop quarterbacks from a mental aspect, but also said the NFL hasn’t been great in that regard, either.

“Physically, they’re developed. But the mental learning of how to study the game, learning the tactics, learning how to watch film, learning how to deal with the emotions of a competitive program going up against a school rival, failing in front of 70,000 people — I think we’re lacking the mental, emotional development,” Brady said. “Physically, they may look developed. Mentally, emotionally, they’re very underdeveloped. Sometimes, their emotional growth is stunted by the fact that everybody is telling them how great they are all the time, or that it’s not their fault all the time.”

Brady thinks Bill Belichick will have to adjust to one particular area of the college game

While Brady criticized college football in his appearance with Klatt, someone who he was close to in his professional career has made the jump to the college game. Belichick, who won six Super Bowls as Brady’s head coach with the Patriots, has never held an official coaching position in college football, but Brady thinks his players at North Carolina will grow to appreciate him. Still, he could see Belichick struggling to adjust to one element of the college game.

[Read more: Tom Brady Breaks Down Bill Belichick’s Bold Leap to UNC — And What Comes Next]

“What they’re going to get is, obviously, the most prepared, the most hard-working coach that I had ever been around,” Brady said. “If you go to that school, you will be prepared to play at the next level. He’s going to teach you the right fundamentals, the right techniques. He’s going to have a high expectation for you, and you’re going to develop a lot. That’s what I know. 

“I think the challenge for him is he’s dealing with a lot of probably underdeveloped players, because he’s dealt with guys that are four, five, six years further along than what he’s normally had to deal with. So I think there’s probably a learning curve for him, and this is just me hypothesizing. I don’t have much knowledge of it, but I’m sure it’s different coaching a 17 or 18-year-old than even a 22 or 23-year-old.”

Brady added that while Belichick is a “deep thinker” of the sport, he’ll have to find an efficient way to convey his thoughts due to the time constraints. 

“How much can these young kids retain? That may be an interesting challenge as well, because in some ways, they’re not professional,” Brady said “They don’t have as much time as we had as professional athletes to go in there and study film and practice and meet and all that. They don’t have that amount of time at the college level.” 

Brady hints that Patrick Mahomes is the current NFL QB most like him

As Klatt moved the interview to focus on today’s NFL landscape, he wondered which quarterback reminded Brady of himself. Brady didn’t provide a direct answer, but he singled out Mahomes for the work he’s willing to put in. 

“From afar, I can only tell so much, because if I was in there every day, I could see their habits,” Brady said. “Everyone wants to win, but what are the habits and the daily habits and the actionable things you need to do every day to put your team in a position to win?

“Patrick Mahomes is the one that does that the most often. Obviously, his physical talent, how he understands what he needs to do offensively and he brings a consistent winning attitude to work every single day. In the biggest moments, you can depend on him the most. That’s clear.”

Super Bowl LIX was the game Brady was most prepared to call in his rookie season as an announcer

Much of the second half of Brady’s discussion with Klatt focused on his young broadcasting career. Brady’s first season ended with him calling the Philadelphia Eagles‘ win over the Kansas City Chiefs, which drew an audience of nearly 128 million on FOX. Despite the record viewership, Brady felt at ease going into that call thanks to his rich success from his playing career.

“I think, ironically, for me, I was very fortunate that I played in 10 [Super Bowls]. So there’s nothing about the feelings and emotions of preparing for a Super Bowl game that I hadn’t been through,” Brady said. “So, actually, I felt the most prepared I’d been all season. It was the only time that I had two weeks to prepare for a game, so I actually felt like I was ready to roll, and I felt great.”

Tom Brady explains why he was the most prepared to call the Super Bowl

Still, being the competitor that he is, Brady always feels like he’s got room to improve.

“When I watched the game back again, it wasn’t perfect,” Brady said. “I wish I could have gone deeper in some areas or laid out a few times, but I’m like, ‘OK, I really was clear with the information. A lot of things were done well, and the game kind of got out of hand at the end of the first half.’”

Brady admits that very few of his passes from his playing career were perfect

While Brady felt that he saved his best for last in his debut season as a broadcaster, he shared that he went through some growing pains along the way. He said he’s still figuring out what the audience wants from an announcer, adding that it’s the “tricky part” of broadcasting. 

[More: Preparation, Motivation and Growth: How Tom Brady Approached Year 1 in the Booth]

However, Brady accepted the idea that everything he said might not be viewed as great when he reflected on his playing career. 

“My last three seasons in Tampa, I was throwing 700 passes a season, and I would throw 20 of those passes exactly the way I wanted – with the right arc, the right pace, the right position on the receiver. Twenty of 700, and I worked all year round to get my throwing mechanics the way I wanted. I worked with my receivers. So then you go into broadcasting, and it’s like, why would you think you’re gonna hit 350 of the 700?”

[Read more from “Big Noon Conversations”: Marcus Freeman, Tony Petitti, Best of 2024 season]

Now, Brady’s seeking to find the right moments to be perfect as a broadcaster, something he perfected during his playing career. 

“In the end, you’re probably only gonna hit a limited amount. And I think that’s what you’re searching for, those parts of the season, or those parts of the game where you’re like, ‘I really got that,'” Brady said. “You don’t want to have, you know, these terrible moments where you completely miss it. And I think maybe I was really conscious of that early, and then I got to be a little more freed up as the season went on.”

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LARAMIE – Cort Roberson, one of the revered “Blue-collar Boys” from the 2022 NCAA Tournament team, set the standard for Wyoming walk-on players.
 
“To do a thankless job for four years, well now I have a chance to thank him,” UW head coach Sundance Wicks said after surprising Roberson last season with a scholarship for his final semester. “That was a special moment to me because I know how much this place means to him, I know how much sacrifice he has put into this. And he’s seen the best and the worst of it here, but that’s what makes him a real guy because we never get out of this thing unscarred.
 
“Cort Roberson will forever be a foxhole guy for me.”
 
Talan Taylor, a freshman walk-on Wicks added to complete the Cowboys’ 2025-26 roster, has had conversations with Roberson and aspires to earn respect from his coaches and teammates while doing the dirty work to get the program back into the spotlight.
 
The 6-foot-4 guard grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho, dreaming of playing in the Arena-Auditorium because his father and other family members are proud UW graduates.
 
“Getting the opportunity to be a walk-on here just knowing Sundance, I felt like I couldn’t pass that up because I love the University of Wyoming and the opportunity to wear the brown and gold has always been a special thing in my life,” Taylor said. “My dad grew up in Star Valley and I have family throughout the whole state. He raised me to love Wyoming and going to sporting events, so I’ve always just loved the Pokes.”
 
Former UW head coach Jeff Linder, who recruited Roberson, contacted Taylor before leaving for Texas Tech. During a visit to campus last season, Wicks told him to think about walking on with the Cowboys instead of pursing opportunities to play in junior college.
 
“I wanted a walk-on who has a deep-seeded love for the Cowboys more than anything else,” Wicks said. “Somebody who has got a past here. His dad and his uncle both got two degrees from the University of Wyoming. Talan has pictures of himself with Larry Nance Jr. He loves the Cowboys, and I wanted that to be in our locker room, just a love for Wyoming.”
 
Admittedly, Taylor was not feeling the love during the grueling eight weeks of summer workouts Wicks and his staff put the team through. He was injured during the early portion of the sessions and was still catching his breath long after the final sets of sprints at 7,220 feet.
 
Adjusting to the Mountain West level of play is an ongoing process for Taylor and other newcomers coming up from high school, junior college and Division II ranks.
 
“I’m doing everything with the team, and I feel just as much a part of it as everybody else. Sundance has made that clear and talked about how I have the same opportunity as everybody else. I’m just trying to prove myself like everybody else,” Taylor said. “I definitely have to improve level wise. (Last week) we did a running competition, and I need to be in better shape if I want the opportunity to show everything I’ve got. It’s a step up and these eight weeks have shown that, but I felt I’ve improved.”
 
Taylor averaged 14.0 points and 4.3 rebounds while leading Hillcrest High School to the Idaho state tournament title game. He recorded over 100 made 3-pointers in his final two high school seasons and shot 41 percent from behind the arc as a junior with 60 makes.
 
“You can always have an idea in your mind what it’s like, but until you get in the trenches it’s like Mike Tyson, everybody’s got a plan until I punch you in the face,” Wicks said of Taylor’s early transition from high school to UW. “I think this summer kind of punched Talan in the face a little bit and that’s a good thing because you learn how to handle hard. …
 
“One thing I know, if you have a deep seeded love for something it’s going to be really hard for you to hang those sneakers up. He’s got a real chance to be a Cort Roberson type in the future.”
 
(Editor’s note: This is the 10th in a 12-part series introducing fans to UW’s new men’s basketball players. Next up: Simm-Marten Saadi).
 
If you are interested in learning more about NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) or would like to support our student-athletes, please visit 1wyo.org. 1WYO was created out of Wyoming’s culture of neighbor helping neighbor. The mission is to promote and strengthen local charitable organizations and develop Wyoming student athletes. 
 
Follow Ryan for more stories on Wyoming athletics on X at @By_RyanThorburn on Facebook at Wyoming Athletics and Instagram at wyoathletics. Also follow him at Pokes Insider at Gowyo.com/pokesinsider.

Aug. 12, 2025 – Northwest Mississippi Community College (NWCC) President Dr. Michael Heindl says the college is growing, expanding its programs, and deepening its role as an economic driver for the region. Speaking Tuesday to the Hernando Main Street Chamber of Commerce’s Quarterly Luncheon, Heindl detailed new facilities, rising enrollment, and the school’s continued success in academics, athletics, and workforce training.

Serving 11 counties and 7,800 credit students last year, NWCC is the third-largest community college in Mississippi. The college is aiming to enroll at least 8,000 students this year — continuing a streak of 11 consecutive semesters of enrollment growth.

Scholarships and University Partnerships

NWCC offers scholarships starting at an ACT score of 20, with full tuition awarded for scores of 24 to 27 and full tuition plus room and board for 28 and above. The school maintains strong transfer partnerships with universities including Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Delta State, Jackson State, and the University of Southern Mississippi.

New Ranger Center in DeSoto County

One of the biggest developments is the new Ranger Center on Church Road in Southaven, home to the Registered Nursing program, Practical Nursing program, and a new Commercial Electrical program. The center also provides flexible workforce training space, a regional testing center, and a community meeting facility.

Academic and Career Programs

Popular academic programs include general college studies, business, and education, while career and technical tracks such as industrial electrical, precision manufacturing, and health sciences are seeing strong demand. NWCC awarded 2,226 degrees last year, with 84% of graduates staying in Mississippi to work or continue their education.

Economic Impact

A statewide study found Mississippi’s community colleges generate $2 billion in total economic impact. For every dollar invested by taxpayers, NWCC returns three dollars in income to the state economy.

Athletics and Student Achievement

NWCC competes in 14 intercollegiate sports and has seen national success in cheer, dance, women’s soccer, and rodeo. The women’s soccer team won its first-ever national championship last year, and the football team posted the highest GPA in the nation among community college football programs.

Heindl said NWCC’s mission remains focused on transforming students’ lives, enriching communities, and preparing a skilled workforce.

“It’s an exciting time to be a Northwest Ranger,” he told attendees. “We’re growing, innovating, and making a difference right here in our community.”

Poll: How Would You Grade the Job GM Pat Verbeek has Done so Far?Pat Verbeek was hired as the <a href=”https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks”>Anaheim Ducks</a> general manager on Feb. 3, 2022. He’s now helmed four trade deadlines, four drafts, four free agency periods, and has hired two head coaches.