The NYS Department of Education has denied the Massapequa school district’s request for an extension to comply with a ban on Native American mascots, names and imagery, citing a lack of “good cause” effort, state officials said in a letter Friday.

“The District’s extension request reveals that nothing whatsoever has been done to eliminate the use of its 'Chiefs' name, logo or mascot,” state officials wrote in a letter to the district. “Indeed, at times, the Massapequa School District has suggested that it has no intention of complying with these regulations."

Darwin Yanes reports in NEWSDAY that the state cited as an example a recent fundraiser held at Massapequa High School that raised $10,000 for the district’s legal fight against the mascot ban. In an emailed statement Friday, the Massapequa school board said the "ban on Native American names and imagery is blatantly discriminatory and a clear violation of civil rights. We remain confident that we will prevail in federal court and see this unconstitutional regulation struck down.”

The state Board of Regents in 2023 banned the use of Native American mascots, team names and logos in public schools and had set a deadline of June 30, 2025, to comply. The mandate affected 13 districts on Long Island, most of which have taken steps to comply with the regulation.

The Massapequa, Wyandanch, Wantagh and Connetquot districts had challenged the mandate in federal court, seeking to either keep their names or nullify the state regulation. A federal judge ruled against the districts in March.

The Wantagh, Wyandanch and Connetquot districts filed appeals. The Massapequa district, whose mascot is a Native American in a headdress, has filed an amended complaint.

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A Virginia woman was arraigned Saturday in connection with the hit-and-run of a prominent real estate agent who was found lying in the road early Thursday morning in Hampton Bays.

Arielle Dollinger and John Asbury report in NEWSDAY that Amanda Kempton, 32, was arrested by Southampton Town police Friday in the death of Sara Burack, 40, of Southampton. Police said Kempton was charged with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident in which a fatality occurred, which is a felony.

Kempton's attorney, William Keahon, of Hauppauge, said outside Southampton Town Justice Court on Saturday that it was "very foggy" early Thursday morning, when Burack was struck on Montauk Highway.

Keahon said surveillance video showed Kempton driving on the highway when Burack appeared in the roadway holding a suitcase at 2:45 a.m. He said his client was in the righthand lane and not speeding or weaving.

He said Kempton told detectives that "she thought she hit a construction cone."

Keahon said he did not know the source of the video, which was shown to him by the assistant district attorney.

Suffolk County District Attorney's Office spokesperson Tania Lopez declined to comment Saturday.

Keahon said there were no illegal substances found in his client's car and that the accident did not involve alcohol.

Kempton was arraigned Saturday morning and released on $200,000 bond, Keahon confirmed.

According to Keahon, Kempton attended George Mason University in Virginia and has a background in marine biology. “She’s going to fight very hard with me on this case,” Keahon said. “I believe she’s innocent.”

Police have said that a 911 caller reported an injured woman seen on Montauk Highway around 2:45 a.m. Thursday near Villa Paul Restaurant, west of Springville Road.

Burack was taken by ambulance to Stony Brook University Hospital, where she died from her injuries Thursday afternoon, police said.

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Southampton Village Mayor Bill Manger defeated challenger Ed Simioni to win reelection on Friday night. Manger received a total of 622 votes, while Simioni, who ran against Manger halfway...