A Few Clouds 64°
Politics
'Must Be Changed': Drugged Driving Loophole Target Of NY Bill Amid Rising Fatalities 'Must Be Changed': Drugged Driving Loophole Target Of NY Bill Amid Rising Fatalities
'Must Be Changed': Drugged Driving Loophole Target Of NY Bill Amid Rising Fatalities New York state lawmakers are considering legislation aimed at expanding the definition of drugged driving amid a rise in fatal crashes. A bill sponsored by Democratic Sen. John Mannion and co-sponsored by two Republicans would change the definition of “drug” in the vehicle and traffic law to include any substance or combination of substances that impairs one’s ability to drive. Under current state law, drivers who are obviously impaired by a drug can only be arrested and prosecuted if the substance they are on is listed in a specific section of the Public Health Law. The problem, proponent…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Numerous Dogs Found In 'Deplorable' Conditions At Halfmoon Man's Home, Police Say Numerous Dogs Found In 'Deplorable' Conditions At Halfmoon Man's Home, Police Say
Numerous Dogs Found In 'Deplorable' Conditions At Halfmoon Man's Home, Police Say A 29-year-old man from the region is facing dozens of animal abuse charges after allegedly neglecting numerous dogs that were in his care. Saratoga County resident Derrick Sud-Nieves, of Halfmoon, was arrested Friday, May 10, following an investigation by the Town of Halfmoon Code Enforcement Department. According to sheriff’s officials, they discovered “a large number” of dogs that were living in “deplorable” conditions on the property. No other details were given. Sud-Nieves was charged with 35 counts of violating the state’s Agriculture and Markets Law, which covers overdriving, tortur…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
'Connected By Evil': Unsolved Murders Of Teens Found In Saratoga County Focus Of New Podcast 'Connected By Evil': Unsolved Murders Of Teens Found In Saratoga County Focus Of New Podcast
Jennifer Hammond, Christina White Murders Focus Of Podcast An ex-cop turned podcaster is hoping to breathe new life into the cold case killings of two young women whose remains were discovered in upstate New York. On a recent episode of his true crime podcast, APB Cold Case, retired Costa Mesa, California police chief Mark Spawn discussed the murders of 18-year-old Jennifer Hammond and 19-year-old Christina White. The women disappeared in August 2003 and June 2005, respectively, and were last seen near mobile home parks in the Saratoga County town of Milton. According to New York State Police, Hammond, a native of Littleton, Colorado, was last see…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Northern Lights From Rare Solar Storm Could Be Visible Through Weekend Northern Lights From Rare Solar Storm Could Be Visible Through Weekend
Northern Lights From Rare Solar Storm Could Be Visible Through Weekend The northern lights produced by one of the strongest geomagnetic storms to hit the Earth in two decades could be visible throughout the weekend, and scientists are warning that the storm could disrupt electrical and communication systems. Although there were clouds around on Friday night, May 10, there were numerous reports from the region of spectacular aurora displays (known as the northern lights). Those displays will continue on Saturday, May 11, and Sunday, May 12, and possibly linger even longer. Severe Geomagnetic Storm conditions were first observed at Earth at 6:54 p.m. Eastern Ti…

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by Joe Lombardi
Real Estate
Drew Barrymore Lists NY Converted Barn Estate With 7 Beds, 6 Baths For $8.4M Drew Barrymore Lists NY Converted Barn Estate With 7 Beds, 6 Baths For $8.4M
Drew Barrymore Lists NY Converted Barn Estate With 7 Beds, 6 Baths For $8.4M Drew Barrymore won’t be spending ever after at her sprawling New York estate. The “E.T.” and “Scream” star listed her Long Island abode in the village of Sagaponack, converted from a barn that was originally built in 1920, for just under $8.5 million. Situated on 1.7 acres less than a mile from the beach, the charming home boasts nearly 7,000 square feet of living space that includes seven bedrooms and six bathrooms. “This exceptional compound is in a premiere A+ location among the wide open scenic fields and beaches of iconic Sagaponack,” reads the listing from Sotheby’s International Rea…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Capital Region Child Predator Admits Blackmailing Kids Into Sending Nude Images Capital Region Child Predator Admits Blackmailing Kids Into Sending Nude Images
Capital Region Child Predator Admits Blackmailing Kids Into Sending Nude Images A convicted child sex abuser from the region will spend decades in federal prison after confessing that he blackmailed young kids into sending nude images. Rensselaer County resident Zachary Cota, age 31, of Castleton-on-Hudson, pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography in Albany federal court on Friday, May 10. According to prosecutors, Cota admitted to using SnapChat to get three children to send him nude photos. Two of the victims were 8 and 13 years old. Once the children provided the requested photos, he reportedly threatened to reveal what they had done in order to get more illic…

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by Michael Mashburn
Business
Final Service Set For Popular Capital Region Restaurant After 7 Years Final Service Set For Popular Capital Region Restaurant After 7 Years
Final Service Set For Popular Capital Region Restaurant After 7 Years After seven years of dishing up Southern comfort food, a popular restaurant in the region is set to close. The Cuckoo’s Nest, located in Albany at 234 Western Avenue, will hold its final service on Sunday, May 19, husband and wife owners Devin and Kaytrin Ziemann announced on their website. Opened in 2017 after the couple discovered their “deep love and need for Southern cuisine” while traveling, its menu aims to strike a balance between comfort and innovation, the couple said. Diners in search of a hearty meal can choose from a number of Southern-inspired dishes including Nashville hot ch…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Pistol-Whipping Brother Threatens To Shoot Sister, Cops At Capital Region Home, Police Say Pistol-Whipping Brother Threatens To Shoot Sister, Cops At Capital Region Home, Police Say
Pistol-Whipping Brother Threatens To Shoot Sister, Cops At Capital Region Home, Police Say A 30-year-old man from the region is in custody after allegedly assaulting his sister in front of her toddler child and threatening to shoot police officers. The Albany County incident happened at around 9:15 p.m. Thursday, May 9, in the town of Westerlo. Sheriff Craig Apple said deputies responded to a residence on County Route 403 for an active domestic incident involving a firearm. The caller told dispatchers that she was involved in a physical confrontation with her brother, 30-year-old Dylan Lafave, and that he had pistol whipped her in the head. She told investigators that Lafave a…

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by Michael Mashburn
Lifestyle
Rare Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Issued For First Time In Nearly 20 Years Rare Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Issued For First Time In Nearly 20 Years
Rare Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Issued For First Time In Nearly 20 Years You may soon get a view of a rare spectacle. According to the NOAA National Weather Service's Space Weather Prediction Center, a series of solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) began on Wednesday, May 8. CMEs are explosions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun’s corona. Space weather forecasters have issued a Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storm Watch for the evening of Friday, May 10. It's the first time a G4 Watch has been issued since January 2005. The watch says CMEs may linger into Sunday, May 12. Geomagnetic storms can also trigger spectacular displays of aurora (…

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by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
Real-Life Couple Wanted For Movie Shooting In Region Real-Life Couple Wanted For Movie Shooting In Region
Real-Life Couple Wanted For Movie Shooting In Region The production company behind hit films like “The Whale,” “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” and “Uncut Gems” is looking for a real-life couple to be a part of their next star-studded feature film being produced in the region. Lights, camera, action! “The Materialists,” a new feature film by entertainment company A24 and directed by Celine Song, is searching for a real-life couple for its upcoming shoot in the Ulster County town of New Paltz, which will begin on Wednesday, May 22. The couple will be portraying getting married and should fit the description of “artsy, creative down-to-e…

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by Sophie Grieser
News
Check Your Fridge: Milk Sold In Capital Region Recalled Over Possible Health Risk Check Your Fridge: Milk Sold In Capital Region Recalled Over Possible Health Risk
Check Your Fridge: Milk Sold In Capital Region Recalled Over Possible Health Risk A family-owned farm is recalling one of its milk products that was widely sold in the region over a possible health risk. Meadowbrook Farms Dairy issued a recall for its pasteurized chocolate milk due to the milk being improperly pasteurized, according to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. State inspectors discovered the error during a routine inspection at the company's Allegany County facility in Clarksville. The recalled milk was sold across the Capital Region and was packaged in half gallon, glass containers that were processed on Wednesday, April 24. The af…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Second Rabid Fox Found In Region Second Rabid Fox Found In Region
Second Rabid Fox Found In Region A second rabid fox has been discovered in the region. The fox was found Wednesday, May 8, in Sullivan County in the town of Fremont. Related story: Wild Fox In Town Of Bethel Test Positive For Rabies According to the Sullivan County Department of Public Health, a dead baby fox (kit) in Fremont tested positive for the rabies virus.  People exposed to the baby are currently receiving appropriate treatment. Another rabid fox was found earlier in the week in the town of Bethel. The fox was euthanized, public health officials said.  Rabies occurs commonly throughout the stat…

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by Kathy Reakes