Worth a listen. Wendy did a great job breaking down the difficulty of being part of the press while still trying to advocate for yourself, as well as what we're facing here. Guild members can't repair their cars or pay deductibles for their doctor's appointments

Bear comes down from tree in Albany after tranquilizer dart is fired The scene attracted about 20 curious onlookers who watched the response from city police and state conservation officers.

Got to be on bear watch today
www.timesunion.com/news/article...

Guilderland man imprisoned in mom's death accused of killing cellmate with shoelace State Police on Monday said Andrew Hernandez, 42, is one of three prisoners under investigation for killing other inmates last week.

State Police on Monday said Andrew Hernandez, 42, is one of three prisoners under investigation for killing other inmates last week.

Albany County, city spar over $7K in school zone speeding fines Albany County workers racked up over $7,000 in fines for speeding near city schools last year. The city treasurer and county officials are at loggerheads about how much should be paid.

Albany Co. employees racked up over $7K in fines, fees associated with school zone camera violations in the city of Albany. The county assumed it could pay half that sum and call it a day; city says that's no more the case for the county than it would be for any other offender. Patrick Tine reports.

ICE arrests spiked in New York from November to January ICE arrested more people in New York from November to January than any other time since 2022. Arrests took place across the state from New York City courthouses to the Canadian border.

ICE arrested more people in NY in Nov, Dec and Jan than any other months going back to 2022, new data shows. More details on ICE enforcement in NY in @timesunion.com
www.timesunion.com/news/article...

Corinth couple admits to neglecting 3-year-old, leading to her death Matthew and Samantha Dylewski on Tuesday admitted to neglecting their 3-year-old daughter Joycelynn Ann Dylewski to the point of death last year in Corinth.

Matthew and Samantha Dylewski on Tuesday admitted to neglecting their 3-year-old daughter Joycelynn Ann Dylewski to the point of death last year in Corinth.

Image of a bulletin board with a label that says “The Newspaper Guild-CWA of Albany Bulletin Board” and “Check here often for updates on your union activities” with the Newspaper Guild logo. Below it is a poster that says “Know Your Rights” and “It’s illegal to punish workers when they complain, petition, picket, walk out over working conditions” surrounded by images of an Albany Newspaper Guild picket. A red arrow says “Don’t take our word for it! Read it from the National Labor Relations Board.” It points to a QR code that says “Scan Me!” An image of New York Governor Kathy Hochul is captioned “Gov. Hochul came to our picket and told George Hearst that 17 years without a contract is too long.” A red Albany Newspaper Guild pin that says “Contract Now!!” is pinned to the board.

In the last few days, three Guild leaders were unfairly disciplined by management. One member was fired in what we see as an unwarranted, retaliatory action (1/5)

Rural ambulance networks warn of system collapse in NY without more funding The top challenge rural ambulance networks face, according to the report, is a lack of funding and an inability to receive more due to barriers imposed at the state level.

The top challenge rural ambulance networks face, according to the report, is a lack of funding and an inability to receive more due to barriers imposed at the state level.

Edward Holley acquitted of Megan McDonald's 2003 killing Jurors in Orange County court reached the verdict on the 14th day of deliberations at Holley’s retrial.

BREAKING from Lana Bellamy: Edward Holley has been acquitted of the 2003 murder of Megan McDonald. Jurors at the retrial took two full weeks of deliberation.

Name changes are not automatically sealed in New York (outside of cases like divorce or adoption). But applicants can request they be, and state law says judges must consider being transgender (due to the risk of being outed) among the reasons to do so

From @patricktine.bsky.social: Video shows an Albany police officer pepper-sprayed a group of women Sunday morning after police were summoned to Washington Tavern for reports of a man armed with a knife

NY school district’s use of ‘timeout’ boxes deemed ‘illegal’ The Salmon River Central School District violated state education laws, an attorney concluded. Police and the state are also investigating.

An uncredentialed "behaviorist" directed an upstate NY school district to use wooden "timeout" boxes to confine elementary schoolers. That violated state education regulations concluded a lawyer hired by the Salmon River CSD. More in
@timesunion.com
www.timesunion.com/news/article...

Adirondacks, northern Saratoga County in upcoming flood watch A flood watch will begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday and remain in effect until Thursday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

A flood watch will begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday and remain in effect until Thursday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

Warrensburg weighs mass gathering law ahead of 'No Kings' rally Rules requiring permits, a 30-day notice, $300 fee are the subject of Wednesday night’s public hearing at town hall.

Rules requiring permits, a 30-day notice, $300 fee are the subject of Wednesday night’s public hearing at town hall.

Fake license plates can incur real toll charges Fake license plates can incur real toll charges on unsuspecting E-ZPass customers. The novelty items are cheap to buy on websites like Amazon, and some people use them for illegal purposes.

Fake license plates can incur real toll charges on unsuspecting E-ZPass customers. The novelty items are cheap to buy on websites like Amazon, and some people use them for illegal purposes.

NY bill would hold social media companies accountable for fraud A bill in the New York state Legislature would require social media companies to add new safeguards for protecting users against scams and fraud perpetrated on their platforms.

A bill in the New York state Legislature would require social media companies to add new safeguards for protecting users against scams and fraud perpetrated on their platforms.

A Hudson Valley town tried to secretly install surveillance cameras. An uproar ensued. Pine Plains’ town supervisor said he had not approved the Flock cameras and license plate readers, but reporting by a local website proved otherwise.

Recorded phone calls and stonewalling local officials: Wild story from Nora Mishanec on the mystery of who, exactly, gave the green light for Flock to install surveillance cameras in Pine Plains?

We had yet another frustrating bargaining session Thursday. The company declined to discuss any topics without seeing a comprehensive proposal from us. Except we did provide a proposal in November, one detailing many tentative agreements as well as sections that still need work (1/4)

Fire tears through West Sand Lake strip mall The massive blaze at the 43 Mall in West Sand Lake drew firefighters from around the area.

The massive blaze at the 43 Mall in West Sand Lake drew firefighters from around the area.

Readings show worsening air quality in Capital Region, Hudson Valley Air quality appears to have worsened in the Capital Region and Hudson Valley. Stagnant winter air trapping pollutants close to the ground is likely to blame.

Air quality appears to have worsened in the Capital Region and Hudson Valley. Stagnant winter air trapping pollutants close to the ground is likely to blame.

from the "great reporting and also duh" files

UAlbany researchers building AI system to predict storm outages Researchers at the University at Albany are building a computer model that will predict weather-related electrical outages across North America.

#UAlbany researchers are partnering w/ UConn to develop an #AI model that can better predict weather-related power outages across North America — aiming to help utilities keep the lights on during severe storms & lower costs.

More via @timesunion.com: www.timesunion.com/business/art...

ICE retracts false claim that it purchased Hudson Valley warehouse The federal agency said its statement that it bought a former Pep Boys building in Chester to use as a detention center was a “mistake.”

Good morning! Cut/paste journalists said ICE had purchased a warehouse in Orange County to use as a detention facility. Maria Silva took the time to check out that claim, and guess what? www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley...

Court documents show how police zeroed in on father in Melina Frattolin case Files trace Luciano Frattolin's movements and increasingly worried calls and texts from the mother of Melina Frattolin on the night the 9-year-old disappeared.

Files trace Luciano Frattolin's movements and increasingly worried calls and texts from the mother of Melina Frattolin on the night the 9-year-old disappeared.

‘I miss you’: Emails detail close ties between Jeffrey Epstein and Bard President Leon Botstein Leon Botstein’s name appears in the Epstein files more than 2,500 times, including arranging travel to Epstein’s island and a visit with “girls” to the college.

“I haven’t seen or heard from you for months,” Jeffrey Epstein wrote in May 2016. “If I made a mistake I’m sorry.”

Bard President Leon Botstein assured Epstein that that was not the case.

“I miss you,” he wrote.

Sarah Trafton reports.

journalists are workers who deserve to be paid fairly for our labor and I think that far too few consumers of media recognize or even care about this fact

Hochul hopped on the anti-ICE train with some new, two-pronged legislation.

One proposal, to ban jail contracts, would be big.

The other... maybe not so much.

I've said it before: 287(g) is the red herring of local ICE collaboration.

From @liv-veazey.bsky.social and @sammellins.bsky.social:

New York is locked in a deep freeze. Here’s when it will warm up. The jet stream currently blowing cold air into the region may move away by mid-February.

The jet stream currently blowing cold air into the region may move away by mid-February.

ICYMI

After a few weeks delay, ICE just released new detention statistics. They show 70,766 people in detention as of 1/26/2026. I believe this is the first time this data source has reported a detained population over 70k.