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Politics
Historic Election: Voters In This Capital Region Locale On Cusp Of Picking First Woman Mayor Historic Election: Voters In This Capital Region Locale On Cusp Of Picking First Woman Mayor
Historic Election: Voters In This Capital Region Locale On Cusp Of Picking First Woman Mayor It may be an off-year election, but that doesn’t mean it’s boring. History is being made this Election Day as voters in one major city in the region are set to elect their first woman mayor. In Rensselaer County, the race for Troy mayor sees Republican city council president Carmella Mantello facing off against Democrat Rensselaer County legislative board member Nina Nichols. The winner will take over the position currently held by Democrat Patrick Madden, who is coming off his second four-year term, making him ineligible to run again. Mantello has spent the last eight years on the Troy C…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Foiled Oil Heist: Trio Steals Cooking Grease From Capital Region Restaurant, Police Say Foiled Oil Heist: Trio Steals Cooking Grease From Capital Region Restaurant, Police Say
Foiled Oil Heist: Trio Steals Cooking Grease From Capital Region Restaurant, Police Say Three men are facing charges after they were allegedly caught stealing used cooking oil from a restaurant in the region. A Rensselaer County business owner in Castleton on Hudson called police at around 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, saying three men were on their property without permission, according to New York State Police. The owner told investigators that the men were attempting to steal used cooking oil that is saved and sold to a biodiesel company for recycling. When an employee confronted them, they fled the scene in a car. Troopers searched the area and spotted the vehicle driving on …

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Admitted Child Sex Abuser From Capital Region Gets Nearly Decade In Prison Admitted Child Sex Abuser From Capital Region Gets Nearly Decade In Prison
Admitted Child Sex Abuser From Capital Region Gets Nearly Decade In Prison A man from the region who confessed to sexually abusing two children will spend nearly a decade behind bars. Rensselaer County resident Johan Felipe Giraldo was sentenced to nine years in prison Thursday, Oct. 26, stemming from an incident involving two children in the Town of Schaghticoke. He pleaded guilty to attempted rape and forcible touching in Rensselaer County court following his arrest in August 2022. Following Thursday’s sentencing, Rensselaer County District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly recognized the victim for coming forward and sharing their “painful story.” “I also want to th…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Wrong-Way Driver Intentionally Strikes Cop Car During Capital Region Pursuit, Police Say Wrong-Way Driver Intentionally Strikes Cop Car During Capital Region Pursuit, Police Say
Wrong-Way Driver Intentionally Strikes Cop Car During Capital Region Pursuit, Police Say A 36-year-old man is facing charges following a wrong-way highway pursuit in the region in which he intentionally struck a cop car, authorities allege. Daniel Hammon, of Albany, was arrested on a warrant Thursday, Oct. 19, in connection with the July 2023 incident on I-90 in Rensselaer County. An Albany County Sheriff’s deputy was chasing Hammon on I-90 in East Greenbush on July 25, 2023, when a State Police trooper began assisting in the pursuit. During the chase, Hammon drove the wrong way on I-90 and intentionally drove into a marked police car, according to State Police. Nobody was i…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
ID Released For Man Who Died In Police Custody Following Capital Region Arrest ID Released For Man Who Died In Police Custody Following Capital Region Arrest
ID Released For Man Who Died In Police Custody Following Capital Region Arrest Authorities have identified a man who died in police custody following an arrest in the region. The Rensselaer County incident happened just before noon Friday, Oct. 13, in Troy’s Lansingburgh neighborhood. According to Troy Police, officers responded to a home after a resident called 911 reporting a trespasser. When they arrived, they saw 48-year-old Woody Smith, of Troy, crawling out of a first-floor window, police said. One officer pulled out his department-issued TASER device, but did not fire the weapon, according to officials. Smith was then handcuffed on the ground and positioned…

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by Michael Mashburn
Lifestyle
Restaurant Dubbed As 'Out-Of-Body Experience' Opens In Capital Region Restaurant Dubbed As 'Out-Of-Body Experience' Opens In Capital Region
Restaurant Dubbed As 'Out-Of-Body Experience' Opens In Capital Region The new restaurant took a risk in opening a fine dining restaurant in the Capital Region – and so far, it has paid off. The Roosevelt Room, located at 112 North Greenbush Road in Troy, Rensselaer County, opened on Aug. 1, 2023. Opening a fine-dining restaurant is no small feat, but co-owners (and father-son duo) Mike and Michael Moscatiello and chef Noah Frese decided they wanted to fill the “niche” that was missing in Rensselaer County, as they told the Albany Business Review. In its first few months, taking that chance has already appeared to have been worth it. “Truly, an out-of-bo…

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by Sophie Grieser
Police & Fire
Punches, Car Crash: Would-Be Robber Attacks Man In Capital Region Neighborhood Punches, Car Crash: Would-Be Robber Attacks Man In Capital Region Neighborhood
Punches, Car Crash: Would-Be Robber Attacks Man In Capital Region Neighborhood Police are investigating a late-night attempted robbery in the region that caused a minor car crash and left a man injured. The Rensselaer County incident happened just before midnight Wednesday, Oct. 11, in Troy’s Lansingburgh neighborhood, according to Troy Police. Detectives said the victim was sitting in his car near 6th Avenue and 103rd Street when a man approached and brandished a gun,  demanding his marijuana. The two men got into a fight and the suspect punched the victim several times, leaving him with minor injuries. During the scuffle, the victim’s car collided with anothe…

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by Michael Mashburn
Business
Popular Eatery In Capital Region Closes After 16 Years: 'Thank You From Bottom Of Our Heart' Popular Eatery In Capital Region Closes After 16 Years: 'Thank You From Bottom Of Our Heart'
Popular Eatery In Capital Region Closes After 16 Years: 'Thank You From Bottom Of Our Heart' A popular restaurant in the region known for its handmade European food has permanently closed after 16 years in business. Rensselaer County eatery Muza, located in Troy at 1300 15th Street, announced the closure in a Facebook post Tuesday, Oct. 10, five months after what was supposed to be a temporary shuttering. “To all of our loyal customers and staff throughout the years, we have made the difficult decision to close the Muza doors indefinitely," the Muza family said in a statement. Earlier Report: Popular Restaurant In Troy Closed 'Until Further Notice' "We are incredibly thankful …

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by Michael Mashburn
News
New Update: Missing NY 17-Year-Old May Be Traveling With This Man, Police Say New Update: Missing NY 17-Year-Old May Be Traveling With This Man, Police Say
New Update: Missing NY 17-Year-Old May Be Traveling With This Man, Police Say Police have released new details in the search for a missing New York teenager who may have traveled hours away from home. Rensselaer County resident Chante Ballo, age 17, of East Greenbush, was last seen shortly after 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 8, near Robert Lane and Red Mill Road. In an update Wednesday, Oct. 11, the East Greenbush Police Department said Chante is believed to be with 34-year-old Gabriel Vargas in the Richmond Hills area of Queens. Chante is described as 5-feet-5-inches tall and 150 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. She was wearing all black with white sneakers and was …

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by Michael Mashburn
Obituaries
Capital Region Business Owner, Father Who Died At Age 37 From Cancer Was 'Devoted Family Man' Capital Region Business Owner, Father Who Died At Age 37 From Cancer Was 'Devoted Family Man'
Capital Region Business Owner, Father Who Died At Age 37 From Cancer Was 'Devoted Family Man' Condolences are flooding in following the death of a beloved business owner, husband, and father from the region who is being remembered for his dedication to family. Rensselaer County resident Thomas Haberland, of the Town of Nassau, died Wednesday, Sept. 27, at the age of 37 following a “courageous” battle with cancer, according to his obituary.  A lifelong resident of Nassau, Haberland owns NE Tree and Property Services, where he humorously lists his job description as "flying squirrel." He began the venture as a teenager.  “Kind, caring, and generous are just a few of the traits he em…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Teen Racers Hit 100+ MPH Before Crash In Capital Region, Police Say: 'Incredibly Lucky' Teen Racers Hit 100+ MPH Before Crash In Capital Region, Police Say: 'Incredibly Lucky'
Teen Racers Hit 100+ MPH Before Crash In Capital Region, Police Say: 'Incredibly Lucky' Two 18-year-olds are facing charges following an alleged street race in the region that reached speeds over 100 miles per hour before one of the cars crashed. The Rensselaer County incident happened at around 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26, in North Greenbush. According to North Greenbush Police, officers watched a vehicle pass them on North Greenbush Road near Dudley Heights going 112 miles per hour. Seconds later, another car passed at 110 miles per hour. The second vehicle then lost control and struck several mailboxes and garbage cans before spinning into a tree. Officers arrested the dr…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Capital Region Man Caught With Stolen RV From Dealership, Police Say Capital Region Man Caught With Stolen RV From Dealership, Police Say
Capital Region Man Caught With Stolen RV From Dealership, Police Say A man from the region is facing charges after police linked him to a stolen RV that was taken from a local dealership. Saratoga County resident Andrew Castle, age 50, of Mechanicville, was arrested Tuesday, Sept. 26, by New York State Police. According to troopers, the agency was first contacted on Friday, Aug. 25, about an RV that was missing from a Clifton Park dealership. The vehicle, valued at over $50,000, was later found in Schaghticoke in Rensselaer County. Investigators determined that Castle was in possession of it. Troopers returned the RV to its rightful owner. It was not immed…

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by Michael Mashburn