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Proud Boys: Leaders Vow To 'Correct Deficiency' After Surprise Rallies In Capital Region Proud Boys: Leaders Vow To 'Correct Deficiency' After Surprise Rallies In Capital Region
Proud Boys: Leaders Vow To 'Correct Deficiency' After Surprise Rallies In Capital Region Surprise rallies in the region held by the far-right Proud Boys sparked outrage from residents and business owners and prompted calls for policy changes from local leaders. Nearly two dozen members of the neo-fascist extremist group marched in Saratoga County on Saturday, Aug. 5, first rallying on Broadway in Saratoga Springs and later in Ballston Spa. Though the rallies caught many by surprise, the group was not required to give advance notice or obtain a permit in Ballston Spa, said Village Trustee Elizabeth Kormos. “As a resident and Trustee of Ballston Spa I was dismayed to hear from …

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Woman Drives Over Victim, Flees During Altercation In Capital Region, Police Say Woman Drives Over Victim, Flees During Altercation In Capital Region, Police Say
Woman Drives Over Victim, Flees During Altercation In Capital Region, Police Say A 58-year-old woman is facing charges after allegedly hitting a victim with her car and then fleeing during an altercation in the region. Saratoga County resident Thon Baker, of Lake Luzerne, was arrested Wednesday, Aug. 2, on assault and other charges, according to New York State Police. Troopers were initially called at around 6:40 a.m. Wednesday, July 26, for a severely injured person in the town of Hadley, on Stewart Bridge Road. An investigation found that Baker got into an argument with the victim and intentionally struck the person with her car. After driving over the victim, s…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
'Wonderful' Mother Of 3 Killed In Suspected Drunk Driving Crash On Capital Region Highway 'Wonderful' Mother Of 3 Killed In Suspected Drunk Driving Crash On Capital Region Highway
'Wonderful' Mother Of 3 Killed In Suspected Drunk Driving Crash On Capital Region Highway A motorcycle driver is facing charges for a suspected drunk driving crash in the region that killed a mother of three. The deadly wreck happened just before 8 p.m. Sunday, July 30, in Saratoga County, on I-87 in the Town of Wilton, according to New York State Police. Troopers said Richard Irelan, age 45, of Johnstown in Fulton County, was driving his motorcycle on the off-ramp at Exit 15 when he collided with a pickup truck. Irelan’s female passenger, 43-year-old Amanda Sullivan, of Johnstown, was thrown into the roadway and was found severely injured. She later died from her injuries at…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Crash Killing Tow Truck Driver: 'Extremely' Drunk Man Guilty In Deadly Capital Region Wreck Crash Killing Tow Truck Driver: 'Extremely' Drunk Man Guilty In Deadly Capital Region Wreck
Crash Killing Tow Truck Driver: 'Extremely' Drunk Man Guilty In Deadly Capital Region Wreck After drinking an “excessive” amount of alcohol at an Applebee’s restaurant, Justin Rodriguez got behind the wheel of his pickup truck and - defying the pleas and warnings of concerned onlookers to stop - drove onto a highway in the region. Shortly afterward on Sept. 15, 2022, the 41-year-old struck tow truck operator Alex Bleickhardt as he helped a disabled vehicle in Saratoga County, on the shoulder of I-87 in Wilton. Bleickhardt, a 33-year-old employee of TowAway LLC from Pottersville in Warren County, was pronounced dead at the scene. Earlier Report: Man Preparing To Tow Disabled Tr…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
COVID-19 $558K Scam: Former Nightclub Owners In Capital Region Admit Defrauding Relief Programs COVID-19 $558K Scam: Former Nightclub Owners In Capital Region Admit Defrauding Relief Programs
Covid-19 $558K Scam: Former Nightclub Owners In Capital Region Admit Defrauding Relief Programs A husband and wife duo from the region accused of raking in hundreds of thousands of dollars by defrauding COVID-19 relief programs through their former nightclub business has pleaded guilty. Saratoga County residents Deborah Budhraj, age 52, and Adesh Budhraj, age 53, both of Ballston Lake, pleaded guilty to bank fraud and wire fraud charges in federal court in Albany on Wednesday, July 19. The couple formerly owned the Tropics Restaurant & Bar, located in Schenectady on South Brandywine Avenue. According to prosecutors, they agreed to sell the business to another couple in February 2…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Ice Cream Shop Robbery: Man Threatens To Shoot Employee At Capital Region Farm, Police Say Ice Cream Shop Robbery: Man Threatens To Shoot Employee At Capital Region Farm, Police Say
Ice Cream Shop Robbery: Man Threatens To Shoot Employee At Capital Region Farm, Police Say A 34-year-old man is accused of robbing a roadside ice cream shop in the region and threatening to shoot an employee if they didn't meet his demands. The Saratoga County robbery happened just before 8 a.m. Monday, July 17, in the Town of Halfmoon, at the Hayner’s Ice Cream & Country Store on Highway 236. An employee told Saratoga County Sheriff’s deputies that a man forcibly stole money and threatened the use of a gun. The employee was not injured. Investigators eventually spotted a suspect vehicle nearby that matched the description given by the victim. The suspect, Michael Hepp, of …

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Embattled Builder's Undue Lien Cost Capital Region Homeowner Over $140K, Police Say Embattled Builder's Undue Lien Cost Capital Region Homeowner Over $140K, Police Say
Embattled Builder's Undue Lien Cost Capital Region Homeowner Over $140K, Police Say The owner of a construction company in the region already accused of defrauding his contractors is facing more charges after allegedly placing an undue lien on a homeowner’s property, costing them over $100,000. Albany County resident Aaron Godlewski, age 31, of Altamont, was arrested again Thursday, July 13, following an investigation by Saratoga Springs Police in Saratoga County. According to police, the victim hired Godlewski’s company, Godlewski Builders, to build a home in Saratoga Springs. Earlier Report: Altamont Home Builder Defrauded Multiple Contractors, Police Say The vic…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Missing A Snake? Slithery Intruder Found At Capital Region Business Missing A Snake? Slithery Intruder Found At Capital Region Business
Missing A Snake? Slithery Intruder Found At Capital Region Business An intrepid snake is accused of breaking and entering into a business in the region - okay, maybe not the breaking part, but it definitely entered. The slithery surprise was found Wednesday morning, July 12, in Columbia County, inside a business in the city of Hudson on Fairview Avenue. “Does this little guy look familiar to you?” the Hudson Police Department asked on Facebook. The department identified the orange snake as a boa constrictor, though many people in the comments pointed out that it may actually be a corn snake.  The species is typically found throughout the southeastern and…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
'Courageous' 14-Year-Old Sex Abuse Victim Helps Put Capital Region Rapist In Prison 'Courageous' 14-Year-Old Sex Abuse Victim Helps Put Capital Region Rapist In Prison
'Courageous' 14-Year-Old Sex Abuse Victim Helps Put Capital Region Rapist In Prison A 29-year-old man from the region is facing years behind bars after admitting that he sexually abused a minor. Albany County resident William Maguire, of Voorheesville, pleaded guilty to multiple sex crimes in Saratoga County Court on Friday, July 7. Maguire admitted that he forcibly sexually assaulted the 14-year-old victim while they were sleeping at a home in the town of Providence in January 2023. Afterward, he told the victim not to say anything. “The victim courageously reported the assault shortly after it happened and responded to Albany Medical Center where a medical examination w…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Woman Struck, Killed After Walking Onto Capital Region Freeway Woman Struck, Killed After Walking Onto Capital Region Freeway
Woman Struck, Killed After Walking Onto Capital Region Freeway A woman was killed when she walked onto a freeway in the region and was struck by several cars during the morning commute. The Saratoga County incident happened at around 7:40 a.m. Monday, July 10, on I-87 in the town of Malta, according to New York State Police. Troopers said the woman parked her car on the shoulder before getting out and walking into the southbound lanes, where she was hit by multiple cars. Several drivers stopped and offered medical aid, but she was pronounced dead a short time later at Saratoga Hospital, troopers said. There were no other reports of injuries stemming …

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Violent Break-In: Burglar Chokes Resident Before Fleeing Capital Region Home, Police Say Violent Break-In: Burglar Chokes Resident Before Fleeing Capital Region Home, Police Say
Violent Break-In: Burglar Chokes Resident Before Fleeing Capital Region Home, Police Say A 40-year-old man is facing charges after allegedly breaking into a home in the region and assaulting a resident. The incident happened at around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 4, in Saratoga County, at a home in Corinth. Troopers determined that Peter Winslow, of Corinth, forced his way inside, causing damage.  He allegedly then got into a physical fight with someone inside the home and choked them before fleeing. He was arrested a short time later. Police did not say whether Winslow is known to those living at the home. There were no reports of injuries. He is charged with the followi…

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by Michael Mashburn
Lifestyle
Cha-Ching! Winning $1M Powerball Ticket Sold At Capital Region Store Cha-Ching! Winning $1M Powerball Ticket Sold At Capital Region Store
Cha-Ching! Winning $1M Powerball Ticket Sold At Capital Region Store A winning Powerball ticket worth $1 million was sold at a convenience store in the region, New York Lottery officials announced. The second-prize winning ticket for the Wednesday, July 5, drawing was purchased in Saratoga County at the Halfmoon Sunoco in Clifton Park, located at 325 Route 146. It has all five matching numbers, minus the Powerball. The winning numbers for Wednesday’s drawing are: 17-24-48-62-68 and the Powerball is 23. Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 11 p.m.

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by Michael Mashburn