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Violent Night: 2 Injured In Separate Capital Region Shootings Hours Apart Violent Night: 2 Injured In Separate Capital Region Shootings Hours Apart
Violent Night: 2 Injured In Separate Capital Region Shootings Hours Apart Two people were injured in separate shootings in the region that occurred hours apart. Both incidents happened in Albany, with the first shooting reported shortly after 7 p.m. Thursday, April 25, in the city’s West Hill neighborhood, near Clinton Avenue and Quail Street. Albany Police said a 21-year-old man walked into the emergency department at Albany Medical Center Hospital suffering from gunshot wounds to his upper thigh and hand. He was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The victim told police that he had been outside with a group of people when he was shot. No other informat…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
President Biden Commutes Hudson Valley Woman's Sentence For Selling Cocaine President Biden Commutes Hudson Valley Woman's Sentence For Selling Cocaine
President Biden Commutes Hudson Valley Woman's Sentence For Selling Cocaine Two New York women convicted of non-violent federal drug offenses are among 16 people nationwide to receive clemency from President Joe Biden. Stacy Wilder, age 49, of Albany, served nearly six years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine in the Northern District of New York in January 2003. She received a full pardon from the president. Had she been sentenced under current law and sentencing guidelines, Wilder would have received a significantly lower sentence, the White House said.  Since serving her time, Wilder has worked as a payro…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
New Update: Officer Released From Hospital Following Deadly Shooting In Capital Region New Update: Officer Released From Hospital Following Deadly Shooting In Capital Region
New Update: Officer Released From Hospital Following Deadly Shooting In Capital Region A week after being shot in an ambush attack in which the suspect then killed himself, a police officer in the region is back home with his family. Albany Police officer Jonathan Damphier was released from Albany Medical Center Hospital on Wednesday, April 24, the agency announced. Cameras were rolling as Damphier emerged from the hospital in a wheelchair accompanied by Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins. He received a round of applause from the dozens of law enforcement members gathered outside before being helped into a waiting ambulance. Officers applaud as Albany Police Officer Jonat…

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by Michael Mashburn
Lifestyle
Football Player From NY Named Potential Suitor On New Season Of 'The Bachelorette' Football Player From NY Named Potential Suitor On New Season Of 'The Bachelorette'
Football Player From NY Named Potential Suitor On New Season Of 'The Bachelorette' Jenn Tran is officially the next "Bachelorette," and the names of the men who could be vying for her heart have already surfaced. Tran, age 26, made her Bachelor Nation debut on Joey Grazidei's season, and will be the first Asian-American Bachelorette in season history.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jenn (@jenntranx) Tran is a physician assistant based in Miami, and will soon be meeting the 28 men hoping for a shot at love. The new season will begin airing in July on ABC-TV. Among Tran's potential suitors is native New Y…

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by Cecilia Levine
Lifestyle
'Doughy, Drunk Pizza' Found At This Capital Region Restaurant, Popular Guru Declares 'Doughy, Drunk Pizza' Found At This Capital Region Restaurant, Popular Guru Declares
'Doughy, Drunk Pizza' Found At This Capital Region Restaurant, Popular Guru Declares Self-proclaimed pizza expert Dave Portnoy has rendered his verdict on another pizzeria in the region. The 47-year-old Barstool Sports owner found himself in Albany on Monday, April 8, and decided to stop by longtime joint Pizzeria Sapienza for his popular “One Bite Pizza Reviews” series on YouTube. Foregoing the “hour wait” to get a whole pie, Portnoy decided to base his review off just a single slice, though he admitted such a departure from his usual routine is “not really fair.” He then took two bites before describing the food as “doughy, drunk pizza.” His final verdict: “I’m gonna go…

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by Michael Mashburn
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New Details: Suspect Killed Himself After Shooting Capital Region Officer, Chief Says New Details: Suspect Killed Himself After Shooting Capital Region Officer, Chief Says
New Details: Suspect Killed Himself After Shooting Capital Region Officer, Chief Says New details have emerged following a police shooting in the region that left the suspect dead and the officer hospitalized. The incident happened at around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 17, in Albany’s Pine Hills neighborhood, just yards from the College of Saint Rose campus. Albany Police said an officer was “ambushed” near the intersection of North Main and Western avenues after catching up to a vehicle that had fled a traffic stop for speeding. Earlier Report: Albany Cop Hurt, Suspect Killed Near College Of Saint Rose As the officer approached the parked car, now unoccupied, the s…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Cop Wounded, Suspect Killed During 'Ambush' Shootout Near College In Capital Region Cop Wounded, Suspect Killed During 'Ambush' Shootout Near College In Capital Region
Cop Wounded, Suspect Killed During 'Ambush' Shootout Near College In Capital Region A police officer is recovering following a chase and shootout in the region that left the suspect dead. The incident happened at around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 17, in Albany’s Pine Hills neighborhood, just yards from the College of Saint Rose campus. Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins said an officer was “ambushed” near the intersection of North Main and Western avenues after catching up to a vehicle that had fled a traffic stop for speeding. As the officer approached the parked car, now unoccupied, the suspect appeared from behind it and shot the officer. He fired back, hitting the susp…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Child Porn Charges: Capital Region Man Busted With Illicit Photos, Videos, Feds Say Child Porn Charges: Capital Region Man Busted With Illicit Photos, Videos, Feds Say
Child Porn Charges: Capital Region Man Busted With Illicit Photos, Videos, Feds Say Federal prosecutors are pursuing child pornography charges against a man from the region after he allegedly sent and received numerous illicit images of children.  Taykwun Smoaks, age 32, of Albany, was arraigned on charges that he distributed, received, and possessed child pornography in Albany federal court on Friday, April 12. According to investigators, Smoaks sent and received images and videos of child pornography over the internet between February and March 2023. The illicit images were reportedly found on both his computer and an external hard drive. If convicted, he face…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Shooting Victim Takes Self To Hospital After Early-Morning Robbery In Capital Region Shooting Victim Takes Self To Hospital After Early-Morning Robbery In Capital Region
Shooting Victim Takes Self To Hospital After Early-Morning Robbery In Capital Region Police in the region are asking for help following an early-morning shooting that sent a man to the hospital. The Albany County incident happened shortly before 4 a.m. Saturday, April 13, in Albany’s West Hill neighborhood. Police said a 41-year-old man walked into the emergency room at Albany Medical Center Hospital with a gunshot wound to the knee. The wound was not considered life-threatening. The victim told investigators that he was shot during a robbery on First Street between Henry Johnson Boulevard and Lexington Avenue. No suspects had been arrested as of Monday afternoon, April 1…

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by Michael Mashburn
Lifestyle
Double The Fun: Pair Of $500K Winning Lottery Tickets Sold At Capital Region Convenience Store Double The Fun: Pair Of $500K Winning Lottery Tickets Sold At Capital Region Convenience Store
Double The Fun: Pair Of $500K Winning Lottery Tickets Sold At Capital Region Convenience Store You could say lottery lightning struck twice at a convenience store in the region. A pair of PICK 10 tickets – worth $500,000 each – was sold in Albany, at the Mobil station located at 247 New Scotland Avenue, New York Lottery announced. The lucky tickets were purchased for the drawing held on Sunday, April 14. PICK 10 numbers are drawn from a field of one to 80. To hit the jackpot a player must match their 10 numbers to 10 of the 20 winning numbers drawn. Players can check their ticket’s status on the New York Lottery website.

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Capital Region Man Admits Blackmailing Underage Girls Into Sending Sexually Explicit Images Capital Region Man Admits Blackmailing Underage Girls Into Sending Sexually Explicit Images
Capital Region Man Admits Blackmailing Underage Girls Into Sending Sexually Explicit Images Years in federal prison await a man from the region who confessed to blackmailing underage girls into sending him sexually explicit images. Richard Nejame, age 29, of Schenectady, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of receiving and attempting to receive child pornography in Albany federal court on Thursday, April 11. Prosecutors said Nejame messaged several underage girls on social media apps, including Snapchat, while pretending to be a teenage boy between October 2022 and May 2023. As part of his guilty plea, he admitted that he then convinced the girls to take nude pictures and videos of…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Update: Missing Capital Region 10-Year-Old Located Update: Missing Capital Region 10-Year-Old Located
Update: Missing Capital Region 10-Year-Old Located This story has been updated. A 10-year-old boy from the region who was reported missing has been located. Jaiyden Abear, of Albany, had last been seen at around 1 p.m. Monday, April 8, in the area of Academy Road and Helderberg Avenue, according to Albany Police. On Tuesday evening, April 9, police announced that Jaiyden was located and is safe. No other details were given.  Original story: Police are asking for help in locating a 10-year-old boy from the region who was reported missing. Jaiyden Abear, of Albany, was last seen at around 1 p.m. Monday, April 8, in the area of Acade…

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by Michael Mashburn