THE EAGLE: A Times Union Podcast: Recent Episodes

Times Union

Take a look inside the newsroom of the oldest and largest newspaper in New York's Capital Region. Each week, we'll explore the paper's top stories in-depth, and talk to the award-winning journalists who report them.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, a group of transgender women found a safe space to explore their identities at a house in a remote part of the Catskills. On this episode of “The Eagle,” we’ll take a look back at Casa Susanna, and a new documentary that chronicles a forgotten piece of New York’s LGBTQ+ history. Also on this episode, we’ll discuss the latest developments in the proposed closure of Rensselaer county’s only hospital birthing center, and we’ll talk about the case against a janitor accused of spoiling years of research by accidentally unplugging a refrigeration unit at RPI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first time Cracker frontman David Lowery played Albany, it was the winter of 1986 and temperatures were below freezing. Since then, he has rocked New York's capital city during warmer weather, and will be returning once more July 12 to play the Empire State Plaza. On this episode of "The Eagle," Lowery joins us to talk about life, music and playing Albany. Also on this episode, we unpack what happened to the Albany Empire arena football team, and why their season was cut short with 7 games to go. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The rumor that a 98-year-old time capsule was buried beneath the Albany statue of Philip Schuyler is true. City officials took down the statue last week, making good on a 3-year-old promise to do so following calls for the likeness of the former owner of enslaved people to be removed after the death of George Floyd. After Schuyler’s statue was hauled away, officials found a trove of relics beneath its concrete plinth. On this episode of “The Eagle,” Times Union reporter H. Rose Schneider explores what treasures the city says have been unearthed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marijuana and hemp are very similar plants. In fact, they are the same species. Telling them apart visually can be very difficult, especially for investigators at a crime scene. But if you take a closer look — a much closer look — at the molecular level, they are very different. One has a psychoactive component (THC) that keeps it federally illegal, while the other, thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, does not and as such is perfectly legal. To avoid unnecessary incarceration, a rapid field test that can tell them apart on the spot would be a handy tool for law enforcement. With help from a U.S. DOJ grant, University at Albany chemistry professor Rabi Musah is developing just such a field test. She joins us on this episode of "The Eagle" to discuss her work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It has been 20 years, but the Big Dance is back in New York’s Capital City. Games in the first two rounds of the men’s NCAA Division I basketball championships are set to play at the MVP Arena, a spectacle that will draw thousands to downtown Albany.

On this episode of “The Eagle,” Times Union editor Casey Seller talks about the tournament and the impact and the impact it will have on the city.

Also on this episode, we’ll have an update to a 20-year-old unsolved murder, and film writer C.J. Lais gives his hot takes on the 95th Academy Awards.

It has been an unusually warm winter in Eastern New York, with record high temperatures set in January and February. On this episode of "The Eagle," contributing editor Alexandra Zissu discusses the consequences of this unseasonable weather, from the early emergence of ticks to the spreading of harmful algae blooms.

Also on this episode, dining critic Susie Davidson Powell dishes on a new Capital Region "Taco Trail" and a non-alcoholic cocktail crawl.

Police confirmed this week that a body pulled from the Mohawk River at the end of February was Samantha Humphrey, a teen who had been missing for three months. Her case dominated headlines since the end of November.

This week marks 25 years since 19-year-old Suzanne Lyall disappeared from the University at Albany campus. Her mother is now publishing a book of her daughter’s poems.

Jaliek Rainwalker was only 12 years old when he vanished from Washington County more than 15 years ago. The troubled child’s case was ruled a probable homicide.

On this episode of “The Eagle,” we’ll discuss these three high-profile cases of missing children in the Capital Region.

In the year since Russia invaded Ukraine, journalist Valerii Garmash has worked around the clock to keep news flowing to his community. When last we spoke to the editor of the Slavyansk-based news website Maye Sense in the spring of 2022, he and his team of 14 journalists were determined to perservere, sometimes in situations where pay and their safety was not guaranteed.

On this episode of “The Eagle,” Times Union editor Casey Seiler checks back in with Garmash to discuss how the landscape of Ukrainian journalism has changed in the year since the war began, and what the future may hold.

Restraint and seclusion are controversial methods that schools across the country use to respond to students in crisis. Education officials say they're meant to be a last resort to ensure the safety of students and faculty, but a yearlong Times Union investigation of data on reported incidents found that they're used frequently in nonemergency situations, and in a few cases, have resulted in injury and even death to students.

On this episode of "The Eagle," reporter Emilie Munson talks about her reporting on restraint and seclusion, and how it has spurred recent action by lawmakers.

Crooner Sam Cooke's unique blend of gospel and pop styles in the 1950s and early 1960s gave rise to a new genre of music: Soul. It was born alongside the Civil Rights movement, and became in many ways anthemic.

On this episode of "The Eagle," we talk to singer Bradd Marquis, who is paying homage to Cooke and his legacy — both in music and in social justice — in his show, "A Change is Gonna Come." Marquis, who bears a striking resemblance to Cooke in both appearance and voice, is playing at Universal Preservation Hall this month.

Starbuck Island, a land mass that lies on the Hudson River between Troy and Green Island, was the chosen spot for many years for thousands of crows to roost before their migration south. But now that the island has been taken over by a luxury apartment development, a "murder" of about 10,500 crows were left looking for a new spot. They chose Troy, which in December became a loud and poop-drenched battlefield between residents who want the crows to stay, and those who want them to be humanely pushed out.

On this episode of "The Eagle," reporter Katie Kiessling dicusses the saga of the crows of Troy.

Also on this episode, we'll talk about a 28-year-old cold case that found a resolution this month.

Actor and performer Mandy Patinkin is traveling the country performing a lineup of Broadway and American tunes that he says make him feel alive, after three dark years of a pandemic. The Tony- and Emmy-winner joins us on this episode of "The Eagle" to talk about work, social media success and his show, coming to Proctors Theater in Schenectady in February.

Also on this episode, we'll hear more of our deep dive into the disappearance of Jaliek Rainwalker 15 years ago.

Two years ago, the Times Union set up a team of reporters to tackle trending topics, like why it was hard to find a Christmas tree this year, or why mechanics dread ice storms. Our readers devoured these quick-hit stories, and they swiftly became some of our most popular content. The reporter behind much of this team's success was Pete DeMola.

On this episode, we'll say farewell to DeMola, and take a look back at some of the rapid response team's most impactful stories.

Also on this episode, we'll hear a segment from the Times Union's newest podcast series "Rainwalker: The Lost Boy," which explores one of the Capital Region's most famous unsolved mysteries: the disappearance of Jaliek Rainwalker.

Police ramped up their search this week for a 14-year-old girl who went missing more than 6 weeks ago from a park in Schenectady. The warmer weather made it possible for divers to enter the nearby Mohawk river to search for the teen, whom police believe may have been the victim of foul play.

On this episode of "The Eagle," reporter Paul Nelson goes over the latest details in the search for Samantha Humphrey.

Also on this episode, Capitol Bureau reporter Raga Justin discusses Governor Kathy Hochul's plan to tackle the opioid epidemic in New York.

Retiring editorial eage editor Jay Jochnowitz has seen and done a lot during his 35-year career at the Times Union. From his days as the City Hall beat reporter to his tenure as Capital Bureau Chief, he has told some of the region's most important stories. Then, he found his stride as Editorial Page Editor, when he wrote one of the paper's most groundbreaking editorials calling for members of the Electoral College to reject former President Donald Trump in the 2016 election.

On this episode of "The Eagle," Jochnowitz takes a look back at his career, and a look ahead to what's next.

A nationwide "tridemic" is causing a shortage of over-the-counter medications for children. High rates of influenza, RSV and COVID-19 are behind the scarcity that has left shelves empty in grocery stores and pharmacies, and left many parents desperate for ways to bring their kids' fevers down.

On this episode of "The Eagle," Kristi Gustafson Barlette shares what she learned about the shortage, and the impact that it has had on New York's Capital Region.

In early December, a 59-year-old man was found dead in the room he rented at a house in Rock Hill, New York. The police and emergency responders who arrived on the scene after a 911 call from his housemate found no evidence of foul play. But there was something unsual about this case. The dead man had no identification, save a few pieces of mail among his posessions addressed to Robert Hoagland - a man who had gone missing under mysterious circumstances 9 years ago, nearly 100 miles away in Connecticut.

On this episode of "The Eagle," the Times Union's Phillip Pantuso talks about what we know so far of this bizarre story, which has baffled everyone from police to the man's family, and to the housemate who called him a best friend for the better part of the last decade.

Do you think you're bad at math? Or wonder why you didn't do very well in physics class? The reason might be that you didn't get a chance to develop a teachable set of skills called spatial reasoning. On this episode of "The Eagle," we'll talk about an effort by a team at Siena College to incorporate spatial reasoning into STEM classes.

Also on this episode, we'll get the latest on the status of several major film and television projects shot in the Capital Region during the last two years, including the second season of HBO's "The Gilded Age," "White House Plumbers," starring Woody Harrelson and "Mother's Milk," starring Hilary Swank.

There's a small but growing movement in New York pushing to legalize psilocybin, the hallucinogenic component of the recreational drug commonly referred to as magic mushrooms. The psychedelic fungi are illegal in most states, but research is starting to show there may be some mental and physical health benefits to taking them in a prescribed way.

On this episode of "The Eagle," Times Union health reporter Rachel Silberstein talks about the potential medicinal uses of psilocybin, and who is behind the push to decriminalize it. Also on this episode, reporter Abigail Rubel takes us back to driver's ed, explaining the nuances of the four-way stop.

The migration of people to the United States has played an important role in the the country's development over the last 400 years. University at Albany history professor Carl Bon Tempo has co-authored a comprehensive history of immigration to America, and the impact it has had on government, the economy, and culture. On this episode of "The Eagle," we spoke to Bon Tempo about his book and the impact of immigration on American history.

Also on this episode, we talk to Moira Penza, lead prosecutor in NXIVM founder Keith Raniere's trial, about her reflections on the case, and the conclusion of the HBO series "The Vow."

With inflation up, many of us are looking for ways to save money this holiday season. On this episode of “The Eagle,” we check in with the Times Union Shopportunist Shannon Fromma for a preview of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.

Also on this episode, we talk to Alliance for Positive Health Executive Director B. Kim Atkins about this year’s World AIDS Day, how the COVID-19 pandemic affected those living with HIV in the Capital Region, and how the landscape of the AIDS epidemic has changed in the last 40 years.

Election Day was a mixed bag of results in New York, where several key state and Congressional battleground races played out. New York races were among the most hotly contested in the nation, with tighter than expected outcomes that have implications for the balance of power across the country.

On this episode of “The Eagle,” we’ll discuss those races, along with returns in to two wholly different types of contests: ice cream and mullets. Stewart’s CEO and president Gary Dake joins us to talk about his company’s World Dairy Expo-winning ice cream flavor, and Scott Salvadore tells the tale of “The Lord’s Drapes,” crowned the best mullet in America.

UAPs (a.k.a. UFOs) are not just the stuff of science fiction, if you ask University at Albany physics professor Kevin Knuth. He's part of a team of researchers who study these mysterious craft, which have been clocked at impossible speeds and acceleration in the night sky.

On this episode of "The Eagle," we talk to Knuth about his research, which is part of the new documentary "A Tear in the Sky," narrated by William Shatner and now streaming on Amazon Prime.

Also on this episode, news editor Susan Mehalick discusses the week's top stories, including a Times Union investigation into what's happening with money the state allocated for homecare workers, what's going on with Capital Holiday Lights in the Park, and where you can find the best cider donuts.

UAPs (a.k.a. UFOs) are not just the stuff of science fiction, if you ask University at Albany physics professor Kevin Knuth. He's part of a team of researchers who study these mysterious craft, which have been clocked at impossible speeds and acceleration in the night sky.

On this episode of "The Eagle," we talk to Knuth about his research, which is part of the new documentary "A Tear in the Sky," narrated by William Shatner and now streaming on Amazon Prime.

Also on this episode, news editor Susan Mehalick discusses the week's top stories, including a Times Union investigation into what's happening with money the state allocated for homecare workers, what's going on with Capital Holiday Lights in the Park, and where you can find the best cider donuts.

From crème brûlée naan paired with a tamarind cocktail to a rhubarb galette matched with a concoction of Hudson Valley Currant Cassis, chilled rosé, orange liqueur and honey simple syrup, drinks and desserts...can go really well together.

On this episode of "The Eagle," food critics Steve Barnes and Susie Davidson Powell talk about the perfectly sweet pairings they chose for this year's "Essential Restaurants" guide.

Also on this episode, reporter Larry Rulison has the latest on the upcoming trial of Nauman Hussain, after a judge tossed the plea deal last month that would spare him prison time for the deaths of the 20 victims of the Schoharie limo crash.

From crème brûlée naan paired with a tamarind cocktail to a rhubarb galette matched with a concoction of Hudson Valley Currant Cassis, chilled rosé, orange liqueur and honey simple syrup, drinks and desserts...can go really well together.

On this episode of "The Eagle," food critics Steve Barnes and Susie Davidson Powell talk about the perfectly sweet pairings they chose for this year's "Essential Restaurants" guide.

Also on this episode, reporter Larry Rulison has the latest on the upcoming trial of Nauman Hussain, after a judge tossed the plea deal last month that would spare him prison time for the deaths of the 20 victims of the Schoharie limo crash.

The remains of a Delmar woman missing for nearly six months were found this week in Western Massachusetts. While the question of Meghan Marohn's whereabouts has finally been answered, the circumstances of her death are still shrouded in mystery. Investigators remain tight-lipped about may have happened to the 42-year-old poet and English teacher who never returned from a week-long getaway.

On this episode of "The Eagle," reporter Paul Nelson goes over what we know about Megan Marohn's disappearance and death.

Also on this episode, Shopportunist Shannon Fromma has some money-saving tips for football fans, and editor Casey Seiler discusses this winter's dire heating bill predictions and the region's newest Chick-fil-A.

The remains of a Delmar woman missing for nearly six months were found this week in Western Massachusetts. While the question of Meghan Marohn's whereabouts has finally been answered, the circumstances of her death are still shrouded in mystery. Investigators remain tight-lipped about may have happened to the 42-year-old poet and English teacher who never returned from a week-long getaway.

On this episode of "The Eagle," reporter Paul Nelson goes over what we know about Megan Marohn's disappearance and death.

Also on this episode, Shopportunist Shannon Fromma has some money-saving tips for football fans, and editor Casey Seiler discusses this winter's dire heating bill predictions and the region's newest Chick-fil-A.

Do you really have to be 21-years-old to buy a canister of whipped cream in New York? A new law barring the sale of nitrous oxide cartridges to minors has created a puzzling situation for grocery and convenient stores across the state. Some have started carding customers for the product, while the lawmaker who wrote the law says it's legal to sell the dessert topping spray to minors.

On this episode of "The Eagle," Capital Bureau reporter Melissa Manno explains the confusion, and whether we'll all be able to pile the fluffy white topping on our desserts.

Also on this episode, Hudson Valley reporter Lana Bellamy updates us on wildfires along the Shawangunk Ridge, and editor Casey Seiler discusses the stunning erasure of Nauman Hussain's guilty plea of criminally negligent homicide in the Schoharie limo crash.

Do you really have to be 21-years-old to buy a canister of whipped cream in New York? A new law barring the sale of nitrous oxide cartridges to minors has created a puzzling situation for grocery and convenient stores across the state. Some have started carding customers for the product, while the lawmaker who wrote the law says it's legal to sell the dessert topping spray to minors.

On this episode of "The Eagle," Capital Bureau reporter Melissa Manno explains the confusion, and whether we'll all be able to pile the fluffy white topping on our desserts.

Also on this episode, Hudson Valley reporter Lana Bellamy updates us on wildfires along the Shawangunk Ridge, and editor Casey Seiler discusses the stunning erasure of Nauman Hussain's guilty plea of criminally negligent homicide in the Schoharie limo crash.

The second and third largest hospital systems in New York's Capital Region are in negotiations to merge. One of them is governed by the ethical directives of the Catholic Church. The other is a secular system that operates the region's only inpatient healthcare facility dedicated entirely to women. Critics are fearful that if a merger goes through, it would deprive an already medically underserved community of reproductive care options, including abortion.

On this episode of "The Eagle," health reporter Rachel Silberstein discusses the implications of a merger between St. Peter's Health Partners and Ellis Medicine.

Also on this episode, Times Union Editor Casey Seiler goes over the results of the state's second primary election of the year, and new arts and entertainment reporter Katie Kiessling talks about her first impressions of the Capital Region scene.

The second and third largest hospital systems in New York's Capital Region are in negotiations to merge. One of them is governed by the ethical directives of the Catholic Church. The other is a secular system that operates the region's only inpatient healthcare facility dedicated entirely to women. Critics are fearful that if a merger goes through, it would deprive an already medically underserved community of reproductive care options, including abortion.

On this episode of "The Eagle," health reporter Rachel Silberstein discusses the implications of a merger between St. Peter's Health Partners and Ellis Medicine.

Also on this episode, Times Union Editor Casey Seiler goes over the results of the state's second primary election of the year, and new arts and entertainment reporter Katie Kiessling talks about her first impressions of the Capital Region scene.

The Times Union filed a motion this week in U.S. District Court asking the Department of Justice to unseal a search warrant the FBI used to raid former President Donald J. Trump's Mar-A-Lago estate Monday. On Thursday, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland initiated the process, revealing he personally authorized the warrant.

On this episode of "The Eagle," Times Union Editor Casey Seiler explains what exactly happened this week and what it means.

Also on this episode, we'll talk to Ben Williams of the Connect Center for Youth in Cohoes about his work and inspiration, and we'll discuss the latest developments in a 62-year-old cold case from Colonie.

Amtrak resumed service west of Albany this week after debris from the crumbling Central Warehouse fell perilously close to the tracks. Service had been suspended for three days and caused no shortage of logistical challenges for Amtrak workers, passengers, and city and county officials.

On this episode of "The Eagle," former Times Union business editor Eric Anderson talks about the impact of the track closure, and ongoing issues with rail infrastructure in the region.

Also on this episode, we'll talk to hiking enthusiast Stash Rusin about his side hobby—tracking down plane crashes in the Catskills.

Since 2010, New York State employees needed to provide 10 years of service in order to become eligible to collect pension benefits upon retirement. But tucked into the state’s $220 billion budget this April was a little surprise — now it’s only 5 years of service to become fully vested. The change means tens of thousands of current and former state workers may now be eligible for pension benefits.

On this episode of “The Eagle,” we talk to reporter Rick Karlin, who looked into these under-the-radar pension reforms.

Also on this episode, Times Union Editor Casey Seiler has the latest on Albany County’s first case of monkeypox, and shares where to go to beat the extreme heat around the Capital Region.

Video of a Capital Region news anchor who appeared disheveled and incoherent during a live broadcast went viral last week. CBS6 anchor Heather Kovar blamed exhaustion and sleep-deprivation for her peculiar behavior on air, and the station has suspended her from anchoring pending an investigation.

On this episode of "The Eagle," Kristi Gustafson Barlette explains her take on the situation, and how it may be a sign of something more problematic within the local TV news industry.

Also on this episode, Times Union Editor Casey Seiler goes over the week's top headlines, which include news of the state's top judge stepping down, and the choice of Saratoga county for distribution of the monkey pox vaccine.

The Times Union was ready for its close-up last week when the production of "Mother's Milk," an upcoming film starring Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank, took over the the newsroom for a day of filming. The gritty noir-thriller casts Swank as a Times Union reporter whose life and work are inextricably tied to the worsening opioid epidemic gripping the nation in 2016.

On this episode of "The Eagle," we'll get a glimpse behind the scenes from Editor Casey Seiler, who was present during filming in the newsroom.

Also on this episode, we'll take a look back at the groundbreaking stories of departing reporter Massarah Mikati, and we'll talk to Sacramento Kings' shooting guard Kevin Huerter.

More than 400 victims of sexual abuse have filed claims against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany under New York's Child Victims Act. Some of those claims include allegations against the former leader of the diocese, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard.

On this episode of "The Eagle," Investigations Editor Brendan Lyons talks about the latest allegations leveled against Hubbard by two brothers from Warren county. (This segment contains descriptions of situations that may be disturbing for some. Please listen with care.)

Also on this episode, we'll go over the results of the gubernatorial primary and discuss the sudden movement in a decades-old cold case.

The circumstances surrounding the killing of a Black transgender woman in her Albany apartment last month thus far are shrouded in mystery. Investigators have made very few details public, other than to say 30-year-old Ahsid Hemingway-Powell was murdered.

On this episode of "The Eagle," we'll learn more about Hemingway-Powell's life and the investigation of her death.

Also on this episode, we'll discuss the U.S. Supreme Court ruling handed down this week that struck down New York's concealed carry restrictions.

Atypical animal news continues to feed Capital Region headlines, with an alleged mountain lion sighting and a high court ruling denying the “personhood” of an elephant.

On this episode of “The Eagle,” we’ll talk about those headlines, and preview the upcoming primary election in New York.

Also on this episode, we’ll talk to local BIPOC LGBTQ activist Tandra LaGrone, and we’ll bid farewell to a beloved Hearst Fellow.

Activists released hundreds of cockroaches in an Albany courtroom this week, causing a scene that shuttered proceedings and went viral.

That is one of the more unique headlines we've seen in the newsroom and we'll discuss it on this episode of "The Eagle."

We'll also hear from Capital Pride Center leader Nathaniel Gray as Pride celebrations commence across the region, and we'll learn about how a local cricket league is trying to grow the sport.

As the legislative session ends in Albany, lawmakers made a final push to pass bills on gun restrictions and abortion rights. The former was a focused effort following a mass shooting at a Buffalo grocery store, and the latter stemmed from a leaked Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade.

On this episode of "The Eagle" podcast, we talk to Times Union Capital Bureau reporter Joshua Solomon, who's been covering the end-of-session activity.

Also on this episode, Times Union Editor Casey Seiler discusses the commotion over a bear who wandered into the city of Albany this week.

There are few annual traditions more beloved in Albany than the annual blossoming of hundreds of thousands of tulips in Washington Park each May. Tulip blooms are dazzlingly vibrant but short-lived, lasting mere weeks. But they are perennial plants, and there is gardening work to be done once they wilt and fade that will ensure they return next year. On this episode of "The Eagle," Albany City Gardener Jena Commerford shares tips for tending tulips.

Also on this episode, education reporter Kathleen Moore discusses the results of local school board elections that saw a record voter turnout this week.

Last year, 26-year-old Max Ledwidge jumped to his death at the Grand Canyon. His suicide was the climax of a mental unraveling that began as the pandemic took hold. The former software sales executive left his job in Boston and embarked on a cross-country spiritual odyssey that led him to the sleepy college town of Cobleskill, where a little-known religious order decided Ledwidge needed to undergo an exorcism.

On this episode of "The Eagle," Times Union Editor Casey Seiler and investigative reporter Chris Bragg delve into this strange and tragic tale.

Also on this episode, we talk to filmmaker John Holser, whose new documentary attempts to solve the century-old cold case murder in Rensselaer County that inspired the plot of "Twin Peaks."

Early this week, Politico published an alleged draft of a Supreme Court decision written by Justice Samuel Alito that overturns Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide.

On this episode of "The Eagle," Times Union Editor Casey Seiler and health reporter Rachel Silberstein check in with Albany Law Professor and Constitutional Law Expert Vin Bonventre to discuss the implication of this news.

Trigger warning: This episode contains descriptions of events and situations that may be distressing. Please listen with care.

The gruesome slaying of a beloved physician assistant in his suburban Albany home has shocked many in the Capital Region. While the man accused of the murder has been charged, the motive for committing such a brutal act is still unclear.

On this episode of “The Eagle,” Managing Editor Brendan Lyons goes through what we know about the investigation, and what happens next in the case.

Also on this episode, are you thinking of buying a home? We’ll take a look at how the rise in inflation and interest rates is affecting the market here in the Capital Region.

The history of beer and brewing is often very much intertwined with that of the human race. For thousands of years, people have been talking politics over a few pints (or similar liquid volume).

That is especially true of the Capital Region, where there was nearly as much politicking in pubs as there was in the halls of city and state government in the early 20th century.

On this episode of “The Eagle,” Albany Ale Project co-founder Craig Gravina and Maeve McEneny Johnson of Discover Albany discuss what was going on in the worlds of beer and Albany politics in the year 1905, and how the twain met.

Also on this episode, we’ll reveal some of this year’s Best of the Capital Region winners, including Best Donuts and Best Hikes.

When tennis superstar Serena Williams opened up about the harrowing experience of giving birth to her daughter in 2017, it put a spotlight on an alarming disparity: Black women in the U.S. are three times more likely to die of a pregnancy-related cause than white women. Last year, the White House officially recognized April 11 to 17 as Black Maternal Health Week.

In the Capital Region, a coalition of midwives, doulas and healthcare advocates are working to improve outcomes for Black mothers by seeking birth justice. On this episode of “The Eagle,” we talk to doula Shia Overby about their work.

Also on this episode, Times Union Editor Casey Seiler discusses the resignation of New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin amid allegations of corruption, the fate of Albany’s Central Warehouse, and the dozens of cats and kittens dumped after hours at a local animal shelter.

"The Olympics of Irish Dancing," as it's called by participants, draws hundreds of the world's best Irish dancers annually. It's been three years since the last World Irish Dancing Championship, thanks to the pandemic. The competition is back this year, though — and a handful of talented Capital Region dancers — are in Belfast to compete.

On this episode, we speak to three locals who qualified for the championship about what it takes to compete and why they love Irish dance.

Also, Editorial Director Tracy Ziemer shares what the past year of covering the people, places and issues of the Hudson Valley has taught us. Plus, Times Union Editor Casey Seiler answers the question, "are we irrational for loving upstate New York?"

For five weeks, journalists at Maye Sense, an online news site serving people of Slavyansk in the Donetsk region of Eastern Ukraine, have been working non-stop, largely without pay, and sometimes in situations where their safety is not guaranteed.

Two weeks ago, most of them made the difficult decision to decamp to the relative safety of Western Ukraine, where they continue their work from more than 1,000 kilometers away.

On this special episode of “The Eagle,” Times Union Editor-in-Chief Casey Seiler checks back in with Maye Sense's editor, Valerii Garmash, to learn what it’s like being a journalist in Ukraine right now.

In 2011, President Barack Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously to an optometrist from Delmar, New York. His name was Dr. Tom Little, and he had been murdered along with nine other foreign aid workers in a remote area of Afghanistan while on a medical mission months earlier.

This week, a film about his life and the legacy of his three decades of work to bring eye care to impoverished Afghans will premiere at the Albany Film Festival. On this episode of “The Eagle,” filmmaker Dan Swinton talks about Dr. Tom Little and making the film "The Hard Places."

Also on this episode, we'll take a walk down historic Pearl Street in Albany with reporter Shayla Colon, and we'll talk top headlines—including consternation over taxpayers footing a chunk of the bill for a new stadium in Buffalo, and the latest on Anna Sorokin's temporary stay of deportation.

After the pandemic took hold in 2020, the Capital Region saw a significant uptick in violence. More than 30 people were killed in Albany alone in 2020 and 2021.

As the community was reeling from these tragedies and local authorities struggled to address the mounting problem, a local DJ and music promoter had an idea to create a safe space and encourage creativity in the areas hardest hit by the violence.

On this episode of "The Eagle," DJ Hollyw8d talks about putting together the "More Music Less Violence" performance series, and why he believes the region is brimming with promising talent in the music industry.

On April 3, 1981, a farmer found a body in a field in Delmar, New York. Forensics at the time determined it was a male, but his identity remained a mystery to investigators.

Four decades later, it became the Capital Region’s first ever unidentified persons case solved using familial DNA and genetic genealogy.

On this episode of "The Eagle," Pete DeMola and Jessica Marshall take a deep dive into a case full of twists and turns, mysteries and technology, and the quest to find a lost soul.

Almost a decade ago, Nikita Nakonchnyi spent his summers working as a cook at a resort in Lake George. Three weeks ago, he was a typical 20-something living in Kyiv, Ukraine, and teaching digital marketing. This week, the 27-year-old helped blow up a bridge in a small village outside the city with molotov cocktails and drums of diesel to keep Russians from invading.

On this episode, we catch up with Nakonchnyi and discuss the situation in his country.

Also on this episode, we'll talk about a completely different kind of cocktail—the take-home kind from bars and restaurants, which may soon become permanently legal in New York.

Finally, we talk to "As the World Turns" alum Yvonne Perry about her new role as an intimacy director for theater, television and movie productions.

In the week since Russia invaded Ukraine, Times Union journalists have been reporting on the impact the conflict is having in New York, which is home to the largest Ukrainian immigrant population in the U.S.

On this episode, we connect with Valeriy Garmash, editor of the Slovyansk-based news website 6262.com.ua. Just 100 miles from the Russian border, his staff is reporting from the embattled Donetsk region to get news to its citizens, many of whom are likely facing imminent food, power and internet shortages.

Also, Times Union columnist Paul Grondahl tells the story of a resilient woman currently holed up in a hotel basement in Kyiv with her children.

One in three people who have had COVID-19 may experience a wide range of health issues in the weeks or months following infection, according to the CDC. Common long COVID symptoms include headaches, gastrointestinal issues and “brain fog.” Because research on the causes and treatments are far from conclusive, however, many health care providers are unprepared or unwilling to treat these patients.

On this episode, Times Union health reporter Bethany Bump explains the latest research and how long COVID has affected a local family.

Also on this episode, reporter Emilie Munson discusses our latest investigative series, which delves into the state of the horse racing industry in New York and how the sport is grappling with questions about its funding, oversight, drug testing and treatment of race horses.

A child missing for three years was found safe this week in an Ulster County home. Police discovered the 7-year-old girl hidden in a secret compartment under a stairwell. She disappeared in Tioga County in 2019, following a visit with her biological mother, who no longer had custody of the child. Reporter Roger Hannigan Gilson tells the story.

Also on this episode: Education reporter Rachel Silberstein talks about her reporting on opposition to a statewide mask mandate in Capital Region schools, which has resulted in student walk-outs in multiple districts.

Editor-in-Chief Casey Seiler goes over the week’s top news, including a teacher arrested for allegedly installing a camera in a staff bathroom at a local middle school, and a Saratoga official who blamed gangsta rap for violence in the Spa City.

For Omar Edwards, tapping is not a form of dance. It’s a way of communicating and expressing himself that transcends that narrow definition of the performance art. Edwards, whose cousin is tap legend Savion Glover, is currently playing the Tap Griot, an omniscient narrator who reflects the inner turmoil of four Tuskegee Airmen through tap in the stage drama “Fly.”

On this episode, the Times Union’s Steve Barnes talks to Edwards about the show, his craft, and life lessons he has absorbed from tapping.

Also on this episode, Leigh Hornbeck and Jessica Marshall discuss the doping scandal that’s rocked the sport of figure skating at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Plus, Shayla Colon talks about a special Jewish head covering made in the Capital Region that appeared in an episode of the “Sex and the City” sequel series, “And Just Like That.”

Nearly 300 years ago, Ten Broeck Mansion was the home of a decorated Revolutionary War general. Today, the house on Arbor Hill is a museum dedicated to preserving the history of the property, which includes telling the stories of enslaved persons who lived and worked there. But there is a disconnect between the neighborhood of today and the historic site. Arbor Hill is a predominantly Black neighborhood, and one of Albany’s poorest. Many in the community either don’t know much about Ten Broeck, or view it as a shrine to a wealthy white family who owned enslaved persons.

On this episode of “The Eagle,” we talk to aspiring historian Dayonna Bowles, who has made it a mission to connect the community of Arbor Hill to Ten Broeck, and transform it into a place of positive community engagement and connection.

Also on this episode, a local mother lost her 11-year-old son to gun violence 18 months ago. This week, she died of a broken heart, some say. Deputy City Editor Lauren Stanforth talks to the family of LaToya Alston.

Last summer the city of Troy, New York, was transformed into late-19th century New York City for the filming of Julian Fellowes’ new HBO period drama “The Gilded Age.” But that wasn’t the only Capital Region connection to the production. Actress Kelley Curran, who plays the ambitious ladies maid Turner in the series, grew up in Slingerlands. On this episode of “The Eagle,” Curran talks to reporter Ken Crowe about the show, her role and how she felt about seeing Troy on the small screen.

Also on this episode, New York State Public Radio’s Karen DeWitt talks about her experience as the longest tenured woman in the state’s Capitol press corps, and what it’s like to be a female reporter now that Gov. Kathy Hochul is in charge.

The 2018 limousine crash in upstate New York that killed 20 people remains one of the deadliest U.S. transportation accidents in decades. The man responsible for putting the condemned vehicle on the road — flouting failed state inspections — will not do any prison time. Nor will any punishment befall his father, the owner of the limousine company and a well-known FBI informant.

This week, New York Magazine reporter Ben Ryder Howe published a deep dive on the crash and the Times Union reporting that helped drive the investigation. On this episode of “The Eagle,” Howe shares what he learned, and if he thinks we'll ever find out whether the FBI helped protect the people responsible for the crash.

Also on this episode, we’ll talk to New York Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins about controversial criminal justice reforms, and we’ll wrap our heads around a Minecraft version of Albany.

The Empire State is home to more than 7,000 dams. And recently, Times Union reporters Emilie Munson and Rick Karlin discovered that some of them are in questionable shape...and not all of them have actually been rated for safety.

On this episode of "The Eagle," we'll take a deep dive into their investigation to answer the question of whether we can rest assured New York's dams are safe, or we should all be worried they'll fail.

Also on this episode, we'll talk about the effects Omicron is having on the region, the potential impact of the end of the state's eviction moratorium, and the solving of a 41-year-old cold case.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul stood in front of a sparse crowd of lawmakers in the State Assembly chamber this week and insisted she was not there to make history. She was, in fact, making history, as the first woman to give the annual address.

Her 35-minute speech—short relative to the standards of her scandal-plagued predecessor Andrew M. Cuomo—promised a “brighter future for New York,” including ethics reforms, term limits and the return of to-go cocktails.

On this episode of “The Eagle,” we take a closer look at the new governor’s agenda and the effects of overhauling the state's bail law. We also talk to “American Idol” winner Taylor Hicks and remember a notable Hudson Valley resident. (Hint: his name rhymes with Bavid Dowie.)

New York Attorney General Letitia James' office released a trove of materials this week that added dramatic new detail to its investigation of former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo. From catty, expletive-laden text messages between staffers to testimony that revealed Chris Cuomo was deeply involved in helping his brother, the newly released material reveals how top aides and loyalists responded to an escalating series of allegations of sexual misconduct leveled against the former governor.

Casey Seiler, Brendan Lyons and Rachel Silberstein discuss what they learned from the material, and what it means for Cuomo and his allies.

Also on this episode, photographer and author Chris Arnade recently took a walk across Albany. Columnist Chris Churchill caught up with him to find out more about his thoughts on New York’s capital city.

Finally, dining critic Susie Davidson Powell offers a few suggestions for seasonal cocktails (and mocktails) to try at holiday parties.

In 1969, filmmaker Sir Michael Lindsay-Hogg shot more than 50 hours of footage of the Beatles as they wrote their final iconic album, "Let it Be." From the first rehearsals to the impromptu rooftop concert that turned out to be their last performance, the intimate clips captured the final days before the Fab Four split.

Today, those recordings are featured in "The Beatles: Get Back," a new Disney+ docu-series about those last days by "Lord of the Rings" trilogy director Peter Jackson.

On this episode of "The Eagle," Times Union Editor-in-Chief Casey Seiler connects with Lindsey-Hogg, now a Hudson resident in his 80s, about his film, the new series, and what it was like working with the Beatles.

Also on this episode, Brendan Lyons discusses the key takeaways of the state Assembly investigation report into the alleged misconduct of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. And Shaniece Holmes-Brown talks about covering a new service for unsheltered people in the region.

World Series champ Ian Anderson returned home to Clifton Park earlier this month, still taking in the enormity of winning MLB's grand championship during his rookie season with the Atlanta Braves.

"American Idol" finalist Madison VanDenburg came home to Cohoes, fresh from Nashville where she recorded her new single, "The Light of Christmas."

On this episode of The Eagle, Times Union reporters James Allen and Shrishti Mathew caught up with these notable locals who've come home for the holidays and learned what they've been up to lately.

Also on this episode, education reporter Rachel Silberstein explains Critical Race Theory and why lately it's been a controversial topic at local school board meetings.

Appointments at pediatricians’ offices and pharmacies across the Capital Region were snatched up fast this week as providers began offering Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine to 5- to 11-year-olds.

On this episode of The Eagle, Kristi Gustafson Barlette shares how local parents feel about the process, which she learned through social media.

Also, Casey Seiler and Rob Gavin deliver a dramatic reading from the newly released transcripts of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo's testimony in the state attorney general's investigation into allegations of his sexual misconduct. And Shopportunist Shannon Fromma shares some leads on sweet Black Friday deals.

Rick Ross spent more than a decade fighting lawsuits leveled against him by Keith Raniere and NXIVM, after the cult deprogrammer publicly criticized the purported self-help organization’s practices. In 2018, Ross ended up testifying at Raniere’s trial, which ended in a conviction on sex-trafficking and other crimes, and earned him a sentence of 120 years in prison.

Today, Raniere is in prison, and all other key NXIVM players who were charged with crimes have been sentenced. On this episode of The Eagle, Rick Ross joins Casey Seiler to discuss his thoughts as the NXIVM saga seemingly winds down.

Also on this episode, reporter Shrishti Mathew celebrates her first Diwali as a Capital Region resident, and explains some of the traditions associated with the Festival of Lights.

The city of Mechanicville gets its drinking water from a small reservoir in Saratoga County. A few busy beavers who also call the area home are determined to dam up the lone tributary that leads there. The situation has pit the two in a high stakes chess match of late, with city officials frantically tearing down dams to save the water supply, and beavers building them back up practically overnight.

On this episode of The Eagle, reporter Kathleen Moore tags along with a Mechanicville city official to see the beavers' handiwork, and find out why it's such a headache.

Also on this episode, movie buff and features writer C.J. Lais talks about his favorite horror movies just in time for Halloween.

A decade and a half ago, Steve Barnes made the case to write a blog: “There’s a real appetite for restaurant news,” the food and entertainment writer argued to an audience of skeptical editors who finally relented. Today, Table Hopping is the go-to source for dining and restaurant happenings in the Capital Region.

Whether it’s a tiff between competing restaurant owners, the debut of a new ethnic cuisine, or the closing of a beloved dining institution, Barnes has written about it. On this episode of The Eagle, he recalls Table Hopping’s humble beginnings and shares his favorite stories.

Also on this episode, sports writer Abigail Rubel speaks with new University at Albany Division I men’s basketball coach Dwayne Killings, whose coaching philosophy revolves around the concept of getting players to focus on a healthy mentality as well as the physical game.

More than 400 refugees will settle in Albany this year, but what happens after they arrive?

On this episode of The Eagle, reporter Massarah Mikati shares how the lack of quality affordable housing in the region is burdening local refugee support organizations trying to help people who have fled violence and oppression in their home countries settle down in the U.S.

Also on this episode, subpoenaed records show Cuomo accuser Brittany Commisso visited the governor's mansion in on a day she said former Gov. Cuomo groped her. Managing Editor Brendan Lyons explains what that means for the ongoing investigations into Cuomo's alleged sexual misconduct.

In April of 1865, President Abraham Lincoln's coffin traveled from Washington to Illinois on a historic funeral train. It stopped in Albany along the way, offering lawmakers and citizens a chance to pay their respects. And on the anniversary of that posthumous visit, many have reported that the ghost of the funeral train still rumbles through Albany. It's one of the city's most famous supernatural tales.

The story of Lincoln's connection to the region goes even deeper. Albany historian Maeve McEneny Johnson shares the spooky legend.

Also on this episode, why does New York still mark its highway exits sequentially rather than by mileage like the rest of the country? Reporter Abigail Rubel tackles that surprisingly complicated question.

New York's vaccine mandate for most healthcare workers took effect this week, forcing hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities statewide to put workers on unpaid leave with a single directive: get vaccinated, or lose your job. It has spawned several lawsuits, including one that seeks to exclude those who claim religious exemption.

In the Capital Region, providers including Albany Medical Center, St. Peter's Health Partners and Ellis Medicine have suspended hundreds of workers, exacerbating existing staffing shortages.

On this episode of The Eagle, health reporter Bethany Bump explains how area hospitals are dealing with the mandate, and the impact it will have on the region.

Also, columnist Chris Churchill weighs in on two of the region's most contentious congressional races, and Editor-in-Chief Casey Seiler talks about the death of Commander Cody (a.k.a. George Frayne) and the arena formerly known as the Times Union Center.

When Pulitzer prize-winning author William Kennedy put his five-year-old son Brendan to bed one night many years ago, he made up a story about a boy whose belly button was stolen. The improvised bedtime story went on to become a published children's book in 1986, co-written with his then-teenaged son. Almost 40 years later, the pair is hoping their story and others will inspire a love of literature among kids in the Capital Region and beyond.

On this episode of The Eagle, the "Ironweed" author and his son talk to Times Union Editor-in-Chief Casey Seiler about writing together, and about their favorite childhood books.

Also on this episode, social justice activists are asking the city of Saratoga Springs to drop charges against a dozen Black Lives Matter demonstrators involved in an incident during a protest in July. They say the arrests – which included the use of shackles for low-level offenses – are racially motivated intimidation tactics by police. Police say they are merely trying to balance civil rights with public safety. Reporter Wendy Libertore discusses the latest developments in this ongoing story.

During a week that saw rising COVID-19 positivity, escalating tension between police and social justice activists in Saratoga Springs, and continued political fallout from a potentially illegal leak in the state's ethics oversight commission, a little levity came from news of the return of an annual naked stroll through Howe Caverns.

Also on this episode, Kristi Gustafson Barlette talks about her recent column on kids returning to school in masks due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The column solicited a lot of responses from our readers – on both sides of the masking debate.

And finally, did reporter Ken Crowe see a ghost while visiting a Lansingburgh house? We'll hear more about his experience at the allegedly haunted abode that once played host to prohibition era gangster Legs Diamond.

In the two decades since the September 11, 2001 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people, annual memorials have been an opportunity for many to reflect and heal. For others, they are a constant reminder of shock and loss that remains as fresh as it was 20 years ago.

On this episode of The Eagle, Times Union columnist Paul Grondahl recounts his experience covering the aftermath of the attacks from Ground Zero, something he never imagined he'd have had to do when he boarded an early train to Manhattan that morning on assignment for another story.

Business reporter Shayla Colon talks with her father about her mother's death in the South Tower collapse, and the impact that tragic loss has had on their lives.

Finally, Capital Region residents who either lost loved ones in the attacks or who had helped with the search and rescue afterward reflect on what the 20-year anniversary means to them.

The situations described in this episode may be upsetting to some. Please listen with care.

TV news anchor and reporter Paulina Bucka left Newschannel 13 this year after just four months on the job. On this episode of The Eagle, she talks to Kristi Gustafson Barlette about why she left the station, why she thinks so many of her fellow local broadcast journalists are leaving the industry, and why she’s starting a new podcast.

Also on this episode, nearly three years after a tragic limo crash in Schoharie county killed 20 people, the operator of the limo company pleads guilty to criminally negligent homicide, incurring no prison time. Times Union Editor-in-Chief Casey Seiler discusses the plea deal and other news of the week, including the effects of the devastating downstate flooding from Hurricane Ida and the tearful homecoming of a local mother and her four children, who escaped Afghanistan to start a new life in Albany.

Finally, we bid farewell to retiring sportswriter Pete Dougherty with a look back at his career.

This week the Capital Region saw a tropical storm, the installation of New York's first woman as governor, the tragic drowning of a state trooper, and a call for the attorney general to investigate an alleged leak of confidential information from the state's ethics oversight commission. But none of these headlines came close to the traffic the Times Union saw on its reporting on Captain, former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's dog.

The energetic shepherd mix was thrust into the spotlight this week, mere days before National Dog Day. The departing governor, who officially resigned on Monday, left his canine pal at the Executive Mansion—after he moved out. Did he leave the pooch behind for good? State police sources say yes, Cuomo says no. It's the latest in a string of controversy surrounding the former governor that has bled over into the start of Gov. Kathy Hochul's term. On this episode of The Eagle, Times Union Editor-in-Chief Casey Seiler and Capitol Bureau Managing Editor Brendan Lyons discuss Captain's fate, as well as the first steps of the Hochul administration.

Also on this episode, business reporter Shayla Colon was looking for a place to live in the Capital Region when she stumbled on a common real estate scam. And then she did what any good reporter would do— investigated it.

Should kids be forced to wear face coverings at school this fall? As COVID-10 cases increase across the state, most schools will implement a universal mask policy – but some parents strongly oppose mask mandates. On this episode of "The Eagle," Times Union Editor-in-Chief Casey Seiler and Managing Editor Susan Mehalick discuss the week's top headlines, including the story of an Albany mom who is desperately trying to get her children out of Afghanistan. Plus, Cuomo's upcoming departure from the Capitol has us reminiscing about the time he f-bombed a Times Union reporter. Also on this episode, reporter Ed McKinley discusses his reporting on the Child Victim's Act – and the revelation that the Albany Diocese sent priests accused of sexually abusing children to treatment centers, instead of alerting law enforcement. McKinley, a Hearst Fellow, just wrapped up his time at the Times Union and is now the Texas state capitol for Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express News. We'll miss you, Ed!

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has submitted his resignation. What comes next?

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Buffalo Democrat, will become the first female governor in New York's history. But she inherits a state still reeling from the scandal surrounding her predecessor, and facing rising delta variant positivity.

On this episode of "The Eagle," Times Union Editor-in-Chief Casey Seiler and Managing Editor Brendan Lyons weigh in on what New Yorkers can expect to happen in the next few weeks, as the transition takes place.

Also on this episode, we'll take a look back in time at the heyday of The Knickerbocker News, the Times Union's historic sister paper.

One of the women who has accused embattled New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of sexual harassment is a current staffer named Brittany Commisso.

Referred to as "Executive Assistant #1" in State Attorney General Tish James' scathing report released last week, Commisso alleges the governor groped her at the Executive Mansion in November. She has come forward and identified herself this week in an exclusive interview with the Times Union and CBS News.

On this special episode of "The Eagle," we'll hear from Commisso herself, as well as from Capitol Bureau Managing Editor Brendan Lyons, who broke the initial story of Commisso's allegations in April.

Embattled New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo faces a hailstorm of troubles this week—including growing calls for his resignation—after New York State Attorney General Letitia James released a scathing report that determined he sexually harassed 11 women, and broke several state and federal laws.

On this episode of The Eagle, Times Union Editor-in-Chief Casey Seiler and Capitol Bureau Managing Editor Brendan Lyons, whose calls with the governor's top aides were included as evidence in the report, go through what happened, and what it portends for Cuomo.

Also on this episode, why are we seeing so many local on-air personalities leave the industry this year? Kristi Gustafson Barlette weighs in.

Is there a cache worth millions ensconced somewhere in the Hudson Valley? Treasure hunters have long believed the early-20th century New York gangster Dutch Schultz hinted at hidden money and gold during delirious ramblings to police on his deathbed. Nothing has ever been unearthed, yet the area in and around Phoenicia, New York, remains a destination for those who are convinced it exists. On this episode of The Eagle, Hudson Valley News Editor Cloey Callahan talks about the legend.

Also on this episode, Times Union Editor-in-Chief Casey Seiler and members of the Editorial Board remember legendary journalist Harry Rosenfeld.

From Secretariat and American Pharoah and Tiz the Law and Bodacious Tatas, what goes into naming a thoroughbred racehorse? And what are the rules? On this episode of The Eagle, Times Union sports reporter Abigail Rubel explains common strategies and naming conventions, and what's not allowed by The Jockey Club.

Also on this episode, education reporter Rachel Silberstein speaks to UAlbany President Havidán Rodríguez about the challenges of increasing diversity among tenured faculty. Plus, columnist Paul Grondahl talks about the re-opening of a Turkish-American cultural center in the Capital Region, which previously closed over fears of political retribution from the Turkish government.

What happens to used cooking oil after restaurants have finished with it?

A criminal syndicate has developed a sophisticated scheme to steal the grease from Capital Region eateries and sell it on the black market. On this episode of The Eagle, reporter Pete DeMola talks about his investigation into the claims of a Buffalo-based oil recycling outfit that estimates the string of recent thefts are costing them $300,000 per week.

Also on this episode, reporter Massarah Mikati discusses her profile of two Schenectady women who lost a loved one to gun violence.

A federal judge sentenced Allison Mack to three years in prison this week for her role supplying sex "slaves" to NXIVM leader Keith Raniere. Times Union reporter Rob Gavin and Eagle host Jessica Marshall traveled to Brooklyn for the hearing, where one of Mack's victims compared her to Ghislaine Maxwell, the alleged enabler of late sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein. On this episode of The Eagle, Gavin and Marshall they discuss what went on inside—and outside—the courtroom.

Also on this episode, reporter Wendy Liberatore has the latest on a controversial Saratoga Springs meeting, during which city officials blamed the social justice movement and "gang members" from Albany for a recent uptick in violence downtown.

Former television actress and high-ranking NXIVM member Allison Mack awaits her sentence June 30 for crimes involving Keith Raniere’s cult-like organization. On this episode of The Eagle, reporter Rob Gavin talks to Tabby Chapman, a former NXIVM coach who worked closely with Mack for a time. Chapman shares her thoughts about the sentencing and experiences with Mack, recalling both an infectious charisma and the "Smallville" star's unpredictable darker side.

Also on this episode, reporter Ed McKinley takes a deep dive into the Child Victims Act as the two-year "look-back" window for filing lawsuits comes to a close.

As the country prepared this month to celebrate Juneteenth National Independence Day, Collectiveffort's Jamel Mosely spent time getting to know Alice Green, Barbara Smith and Earl Thorpe, three trailblazing Black elders in the Capital Region. His filmed interviews became part of Hearst's Lift Every Voice project, which shared stories, experiences and reflections on being Black in America.

On this episode of The Eagle, Mosely talks about his vision for the project, and what he learned from the trio of icons.

Also on this episode, Massarah Mikati and Eduardo Medina discuss more of their work on A City Divided, a reporting series delving into how redlining in Albany splintered the city along racial lines that have endured for decades.

Nearly a third of the population of the city of Albany is Black. The vast majority of those residents live in only three neighborhoods: West Hill, Arbor Hill and the South End. These neighborhoods have the city’s highest poverty rates and lowest percentages of homeownership.

On this episode of The Eagle, reporters Massarah Mikati and Eduardo Medina discuss their investigation of how the process of redlining almost a century ago splintered New York's capital city along racial lines, and how it locked in pervasive segregation and economic inequities that persist today.

What's it like inside one of those massive Amazon fulfillment centers? Times Union reporter Rick Karlin paid a rare visit to the first upstate New York facility of its kind in Schodack this week. On this episode of The Eagle, he tells of a "warehouse on steroids," where hydrogen-powered forklifts, box-building robots and high-tech COVID-19 protocols are all contained within a structure the size of a mall.

Also on this episode, reporter Chris Bragg discusses Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's unwillingness to release records about his book, "American Crisis."

And we'll hear about ancestral homeland by the Hudson River that has been returned to the Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians.

Milton resident and adoptee Cindy Dort has spent half her life searching for biological family. But it has not resulted in the happy ending you'd see on TV shows like TLC's "Long Lost Family." Instead, hers is a rare case marked by twists, turns, dead ends, uncertainty and tragedy.

On this episode of The Eagle: A Times Union Podcast, reporter Leigh Hornbeck and Cindy Dort recount the story of her ill-fated quest to find out where she came from.

Also on this episode, reporter Claire Bryan takes a deep dive into controversy centered on a local girls soccer club team, and Times Union Editor Casey Seiler discusses an alarming spate of shooting deaths and violence that has occurred in the region this month.

The now-convicted NXIVM ringleader Keith Raniere is in federal prison, most likely for the rest of his life. High-ranking members of his inner circle still await sentence hearing dates. And a small faction of former members remain loyal to Raniere as he attempts to clear his name on appeal.

The ongoing NXIVM saga is the focus of former VICE senior editor and Vancouver-based investigative reporter Sarah Berman's new book, “Don’t Call it a Cult.” On this episode of The Eagle, Berman talks to Times Union cops and courts reporter Rob Gavin about the book.

Also on this episode, we say goodbye to one of our Hearst Fellows, and sportswriter Tim Wilkin gives us a dispatch from the Pimlico Race Course ahead of the Preakness Stakes.

Who gets to make what food? When does cooking cross the line from culinary appreciation to appropriation of another culture's cuisine? On this episode of The Eagle, a diverse panel of chefs, restaurateurs and culture observers discuss this contentious issue, and how it affects the Capital Region food scene.

Also on this episode, reporter Shrishti Mathew talks about anxiety within the local Indian community as they watch a COVID-19 outbreak ravage India from afar. And singer-songwriter Michael Jerling remembers his friend, local music icon Tony Markellis, who died last week.

What if Cain were on trial in a modern-day courtroom for the murder of his brother, Abel? Rabbi Dan Ornstein explores this biblical scenario and its implications in a new novel "Cain v. Abel: A Jewish Courtroom Drama." On this episode of The Eagle: A Times Union Podcast, we talk to the Albany-based Jewish leader and author about his book, and his thoughts on a rising tide of anti-Semitism worldwide largely stoked by pandemic lockdowns.

Also on this episode, blogger Kristi Gustafson Barlette opens up about her struggle with vaccine hesitancy, Times Union Editor Casey Seiler discusses the week's top news, and features writer C.J. Lais reacts to last week's Oscars ceremony.

This episode contains explicit language and descriptions of events that may be upsetting to listeners. Please listen with care.

It began with a clash in Albany's South End between civil rights protesters and police that resulted in damage to a police station, the use of pepper spray and injury to a protester.

At midweek, the conviction of ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin brought cautious optimism to activists around the region.

And by week's end, tensions once again flared between law enforcement and protesters as police forced them out of a six-day encampment in the street.

It was a roller coaster of a week, and on this episode of the Eagle, we’re going to take you through what happened.

This episode contains graphic depictions of events and explicit language. Please listen with care.

When folks at the Capital City Rescue Mission in Albany were told they had a few dozen coronavirus vaccines at their disposal to use for their homeless clients, it was a race against time to get as many shots in arms as possible before the doses expired.

On this episode of The Eagle, reporter Eduardo Medina recounts his experience following Mission staff on their quest to locate and vaccinate as many people as they could.

Also on this episode, Times Union Editor Casey Seiler discusses a clash this week between protesters and police at Albany's South Station, reporter Claire Bryan takes a deep dive into CDC guidelines for the fully vaccinated, and writer Azra Haqqie talks about how some in the local Islamic community are finding they have had more time to focus on spirituality as they enter the second Ramadan since the pandemic began.

This episode contains graphic depictions of alleged sexual assault. Please take care while listening.

The woman at the center of the most serious allegation of sexual misconduct against Gov. Andrew Cuomo told her story this week to Times Union Capitol Bureau Managing Editor Brendan Lyons. She says she now sees the experience as an escalating sequence of inappropriate overtures that occurred over roughly two years, including groping at the governor's mansion.

On this episode of The Eagle, Lyons shares what he learned from the conversation with the staffer, whose identity is being purposefully withheld.

Also on this episode, reporter Massarah Mikati discusses a lawsuit by civil rights groups against a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Western New York that experienced a large COVID-19 outbreak. Arts and entertainment writer Steve Barnes provides an outlook on what the immediate future holds for live entertainment in the Capital Region.

When Albany activist Kat Sullivan heard a satirical sea shanty about the ship that recently clogged the Suez Canal, she was inspired to try her hand at the trending musical genre. On a rainy Sunday morning, she set to work composing and filming her own shanty detailing the fallout from a whistleblower's complaint of potential safety hazards in the construction of the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, as first reported by the Times Union. On this episode of The Eagle, Editor Casey Seiler speaks with Sullivan to find out more about how the shanty came together.

Also on this episode, we'll talk to the first Black valedictorian in Albany High School's 152-year history, and we'll get a sneak peek at local comedienne Erin Harkes' new stand-up album, "Zoloft and Probation."*

*Please be aware that this episode contains some explicit language

Activism in the Asian American Pacific Islander communities of the Capital Region gained a new sense of urgency this week in the aftermath of the Atlanta shootings that left eight dead, including six women of Asian descent. A rally in Albany brought out hundreds, some of whom had been empowered to use their voices for the first time to speak out against xenophobia and violence toward Asian Americans. Reporter Pete DeMola spoke with one of the rally's organizers, Troy business-owner Jinah Kim, about what comes next for local AAPI activism.

Also on this episode, Kristi Gustafson Barlette chats with the Fabulous Beekman Boys, Dr. Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell, about life, love, and baby goats. Times Union Editor Casey Seiler discusses the revelation that state health department officials had orders to prioritize coronavirus testing for the governor's family and influential allies.

When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announces its annual Academy Award nominations each year, everyone in the Times Union newsroom and beyond turns immediately to features writer and movie buff C.J. Lais for his estimation of the nominees, and his educated prediction of the winners. On this episode of The Eagle, we'll hear his hot take on the upcoming Oscars.

Also on this episode, we say farewell to an intrepid reporter, and get the latest developments in the multifarious controversy surrounding New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Exactly one year ago this week, the coronavirus pandemic changed the Capital Region as we knew it. Schools closed, events canceled, and businesses shuttered. People were told to stay home and social distance. The Times Union newsroom went virtual.

Today, the region has endured immeasurable loss, with more than 1,000 dead from COVID-19. Yet as vaccine distribution picks up pace and the community reflects on the last year, features writer and blogger Kristi Gustafson Barlette discovered that some Capital Region residents have found something positive.

Also on this episode, Times Union Editor Casey Seiler talks about the precarious situation Governor Andrew Cuomo finds himself in, facing an Assembly impeachment investigation, an FBI investigation into his handling of nursing home deaths during the pandemic, and an investigation by the state attorney general's office into allegations of sexual harassment.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo addressed the allegations of sexual harassment leveled against him by three women during a press conference this week in Albany, offering an apology into the camera and admitting he was embarrassed by the circumstances in which he finds himself.

A little less than a year ago, Cuomo's tough pandemic response sent his approval ratings and national popularity soaring. Now, the three-term governor is mired in controversy - the sexual harassment allegations being the latest in a cascade of troubles that surfaced during the last two months. Amid mounting calls for his resignation from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, Cuomo is refusing to step down.

On this episode of The Eagle: A Times Union Podcast, columnist Chris Churchill discusses the apology, the allegations, and how it all might affect the governor's political future.

Also on this episode, Capitol Bureau Managing Editor Brendan Lyons talks to Sexual Harassment Working Group co-founder Erica Vladimer, and "20 Things Plus" host Kristi Gustafson Barlette talks to WNYT sports anchor and reporter Chris Onorato about some of his favorite celebrity encounters.

Last week marked the 76th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Iwo Jima — a brutal, bloody fight that effectively ended the war in the Pacific in 1945.

A small group of Capital Region veterans would've typically gathered to mark this anniversary at a café in Altamont, where they’d swap stories. This year the dwindling group, now in their mid-90s, didn't have that option, with a pandemic raging and the café closed. Yet they still got together on the phone. On this episode of the Eagle, reporter Pete DeMola talks about what he learned listening to them share their stories.

Also on this episode, Casey Seiler and criminal justice reporter Rob Gavin sat down with NXIVM whistleblowers Sarah Edmondson and Anthony "Nippy" Ames to talk about their new podcast, and where they are now that Keith Raniere is imprisoned for life.

Please listen with care, as this episode contains explicit language and graphic depictions of war.

Governor Andrew Cuomo's administration is in hot water as an FBI investigation launches into its handling of nursing homes and long-term care facilities in New York during the COVID-19 pandemic. Times Union Capitol Bureau Managing Editor Brendan Lyons broke the story of the investigation this week, and reporters Amanda Fries and Ed McKinley have been covering the controversy surrounding COVID-19-related nursing home deaths in the state for months.

On this episode of The Eagle, the trio discusses the latest developments and their implications for the Cuomo administration.

Also on this episode, meet Shrishti Mathew, the newsroom's new arts and entertainment writer, and Editor Casey Seiler goes over the week's headlines.

While Chinese communities in the Capital Region and around the world are welcoming the year of the Ox this week, the pandemic has complicated many elements of traditional Lunar New Year celebrations. Unable to travel to see family or host large gatherings, many say they are still celebrating on a smaller scale and staying home. On this episode of the Eagle, reporter Pete DeMola checks in with local Chinese families on how their holiday customs have been affected.

Also on this episode, reporter Wendy Liberatore takes a look back at the impact of Saratoga Springs' urban renewal project that began in the 1960s, and how it drove out much of the city's Black and Jewish communities.

For the last century, the city of Albany, New York, has been ruled by Democrats—a powerful political machine that came to power in 1921, and at times determined the fate of politics well beyond its borders. It is older and longer than many famous Democratic dynasties in bigger cities like Chicago and Boston.

In 2021 however, Albany is a very different city than it was in the 20th century. On this episode of The Eagle, Times Union Editor Casey Seiler sits down with columnist and historian Paul Grondahl for a look back at 100 years of Albany politics.

Also on this episode, sports writer Joyce Bassett talks about the history of the Negro Leagues in the Capital Region, and how players who came through the area in the early 20th century may get much overdue recognition as Major League Baseball finally recognizes Negro League stats.

When cases of Jonas Salk's revolutionary polio vaccine arrived at Albany International Airport in the spring of 1955, it was a cause for celebration. On this episode of The Eagle, Times Union reporter C.J. Lais takes a look back at the rollout of the polio inoculation in the Capital Region, and how it parallels that of the COVID-19 vaccine nearly 70 years later.

Also on this episode, Times Union Capitol Bureau reporters discuss Attorney General Letitia James' scathing report released this week showing the state has been underreporting nursing home deaths due to COVID-19. And reporter Paul Nelson checks in on the status of six unsolved homicides in the city of Schenectady.

We have a new president – and the first-ever female vice president. What comes next for the country, the state and the region? We'll soon find out.

On this episode of The Eagle, Times Union Managing Editor of News Susan Mehalick says many New Yorkers are optimistic about the new administration in Washington. The inauguration also marked a first for the state: Sen. Charles E. Schumer, a Brooklynite, became the first Senate majority leader from New York. Plus, the coronavirus rages on in the Capital Region. More than 750 people have died from the virus in the region, and there are not enough vaccines in the state to meet the demand.

Also on this episode, Capital reporters Amanda Fries and Ed McKinley break down Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's state budget proposals – yes, there's two. And a Niskayuna man charged in the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol appeared to be taking a cavalier approach to his federal case.

More than seven million New Yorkers are now eligible to sign up to receive the coronavirus vaccine. Among those eligible are first responders, teachers and individuals aged 65 and over. Vaccine distribution centers are opening across the state this week.

On this episode of The Eagle, Times Union Editor Casey Seiler leads a discussion that explores why communities of color tend to have higher rates of distrust of vaccines and public medicine, and why overcoming those fears in the Capital Region and across the nation will be key to fighting COVID-19 — a pandemic that’s done disproportionate damage to Black and Latino Americans.

Also on this episode, education reporter Rachel Silberstein interviews Russell Sage College president Christopher Ames about how the Troy-based college overcame its financial challenges and responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A day after a deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol, many New York lawmakers are calling for invoking the 25th Amendment against President Donald Trump. At the same time, other New York lawmakers were among those who voted against certifying President-elect Joe Biden's win. On this episode of The Eagle Times Union Editor Casey Seiler discusses what unfolded in Washington this week, and the ripple effects it's creating for New York and in the Capital Region.

Also on this episode, a man in Saratoga Springs becomes the first in the state to test positive for the COVID-19 variant. Health reporter Bethany Bump explains what the variant is, and how it poses a threat.

Finally, columnist Chris Churchill discusses why he thinks Governor Andrew Cuomo's move to allow fans back into the Bills Stadium for the NFL playoffs is a bad idea.

The year 2020 will go down in the history books as being a difficult one for many in the Capital Region. The pandemic affected nearly every aspect of life here in Upstate New York and beyond, and the future remain far from certain.

On this episode of the Eagle, we'll take a look back at the Times Union's top stories of 2020. We'll also talk about this week's tribute to those in the region who succumbed to COVID-19 and hear from some of their loved ones.

And finally, education reporter Rachel Silberstein talks to Shenendehowa Central School District's famous Grapevine Lady, who's retiring in January.

It's been almost 200 years since "A Visit from St. Nicholas" - better known today as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" - was published in the Troy Sentinel on Dec. 23, 1823. Columnist Joyce Bassett shares the curious, local history of the now-famous poem. Are meal and grocery delivery drivers clocking more miles than Santa? Table Hopping's Steve Barnes spoke to locals who are providing this essential service during the pandemic. Editorial writer and editor Akum Norder shares adorable local letters to Santa that appeared in the Dec. 24, 1900 issue of the Times-Union (hyphenated then). Plus, columnist Paul Grondahl takes a look at what's in Santa's mailbox this year. Also in this episode, Times Union Editor Casey Seiler goes through the week's top headlines.

Four years ago this week, the editorial board of the Times Union called on members of the Electoral College to vote for someone other than Donald J. Trump.

The editorial — under the headline "Electors, reject Mr. Trump" — didn't call for that body to elect Democrat Hillary Clinton, but to consider a Republican alternative such as House Speaker Paul Ryan or Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

On this episode of The Eagle, hear the story of how that editorial came to be, and how the opinion pages of the paper operate separately from the news report. Narrated by editor Casey Seiler, it features interviews with editorial board members including Rex Smith, Jay Jochnowitz and Harry Rosenfeld as well as Publisher and CEO George R. Hearst III, who explains how the paper weathered the backlash.

The episode also delves into whether those who helped compose that piece have any regrets about it in the context of this year's election, in which some Trump supporters have called on elected officials to reject the will of the voters — albeit for very different reasons.

Albany teen Maliha Jackson wanted more than anything to attend a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in the city this year. The pandemic, and her battle with end-stage kidney failure, made that difficult. But, not impossible. The Albany City School District and community members banded together to throw a surprise Christmas tree lighting just for the 14-year-old. Times Union reporter Eduardo Medina was there, and talks about covering this heartwarming story.

Also on this episode, food writer Deanna Fox shares her tips and tricks for making the perfect potato latkes for a traditional Hanukkah celebration.

America's first Treasury Secretary-turned-Broadway musical star Alexander Hamilton was back in the spotlight recently, but not for a flattering reason. New historical research from the Schuyler State Historic Site provides compelling evidence that this "Ten-dollar founding father without a father," whom historian Ron Chernow called an "uncompromising abolitionist," was in fact, a slave owner.

Times Union columnist Paul Grondahl recently explored that research, by Schuyler Mansion interpreter Jessie Serfilippi, and talks about what it means for the impact Hamilton had on local and national history.

Also on this episode, reporter Wendy Liberatore discusses a 27-year-old cold case murder from Saratoga county, and Shopportunist Shannon Fromma shares a few tips and tricks for taking care of that holiday gift list.

David Gordon runs the mobile lyricism program at the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Capital Area. Over the summer, he bought a beat-up RV and converted it into a recording studio decked out with subwoofers, a soundproof recording booth and neon lights.

Gordon’s goal was simple: to bring his lyricism program to the Capital Region kids who need it— particularly when the coronavirus pandemic hit. In this episode of The Eagle, Times Union reporter Massarah Mikati takes a peek inside the mobile studio.

Also on this episode, health reporter Bethany Bump talks about her reporting on the alarming rise in Alzheimer's and dementia deaths in New York State, and how it might be tied to the pandemic.

A New York court is considering this week whether an elephant can be considered a person by law. The argument involves Happy, the last remaining elephant at the Bronx Zoo, and whether she should be granted legal personhood—which would subject her to habeas corpus and allow for her removal to an elephant sanctuary. Reporter Robert Gavin has been following the case, and discusses the unique legal argument in the case.

Also on this episode, Times Union Capitol Bureau reporter Amanda Fries has an update on the likelihood of State Senate Democrats gaining a supermajority after absentee ballots are counted in key races that remain undecided.

Twelve-year-old Isla Besha can pick up a copy of J.K. Rowling's new book, The Ickabog, open it to a certain page, and find an illustration she had drawn on a whim while looking for something to do during the pandemic lockdown. The middle school student in East Greenbush was one of a handful of children in North America chosen to illustrate Rowling's book, culled from more than 40,000 submissions. The Times Union's Kristi Gustafson Barlette had a chance to chat with Isla, and learn about her art.

Also on this episode, health reporter Bethany Bump discusses the Capital Region's record-breaking COVID spike, and education reporter Rachel Silberstein talks to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute President Shirley Ann Jackson about the school's successful algorithm to fight against the coronavirus on campus.

Election Day has come and gone, and Times Union Capitol Bureau reporters Amanda Fries, Edward McKinley and Chris Bragg offer a debrief of state-level election surprises and as-yet undecided races.

Also on this episode, reporter Massarah Mikati visits a refugee family living in Albany to learn about the unique challenges their eight children face as both new English learners and remote students.

NXIVM leader Keith Raniere has been sentenced to 120 years in prison, doubling his lifetime and all but ensuring he will spend the rest of it behind bars. Times Union reporter Rob Gavin was in the federal courtroom for the sentencing this week, and recounts the experience and reaction from victims who gave powerful impact statements.

Also on this episode, Managing Editor Brendan Lyons talks about breaking the story of the arrest of a New York State Assembly aide this week who led a secret double life as the leader of a violent biker gang.

Almost 90 years ago, a valuable painting in Jewish newspaper publisher Rudolph Mosse's Berlin collection was stolen by Nazis, and disappeared. Last week, the FBI announced the painting had been recovered and returned to Mosse's heirs. It had been found at the Arkell Museum in Canajoharie, New York. Reporter Eduardo Medina covered the return of the painting and reveals what happened to it in the decades after it was stolen.

Also on this episode, Times Union Editor Casey Seiler and reporter Rob Gavin preview the upcoming sentencing of NXIVM leader Keith Raniere, and Editorial Editor Jay Jochnowitz explains the Editorial Board's decision to endorse a candidate for president.

India Oxenberg spent seven years of her life entrenched in the world of the shadowy organization known as NXIVM. She was a member of the secret female "master/slave" group run by Keith Raniere, and was branded with his initials. She left NXIVM in 2018 and returned to her mother, actress Catherine Oxenberg, who had led the charge to expose the crimes of Raniere and other NXIVM leaders. Now, she's rebuilding her life and has co-produced a documentary series about her experience that's premiering on STARZ October 18. Times Union reporter Rob Gavin spoke to India recently to hear more about the series and her life post-NXIVM.

Also on this episode, reporter Massarah Mikati recalls her time spent with local activists who went door to door helping Albany residents fill out the census. And Times Union Editor Casey Seiler discusses the week's top headlines.

***This episode contains discussion of subject matter that may be disturbing to some listeners, so please listen with care.

Father Peter Young's life would make for a great movie. The Albany-based priest spent decades doing everything in his power to help men in the Capital Region suffering from alcoholism, addiction and homelessness get treatment and get their lives on track. Sometimes that meant taking a beating, emotionally and physically.

Now 90 years old, the beloved icon is reflecting on his life of service, and doing what he can still to help. On this episode of The Eagle, reporter Lynda Edwards talks about her recent profile of Fr. Young, and the lasting imprint he has made on those he has helped.

Also on this episode, health reporter Bethany Bump talks about a new study that estimates more than 4,000 New York children have lost a parent to COVID-19. Times Union Editor Casey Seiler goes over top headlines, including the death of former State Senator Joseph Bruno, Governor Andrew Cuomo's new COVID-19 hotspot regulations, and the experimental drug from Regeneron that President Donald Trump has taken to treat his COVID-19.

It has been nearly two years since the tragic limousine crash in Schoharie county that killed 20 people. This week, the National Transportation Safety Board finally released its long-awaited report on the crash, laying the blame for the crash on the limousine operator and the state, and placing blame for the delay in the report's release on the Schoharie county district attorney and the state police.

Reporter Larry Rulison has been following the story since that fateful October day in 2018, and studied the report’s findings in depth. On this week's episode of The Eagle, he talks about what he gleaned from the report.

Also on this episode:

Columnist Chris Churchill postulates on what a potential Biden administration could mean for Gov. Andrew Cuomo's political future.
Times Union Editor Casey Seiler dissects top headlines, including the sentencing of Seagram's heiress Clare Bronfman for crimes related to her role in the shadowy organization known as NXIVM.

Zanief Washington has been numb to the sound of gunfire since he was six, when a stray bullet smashed through his living room window in Albany and lodged itself in the wall while he was playing a video game. Now 19, he walks for hours around the city each day, trying to escape the poverty and gun violence that plagues his neighborhood. Times Union reporter Eduardo Medina recently spent time with Zanief, and learned about the young man's hopes and dreams of lifting himself up to make it in the music business. On this episode of the Eagle, Eduardo reflects on his experience getting to know the young man through his reporting.

Also on this episode, education reporter Rachel Silberstein talks about how school districts are scrambling to beef up security for virtual learning, and Times Union Editor Casey Seiler analyzes this week's top headlines.

Some say notorious prohibition era gangster John T. "Legs" Diamond got his nickname from his ability to outrun trouble.

But trouble did eventually catch up with him in 1931, when he was gunned down in a boarding house in Albany. But for all his notoriety – all the movies and popular culture surrounding him, he had very little in the way of a paper trail...until recently.

Times Union reporter Ken Crowe obtained a stash of documents that time forgot in the Rensselaer County Clerk’s Office, and they reveal some interesting tidbits about the bootlegger’s final escapades upstate.

Also on this episode, reporter Wendy Liberatore talks about the city of Saratoga Springs' reckoning with racial justice, and Times Union Editor Casey Seiler has the top headlines.

*Note, this episode contains the use of explicit language.

The annual Best of the Capital Region special section is finally coming out, after a five-month delay due to the coronavirus pandemic. Times Union readers voted in record numbers this year, selecting their favorite local businesses and services across 100 categories.

On this episode of The Eagle, Times Union Editor Casey Seiler talks to Features editors Gary Hahn and Sara Tracey for a preview of what went into the unusual making of this year's special section, and what readers can expect to see when the winners are revealed.

Also on this episode:

Casey Seiler covers the top headlines, including Albany's latest homicide, the identity of a former local FBI leader who sexually harassed employees, and Amazon Prime's "Modern Love" series filming in the region.
Health reporter Bethany Bump talks about her recent story on a family calling for a probe of the nursing home where their aunt died of a COVID-19.

The national debate over how to commemorate the nation’s past came to Albany this spring when Mayor Kathy Sheehan announced her intention to move the statue of Philip Schuyler—Revolutionary War general and owner of enslaved persons—from in front of City Hall.

This episode of The Eagle features a portion of a livestreamed discussion on the fate of the statue, featuring Sheehan, UAlbany Africana Studies professor Oscar Williams, social justice advocate Alice Green, author Harold Holzer and Schuyler descendant Avery Schuyler-Dey.

Also on this episode, education reporter Rachel Silberstein speaks to two Shenendehowa graduates who are calling on district officials to end what they say are inequities for students of color and LGBTQ youth.

Once in a while a thoroughbred comes along who blows away the field, securing a glorious place in racing history. Names like American Pharaoh and Secretariat come to mind.

Tiz the Law, a New York-bred, 3-year-old bay stallion, might just be one of those horses. The Triple Crown hopeful already nailed one leg this year, the Belmont Stakes, winning handily by several lengths.

In this episode of The Eagle, we'll catch up with Tiz at his summer training HQ in Saratoga, where he's fresh off a win at the Run Happy Travers Stakes. We'll see him in action through the eyes and reporting of Times Union horse racing writer Tim Wilkin, who is one of only a handful of media allowed into the race course in this most unusual season.

Capital Region educators, school leaders, stakeholders and parents are feverishly planning for the start of the school year amid an uncertain landscape. On this episode of The Eagle, Times Union education reporter Rachel Silberstein sits down with Albany City School District Superintendent Kaweeda Adams, Guilderland Central School District Superintendent Marie Wiles, Questar III BOCES Superintendent Gladys Cruz, and Albany Academies Head of School Christopher Lauricella, to discuss their plans for September.

Also on this episode, reporter Massarah Mikati recounts her story on a local woman who suffered severe complications from COVID-19, and Times Union Editor Casey Seiler recaps the latest top headlines.

Live theater is back in the Berkshires this week. The only two theater companies in the country that have the blessing of the Actors Equity Association opened shows there, and the Times Union's top theater critic Steve Barnes was in the house.

Also on this episode, investigative reporter Chris Bragg talks about his reporting on local urgent care chains that are charging the uninsured for COVID-19 tests, despite taking millions in federal aid.

And we say goodbye to three of our visiting Hearst Fellows who are off to new cities for their second year of the prestigious fellowship.

College students from out of town have returned to campuses all over the Capital Region this week. But classes won't be starting just yet. Instead, they're electing to quarantine in their dorm rooms or hotel rooms for 14 days. Education reporter Rachel Silberstein caught up with one student at Siena College, who says being cooped up in a dorm is a small price to pay for the chance to return to campus life.

Also on this episode, Times Union Editor Casey Seiler speaks with author Ed Schwarzschild about his new novel “In Security,” a literary thriller that revolves around TSA operations at Albany International Airport.

And finally, meteorologist Jason Gough talks about this week's remarkable weather.

We use the concept of a "drive-thru" for many aspects of modern life - i.e. for food, for banking, for coffee - but the pandemic has opened up a new avenue for a funeral home in Ballston Lake. Reporter Rick Karlin spoke with the directors of the home about the technology they've set up to enable grieving families to receive friends and loved ones at a traditional wake.

Also on this episode, entertainment reporter Amy Biancolli takes a look back at her nearly three-decade career at the Times Union, and courts and cops reporter Robert Gavin discusses the upcoming retirement of a Cohoes police officer following an incident in the North Country.

A recent surge in gun violence in Albany and across New York led senior editor Brendan Lyons to investigate the cause. What he found was not what he expected - that teenagers are doing most of the shooting.

Also on this episode, education reporter Rachel Silberstein talks to a former Cuomo aide whose name has been floated to replace the departed SUNY chancellor.

When a Vietnamese-born American woman from Virginia got some very unexpected results from a genetic test, it led her on a journey north to the Adirondacks, where she found a father and a family she never knew she had. Reporter Leigh Hornbeck recounts her experience visiting the newly united family.

Also on this episode, Times Union editor Casey Seiler highlights the top stories during an unusually busy news week, which includes a significant spike in COVID-19 cases in the Capital Region.

Reporter Massarah Mikati sits down for an exclusive interview with Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins about what he calls the exhausting work of balancing the responsibility to support his officers and the need to respond to calls for change in the community.

Also on this episode, two local strip clubs have resumed business following the COVID-19 pandemic, but as Steve Barnes reports, it's unclear whether they're allowed to be open yet.

Reporter Wendy Liberatore spares no detail in recounting the saga of a 7-foot wooden penis sculpture that became the center of a Saratoga county squabble.

Also in this episode, education reporter Rachel Silberstein talks about high school graduation ceremonies taking place in the region, and how some districts may not be following the rules.

And real estate reporter Leigh Hornbeck takes us inside one of the region's most interesting buildings, the ornate Ballston Spa Village Hall.

Times Union horse racing writer Tim Wilkin has never covered a season quite like this one. In this episode of The Eagle, he recounts his evening with the Saratoga Springs-based owners of Tiz the Law as they watched their horse win the first leg of the Triple Crown.

Also in this episode, reporter Larry Rulison takes a look at the newest lawsuit filed on behalf of the family of a victim of the 2018 Schoharie limo crash, which casts blame on Mavis Discount Tires.

The faces and voices of the fight for racial justice in the United States today span no less than three generations. Those that witnessed the Civil Rights movement in 1960s protest alongside those who have just come of age during the 21st century. Reporter Massarah Mikati sought out the leaders of the Capital Region's movement, and listened to their stories.

Also on this episode, Times Union editorial editor Jay Jochnowitz talks about how the editorial board decided which candidate to endorse in the contentious primary race for Albany County district attorney.

Times Union Capitol correspondent Emilie Munson recounts her latest shift at the White House this week as the president welcomed law enforcement officials to discuss potential police reforms. Also on this episode, investigative reporter Chris Bragg describes his recent deep dive into the cases of five children who died at the the hands of their parents, despite warnings in New York family courts. This episode includes descriptions of situations that may be difficult for some to hear, so take care as you listen.

Times Union reporters share their experiences covering peaceful protests and violent incidents in the Capital Region this week, spurred by the deaths of George Floyd and other black Americans across the country at the hands of police.

Sobering unemployment numbers have clouded the re-opening of New York and the Capital Region, but as reporter Ken Crowe discovered, there are uplifting stories to be told in the way some residents and communities are beginning to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Columnist Chris Churchill found himself of several minds about the social media firestorm that erupted after a local co-op made a a plea for milk bottle returns.

Also on this episode, meteorologist Jason Gough weighs in on the exceptionally weird May weather, and the Capital Region prepares to rebound after getting the green light to initiate the re-opening process.

The fundamental art of buying and selling homes hasn't really changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But it has...adjusted. On this episode of The Eagle, real estate reporter Leigh Hornbeck talks about what she learned from a recent house closing that took place in a parking lot.

Also on this episode, courts reporter Rob Gavin explains why NXIVM leader Keith Raniere's sentencing is delayed indefinitely, and reflects on how covering the courts has changed in the last two months.

Are people having affairs during the COVID-19 pandemic? Kristi Gustafson Barlette dishes on what she learned from a few local paramours; Columnist Paul Grondahl talks about meeting the young man who operates the crematorium at Albany Rural Cemetery, which has been helping to spell its maxed out counterparts downstate.

The odds of finding an alligator in nature in Upstate New York are slim, yet Times Union reporter Paul Nelson found himself following the story of a Schenectady community that was convinced they had one living in a city park pond. Also on this episode, Times Union sports reporter Tim Wilkin places a bet on the fate of this year's Saratoga Racecourse meet.

A global pandemic is not something every journalist will be able to say they've covered in a lifetime, but the Times Union reporters at the helm of the local COVID-19 coverage can definitely notch it in their belts. Bethany Bump and Steve Hughes have been working tirelessly to stay on top of the pandemic news and its impact on the Capital Region, and share a few thoughts on the experience; business reporter Rick Karlin celebrates an Earth Day tinged by the pandemic.

What would a news photographer do during a pandemic to get the shot? Times Union photo editor Will Waldron shares some stories from the field; education reporter Rachel Silberstein visits a daycare center that remains open for the children of essential workers.

As the pandemic continues to bear down on the Capital Region and the world, Times Union reporter Michael Williams looks at its impact on the funeral industry; senior writer Steve Barnes highlights a few "everyday" heroes—local people who are doing exceptional things during an exceptional time.

There's no one in the newsroom. Yet Times Union journalists are still hard at work reporting on the Capital Region's top stories.

In this episode, we talk to editor Casey Seiler about the challenges of putting out a paper during a pandemic, and we check in with reporter Wendy Liberatore about the uncertain fate of the Saratoga summer season.