News Staff

Police say that an early morning house fire in North Greenbush claimed the life of an 82-year-old woman. WNYT reports the fire started after 5:00 a.m. Sunday morning at 17 Bellemeade Street in Wynantskill. Two 2 adults and 2 dogs were able to safely escape, but one adult could not. This fire remains under investigation and a cause has not yet been determined.

Seeing snow in the region expected to move out by Saturday morning with snowfall amounts varying widely across the area based on elevation. Snowfall amounts of 18 to 24 inches will be likely in the Catskills, southern Adirondacks and southern Vermont. In the valleys, where rain mixes in, 5 to 10 inches will be likely. Snowfall rates could reach as high as 1 inch per hour especially in the higher elevations.

The 46th annual Jazz Fest is returning this year — with some big names in its lineup. WRGB reports the line-up is headlined by musical icons Bonnie Raitt, Pat Metheny, Angelique Kidjo, Tower of Power, and Chucho Valdes. From jazz to roots, funk, blues, and beyond, the festival is bringing some electrifying artists. The 2023 show will be Saturday, June 24 and Sunday June 25.

Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office arrested Isaiah J. Whitehurst, 40 after a long investigation into drug trafficking, drug use and other drug activity. This week, the unit also arrested Danielle N. Reynolds, 43 who was allegedly connected to the drug activity as well. WTEN reports Whitehurst was cuffed after a search warrant at 8 Second Street in Gansevoort which is the registered address for Reynolds. They reportedly found scales, packaging material, large quantity of cocaine, crack cocaine, multiple cell phones, and pills

Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin says he has prostate cancer. He says blood tests first signaled that something is wrong and after another test and biopsy, he was diagnosed. WNYT reports he announced it Wednesday and said the reason he made it public was that it would have come out anyway, but more important, perhaps it will encourage other people to do their cancer screenings.

Saratoga PLAN completed two conservation easements with the Pott and VanVorsts families permanently protecting 126 acres of farmland in the Saratoga County Town of Ballston on December 14. This land will now forever be available for farming and critical wildlife. WTEN reports the land includes originally part of Brookdale Farm which is thought to be the original 1800s hop farm where hops were transported to breweries in Albany.

Saratoga New Year’s Fest is a brand new take on an old tradition. WNYT reports there’s more of a focus on big musical acts.
A $20 badge gets you into all of the bars and venues to see well-known acts – more than 40 in total. Also, fireworks will be launched from the top of the City Center Parking Garage, and they won’t wait until midnight. Instead, they will be at 6 p.m.

Remains found in Lee, Massachusetts in September are Shaker High English teacher Meghan Marohn, says the chief medical examiner. According to WNYT, the remains were in such bad condition, the medical examiner says they can’t determine how she died. However, foul play is not suspected. Marohn, 42, was first reported missing back on March 29.

State Police of Saratoga arrested Sarah F. Micheli, 30, of Malta, NY, for two counts of Petit Larceny. On November 29, 2022, at about 8:36 a.m. Troopers received multiple reports that packages had been stolen from residences the day before in Malta, NY. The investigation determined Micheli was responsible for the thefts. The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office arrested Micheli on similar charges.

State Police of Wilton arrested 30 year old Ellissa G. Carmin of Nassau, for Driving While Intoxicated, Obstructing Governmental Administration and other counts after they received the report of a Wrong-way driver on I-87 southbound in Wilton. Troopers saw Carmin operating her vehicle northbound in the southbound lanes. A traffic stop was conducted, and Carmin was arrested. While in custody, she was uncooperative and caused injury to a Trooper.