News Staff

20-year-old Blake Heflin was sentenced to three years probation for his role in the death of a young man who jumped off his boat during an outing on Saratoga Lake. Authorities say Heflin was drunk while operating a boat that hit 20-year-old Ian Gerber on Saratoga Lake on July 4. His attorney said there is a pending civil action. He is also not allowed to operate a boat for one year.

A Warren County man was sentenced to prison Thursday morning for killing his own infant son. According to WNYT, 20 year old Tyler Zaugg was sentenced to 32 years in prison for taking the life of his son, Noah. The child was just seven weeks old when he was rushed to the hospital. Zaugg, who was his father, called 911, claiming he was giving the baby a bath and the child “slipped under the water.”

Todd Shimkus, President of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce says unemployment rates haven’t been this high in a very long time. WRGB reports in 2001, Shimkus says the unemployment rate sat at 2.2%. Currently, the unemployment rate sits around 3.3% which means about 3,000 people are without jobs right now in the county. Shimkus says the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the labor market, and the challenge has been finding enough people to fill the open job listings.

Saratoga County Public Health Services announced Tuesday the Community Testing Site in Malta has moved to the County Public Safety Building at 6012 County Farm Road in Ballston Spa. Quadrant Biosciences will provide testing at the new location on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon, reports WTEN.

Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen is critical of remarks Saratoga Springs Public Safety Commissioner James Montagnino made about police response to a February house party involving teenagers. She said in a statement, “Commissioner Montagnino inserted himself into an active police investigation being conducted by members of the Saratoga Springs Police Department, and then turned to the media to publicize his premature and inaccurate take on the situation.”

The New York State Police will participate in a national crackdown on distracted driving as part of April’s National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The enforcement effort, called Operation Hang Up, will include increased patrols and checkpoints targeting drivers using electronic devices while behind the wheel. This year’s enforcement detail runs through Monday, April 11. Troopers will be using both marked State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles to more easily identify motorists who are using handheld devices while driving.

Hall-of-Fame thoroughbred trainer Bob Baffert is banned from New York racing through at least July 2. WNYT reports the New York State Gaming Commission made the announcement on Monday stating it will honor the 90-day suspension handed down by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission after Baffert’s horse, Medina Spirit, was disqualified from the Kentucky Derby for having a banned substance in his system.

The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Burnt Hills man for allegedly strangling someone. WNYT reports Todd Axton is facing several felony charges after an incident at a home last week involving a person who had an order of protection against him. Authorities also say they found several illegal guns at his home.

An African American family in Saratoga Springs is upset that the Saratoga Springs Police Department is not investigating an assault by three White men against their son. Public Safety Commissioner Jim Montagnino is looking into the case. According to WNYT, the incident happened in early March at a house party with high school seniors. According to Montagnino, the public safety commissioner, an 18-year was assaulted and Montagnino says he is upset with how police handled the case.

State lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul missed the April 1 state budget deadline. The final spending plan was due by midnight on March 31. The Sun Community News reports If the budget is not completed by 4 p.m. Monday, April 4, Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli warned two weeks ago that they would not be able to “complete paycheck distribution and release of direct deposit funds and advices” for state employees, though the State University of New York and the State Insurance Fund would not be affected due to the start date of their fiscal year in June.