WSSV News

Residents in the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District approved a nearly $54 million capital project Tuesday which will largely update the elementary schools, make some districtwide upgrades and perform various athletic facility renovations as well. The Daily Gazette reports the project is called “Renewing Spaces, Inspiring Futures: It Starts with K-5.”
It was approved by a vote of 1,100 in favor and 219 against.

A beloved member of the Saratoga Springs Police Department Mounted Unit is being remembered for his service to the community. WTEN reports King Tut was honored in a walk-out ceremony prior to his death. King Tut suddenly and unexpectedly passed away Tuesday. Many may recognize him from his 20 years of patrolling the streets and attending events in the Spa City.

The attorneys for the man charged with murder in the shooting of Kaylin Gillis plan to argue that their client didn’t intend to fire the fatal shot. Arthur Frost, Kevin Monahan’s lead attorney, told WNYT that the first shot Monahan fired was a warning shot. Frost said Monahan was not planning to pull the trigger a second time but it was a slip of his finger.

A new business looking to crop up in Saratoga Springs moved one step closer to construction this month. WRGB reports a special use permit was granted to Reverie 73 NY for a recreational adult use marijuana dispensary, the first in Saratoga County. The permit allows the business to operate in a new building proposed behind PJ’s BBQ at 1 Kaydeross Ave. W.

State Police recently conducted an Underage Drinking Enforcement Detail in Saratoga County. Six businesses were checked for compliance. Two people were charged with Unlawfully Dealing with a Child in the First degree, a class “A” misdemeanor, after selling alcohol to persons under the age of 21. The two business found not in compliance were USA Gasoline, 4 Fire Rd., Clifton Park and the Speedway, 1583 State Route 9.

Students and parents at Saratoga Springs voiced their support of certain girls’ athletic programs at the high school after they came under fire. WTEN reports at Tuesday night’s board of education meeting, officials talked about a letter they received from a third party that detailed allegations from former athletes. The allegations were not specified, but they were against coaches from three different women’s athletic programs at the high school.

A Cohoes man is expected to spend 2 years in prison after admitting to sexually assaulting a Skidmore College student earlier this year. 38 year old Kevin D. Johnson pleaded guilty on Monday to first-degree sexual abuse. Police said Johnson assaulted the student in a vehicle in downtown Saratoga Springs on April 29.

The Saratoga Springs City School District plans to hire a law firm to conduct a review of its athletic programs in the wake of allegations received about an abusive culture in sports. According to WNYT, Superintendent Michael Patton said the Board of Education on Tuesday will discuss hiring the firm to review allegations made against coaches of three women’s sports.

The Saratoga County District Attorney wants a higher court to reinstate the attempted murder charge against Vito Caselnova. WNYT reports Judge Jim Murphy dismissed the 10-count indictment against the Glens Falls man who exchanged gunfire with men from Utica on Broadway in Saratoga Springs in November. The judge found that the D.A. made serious errors when they presented the case to the Grand Jury.

The man accused of shooting and killing Kaylin Gillis of Schuylerville as she rode in a car that mistakenly drove up his driveway has no mental disorder, a judge ruled on Monday. WNYT reports Judge Adam Michelini said that attorneys for Kevin Monahan cannot use extreme emotional disturbance as a defense for the murder of Gillis outside his Hebron home on April 15.