WSSV News

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced over $42 million has been awarded through the New York State Council on the Arts to 144 small and medium-sized capital projects. This record capital investment in arts and cultural organizations across the state supports crucial building renovations, accessibility improvements and new spaces for creative work. Saratoga Arts Inc is receiving 766 thosuand dollars under the grants.

Citing “low enrollment over a number of years and a need to refocus energies on developing other programming,” the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs announced it will close its high school after the completion of this school year. The Saratogian reports the independent, private learning institution plans to re-brand itself to focus on serving pre-K to eighth-grade students.

There’s a big event this weekend at SPAC, and you won’t find on it on the LiveNation calendar. It’s a simulated concert in which there’s a simulated mass casualty incident. According to WNYT, State Park Police, State Police, Saratoga Springs Police Department, Saratoga Hospital and Albany Medical Center are all taking part. They represent all the agencies needed in the event something awful should happen at SPAC.

Three Utica men pleaded not guilty during their arraignment Tuesday morning for their involvement in an officer-involved shooting on Broadway in Saratoga Springs last November. WNYT reports Alexander Colon, Darius Wright and Christopher Castillo all face attempted assault charges. An off-duty sheriff’s deputy from Vermont, Vito Caselnova, is already charged with attempted murder.

Saratoga Springs City Council has passed a resolution to restrict no-knock warrants.
It bans the Saratoga Springs Police Department from initiating no-knock warrants under any circumstances to search residences for controlled substances. In addition, the SSPD may initiate these warrants only in other extreme cases — where officers detail specific facts in the search warrant application that explain why giving notice would create imminent danger to a person’s life.

The leaders of Saratoga Black Lives Matter were in court Monday morning over allegations they disrupted city council meetings. According to WNYT, Saratoga Black Lives Matter founder Lexis Figuereo was arraigned Monday morning on a charge of obstructing governmental administration and disorderly conduct. His sister, Chandler Hickenbottom, is facing the same charges after a similar incident during the February 7 council meeting. The court moved both cases to May 8.

The Saratoga Springs Firefighters Union plans to issue a vote of no confidence against Fire Chief Joseph Dolan. WNYT reports Dolan has been on paid administrative leave since February, accused of double-dipping. The city is accusing him of working for two departments at the same time. The city is expected to bring disciplinary charges against the chief later this week.

The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported stabbing on Luther Boulevard in the town of Malta just before 2 a.m. on Sunday. They say the victim was a 17-year-old boy. WTEN reports the offender stabbed the teen in the neck and then fled the scene. The victim went to Albany Medical Center Hospital for treatment. No word on the victim’s condition.

State Police of Saratoga arrested Alexander C. Morgan, 36, of Stillwater, NY, for Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle, Reckless Endangerment and multiple Vehicle and Traffic Law violations. On April 4, 2023, at about 6:58 p.m., Troopers attempted to stop a vehicle on State Route 9 in Malta The vehicle failed to comply, resulting in a pursuit. The pursuit was terminated when the Trooper lost sight of the vehicle, which was located in a parking lot unoccupied a short time later. Morgan surrendered himself to SP Saratoga

The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a fatal crash in the town of Ballston.
It appears a vehicle was traveling north on Church Avenue just before 9 p.m. Saturday night, when it hit a person, who was laying in the roadway, according to WNYT. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim’s identity is not being released until next of kin is notified.