THE EAGLE: A Times Union Podcast

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."...

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...

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...

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 ta...

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 Samant...

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...

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, an...

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 -...

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 s...

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...

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 imp...

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 th...

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...

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,...

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 "Essentia...

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...

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 episo...

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...

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 explain...

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 t...

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....

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...

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...

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 Warre...

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...