Jackie Orchard

If you’ve ever played the MLB Trivia Challenge board game, you may have wondered, “Where did all of these statistical questions come from?” They were created long before Google, and the game itself is the result of one upstate New York man’s life’s work.

The classical music world often focuses on long dead masters, who tend to be white and European. But one composer who is not even old enough to legally drink alcohol is trying to change that. He started over the weekend with the Albany Symphony.

Albany Police continue to investigate a shooting last weekend that killed a pregnant woman and injured four others. 32-year-old Shanita Thomas was killed in the 200 block of Central Avenue in the latest gun homicide to rock the city. In recent days, a vigil has sprung up near the site of the shooting.

Albany County officials marked Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with a wreath-laying Monday morning.

After Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol yesterday, resulting in four deaths and several injuries, Congress reconvened and cemented Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential race. WAMC took to the streets today to speak with residents across the Northeast about how the events unfolded.

COVID-19 has taken a toll on businesses across the country. As WAMC’s Jackie Orchard found out, zoos are having a wild ride during the pandemic as well.

In many parts of the United States, multi-generational households are a thing of the past. As young professionals move out and move away, parents and grandparents are often left behind. In part seven of our special series on aging, WAMC’s Jackie Orchard learns about the importance of grandparents in one culture.

Many small businesses are hanging by a thread as they wait for another round of federal stimulus money, hoping to keep remaining employees on payroll and pivot to online sales amid further COVID-19 restrictions. But there are resources to help businesses stay afloat.

Following the May death of George Floyd while in Minneapolis Police custody – Albany experienced a slew of protests and riots, New York repealed a law that restricted access to police disciplinary records and a statewide mandate to reimagine policing was instituted. To learn how these events have impacted policing in New York’s capital city, I rode along with an Albany Police lieutenant and spoke with a local Black rights activist.

Albany County Executive Dan McCoy has warned that the percentage of residents testing positive for COVID-19 over a seven-day average has surpassed 3 percent, nearing the threshold where New York state imposes tighter restrictions. WAMC’s Jackie Orchard spoke with Albany County Health Commissioner Dr. Elizabeth Whalen about Thanksgiving, which is expected to cause a large spike in cases.

This year, a world famous holiday sight has its roots in Oneonta, New York.

Four NASA astronauts are blasting off in the SPACEX Crew Dragon spacecraft tonight, if all things go according to plan. 

Albany County Democrats were celebrating former Vice President Joe Biden’s victory this weekend, but supporters of President Donald Trump who gathered to protest aren’t ready to give up yet.

Halloween looked a little different in Albany this year. To encourage social distancing and discourage indoor parties, the city of Albany hosted a drive-thru and walk-thru candy and pumpkin give-away Saturday in 11 city parks.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic seven months ago, many performance venues have had to completely change their business strategy. Our own Performing Arts Studio, The Linda, is no exception. But Monday nights are becoming a bright spot again.

Special Olympics New York, celebrating its 50th anniversary, is launching a new campaign to remedy what it says is a gap in sponsorship for disabled athletes. As WAMC’s Jackie Orchard found out, one local star keeps beating the odds.

At a time when most small businesses are struggling, one Albany sports apparel company is hitting its stride during the COVID-19 pandemic.

September is suicide prevention month, and it may be more important than ever this year. The COVID-19 pandemic is making people feel isolated, spurring a rise in gun sales and creating new boundaries to medical care. WAMC brings you this firsthand account of what it feels like to hit a low point – and how to bounce back.

A number of state and law enforcement agencies are responding to a hazardous material leak in Albany County. 

With fewer activities available and pressures mounting months into the COVID-19 pandemic, Berkshire HorseWorks is offering horse therapy sessions for families and individuals who are stressed. I brought my sister, an essential worker, to the day-long program to see what it’s all about.

The Saratoga Performing Arts Center, unable to hold live performances due to COVID-19 this summer, is bringing classical music lovers Beethoven in a new format: purely audio. On its new open-air patio, WAMC got a special preview of the performance.

Even though fans aren’t allowed in this year, the racing world is still focused on the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course right now. But what happens to thoroughbreds after their career on the track? I went to Saratoga Springs to find out.

Female veterans in New York state without a permanent place to live have strikingly few options — and with the COVID-19 pandemic stretching on, they face more challenges than ever.

Saying major structural changes need to be made to stay afloat, the College of St. Rose in Albany plans to cut more faculty.

The Saratoga Race Course meet starts Thursday with new restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Public safety officials say if you want to watch the races, you’ll have to do it on TV.

New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli is renewing warnings about the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on local governments.

New York Attorney General Letitia James released a preliminary report Wednesday on the investigation into NYPD interactions with Black Lives Matter protesters following the death of George Floyd.

Prompted by claims of racism on campus chronicled on an Instagram account called “Black At St. Rose,” interim president Marcia White is promising to hire a Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the private Albany college.