Erica Smith
@ericasmith.com
Journalist. Problem solver. Comma splice slayer. Slide deck wrangler. Typewriter collector. @timesunion.com managing editor for digital.
Reposted by Erica Smith
John A. Sarcone III, the top federal prosecutor in New York's Northern District, told WNYT that a panel of federal judges has extended his status beyond the 120-day deadline. The panel denies it.
U.S. Attorney says a panel voted to extend his tenure; the panel says otherwise
John A. Sarcone III, the top federal prosecutor in New York's Northern District, told WNYT that a panel of federal judges has extended his status beyond the 120-day deadline. The panel denies it.
bit.ly
July 11, 2025 at 10:30 PM
John A. Sarcone III, the top federal prosecutor in New York's Northern District, told WNYT that a panel of federal judges has extended his status beyond the 120-day deadline. The panel denies it.
The latest episode of “The Eagle” is worth a listen — especially if you’re a journalist or support journalism.
THE EAGLE: A Times Union Podcast
Hear from reporters and editors at the Times Union, the oldest and largest newspaper in New York's Capital Region, about the week's top stories.
www.timesunion.com
May 18, 2025 at 5:03 PM
The latest episode of “The Eagle” is worth a listen — especially if you’re a journalist or support journalism.
You won't look at dandelions the same way again.
The real star of New York’s early-blooming season
Tulips get a lot of attention, but one blossom is more prevalent than all the early bloomers put together — the dandelion.
www.timesunion.com
May 18, 2025 at 3:39 PM
You won't look at dandelions the same way again.
Reposted by Erica Smith
Other states wait til they know how the child died before doing a report on what went wrong. What is the point in doing a report before knowing that?
After children die, some NY reports wrongly place blame on caregivers www.timesunion.com/education/ar...
After children die, some NY reports wrongly place blame on caregivers www.timesunion.com/education/ar...
After children die, some NY reports wrongly place blame on caregivers
The state Office of Children and Family Services files more than half of its reports on child fatalities without autopsy data, focusing on possible abuse.
www.timesunion.com
May 18, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Other states wait til they know how the child died before doing a report on what went wrong. What is the point in doing a report before knowing that?
After children die, some NY reports wrongly place blame on caregivers www.timesunion.com/education/ar...
After children die, some NY reports wrongly place blame on caregivers www.timesunion.com/education/ar...
The Capital Region school election guide is out! In the accurate words of @caseyseiler.bsky.social, "It is as un-sexy as journalism gets, but utterly necessary to the proper functioning of our democracy." Enjoy.
What’s on your ballot?
Your vote will decide these Capital Region races on May 20.
www.timesunion.com
May 16, 2025 at 8:23 PM
The Capital Region school election guide is out! In the accurate words of @caseyseiler.bsky.social, "It is as un-sexy as journalism gets, but utterly necessary to the proper functioning of our democracy." Enjoy.
Reposted by Erica Smith
Forty years ago, the Times Union published Alexander Courtney’s 1945 account of what he witnessed at Bergen-Belsen. To mark 80 years since the camp’s liberation, we’re running it again. www.timesunion.com/opinion/arti...
The living and the dead at Bergen-Belsen
To mark the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp in April 1945, we share the eyewitness account of a young American soldier.
www.timesunion.com
April 27, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Forty years ago, the Times Union published Alexander Courtney’s 1945 account of what he witnessed at Bergen-Belsen. To mark 80 years since the camp’s liberation, we’re running it again. www.timesunion.com/opinion/arti...
Reposted by Erica Smith
BREAKING NEWS: The White House has begun the process of looking for a new secretary of defense, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly.
The White House has begun process of looking for new secretary of defense
The White House has begun the process of looking for a new secretary of defense, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly.
www.npr.org
April 21, 2025 at 5:25 PM
BREAKING NEWS: The White House has begun the process of looking for a new secretary of defense, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly.
Reposted by Erica Smith
FYI: You can now share articles from TimesUnion.com directly to Bluesky via the share button at the top of each article. Here's where to look for it:
April 9, 2025 at 11:58 AM
FYI: You can now share articles from TimesUnion.com directly to Bluesky via the share button at the top of each article. Here's where to look for it:
Reposted by Erica Smith
I was shooting video of monster trucks at 8am this morning. My job is wonderfully weird much of the time.
With Monster Jam roaring into Albany, @justkristi.bsky.social & @rickmarshall.com visited MVP Arena to learn more about one of the show's newest stars: Sparkle Smash, a unicorn-themed monster truck. Read more about Sparkle Smash and driver Jamie Sullivan by clicking on the link in the thread below.
April 4, 2025 at 8:46 PM
I was shooting video of monster trucks at 8am this morning. My job is wonderfully weird much of the time.
Reposted by Erica Smith
No matter how it plays out, the composition of forests in New York and the Northeast will change dramatically in the future. And these changes have already begun.
New York’s forests are migrating. Here’s what the future might bring.
Forest migration, when tree species move to cooler temperatures as their historical habitats become too hot, is hitting New York.
www.timesunion.com
March 30, 2025 at 12:27 PM
No matter how it plays out, the composition of forests in New York and the Northeast will change dramatically in the future. And these changes have already begun.
Reposted by Erica Smith
“The use cases for artificial intelligence across every domain of work and life have started to get silly really fast,” our columnist @tressiemcphd.bsky.social writes. “Most of us aren’t using A.I. to save lives faster and better. We are using A.I. to make mediocre improvements.”
Opinion | Actually, A.I. Is Pretty Mid
A.I. is just what we need in the post-fact era: less research and more predicting what we want to hear.
www.nytimes.com
March 29, 2025 at 1:02 PM
“The use cases for artificial intelligence across every domain of work and life have started to get silly really fast,” our columnist @tressiemcphd.bsky.social writes. “Most of us aren’t using A.I. to save lives faster and better. We are using A.I. to make mediocre improvements.”
Reposted by Erica Smith
Here's a rundown of the award-winning work that contributed to the Times Union being named Newspaper of the Year by the New York Press Association's Better Newspaper Contest for the third consecutive year. www.timesunion.com/news/article...
Times Union repeats (again) as NY Press Association's Newspaper of the Year
The paper won first-place awards for investigative work, features, editorials, website, photography and more in the NYPA Better Newspaper Contest.
www.timesunion.com
March 22, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Here's a rundown of the award-winning work that contributed to the Times Union being named Newspaper of the Year by the New York Press Association's Better Newspaper Contest for the third consecutive year. www.timesunion.com/news/article...
Reposted by Erica Smith
Quite the light show put on by the auroras last night in Upstate New York. Were you able to see them where you live?
📷: Tony Colasurdo
📷: Tony Colasurdo
March 22, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Quite the light show put on by the auroras last night in Upstate New York. Were you able to see them where you live?
📷: Tony Colasurdo
📷: Tony Colasurdo
Reposted by Erica Smith
Northville High School girls basketball coach Jim Zullo has been fired after an incident in which he was shown yanking the hair of senior Hailey Monroe after the team’s 43-37 loss Friday evening at Hudson Valley Community College.
'Unacceptable': Northville girls' basketball coach is out after yanking player's hair
Incident captured during TV broadcast of championship game at HVCC; superintendent says "he will no longer be with us"
www.timesunion.com
March 22, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Northville High School girls basketball coach Jim Zullo has been fired after an incident in which he was shown yanking the hair of senior Hailey Monroe after the team’s 43-37 loss Friday evening at Hudson Valley Community College.
I’m honored to be part of this group!
As we encourage newsrooms to do, we have our own advisory committee made up of the people we aim to serve. Welcome to these members! Thank you for your time and dedication. trustingnews.org/trusting-new...
Trusting News launches inaugural advisory committee
Meet the 11 journalists who make up Trusting News' inaugural newsroom advisory committee
trustingnews.org
March 6, 2025 at 6:05 PM
I’m honored to be part of this group!
Reposted by Erica Smith
The International News Media Association named the Times Union’s Capitol Confidential newsletter and narrative podcast “Catastrophic Failure” among the finalists in three categories in its annual Global Media Awards. (🎉 @danclarkreports.bsky.social @jess-on-ice.com )
CapCon newsletter, Schoharie crash podcast are finalists for global awards
International News Media Association names nominees for range of awards; winners will be announced in May.
www.timesunion.com
March 6, 2025 at 12:01 PM
The International News Media Association named the Times Union’s Capitol Confidential newsletter and narrative podcast “Catastrophic Failure” among the finalists in three categories in its annual Global Media Awards. (🎉 @danclarkreports.bsky.social @jess-on-ice.com )
Reposted by Erica Smith
On the 45th anniversary of the 1980 Olympic Games in Lake Placid, The Times Union's @jess-on-ice.com & @rickmarshall.com visited the upstate NY village to experience some Olympic history. Watch the video below:
www.youtube.com/shorts/1epd0...
www.youtube.com/shorts/1epd0...
Revisiting Lake Placid on the 45th anniversary of the 1980 Olympics
YouTube video by Times Union
www.youtube.com
February 24, 2025 at 8:38 PM
On the 45th anniversary of the 1980 Olympic Games in Lake Placid, The Times Union's @jess-on-ice.com & @rickmarshall.com visited the upstate NY village to experience some Olympic history. Watch the video below:
www.youtube.com/shorts/1epd0...
www.youtube.com/shorts/1epd0...
Reposted by Erica Smith
Feb. 24 is "Twin Peaks" day — the day lead character Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) rolled into town to investigate the murder. To commemorate the day, here's what we know about the Drew case that inspired everything.
The unsolved Capital Region murder that inspired 'Twin Peaks'
"Twin Peaks" Day is Feb. 24, the day FBI agent Dale Cooper rolled into town in the show
www.timesunion.com
February 24, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Feb. 24 is "Twin Peaks" day — the day lead character Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) rolled into town to investigate the murder. To commemorate the day, here's what we know about the Drew case that inspired everything.
Reposted by Erica Smith
"Everything is a conspiracy when you don't know how anything works"
Correct. If the birthdate field contains corrupt or mismatched data, it defaults to 1875-05-20, which serves as a flag. May 20, 1875, is the day the international standards and metrics treaty was signed. Everything is a conspiracy when you don’t know how anything works.
February 15, 2025 at 2:11 PM
"Everything is a conspiracy when you don't know how anything works"
Reposted by Erica Smith
A list of terms NOAA received that could run afoul of Trump orders: "climate change," "pollution" "natural resources" and terms associated with diversity, equity and inclusion - @npr.org's @alejandrabee.bsky.social @michaelcopley1.bsky.social @hansilowang.bsky.social
www.npr.org/2025/02/15/n...
www.npr.org/2025/02/15/n...
Trump officials signal potential changes at NOAA, the weather and climate agency
Federal workers at the home agency for the National Weather Service are concerned about a potential overhaul by Trump officials focused on cutting government costs.
www.npr.org
February 15, 2025 at 1:50 PM
A list of terms NOAA received that could run afoul of Trump orders: "climate change," "pollution" "natural resources" and terms associated with diversity, equity and inclusion - @npr.org's @alejandrabee.bsky.social @michaelcopley1.bsky.social @hansilowang.bsky.social
www.npr.org/2025/02/15/n...
www.npr.org/2025/02/15/n...
Reposted by Erica Smith
This was the absolutely sweetest story to photograph: www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley...
Saying ‘I do,’ again and again and again
On Valentine's Day, more than a dozen couples renewed their vows and married at a mass ceremony at Wappinger Town Hall.
www.timesunion.com
February 15, 2025 at 1:27 PM
This was the absolutely sweetest story to photograph: www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley...
Reposted by Erica Smith
🎵 Freezing rain is pink, snow is blue
Rain is green, here's a forecast just for you 🎵
A complex winter storm will impact NY this weekend followed by gusty winds. Impacts include travel headaches & possible electric outages. Check out the graphic below to understand the expected timeline of weather.
Rain is green, here's a forecast just for you 🎵
A complex winter storm will impact NY this weekend followed by gusty winds. Impacts include travel headaches & possible electric outages. Check out the graphic below to understand the expected timeline of weather.
February 14, 2025 at 10:00 PM
🎵 Freezing rain is pink, snow is blue
Rain is green, here's a forecast just for you 🎵
A complex winter storm will impact NY this weekend followed by gusty winds. Impacts include travel headaches & possible electric outages. Check out the graphic below to understand the expected timeline of weather.
Rain is green, here's a forecast just for you 🎵
A complex winter storm will impact NY this weekend followed by gusty winds. Impacts include travel headaches & possible electric outages. Check out the graphic below to understand the expected timeline of weather.
Quick — today's the deadline.
Want to vote in June’s primary? Register now with a political party.
The deadline to register with a party or switch parties for the primary is Feb. 14.
www.timesunion.com
February 14, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Quick — today's the deadline.
Reposted by Erica Smith
BREAKING: A grand jury in Oneida County has handed up charges against correction officers involved in the Dec. 9 fatal beating of Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility. Brendan Lyons reports.
Sealed indictment handed up against officers in beating death of Robert Brooks
A grand jury in Oneida County has handed up charges against correction officers involved in the Dec. 9 beating of an inmate at Marcy Correctional Facility
www.timesunion.com
February 14, 2025 at 5:51 PM
BREAKING: A grand jury in Oneida County has handed up charges against correction officers involved in the Dec. 9 fatal beating of Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility. Brendan Lyons reports.
Reposted by Erica Smith
In an influx of text messages delivered to Capital Region residents over the past few months, scammers have attempted to extract quick payments from unsuspecting victims by threatening fines and the loss of driver’s licenses.
Thruway Authority warns of E-ZPass toll scam texts
Scam texts claiming unpaid E-ZPass tolls are pressuring people into quick payments. Verify legitimacy before clicking links, the state Thruway Authority says.
www.timesunion.com
February 14, 2025 at 2:46 PM
In an influx of text messages delivered to Capital Region residents over the past few months, scammers have attempted to extract quick payments from unsuspecting victims by threatening fines and the loss of driver’s licenses.