Phillip Pantuso

Bard trustees hire outside firm to review Botstein-Epstein ties The news was released in a statement from the Board of Trustees late Thursday afternoon, its first public statement about the scandal.

Breaking tonight: Bard has retained an outside law firm to conduct an independent review of Leon Botstein’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the college’s public first response to mounting scrutiny over its president’s relationship with the convicted sex predator.

www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley...

ICE retracts false claim that it purchased Hudson Valley warehouse The federal agency said its statement that it bought a former Pep Boys building in Chester to use as a detention center was a “mistake.”

Just in from my colleague Nora Mishanec: ICE officials said Tuesday they had made a “mistake” after falsely claiming to have bought a Hudson Valley warehouse for a detention center.

On Friday, after multiple outlets ran with ICE’s claims, we reported that county officials had no record of a sale.

The Times Union’s Hudson Valley team, ladies and gentlemen

ICE retracts false claim that it purchased Hudson Valley warehouse The federal agency said its statement that it bought a former Pep Boys building in Chester to use as a detention center was a “mistake.”

Last week, several news organizations uncritically ran with ICE’s claim that it had purchased an upstate warehouse to use as a detention center.

The Times Union didn’t. We did some actual reporting and found there were no records of a deal.

Then, tonight:

www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley...

‘S___show’: Bard students protest Botstein’s ties to Epstein as trustees meet Anger on campus is mounting amid Bard College’s silence about President Leon Botstein’s relationship with the convicted sex predator.

It’s been two weeks since new revelations emerged about Bard President Leon Botstein’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

The board of trustees has said nothing. A college spokesperson has said only, “The president is listening and engaging.” Students and alumni want more.

www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley...

A $50,000 Watch and Friendly Notes: One College Leader’s Ties to Epstein

they gave us one last week too! www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/u...

Emails show Botstein knew of Epstein allegations while pursuing donations Condolences sent after public reports of Epstein’s sex trafficking and his ties to then-Prince Andrew indicate the Bard president knew more than he now admits.

Our latest story on Leon Botstein’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein shows the college president knew of the trafficking allegations as he sought donations from the sex offender, despite his repeated claims in recent days to the contrary.

Much more herein:

www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley...

‘Gross’: Amid silence from college, Bard students react to Botstein revelations Amid silence from the college, many students disapproved of Leon Botstein courting a convicted sex offender for donations. But they don’t expect he will resign.

In the four-plus days since the @timesunion.com reported that Leon Botstein’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein was much closer than previously known, neither Bard College nor its trustees have said anything.

But students are talking. Including to us.

www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley...

‘I miss you’: Emails detail close ties between Jeffrey Epstein and Bard President Leon Botstein Leon Botstein’s name appears in the Epstein files more than 2,500 times, including arranging travel to Epstein’s island and a visit with “girls” to the college.

Bard College President Leon Botstein appears in the Epstein files more than 2,500 times, including arranging travel to Epstein’s island, hosting a visit with “girls” to campus and telling the child sex predator, “I miss you.”

Sarah Trafton reports:

www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley...

‘I miss you’: Emails detail close ties between Jeffrey Epstein and Bard President Leon Botstein Leon Botstein’s name appears in the Epstein files more than 2,500 times, including arranging travel to Epstein’s island and a visit with “girls” to the college.

Bard College President Leon Botstein appears in the Epstein files more than 2,500 times, including arranging travel to Epstein’s island, hosting a visit with “girls” to campus and telling the child sex predator, “I miss you.”

Sarah Trafton reports:

www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley...

“We’re not trying to recreate social media”: How Minnesota’s Star Tribune navigates a local crisis The publication tries to offer a sober alternative to a social media swarm as a deadly shooting deepens the crisis in Minneapolis.

“Ultimately, that’s what journalism is in for: You need to shed some light and bring true understanding.”

www.semafor.com/article/01/2...

Was just trying to remember this. Someone said it in a podcast just this week

Kingston votes again to keep rent control, declaring new housing emergency The city’s Common Council unanimously acted to preserve rent stabilization after a disputed vacancy study threatened tenant protections.

BREAKING: The first upstate city to adopt rent stabilization became the first one to do it again.

www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley...

Bergvall, Simons, Sarr, Gray, Vuskovic, Tel, and probably LWB and Moore are all clearly part of the “project.” This game sucks shit but c’mon.

USCIS reverses course, reinstates halted naturalization ceremonies across New York The move comes days after the Times Union revealed abrupt cancellations in at least seven counties, sparking bipartisan criticism and demands for answers.

Less than three days after Maria Silva reported on the cancellation of naturalization ceremonies across upstate, an apparent reversal by USCIS.

Journalism, amirite?

This doesn’t happen without Maria’s intrepid reporting on this policy change, which USCIS tried to keep quiet.

Former Trooper Christopher Baldner found not guilty of murder, reckless endangerment Jurors will return Friday to decide if they can convict Christopher Baldner in connection with a Thruway crash that killed 11-year-old Monica Goods.

Christopher Baldner, the first state trooper in New York to stand trial for murder in connection with a vehicle pursuit, was found not guilty of that charge on Thursday.

But jurors are split on whether to convict him of manslaughter.

www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley...

USCIS halts upstate naturalization ceremonies, leaving hundreds waiting Clerks in seven counties say federal agency under Department of Homeland Security did not explain the sudden cancellations, which have left hundreds of lawful permanent residents in limbo.

Naturalization ceremonies are described by new citizens and local officials as joyful celebrations of American values. U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services has been canceling them indefinitely in counties across upstate New York, and it won't say why. Maria Silva reports.

I’m hearing Mark Sanford ran for president?

Driver dies after striking two state troopers in Cairo The troopers, assigned to the State Police Catskill barracks, suffered non-life-threatening injuries during a Route 23 traffic stop.

Breaking late on Monday: a man has died mysteriously in upstate New York after “striking” two state police troopers with his vehicle.

More when I know it.

www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley...

Kingston chiropractor facing child sex abuse material sentencing now charged with assaulting toddler John Boyle III pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing child sex abuse material earlier this year and was scheduled to be sentenced in December.

His attorney called the arrest "a gross misunderstanding" and alleged the Ulster County DA was using it "to try to get an enhancement of his sentence” — that is, the plea agreement in which Boyle admitted to a series of felony child sexual abuse material charges.

ICE detentions in county jails have surged. The roots stretch to New York’s North Country Family searches through North Country jail ledgers recall a hidden history that shaped today’s ICE detention network.

Absolutely fascinating story on the links between today's migrant detentions and the role played by North Country jails where Chinese migrants ended up in the bad old days of the Exclusion Act. Esther Sun reports.

Court rejects Texas bid to enforce abortion judgment against NY doctor A NY judge ruled that Texas can’t enforce a $113K judgment against a Hudson Valley doctor, citing the state’s reproductive shield law.

EXCLUSIVE: A New York judge has rejected Texas’ attempt to enforce an abortion-related judgment against an upstate doctor who mailed abortion pills across state lines.

www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley...

Dutchess County Legislature’s chairman bought home outside his district Will Truitt, the Hyde Park lawmaker running for comptroller, bought a $401K home outside his district. Records and observations raise questions about where he lives.

Will Truitt, a fast-rising young Republican who chairs the Dutchess County Legislature, says he lives in his parents’ basement.

But he bought a home outside his district last June and we observed him there several times. The law requires reps to live in district.

www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley...

The Hudson Valley’s forgotten role in basketball history Hudson Valley teams and Jewish players helped invent modern basketball’s style, decades before the NBA.

As the NBA season opens, this is a good story on the early days of "basket ball." www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley...

ICE arrests Afghan refugee living in New Paltz after asylum hearing Ali Sajad Faqirzada, who resettled with his family in Ulster County in 2022, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Tuesday.

BREAKING: An Afghan refugee whose family resettled in New York after fleeing Taliban persecution was detained by ICE agents following a routine asylum interview on Tuesday.

@mariamsilva.bsky.social has the story www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley...

In a Columbia County orchard, heirloom apples tell stories of the past At the Hudson Valley Apple Project, a cider pioneer is reviving rare apples — and showing how far beyond Red Delicious the fruit can go.

At the Hudson Valley Apple Project, a cider pioneer is reviving rare apples that showcase the fruit’s remarkable — and nearly forgotten — genetic diversity.

This is one of the coolest stories we’ve published this year. Liz Susman Karp reports

www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley...

State trooper charged with DWI after alleged hit-and-runs An officer with Troop K was arrested after hitting several vehicles while driving the wrong way on state Route 9 in Westchester County.

Yes, "hit-and-runs" plural. @phillippantuso.bsky.social reports. www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley...

Ah, sad to have missed this! If this was directed at me, I’m not worried about it.

yeah I’ve made a big mistake