Pilot lands upside down, lives. Aluminum tariffs affect prices.

Hochul warns of state budget shortfall, and who's to blame

Jul 18, 2025

ANNOUNCEMENT: We go mostly behind the paywall THIS MONDAY JULY 21.

Thank you to all our readers who have made the launch of the Dispatch a wonderful success. We soft-launched June 16, and already can boast thousands of pageviews a day. Thank you!

(If only pageviews were enough…)

We are a self-owned, subscriber-based news outlet. We have pledged daily news from the Spa City 5-7 days a week, but we must find a way to pay for it — right now, a paid subscription is less than $1/week, significantly less than a cup of coffee!

Readers who buy an annual subscription by Sunday July 20 will receive a 13th MONTH added to your 12-month membership. Take advantage of this one-time offer created just for our launch!

So, join now and get 13 months for the price of 12. (We will add the month to the people who have already paid for an annual subscription, too!)

Credit Card processing

A handful of people have said they are having troubles processing their credit card with us. Here’s what we know so far and what solutions are available. Please click to learn more.

If you remain a free subscriber, you will get some of our great coverage and learn some of what is going on around Saratoga Springs — but you won’t get all of it.

We also have corporate and small group subscription rates. Contact editors@saratogadispatch.com for more information on how you can play a crucial role in ensuring access to a free and local press for all.

—Steve Thurston and Abby Tegnelia, co-owners, Saratoga Dispatch

The “Morning Call” wakes you up with the top stories from the Dispatch and other news outlets that affect Saratoga.

Chancellor King talks about SUNY grants cancelled, international students

The State University of New York has seen $50 million in federal research grants canceled and the college system is concerned international student access to the SUNY system, a story in the Daily Gazette says. SUNY Chancellor John King Jr. made the comments during a tour of SUNY Schenectady County Community College. The grant cuts affect cancer research, agricultural research and more.

Pilot lands upside down, is OK

A retired Air National Guard pilot conducted an emergency landing — upside down — in a field in Albany County, the Times Union is reporting. He swooped in low, caught some grass on his landing gear and made an emergency landing, wings first.

Mahan leaves Saratoga County sheriffs for Hoosick Falls

Sgt. Ryan Mahan retired from the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department on Thursday and but on June 25, Mahan was sworn in as Chief of Police for the Village of Hoosick Falls. He is running for Saratoga County Sheriff and will decide if that is still a possibility at a later time, a story in the Saratogian says.

DA candidate wins endorsement

The Saratoga County Conservative Committee has endorsed Brett Eby, a Republican, in his run for Saratoga County district attorney, a story in the Times Union says. The story says that the county’s Democratic Party has a candidate who they will run against Eby.

Large retail and flex warehouse space proposed in Town of Ballston

Land near a Hannaford grocery store in the town of Ballston has sold for $1.45 million, and the developer Mark Katz plans to use the 6.2 acre property for a 48,000-square-foot complex of three buildings, on retail and two flex warehouses, the Albany Business Review is reporting.

Thank you to our Founding Supporters!
We’re adding more each day. Find the list here — it may be longer than the last time you checked.
Email editors@saratogadispatch.com for details.
Join here!

Hochul: The bill that will vote out Republicans

The “One Big Beautiful Bill” tax-and-spending bill signed into law by President Donald J. Trump earlier this month will have a devastating impact on the New York state budget in coming years, and Gov. Kathy Hochul wants people to understand that it is the Republicans to blame, a story in the Times Union says. New York expects a shortfall of $750 million due to the cuts in 2026 and $3 billion each year thereafter, the story says.

Aluminum tariffs hit: Beverage makers react

Even for brewers who use American aluminum in their canning, they still feel the economic pinch of tariffs on Canadian aluminum which hit 50% in June, a Times Union story is reporting. Common Roots brewing in South Glens Falls and Albany has seen an 8% increase, in aluminum because of a strain on the supply even though his aluminum does not come from Canada. Nine Pin cider in the Albany area has seen their costs rise, also.

Dan DeFederici’s on the news of Spa City

The editor of Saratoga Report, Dan De Federicis, talks about all things Saratoga in his latest column. He talk about Siro’s and Treehouse, the Daily Gazette and us at the Dispatch (Thanks, Dan!), but his list of currently closed, small hotels is surprising.

Looking for more Saratoga Springs headlines?

Head over to our friends at SARATOGA REPORT!

Scotia extends gas station moratorium

The Village of Scotia, just one square mile, has four gas stations, and that is enough, board of trustees decided this week, voting to extend a moratorium for a second full year. They did this over the objections of a landowner who purchased a former service station and now cannot build a fifth gas station, a story in the Daily Gazette says.

At this hour: Traffic, weather and the markets
Weather
Mostly sunny and a high termperature of 80 degrees, the National Weather Service’s Albany office says.
Traffic
Nothing to see here, says Google Maps. Traffic is clear, but watch for horses on Union Avenue.
Premarket trading
The S&P500, the Dow and the NASDAQ stock indices are all up by tiny, tiny percentages, according to numbers from Marketwatch.

Mavis Tire plans Wilton development

Mavis Tire has proposed building a new location in Wilton on Lowes Drive just off Route 50. The plan has gone before the Wilton Planning Board once. No decisions were made at that meeting, the Albany Business Review is reporting. The site sits across the street from the Lowe’s and will have eight bays for car service, the story says.