Latest news with #Schenectady
Washington Post
01-08-2025
- Washington Post
New York man indicted in 2013 fire that killed father and 3 young children
A federal grand jury has indicted a man in connection with a 2013 fire in upstate New York that killed a 33-year-old father and his three young children, nine years after authorities had said there was 'significant evidence' of his involvement in the arson. Edward Leon, 52, was charged with malicious use of fire to destroy property resulting in death, a crime that carries the possibility of the death penalty. He pleaded not guilty during a hearing in federal court in Albany on Thursday, two days after the grand jury indicted him. Records of the case were unsealed Thursday. The fire on May 2, 2013, in Schenectady, killed David Terry, 3-year-old Layah Terry, 2-year-old Michael Terry, and 11-month-old Donavan Duell. Another child, Sa'fyre Terry, who was 5 at the time, was seriously injured. Investigators said gasoline was used to start the blaze. It was not clear why Leon was charged so many years after the fire. His lawyer, Kevin Luibrand, did not immediately return phone and email messages Friday. Schenectady police and the U.S. attorney's office did not respond to questions about the investigation. In 2016, Leon was sentenced to 10 years in prison for lying to a grand jury about his actions and whereabouts on the night of the fire. He was released in 2022, federal prison records show. Several other people were sentenced to prison for lying under oath before a grand jury, including the mother of the children who died. In a 2016 court document, a federal prosecutor said there was 'significant evidence' of Leon's involvement in the deadly fire. Leon was upset that David Terry planned to marry Leon's ex-girlfriend, according to the document, and had sent Terry threatening text messages including 'you're not going to make it to your wedding day,' 'die, Dave, die,' and 'you're a dead man walking.' Also, around the time of the fire, Leon was near the home because he planned to confront Terry, prosecutors said. But he said he left the scene when he noticed a fire at the home — worrying that people would blame him — and did not report the fire to authorities, according to prosecutors. And shortly after the fire, police had zeroed in on another man who they believed started it. The man, Robert Butler , was charged with the same crime that Leon is now charged with, but federal prosecutors dropped the case in 2014. Officials said further investigation was needed about the possible involvement of others, and there were issues with eyewitnesses. The Times Union of Albany reported that it obtained street camera video footage in 2014 that showed Leon's van entering the neighborhood in the early morning, minutes before the fire began. The newspaper also reported that Butler's public defender showed authorities video footage at the time, and officials responded that it could have been a coincidence that Leon was near the home. In a 2014 interview with The Times Union, Leon acknowledged he went to the house that night. 'I was in Schenectady … to try to meet this guy and confront him face-to-face,' Leon told the newspaper. 'Now they're at the point of trying to pin something on somebody. … I haven't hid for one minute from it and I ain't going to now. I got five kids and four grandkids to take care of; they're what it's about to me.' A court hearing on Leon's detention and possible bail was set for next Wednesday.
Associated Press
01-08-2025
- Associated Press
New York man indicted in 2013 fire that killed father and 3 young children
A federal grand jury has indicted a man in connection with a 2013 fire in upstate New York that killed a 33-year-old father and his three young children, nine years after authorities had said there was 'significant evidence' of his involvement in the arson. Edward Leon, 52, was charged with malicious use of fire to destroy property resulting in death, a crime that carries the possibility of the death penalty. He pleaded not guilty during a hearing in federal court in Albany on Thursday, two days after the grand jury indicted him. Records of the case were unsealed Thursday. The fire on May 2, 2013, in Schenectady, killed David Terry, 3-year-old Layah Terry, 2-year-old Michael Terry, and 11-month-old Donavan Duell. Another child, Sa'fyre Terry, who was 5 at the time, was seriously injured. Investigators said gasoline was used to start the blaze. It was not clear why Leon was charged so many years after the fire. His lawyer, Kevin Luibrand, did not immediately return phone and email messages Friday. Schenectady police and the U.S. attorney's office did not respond to questions about the investigation. In 2016, Leon was sentenced to 10 years in prison for lying to a grand jury about his actions and whereabouts on the night of the fire. He was released in 2022, federal prison records show. Several other people were sentenced to prison for lying under oath before a grand jury, including the mother of the children who died. In a 2016 court document, a federal prosecutor said there was 'significant evidence' of Leon's involvement in the deadly fire. Leon was upset that David Terry planned to marry Leon's ex-girlfriend, according to the document, and had sent Terry threatening text messages including 'you're not going to make it to your wedding day,' 'die, Dave, die,' and 'you're a dead man walking.' Also, around the time of the fire, Leon was near the home because he planned to confront Terry, prosecutors said. But he said he left the scene when he noticed a fire at the home — worrying that people would blame him — and did not report the fire to authorities, according to prosecutors. And shortly after the fire, police had zeroed in on another man who they believed started it. The man, Robert Butler, was charged with the same crime that Leon is now charged with, but federal prosecutors dropped the case in 2014. Officials said further investigation was needed about the possible involvement of others, and there were issues with eyewitnesses. The Times Union of Albany reported that it obtained street camera video footage in 2014 that showed Leon's van entering the neighborhood in the early morning, minutes before the fire began. The newspaper also reported that Butler's public defender showed authorities video footage at the time, and officials responded that it could have been a coincidence that Leon was near the home. In a 2014 interview with The Times Union, Leon acknowledged he went to the house that night. 'I was in Schenectady … to try to meet this guy and confront him face-to-face,' Leon told the newspaper. 'Now they're at the point of trying to pin something on somebody. … I haven't hid for one minute from it and I ain't going to now. I got five kids and four grandkids to take care of; they're what it's about to me.' A court hearing on Leon's detention and possible bail was set for next Wednesday.
Associated Press
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Lee Brice to Headline Grand Opening Concert at Schenectady's Newest Event Venue — M&T Bank Center — on September 6
06/12/2025, Schenectady, NY // KISS PR Brand Story PressWire // Country music fans, mark your calendars! Lee Brice, one of country music's biggest stars, is set to perform live at the brand-new M&T Bank Center on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 7:00 PM. Located in downtown Schenectady adjacent to Rivers Casino & Resort, the M&T Bank Center is the Capital Region's newest state-of-the-art event venue and it's already attracting major talent for its Grand Opening event. Brice, known for smash hits like 'One of Them Girls,' 'I Don't Dance,' and 'Hard to Love,' will deliver an unforgettable night of powerhouse vocals, fan favorites, and authentic country storytelling. Opening the show is local rising country star David J, whose fresh sound and heartfelt lyrics have quickly made him a fan favorite across New York and beyond. His performance will kick off an incredible night of music in one of the area's most exciting new entertainment destinations. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 20 at 10:00 AM and can be purchased online at Don't miss your chance to make history by attending the Grand Opening event and seeing Lee Brice and David J live at the M&T Bank Center — Schenectady's newest home for top-tier concerts and events! ### Media Contact Brawn Media Donna Brownson [email protected] newsroom: Source published by Submit Press Release >> Lee Brice to Headline Grand Opening Concert at Schenectady's Newest Event Venue — M&T Bank Center — on September 6
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lt. Gov. Delgado pitches fundamental change as he challenges his boss for governor
Jun. 7—SCHENECTADY — Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado is pitching himself as a transformative leader who will make fundamental changes to how New York operates and will prioritize issues, blaming "current leaders" — his boss Gov. Kathleen C. Hochul — for failing to effectively respond to the core issues of our time. On Saturday, in a humid half-court YMCA gymnasium to a crowd of about 150 people in his hometown, Delgado spoke of family, of loyalty, of his commitment to representing the people of New York above all, and batted away criticism that he's proven a disloyal No. 2 to Hochul. "Some folks will talk about this idea of loyalty, since I announced my run for governor, loyalty," he said. "But I have to ask, loyal to who? Loyal to what?" "Loyalty to a broken system is why we're in this mess to begin with," he continued. "Don't talk to me about loyalty unless it's loyalty to the people." Delgado didn't name Hochul outright in his speech, but derided many of the policies the Hochul administration has overseen as fundamentally out of touch with good governance. "All New Yorkers, every single New Yorker, deserves better leadership," he said. He criticized programs that funnel public, taxpayer money into private enterprises, both to achieve economic growth and to deliver public benefits like healthcare and public housing. He questioned the financial viability of such programs, which he said have not done much to improve quality of life or boost economic performance. He said New York is the nation's third-largest economy, and would be eighth in the world if identified as its own nation — and with a $254 billion public state budget for the coming year. "Where is the money going?" he asked his supporters on Saturday. Delgado laid out a number of broad policy proposals — just a first look, he said. He called for efforts to address poverty, taking back public housing programs and increasing the income cap to qualify for New York's "Essential Plan" publicly-subsidized health insurance plan. He called for universal pre-school across the state and an increase in the statewide minimum wage "for everyone." He said the state should stand up it's own rental assistance programs, and make efforts to reach the estimated seven out of 10 eligible people who don't take advantage of that and other public benefit programs. He also called for universal childcare beyond universal pre-school as well, and said the state should establish a taxpayer-funded account to pay extra money to childcare workers as well. But when asked if he supported the extra spending that would come with those programs, Delgado said he wasn't backing the bills that currently exist in the state legislature that would enact many of these programs. "What I'm laying out is a vision," he said to gathered reporters after the campaign event. "Then you work with the legislative body to effectuate the vision and figure out what the best way forward is to get there. Delgado's message is one of change, of a departure from the way Hochul and recent governors before her have done things — and he said he has not been a significant part of that governance despite being the No. 2 most senior elected official in the state since 2022, when Hochul appointed him to replace then-Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin. "I've tried very hard to communicate all these things within the administration, I've tried to push to make sure that we take bolder steps," he said. "Now listen, to do that you have to be part of the decision-making process, right. To do that, you have to be included." He said he was not included in that process, despite promises from Hochul before he was appointed that she would take a different approach to governing and would include the lieutenant in more decisions. That's not historically how the job works — for years, the lieutenant governor position has been varying degrees of thankless and responsibility-free. The lieutenant is no longer even regularly handed control of state government when the governor leaves the state, thanks to modern communications technology and the governor's private planes and helicopters. Delgado broke with Hochul nearly a year ago — first by calling for President Joseph R. Biden to step aside from his reelection campaign after his poor debate performance in June of 2024, then on further and further issues. After telling reporters in a rare Capitol news conference that he was working toward a better relationship with the governor, Delgado announced he would step aside and not run for reelection with Hochul. She responded by stripping him of everything but the most basic essentials for his office — taking back his downstate and Capitol second floor office space, a significant amount of his staff, digital devices, executive email and vehicles. Delgado has been left with a skeleton crew for official staff and a rarely-used office off of the state Senate chambers mostly used for ceremonial purposes in typical times. She also took all the duties and initiatives she's assigned to him and his team — a program to boost civic engagement and any assignments to represent the Governor's office at events across the state. All that remains is his constitutional duty to preside over the Senate — another rarely used ceremonial role almost always delegated to the Senate Majority Leader by assigning them as President Pro Tempore. Delgado hasn't done that since the first day of session in January. Delgado has maintained for months, since he started to break with the governor, that his real job is to "get out there and connect with people," a phrase he's repeated often including on Saturday. He, in his capacity as Lieutenant, has held quasi-campaign rallies across the state framed as town hall events, meeting with those in the community who care to show up. Many of those events were filmed and cut together for his campaign announcement video. "As lieutenant governor, I can't control when somebody decides to take a look at my staff, I can't control someone taking my phone, I can't control that," he said. "What I can control is my connection to New Yorkers, and I'm going to continue to lean in on my connection to New Yorkers. New Yorkers, who, by the way, who independently elected me to serve in this capacity." Delgado went on to say that he didn't see that same approach from Hochul — and that's what made him decide to run against her. "I wasn't seeing the plan, on top of that you don't have visibility to where we're going, you don't know exactly what the plan is, what the vision is, this feels more reactive, that's the piece I want to make sure that I change," he said. Delgado's path to victory is far from simple — Hochul has the incumbency advantage, years of fundraising, the support of the state Democratic party and polls better than Delgado in statewide rankings. Shortly after Delgado dropped his announcement video on June 2, a coordinated effort by the state party to shore up local Democratic support resulted with over 40 out of 64 local county Democratic chairs endorsing Hochul. On Friday, three leading Schenectady County Democrats announced they're backing Hochul. Hochul's campaign declined to comment on the lieutenant governor's criticism, or his candidacy in general, but pointed to a handful of news reports detailing those county and local endorsements of her, plus a New York Post article from Saturday with the headline "'No Show' Delgado: NY's lieutenant governor does little to earn $220k paycheck, records show." But Delgado isn't without his support — a handful of Democratic chairs, including from Greene and Otsego counties were at his event on Saturday. They appeared in their personal capacities — many county committees don't endorse before a primary, and others haven't had meetings to decide if they want to endorse, and who to endorse, yet. Greene County Chair Lori Torgerson said her county committee hasn't met yet, but said that for her personally, Delgado represents a good leader with a clear vision. "Antonio has integrity, everything he said today I believe he delivers on, and in my experience he has never been a leader who says one thing and does another," she said. Otsego County chair Caitlin Ogden said her committee generally doesn't endorse a candidate if there's a primary, but said that since Delgado's time in Congress he's demonstrated an ability to flip Republican and Trump-loyal voters and could be the best pick to stop the shift to the right the electorate has demonstrated in recent elections "I feel that he's the one whose got a proven track record doing that, and he has a really good shot," she said.
Washington Post
03-06-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
N.Y. lieutenant governor to challenge Hochul in Democratic primary
Antonio Delgado, New York's lieutenant governor, announced he will run for governor in the state, setting up a bitter Democratic primary battle against the person who appointed him: Gov. Kathy Hochul. In his campaign launch video on Monday, the former congressman highlighted his upbringing in Schenectady, New York, and called for 'bold, decisive, and transformational' leadership. While his announcement didn't mention Hochul by name, Delgado mentioned New York's housing affordability crisis and legal fights the state faced from the Trump administration in what he suggests is retaliation for its liberal policies. 'Listen, the powerful and well-connected have their champions,' Delgado says in the video. 'I'm running for governor to be yours.' Delgado, who represented parts of Hudson Valley during two terms in Congress, was appointed by Hochul to lieutenant governor in 2022 after her previous lieutenant governor, Brian Benjamin (whom Hochul also appointed), was indicted on bribery charges and resigned — though the charges against him were ultimately dropped. Delgado said in February he wouldn't seek reelection as lieutenant governor in 2026, fueling speculation he could mount a primary challenge to Hochul. 'When I first made the decision to run for office after the 2016 presidential election, I did so because I believed we needed more leaders in government willing to hold themselves accountable to the people — and only the people. I believe New Yorkers deserve this kind of leadership now more than ever,' Delgado wrote then. 'All options are on the table, and I will be exploring them.' Hochul's office released a scathing response, appearing to confirm the months-long discord between the two officials. 'Today, Antonio Delgado finally said out loud what has been obvious for quite some time: he is simply not interested in doing the job of the Lieutenant Governor of the State of New York. Governor Hochul had already begun taking steps to identify a new running mate for 2026,' the statement read, adding that her office would be 'reallocating' his duties to make sure they are 'no longer neglected.' In July 2024, Delgado called for former president Joe Biden to step aside and drop his reelection bid, becoming the first statewide Democrat to do so. The move put him at odds with Hochul, who was still a stalwart supporter of Biden's bid. Delgado called for New York Mayor Eric Adams to resign in February amid his federal corruption charges and allegations that Adams engaged in a 'quid pro quo' agreement with the Trump administration to have the charges dropped, sharply breaking with Hochul, who said she would not remove Adams from office and instead proposed oversight measures over his administration. A federal judge dismissed the corruption case against Adams in April. Meghan Meehan-Draper, executive director of the Democratic Governors Association, backed Hochul in a statement on Monday, calling the governor 'a proven leader with a strong record of delivering for New Yorkers.' 'The Democratic Governors Association is 100 percent behind Governor Hochul as she continues to deliver for New York, take on Donald Trump, and build the operation it will take to beat Republicans up and down the ballot in 2026,' Meehan-Draper said.
