It started as an investigation into possible Social Security fraud in a quiet Albany neighborhood. But when police discovered the bodies of what they think are a missing elderly couple, it turned into a murder case. Not something Times Union reporter Steve Hughes comes across every day on his beat. He joins us on The Eagle this week to talk about his coverage of the story.

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The award-winning children’s book author and illustrator teamed up for a new magical fairy tale about love, loss and a tiny girl’s quest to find her family. They join us on “The Eagle” this week, ahead of their book release and appearance at the Saratoga Book Festival. Also on this episode, comedian Zane Lamprey talks about standup, working with animals, and his Capital Region Roots.

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For the first time in a decade, we’ve brought on new writers to critique the dining scene in the Capital Region and Hudson Valley. On this episode, Steve Barnes sits down with Stephanie Gravalese and Shannon Lee to talk memorable meals, restaurants, and the role of the food critic in an age of Yelp reviews.

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Times Union columnist Chris Churchill explores an idea to pull all of the Capital Region under one municipal umbrella. Also on this episode, we debut a snippet of our new limited series true crime podcast, “The Girl in the Pond,” about the unsolved murder of Hazel Drew.

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The Emmy-, Oscar-, and Grammy-winning musician has a special bond with Saratoga Springs. He met his wife there, they visit family frequently, and in late August, he performed selections from his new album “Big Money” with the Philadelphia Orchestra at SPAC. He joins Arts & Entertainment Editor Rick Marshall on this episode of “The Eagle” to talk about the new album and his collaboration with Randy Newman that brought the 81-year-old back to singing. 

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Edward Leon is facing federal arson and murder charges for setting the 2013 fire in Schenectady that killed David Terry and three of his children. His arrest came more than 12 years after the blaze, and if convicted, he could face the death penalty. On this episode of "The Eagle," we revisit the story, which up to this point had been one of the region's biggest unsolved cases.

Also on this episode, we'll sit down with longtime Capital Repertory Theater Artistic Director Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill to talk about her career, and what's next after she retires this year.

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When Lego artist Nathan Sawaya fell in love with the bricks as a kid, he never imagined it could lead to a successful career. Yet here he is, building massive and complex Lego sculptures for a living. The traveling exhibit featuring his works, which include a giant T. Rex, is coming to Schenectady in August. On this episode of “The Eagle,” Sawaya joins Arts & Entertainment Editor Rick Marshall to talk about the show, and some of the surreal experiences his work with Lego has made possible. Also on this episode, reporter Kelsey Brown talks about the major concerns New York farmers have about immigration crackdowns.

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New York State Police issued an Amber Alert early Sunday morning for a 9-year-old girl thought to have been abducted in a white van along I-87 near Lake George, New York. Less than 24 hours later, the girl’s body was found an hour north, and her father Luciano Frattolin had been arrested for her murder. On this episode of “The Eagle,” we’ll delve into our reporting on the case, and discuss the latest developments.

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The U.S. Justice Department appointed John A. Sarcone III as first assistant district attorney of New York’s Northern District this week, which effectively makes him the region’s top prosecutor, at least temporarily. The move comes after a panel of federal judges declined to appoint him to the role permanently. Times Union Editor Casey Seiler and Managing Editor Brendan Lyons discuss the appointment, and some of the recent reporting on Sarcone.

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David Wain and Ken Marino are names you may recognize from their many movie and TV credits, including the “Wet Hot American Summer” franchise, “The Residence” on Netflix, and MTV’s ‘90s sketch comedy show “The State.” Their latest venture is something a little different—they formed a garage band during the pandemic, and their jam session videos took off on YouTube. Now, “Middle Aged Dad Jam Band” is touring the country, performing covers of popular ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s songs. They’re headed to Albany for Alive at Five on July 17, and Wain and Marino join Arts and Entertainment Editor Rick Marshall for a little preview.

Also on this episode, reporter Ashley Soebroto talks about the latest trends in New York state population data. 

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