Sprinkling sodium chloride on roads and highways during winter months has long been an effective way to avoid hazardous driving conditions. But ongoing research out of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is showing that while road salts are essential for human safety, excessive use of them is profoundly affecting freshwater flora and fauna living near roads and developments. Recently, biology Professor Rick Relyea and his team found that frogs in particular have been evolving faster than normal to cope with saltier water. He joins us on this episode of “The Eagle” to talk more about what that means for local wildlife.

Also on this episode, features editor Sara Tracey talks about the big winners and big surprises in this year’s Times Union Best of the Capital Region contest.

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This year’s New York state budget is done and dusted. Capital reporter Dan Clark gives us the highlights of the $237 billion behemoth, which includes tools to crack down on illegal cannabis and new plans to spur housing development.

Also in this episode, we’ll talk with playwright Matthew Spangler, who wrote a stage adaptation of Khaled Hosseini’s best-selling novel “The Kite Runner” that’s coming to town next week.

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There are few things that unite generations of people raised in the Capital Region more than Secrets, the iconic all-ages nightclub at Guptill’s Rollerskating Arena. The memorable radio spots advertising the wa-wa-water cannons and lack of dress code live rent-free in the minds of those who came of age in the last four decades of its existence. Secrets closed in March 2020 after more than 40 years, an unfortunate casualty of the pandemic. On this episode of “The Eagle,” Kristi Gustafson Barlette investigates what became of the memorable space.

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Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band are playing the MVP Arena next week, after more than a year of postponements and delays. The resident Times Union Springsteen superfans, editor-in-chief Casey Seiler and city desk editor Mike Goodwin, sat down to talk about why tickets were so expensive, why it was delayed, and what they are looking forward to most about the show.

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When Caitlin Clark was taking a shot against LSU at the end of Iowa’s Elite Eight game in Albany, Rebecca Lobo was taking a shot at Albany. During the ESPN broadcast, the former WNBA and UConn star joked that there was nothing to do in New York’s Capital City. The hometown crowd was not thrilled with her remarks and took to social media en masse to protest. But Times Union’s Chris Churchill is wondering, is Lobo actually wrong? He joins us on this episode of “The Eagle” to explain.

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Parts of New York state are smack in the path of totality of the coming eclipse on April 8, and anyone who views it is in for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, according to Siena College Dudley Astronomer Mindy Townsend. On this episode of "The Eagle," Townsend goes over what we can expect to see during the eclipse (Hint: it will get dark!) and how we can view it safely.

Also on this episode, we'll talk to Old Crow Medicine Show bassist Morgan Jahnig about his Grammy-winning string band's upcoming show at the Ulster Performing Arts Center.

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New York's capital is set to play host to Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games in the women's NCAA championship tournament at the end of March. It's highly likely that will bring Iowa Hawkeyes superstar and Division I point record holder Caitlin Clark to town. Tickets for the games she's slated to play are already in high demand, with an expected 14,000 per day in attendance. On this episode of "The Eagle," we'll talk about the reasons behind Clark's rockstar status.

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The Hudson River is only about a quarter of a mile wide between Albany and Rensselaer counties, yet some people who live west of the river banks look at the area to the east as another country, rather than just a different county. On this episode of “The Eagle,” Kristi Gustafson Barlette talks about the strange stigma about Rensselaer County, and why it exists.

Also on this episode, Steve Barnes and Susie Davidson Powell talk about the art of reading a menu.

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The Academy Awards are coming up this weekend and we turn to our resident movie expert, features writer C.J. Lais, for his top picks to take home the Oscars.

Also on this episode, we'll take a deep dive into our latest investigative project. Reporter Emilie Munson talks about why serious police crashes in New York state have sharply increased in recent years.

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Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter David Nail has had chart-topping hits, played the Grand Ole Opry, and made a name for himself on Music Row. Yet he says he does not consider himself a typical country music star. He’s also been very open about his struggles with depression in recent years. Nail joins us on this episode of “The Eagle” to talk about making music, and how it gives him purpose.

Also on this episode, Casey Seiler demystifies the redistricting process as New York lawmakers re-draw Congressional boundaries once again.

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