Good morning, Schenectady.

Plug Power Inc. will lay off 261 employees in the Capital Region effective June 23 due to economic reasons.

The cuts affect 180 workers at Slingerlands, 79 at Latham and 2 at Clifton Park, and employees were notified on March 25.

The North Jay Street home of Civitello’s Spumoni & Italian Pastry finished a major renovation that lasted more than a year and is now getting closer to reopening.

The restaurant will soon welcome customers + offer its traditional treats in a refreshed space.

On Monday, 20-year-old Jevoun Drake was sentenced to 19 years to life in prison for fatally shooting Usman Pirzada in the head during a 2023 marijuana robbery—prosecutors said Drake panicked when Pirzada reached for his gun—and Drake later expressed remorse in court.

Jesse Taber, a 46-year-old man from Rotterdam, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a 12-gauge Stoeger Coach Gun at his home on December 26th and he will serve a three-year term of supervised release after his prison sentence.

A dog in Schenectady was found Saturday evening with an ear cut off near Eastern Parkway and McClellan Street and suffered injuries to its face and teeth; it is now cared for at Mohawk Hudson Humane Society (staff named her Lavender) as police investigate the suspected animal abuse.

Mayor Gary McCarthy said crews began restoring the historic city hall clock tower on Monday and will work on its Liberty Street side for several months.

A crane is stationed on Liberty Street today to move material to the roof and scaffolding will be built on Thursday (minimizing public inconvenience) while a rededication ceremony is planned in July (once work is complete).

5th Annual Scrabble-Rama Fundraiser

9 a.m. — Schenectady High School Cafeteria — Check website for entry fee — Gather your team and flex your word skills in this local Scrabble tournament.

2025 Education Celebration Gala

5:30-8:30 p.m. — Proctors Theatre — Admission supports local education — Celebrate and recognize achievements in Schenectady's education sector.

Game Night

10 PM — Woodlawn Preserve — Free entry — Connect with locals over games and make new friends in a welcoming environment.