Erica Smith

Albany

Managing Editor, Digital at Times Union (Albany)

Journalist. Problem solver. Comma splice slayer. Slide deck wrangler. Typewriter collector. @TimesUnion managing editor, digital; Local Media Foundation board.

Articles

Tariffs affecting some local businesses

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Erica Smith

May 24—Some local businesses are feeling the impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs, but they are trying not to pass the costs on to their customers. If you noticed a higher price for the Mother's Day bouquet you bought, it is because flowers grown in other countries are now subject to higher tariffs. About 80% of flowers bought in the U.S. are grown elsewhere.
2025 election results for school budgets and propositions

2 weeks ago | timesunion.com | Erica Smith

Jump to a school district: Albany | Argyle | Averill Park | Ballston Spa | Berlin | | Bethlehem | Bolton | | | Cairo-Durham | Cambridge | Catskill | Chatham | Cohoes | Corinth | | Duanesburg | | Edinburg | Fort Ann | Fort Edward | Galway | Germantown | | Glens Falls | | Granville | Green Island | Greenville | Greenwich | Guilderland | | Hartford | | | Hudson | Hudson Falls | | | Johnsburg | Lake George | | | | Menands | Mohonasen | New Lebanon | Niskayuna | | | North Warren | Onteora | Putnam...
Law Enforcement Torch Run in Decatur raises money, awareness for Special Olympics

3 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Erica Smith

May 17—Logan Mortensen, investigator for the Morgan County Sheriff's Office, found a place in the crowd among other officers and runners at the starting point of the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run in Decatur on Friday that benefits the Special Olympics. "It's for a good cause, and it's also good exercise," said Mortensen, 27, from Somerville. "It's for all the people out there with special needs; it's honoring them. ...
Three win small business awards at annual Chamber event in Decatur

3 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Erica Smith

May 15—Larry Little, Kyle Pike and Megan Schwindling were all winners of small business awards Wednesday from the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce. Little is the founder, CEO and executive coach for Eagle Consulting, which was established in 1999 and includes Eagle Counseling and Eagle Center for Leadership. He was named the Raymon Baker — John Cook — Ralph Jones Small Business Person of the Year. "Life is about relationships, and I believe business is about relationships," Little said.
Free pet adoption event a success

4 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Erica Smith

May 10—Jolly Rancher, an Australian shepherd/collie mix, stood cautiously in the lobby of the Decatur Animal Services building, tail between her legs, not sure what was happening, before being picked up and carried out by her new family during the shelter's free adoption event Friday. "We've been waiting for this day all week," said Jamila White, 42, from Decatur. "My son is in college and my daughter's getting a little older, so she'll be mama's dog mainly when everybody's gone.
SEEN: Wildwood Foundation Spring Gala

1 month ago | timesunion.com | Erica Smith

Were you Seen at the Wildwood Foundation Spring Gala on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Loft 433 in Troy? Erica Smith is the managing editor for digital at the Times Union. She has worked in local news media for 25 years, joining the Times Union in March 2020 (just as COVID-19 shutdowns began) following stints in print and digital media in Virginia, Missouri, Indiana and Washington. Erica has a bachelor’s in journalism and a master’s in entrepreneurial technology.
Postal Service boxes on Cherry Street removed, being relocated

1 month ago | yahoo.com | Erica Smith

May 2—Two heavily used U.S. Postal Service collection boxes have been removed from Cherry Street in downtown Decatur, but a USPS spokeswoman said they will be relocated to nearby USPS property soon. Debra Jean Fetterly, USPS spokeswoman for the Alabama/Mississippi district, said the Postal Service is working toward improving customer convenience, which includes evaluating collection boxes' locations.
Kumar Accepts 2025 Humanitarian of Year Award For Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach

1 month ago | riverbender.com | Erica Smith

SPRINGFIELD – Ratish Kumar, a biomedical engineer at Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach, accepted the TechNation 2025 Humanitarian of the Year award at the annual MDExpo in Temecula, California, on Wednesday, April 16. Kumar was selected for the honor from nominees throughout the United States in the fields of bioengineering, administration and education. Kumar has been the biomedical engineer at Mission Outreach since 2017.
Feeding Families of Alabama trying to beat last year's peanut butter drive numbers

1 month ago | yahoo.com | Erica Smith

Apr. 25—Hartselle-based Feeding Families of Alabama is trying to beat last year's record of jars of peanut butter collected in a food drive that honors their late dog Handsome, who was the food and pet pantry mascot. As of Wednesday, Feeding Families of Alabama needed 137 more jars to beat last year's record. "Peanut butter was (Handsome's) favorite food; it was his big snack. Everybody knew him for his peanut butter sandwiches," said Feeding Families founder and executive director E'dee Grun.
Karman Space & Defense opening facility in Decatur

1 month ago | yahoo.com | Erica Smith |Eric Fleischauer

Apr. 19—A company that produces components of weapons and defense systems used by Ukraine and Israel, that expects to be involved in the Trump administration's Golden Dome project and is a supplier to United Launch Alliance is opening a facility in Decatur. Karman Space & Defense, which produces parts for the space program and missile defense, is opening a 30,000-square-foot facility and should be fully operational within a few weeks.