A 17-year-old girl was shot near Albany State University’s East Campus, prompting a temporary campus lockdown that has since been lifted.
What It Means For You: Albany residents can resume normal activities around the university area now that the lockdown has ended, though police are still investigating the incident.
What’s Happening: The teenage victim is being treated at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital for injuries that are not life-threatening.
Between the Lines: Police had a significant presence at Wild Pines Apartments on Sands Drive following the shooting, where witnesses observed one person in handcuffs.
The Big Picture: The shooting temporarily disrupted campus operations as students and staff were instructed via text message to seek shelter and lock doors until authorities determined it was safe.
The Sources: Albany Police Department
How to Read and Understand the News
Truth doesn’t bend because we dislike it.
Facts don’t vanish when they make us uncomfortable.
Events happen whether we accept them or not.
Good reporting challenges us. The press isn’t choosing sides — it’s relaying what official, verified sources say. Blaming reporters for bad news is like blaming a thermometer for a fever.
Americans have a history of misunderstanding simple things. In the 1980s, A&W rolled out a 1/3-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder. It failed because too many people thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If we can botch basic math, we can certainly misread the news.
Before dismissing a story, ask yourself:
- What evidence backs this?
- Am I reacting to facts or feelings?
- What would change my mind?
- Am I just shooting the messenger?
And one more: Am I assuming bias just because I don’t like the story?
Smart news consumers seek truth, not comfort.
