All Over Albany

No progress in state Senate, mid-year budget change could be necessary, alleged pharmacy robber nabbed, stimulating the sign economy, hunting for what's left of Henry Hudson

The state Senate had two more in-and-out sessions this past weekend. Negotiations are apparently going on behind the scenes. The big sticking point remains leadership of the chamber -- specifically Pedro Espada's role as president pro tem. David Paterson is reportedly telling Democrats they may just have to get over it. [Newsday] [Daily Politics] [Buffalo News] [NYDN]

State comptroller Tom DiNapoli says it's looking like the state will be short on money later this year -- and a mid-year budget adjustment will probably be necessary. Of course, the would be virtually impossible with the state Senate locked in its current mess. [NYDN]

A state audit of the Schenectady Metroplex Authority reports that the org isn't tracking whether its investment projects are meeting job creation targets and that it's leaving parking money on the table. The authority disputed many of the findings -- and said it's purposefully not charging for parking. [Daily Gazette] [TU]

Is it a coincidence that the owner of the construction company with a virtual lock on big projects in the City of Albany is BFF with the mayor and police chief? [TU]

Albany police say they used to DNA evidence to arrest the man who allegedly held up two New Scotland Ave pharmacies with a device constructed to look like an explosive. The DNA was gathered after the first robbery in December -- but the man was only picked up this week after the second robbery. [TU]

A former state worker -- and husband of a state commissioner -- pleaded guilty last week to doing outside consulting on state time. The man has paid back the $18k he made while he was supposedly working at his $88k/year state job. [TU]

New SUNY chancellor Nancy Zimpher is getting an extra $90k in compensation because she declined use of the system's apartments in New York City and the downtown Albany SUNY headquarters. Zimpher has bought a house in Menands. [TU]

New York State has been posting signs that indicate which projects are being funded with federal stimulus money. Some of the signs cost almost $7,000 each. [Saratogian]

A fire ripped through Hot Dog Charlie's in Troy on Friday. The owner says the location, which makes all the meat sauce for local hot dog chain, will re-open. [CBS6] [TU]

State police say a motorcycle caused a crash on 787 this past weekend after it tried to pop a wheelie at high speed. [CapNews9]

The Hudson River PCB dredging project is being guided by GPS and computer models of the river bottom. [Daily Gazette]

Hannaford made a Greenpeace list of supermarket chains moving to increase the sustainability of their seafood offerings. Price Chopper did not -- though it says it's committed to "environmental stewardship and sustainability in our seafood purchasing habits." (Greenpeace is not a fan of Trader Joe's seafood policies, either.) [Greenpeace][Saratogian][Greenpeace]

Schenectady's first female firefighter -- who was also the department's first Hispanic member -- is retiring. [TU]

The Albany teenager who rescued a baby out from under the wheel of a bus last year on Delaware Ave says he's can barely remember the event now. [TU]

A Siena professor has been searching for the grave of Henry Hudson. The explorer was set adrift by his crew in James Bay (Canada) in 1611 (map). [TU]