Game on in state Senate, documents indicate district officials may have known about Raucci, police say man used child as shield, popular Phish camp closed

The state Senate is back in session today, though it seems no one really knows what's going to happen. The session could take up NYC-related legislation -- or it could focus on reforming pork distribution. One possible complication: Democrats will only have a 31-30 majority because one of their members is on his honeymoon. [AP/Troy Record] [TU] [NYP]

David Paterson apparently wasn't a fan of the Democratic leadership signing Happy Birthday at their post-game press conference last week. Maybe he's just annoyed that he had to take time out from fund raising because of the Senate mess. [Daily Politics] [NYT]

Longtime Capital Region car dealer Ken Gowey says he's running for governor. His platform includes big tax cuts and belief that "man-made global warming" is a "boondoggle." [TU]

Documents filed as part of a lawsuit against the Schenectady School District indicate that district officials may have known about Steven Raucci's alleged acts of harassment as early as 2005. The documents include handwritten notes from the district's HR director that originally appeared as part of a workers compensation claim against the district. That claim alleged that an employee who worked under Raucci suffered emotional harm because of harassment. [TU] [Daily Gazette]

A state Supreme Court judge has struck down Albany County's sex offender residency law because it's superceded by state law. A similar law in Rensselaer County was tossed recently for the same reason. [TU]

The Albany County clerk's office is cutting back hours this summer to save money. [TU]

Kay Vandenburgh was appointed to the Rensselaer County legislature yesterday -- and her husband paid more than $40k in back taxes. The news of the back taxes had set off a round of sniping and mudslinging between county Republicans and Democrats. [Troy Record] [WNYT]

Troy hired five new police recruits yesterday -- and two more could be on the way. [Troy Record]

Albany police say a man briefly used a two year old as a shield as cops chased him through apartments on Clinton Ave Monday evening. [TU] [Troy Record]

Troy has changed its rules for when it boots cars -- the threshold is now three outstanding tickets OR $100 in outstanding fines. [Troy Record]

The Track has had no trouble finding seasonal workers this year. [TU]

The GE Global Research Center showed off smart grid technology -- including energy price-aware appliances -- yesterday in Niskayuna. Noted: such smart metering is currently illegal in New York State. [Daily Gazette] [Fox23] [TU]

Infamous Saratoga Springs businessman David Silipigno is challenging the city's assessment on his mansion for the second-straight year. Silipigno is arguing is house is worth $6.5 million less than the city's assessment. [Saratogian]

The owner of the Lee's Park campground in Saratoga says the land won't be open for Phish concert campers because of problems with the state Department of Health. [Saratogian]

Comments

I had to do some deep medatative breathing after reading the story about the guy using the 2 year old as a sheild. What a coward. I'm just so thankful the kid wasn't injured.

Babies add, at most, +1 to your Armor Class, but restrict your ability to use two-handed weapons.

Unless it's some sort of Krytonian Baby.
Then it's +5 (or only +3 if Lex Luther has his kryptonite ring on.)

But babies are also at least a -1 on your mobility and agility. Much worse if they a Kryptonian.

@Sandor: it's probably very, very wrong to have laughed at that, but I did.

Wait Sandor, what are you playing? D&D? Or did you convert GURPS for the DC universe?

@Summer - I laughed too, it's ok. some things are just funny!

I think Ken Gowey is right, the grassroots will respond to his message.... It just might not be the way he wants... What a guy!!! :)

Say Something!

We'd really like you to take part in the conversation here at All Over Albany. But we do have a few rules here. Don't worry, they're easy. The first: be kind. The second: treat everyone else with the same respect you'd like to see in return. Cool? Great, post away. Comments are moderated so it might take a little while for your comment to show up. Thanks for being patient.

The Scoop

Ever wish you had a smart, savvy friend with the inside line on what's happening around the Capital Region? You know, the kind of stuff that makes your life just a little bit better? Yeah, we do, too. That's why we created All Over Albany. Find out more.

Recently on All Over Albany

Stephen Sondheim at HVCC

The one and only Stephen Sondheim will be appearing at Hudson Valley Community College September 25. Ticket info hasn't been settled, yet -- but the... (more)

Old Is New

Coming this summer: the Old Is New sale, a consignment sale for "for womens and juniors clothing and accessories, as well as furniture and home... (more)

Capital Region rents

After seeing that the Capital Region had one of the lowest apartment vacancy rates in the nation last year, we were curious about rents here... (more)

Comedy, karaoke and Albany's cabaret law

This Wednesday night there will be no Laughs on Lark. The stand-up comedy showcase that's become a staple of Lark Street night life over the... (more)

Brunswick screening

The documentary Brunswick, about the tension between development and farming in the Rensselaer County town, will screen this Sunday at 4 pm at RPI. It's... (more)

Recent Comments

[C]ommon sense tells me (yes, I know one is on dangerous ground when invoking common sense) there's room for consensus here. Or at least compromise. Although something tells me the city won't back off its regulation against live chickens performing in those stand-up comedy showcases. I guess the city has this thing about chickens.

New York State food regions map

...has 33 comments, most recently from Nicole

Stephen Sondheim at HVCC

...has 2 comments, most recently from Wendy V

The quintessential Capital Region food?

...has 39 comments, most recently from jon

Comedy, karaoke and Albany's cabaret law

...has 6 comments, most recently from Bob

The organic milk shortage

...has 7 comments, most recently from jon