All Over Albany

Pump failure causing sewage to be dumped into Hudson tributary, Breslin calls Paterson "an absolute, total failure," Saratoga Spring Water's blue bottles catching eyes in China

The state DEC says the failure of pumping station in Cohoes has led to thousands of gallons of raw sewage being dumped into a tributary of the Hudson. Cohoes mayor John McDonald says that rags "that should not have been disposed in the system" caused the pumps to break. [TU] [Troy Record]

The former director of the state prison system's food production operation -- and his staff -- "routinely traded favors and gifts with favored businesses that were rewarded with millions of dollars in state purchases," according to report from the state comptroller and state inspector general. The former director, who's since retired, has previously been accused of taking every Friday off for 17 years. [NYS OSC] [TU]

Neil Breslin says David Paterson "has been an absolute, total failure" as governor. Luke Martland, Breslin's Democratic primary opponent, says the state legislature "doesn't do what's right by anybody" except themselves. Breslin and Martland debate tonight at St. Rose. [TU CapCon] [Troy Record]

A gambling police expert on New York's use of racino money to prop up horse racing: "For New York, the public policy question comes down to this: Should we spend $400 million to save racetracks or to save education and other things that are also in great need?" [NYT]

The state education department is urging school districts to not ask questions of students that may reveal their immigration status (such as asking for a Social Security number). Local school districts say they're addressing the issue. [NYT] [TU]

A federal judge has temporarily blocked New York State's plan to tax tobacco sales on Native American land for two tribes. The statewide plan takes effect for other tribes today. [TU] [NYT]

The state Department of Taxation and Finance says an Albany man was arrested last week for allegedly trafficking 202 cartons of untaxed cigarettes and 11,000 untaxed cigars, as well as 3,100 counterfeit tax stamps. [NYS DTF]

David Paterson signed the Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights bill yesterday. [YNN]

The RPI student whose arrest this past weekend prompted allegations of the use of excessive force by Troy police tells the TU he's "very confused, embarrassed, and upset." [TU Crime Confidential]

A federal judge has awarded an Albany woman $500k in damages for being raped by a guard while she was in a prison in western New York. [TU]

The state DEC is tightening the rules for dust at the LaFarge cement plant in Ravena after a Ward Stone investigation. [TU]

GlobalFoundries is hiring. The chip fab company held an invite-only job fair yesterday in Colonie. [Post-Star] [TU]

Two more people have been charged with being involved with the fatal Father's Day stabbing in Troy. [Troy Record]

A Saratoga County man has pleaded guilty to selling a prescription narcotic patch that authorities say eventually ended up killing a teen. Prosecutors say the teen chewed on the patch and overdosed. [Post-Star] [TU]

The Rensselaer County Sheriff's office say it appears a group is stealing cars and burglarizing commercial properties around the county. [Troy Record]

Yet another Saratoga horse statue vandalism: two teens have been charged with knocking over the statue in front of the Saratoga Automobile Museum. [Post-Star]

The Tiny Tot Land playground in Schenectady's Central Park has re-opened. [TU]

Farther afield, in Montgomery County: a woman lost control of her SUV after its brakes went out -- and the vehicle ended up tipped against a garage. It's really all about the photo. [TU] [CBS6]

Billy Fuccillo gave away a house in Florida (and a car) to a Clifton Park man -- though the house may not be such a prize. [Fox23] [TU]

Saratoga Spring Water is being exported to China. Apparently the blue bottles are catching attention from consumers there. [Saratogian] [TU]