Report: STAR backfired, NYRA has big plans, watch that purse, lions return to Saratoga, sodium chloride

The STAR program was supposed to help ease the property tax burden on homeowners, but a think tank reports that the program really just kept people from noticing how fast taxes were rising. New York now has the highest per capita property taxes in the country. [Saratogian]

NYRA's planning improvements at New York's three race tracks -- there's just some question as whether it will actually have the money to pursue them. The issue: the when, where and how for those video slot machines. [Troy Record]

East Greenbush cops say there have been a string of purse thefts in supermarkets and big-box discount stores. [Troy Record]

Saratoga Springs' commission of public works has big plans for the front of the city hall -- granite stairs, radiant heat, maybe a bell tower and... lions. [Daily Gazette]

Almost everything you ever wanted to know about road salt. And, yes, it is basically the same stuff that we put on french fries. [TU]

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