Former Schenectady police chief indicted, Governor talks of more budget cuts, huge reptiles rescued from house fire, UAlbany home to largest death penalty collection

Former Schenectady police chief Greg Kaczmarek and his wife, Lisa, were both indicted yesterday on drug charges. Among the allegations: that Kaczmarek provided strategic advice to the drug ring's leader during a meeting at DiCarlo's, the strip club on Central Ave. There have been suspicions about Kaczmarek and drug use dating back to the 1990s. [TU] [Daily Gazette] [Daily Gazette]

A clerk for the Saratoga Springs department of public works has been arrested on charges she was skimming money from the sale of trash bags. Police say she might have stolen as much as $21,000. The head of the DPW says a lot of people were "very surprised" by the allegation. [Daily Gazette] [TU] [Saratogian]

David Paterson said yesterday that it's "very likely" he'll call the Legislature back for another special session to possibly make more cuts to the state budget. Paterson seemed to indicate that state worker layoffs are not on the table. [TU]

The steel suspension cables on the Twin Bridges are being replaced. The current cables are showing signs of rust and fraying. [Daily Gazette]

About 78 reptiles -- some of them very large -- were rescued from a house fire in Watervliet yesterday. The people who own the home adopt reptiles for whom other people can no longer care. [Fox23] [TU]

A judge bounced Northern Lights from bankruptcy court after the club missed a deadline to pay music licensing fees. The club's lawyer says it did in fact make the payments and everything should be straightened out soon. Northern Lights' bankruptcy was prompted in part by music publishers seeking rights fees for songs such as "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Brown Eyed Girl." [Daily Gazette]

UAlbany is now home to the papers of one of the country's foremost chroniclers of the death penalty. The school already had the nation's largest collection of death penalty materials. [TU]

Fifteen people sent checks totaling $1,435 to the TU after it ran the story of Jeff Elsbree, a man with a disability who's three-wheeled bike was stolen. Elsbree also had a new bike donated to him. [TU]

Comments

I was at that fire in Watervliet (official Red Cross duty), and the firemen kept asking if we brought mice to feed all of the snakes. I explained that we only provide aid for people (while keeping my eyes peeled for any slithery escapees).

When I was in high school (back in the early 90s) there was a consistent rumor that Kaczmarek was responsible for promoting the largest cocaine ring in the city. Though I always thouth it might be true, I never thought the truth would actually come out. Glad it did.

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