All Over Albany

Stimulus includes millions for local schools, snow totaled about six inches, new name for MapInfo, dude looked like a lady

Chuck Schumer says the stimulus bill currently moving through Congress includes $84 million for schools in the Capital Region. The Albany City School District will get the biggest chunk of that -- $12.7 (full breakdown). Local counties will also get almost $43 million to help cover Medicaid costs. The stimulus bill passed the House yesterday (Tonko voted for it) -- it's yet to be voted on in the Senate. [Daily Gazette] [Daily Gazette] [TU] [NYT] [CapNews9]

Officials from school districts, teachers unions and advocacy groups testified yesterday before the state legislature that the almost $700 million in school aid cuts in the proposed state budget would lead to thousands of layoffs and service cuts. (By the way: Schumer says that stimulus bill includes almost $2.5 billion in education aid for New York State.) [TU] [AP/Newsday]

The final tally on yesterday's storm: about six inches of snow and ice, a bunch of wrecks, some cancelled Regents exams and more snowblowers sold. [TU] [Troy Record] [Saratogian] [Daily Gazette]

Schenectady police say they're increasing patrols of city neighborhoods that have high levels of gun crimes. Three people have already been arrested, include a young man who has been charged with wearing an illegal bulletproof vest. [TU] [Daily Gazette]

The state inspector general says a woman working for non-profit connected to the state was involved in a scam to defraud more than $60k from a fund intended to help people with cystic fibrosis. The IG alleges the woman's co-conspirator filed false claims, which she approved, and they split the money. [TU]

Schenectady police say a 17-year-old guy disguised himself as a woman in an attempt to take a Regents test yesterday for another person. In an twist of the law, the guy was charged with felony burglary for the attempted test fraud. [Daily Gazette]

The ongoing dispute between Momentive Performance Materials and its union escalated this week as the union filed nine new charges against the company with the National Labor Relations Board. [Troy Record]

MapInfo is getting a new name. It's parent company is rolling into a group called Pitney Bowes Business Insight. [Troy Record]

Police say the Trustco Bank on State Street in Schenectady was robbed yesterday. [Daily Gazette]

RPI president Shirley Jackson is in Davos this week for the World Economic Forum. [TU]

In an attempt to be more eco-friendly, the chowderfest at this year's Saratoga Springs Winterfest will use tasting spoons made from corn starch. [Daily Gazette]