All Over Albany

Stimulus stimulates budget talk, chip fab deal hits snag, guilty verdict tossed over racial remark, candy maker expects subdued Valentine's Day

Both Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand voted for the federal stimulus bill yesterday -- they say New York State could be getting about $20 billion from the bill. That has state leaders thinking about the impact on the state budget. David Paterson says the state still needs to make significant budget cuts. He also said he wouldn't support the proposed tax on high-income households -- unless the Legislature could come up with $11 billion in budget cuts. [Daily Gazette] [TU] [NYDN]

The AMD shareholder vote on the spin-off that would own the Luther Forest chip fab was delayed yesterday after the company couldn't get enough votes together for an official decision. The vote was rescheduled for next week -- both company and local officials seemed confident the deal would still go through. AMD's stock dropped 12 percent on news of the delayed vote. [Daily Gazette] [TU] [Saratogian]

The FBI and State Police raided tenant offices at the Port of Albany yesterday. The raid is part of an ongoing investigation into extortion and bid-rigging among businesses there. [Daily Gazette] [TU]

Joe Bruno's federal trial has been scheduled for November of this year. His attorney says they'll be trying to get charges dismissed before then. One complication for the trial: finding jurors with an open mind about Bruno's guilt or innocence. [TU]

A Schenectady County court judge threw out the guilty verdict against the alleged 2007 Olympic Diner shooter because a juror told prosecutors he based his decision partly on race. The judge said the evidence against the defendant was "overwhelming," but he had to balance that "against the basic fundamental constitutionally guaranteed right to a fair trial." The man will now get a new trial. [TU] [Daily Gazette]

Police say a man died last night after being hit by a car along Madison Ave near St. Rose. According to police, the woman driving the car kept going -- she returned to the scene 30 minutes later and said she thought she had hit a pothole. [TU] [CBS6]

A teacher at Columbia High School in E. Greenbush has been put on administrative leave after being accused of inappropriately touching a student. The teacher's lawyer says the contact was incidental and occurred during a gym class. [Troy Record] [TU]

After residency restrictions in Albany County have pushed many sex offenders into motels along Central Ave, the Town of Colonie is considering a law further restricting where the offenders can stay. [TU]

Cohoes mayor John McDonald has proposed merging his city's fire department with that of Watervliet. He says the merger would help the city save money as it faces "unprecedented and unpredictable times." [TU] [Troy Record]

Krause's, the candy shop on Central Ave in Colonie, says it's ordered 25 percent fewer strawberries (for dipping in chocolate) this year compared to last Valentine's Day. It says it's expecting less Valentine's business because of the down economy. [Daily Gazette]