All Over Albany

Conviction in triple murder case, special election absentee ballot counting starts this week, Albany Med expansion on hold, woman arrested for false mugging report, bobblehead lineup announced

Jovan Underdue was convicted yesterday of the triple murder in Albany last January. Underdue now faces life in prison without parole. His attorney says they will appeal. [TU]

The Albany Common Council voted unanimously last night to issue a subpoena to the president of the Albany Police Officers Union as part of the ghost ticket investigation. It's the first the time the council has issued a subpoena in 80 years. [TU]

A state Supreme Court judge ruled Monday that the count of paper absentee ballots in the 20th Congressional District special election will start Wednesday. After a re-check of voting machines in Saratoga County, the state Board of Elections reports that Jim Tedisco leads Scott Murphy by 97 votes. But a more up-to-date unofficial count has Murphy up by 83 (the numbers will keep changing as more votes re-checked and/or counted). [TU] [Saratogian] [PolitickerNY]

Central New York Assemblyman Brian Kolb officially replaced Jim Tedisco as state Assembly minority leader yesterday. Tedisco stepped down/was pushed from the position because of his involvement in the special Congressional election. [NYT] [TU]

According to state police, John Sweeney told troopers he was in "big trouble" during his traffic stop for suspected DWI this past weekend. The Saratoga County DA says he expects Sweeney to enter an inpatient treatment program for alcoholism. [TU] [Troy Record]

Albany Med says it has temporarily halted its $360 million expansion project because of the economic downturn. It's also instituted a hiring freeze, eliminated vacant positions and canceled merit raises in a bid to save money as it prepares for an expected cut in funding from Medicaid. [TU] [Biz Review]

Five unions that represents Schenectady city workers have agreed to smaller raises this year in return for a guarantee that there will be no layoffs. [Daily Gazette]

Schenectady cops say they arrested a guy Sunday for allegedly firing a paintball gun out a window. And it turned out the guy was a murder suspect in Puerto Rico. [Daily Gazette]

With complaints about the design of the Saratoga City Center expansion bubbling to the surface, the plan could now be headed to the city's Design Review Commission so there can be "an organized forum for input." The head of the City Center says there isn't enough time or money to make significant changes to the design. [Saratogian] [Post-Star]

Colonie-based fuel cell developer MTI has decided to voluntarily de-list itself from the NASDAQ. Outside auditors have expressed doubt that MTI will be able to stay in business through the end of this year. [Biz Review]

The red-and-white checkered Latham water tanks that sit alongside the Northway at Exit 6 will be replaced in a project funded by federal stimulus money. The tanks need to be moved because they're in the potential landing path of planes headed for ALB. [Daily Gazette]

The Schenectady County DMV had to close yesterday after a Verizon contractor accidentally cut the office's phone line. Officials aren't sure when they'll be able to re-open. [Daily Gazette]

The woman who reported she mugged at South Main and Myrtle in Albany two weeks ago was arrested this past weekend for filing a false police report. Police say she made the story up because she was embarrassed that she had lost her shoes and purse while drunk. [Troy Record]

There are a whole bunch of changes on the Saratoga restaurant scene, including a new name for It's Confidential (it's now called The Backstretch) and a new a Mexican place slated for the old Chianti building. [Saratogian]

The lineup of bobblehead giveaways this season at the ValleyCats games includes David Paterson, Henry Hudson, Michelle Obama and Ch 10 weatherman Steve Caporizzo. [TU]