All Over Albany

Hudson River dredging starts today, no pork for Tedisco, Brown's new brews held up by barcode confusion, prom dress rugby

The Hudson River PCB dredging project finally starts today. Years in the planning -- and fighting -- the project is expected to cost more than $750 million and stretch until 2015. The first phase will include crews working 24 hours a day, six days a week until October. Towns in Saratoga County that get their drinking water from the Hudson have already switched over to Troy's water supply after tests indicated the level of PCBs in the river was twice the EPA's safe limit. [Post-Star] [Biz Review] [TU] [CapNews9]

A fourth Skidmore student has been charged in the alleged assault of a fellow student in April. The four students -- all seniors -- are accused of breaking down multiple doors to reach the sophomore, who -- according to his attorney -- says the alleged attack was like something out of The Shining. The four seniors reportedly had a dispute with the sophomore over a woman.[Saratogian] [TU] [Post-Star]

Jim Tedisco didn't take any pork this year for his Assembly district. Last year he gave out more than $400k in "member item" money. [TU] [Daily Gazette]

David Paterson vetoed legislation that would have fined local governments for not complying with the state's open meetings law. He said the law was "problematic" because the $500 fine would have been assessed to the governmental entity -- not the officials. [AP/TU]

State comptroller Tom DiNapoli issued a report recommending that the state adopt a two-year budget cycle and voter-approval of new state debt. [Biz Review]

A state appeals court ruled yesterday that the owner of an enormous Saratoga Springs mansion must turn over documents related to construction costs so the city can use the information to assess the property. The city says the 60,000 square foot house (picture, map) is worth $20 million; the owner says it's worth $4.2 million. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes are on the line. [TU] [Daily Gazette] [Saratogian] [Post-Star]

The 63-year-old Schenectady man accused of raping and kidnapping prostitutes was sentenced to 75 years in prison yesterday. [Daily Gazette]

Three new beers from Brown's Brewing are being held up because of the bottle bill barcode confusion. [TU] [AOA]

A pilot program will test whether people in the Capital Region are willing to give van pooling a shot. The group commuting is apparently popular in places such as California. [TU]

A Schenectady High School student -- by all reports in good standing -- was not allowed to attend the Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons prom with her boyfriend. And ND-BG officials won't say why. [Daily Gazette]

Perreca's -- of Italian bread fame -- is opening a bakery cafe in Schenectady's Little Italy neighborhood. [Daily Gazette]

A special baseball field designed for people with disabilities will open this weekend in East Greenbush. [TU]

The rugby uniform for this weekend: prom dresses. [Daily Gazette]