State budget widens and Paterson warns of pain, Raucci to get pension even if convicted, Gillibrand pushes repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, goat kidnapped
New York State comptroller Tom DiNapoli now says the state's budget gap could be as big as $4.1 billion. David Paterson has said that he will release a slate of proposed budget cuts that would involve "pain." LG Richard Ravitch, who's helping Paterson with budget issues, says the plan will be "asking every agency in the government to cut back significantly." As bad as things might be this year, apparently the real problem is next year when the federal stimulus money ends. As one anonymous legislator told Liz Benjamin: "Then we're in deep sh*t." [TU] [NYT] [CapNews9] [Daily Politics]
Adrian Thomas, the Troy man charged with causing the death of his infant son, took the stand in his own defense yesterday -- and testified that he had lied during his videotaped interrogation by police. Thomas said he admitted to police that he slammed the child down so he "could go to the hospital and see my son and my wife." [Troy Record] [TU]
The Troy man shot in the head earlier this week has died. It's the third homicide of the year in Troy. The TPD says it's following leads. [Troy Record] [Fox23] [CapNews9]
Albany police have arrested two men -- one already in prison, the other 18 years old -- for a 2007 murder on Second Street. [TU]
The Lansingburgh High School student suspended for having a pocketknife in his car says he's been contacted by West Point and told the incident won't have any effect on his application to the service academy. [WTEN]
Steven Raucci, the now-retired Schenectady school district employee accused of arson, intimidation and harassment related to his former job, will receive a pension of $79,067 -- even if he's convicted. [TU]
In an email, Kirsten Gillibrand says she's issuing a "nationwide call to action" on repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell. [Daily Politics]
New York elementary students have been doing really well on state math tests -- the results don't seem to be adding up on federal tests, though. [NYT]
Albany County exec Mike Breslin said yesterday he's still looking to close the county nursing home, even after the county legislature's 35-2 vote in favor of building a new facility. [TU]
An anti-abortion group has sued the state's stem cell board over guidelines that allow state funded research to pay women as much as $10,000 to donate eggs for research. [TU] [AOA]
Albany Med is getting $7.7 million in federal stimulus money to research a vaccine for tularemia -- a potential bioterror agent. [TU] [CIDRAP]
Parts of Troy are listed as being part of flood zone -- thus requiring some property owners to buy flood insurance -- even though that section of the city hasn't flooded since 1913. [TU]
Saratoga County is moving toward providing the funding to finish the Zim Smith bike trail. [Daily Gazette $]
A car became engulfed in flames yesterday on an I-787 off-ramp in Menands (video). [Troy Record] [CapNews9]
The cobblestones in the street next to Washington Park in Troy are being removed, cleaned and eventually replaced by hand. [Troy Record]
The CEO of the company that bottles Saratoga Water says the blue bottles are now available in 35 states. [Saratogian]
Saratoga County officials are looking at a proposal that would urge local governments to buy computers that use AMD chips (the GlobalFoundries chip fab will be making chips for AMD). [Post-Star]
A flu outbreak at Columbia High School in East Greenbush has apparently lead to hundreds of absent students. [CBS6]
Cousins fish market has closed. [TU]
A goat, perhaps stolen as part of a fraternity stunt, was found tied behind the Wadsworth Lab on New Scotland Ave in Albany yesterday. There are conflicting reports about whether the goat was wearing a tutu. [WNYT] [Fox23]
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Comments
Not real happy about the new burning restrictions which includes leaves. The only problem is I can't find what the penalty will be for the unlawful?
http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/58519.html
... said Jeff Stannard on Oct 15, 2009 at 10:05 AM | link
I'm relieved they found that goat. I had been seeing signs all over Lark Street saying she had pneumonia and needed medicine.
... said Summer on Oct 15, 2009 at 12:31 PM | link
I feel so baaaaad for that goat.
... said Save Pine Hills on Oct 15, 2009 at 1:44 PM | link
I was skeptical about the goat. I thought the signs were a joke. A goat with pneumonia? Now I feel baaad for being a doubter, but also happy that she was found and sent home. Glad they included her picture. She is quite lovely, as goast go.
... said kerosena on Oct 15, 2009 at 4:11 PM | link
@Jeff Stannard --- When particular penalties aren't prescribed, they fall to the general penalties for the article of law, in this case for Article 19 of the Environmental Conservation Law, which prescribes a range of $375 - $15,000 per violation.
... said CJ on Oct 15, 2009 at 7:18 PM | link