All Over Albany

Thomas found guilty, guilty plea in 40 year old murder, home sales falling through, upstate teaching jobs in high demand, busy beavers causing trouble

A jury found Adrian Thomas guilty of second-degree murder in the case of his infant son's death. The jury reached the decision Friday afternoon after 25 hours of deliberation. Thomas' stepmother says the verdict was influenced by race -- eleven of the jurors were white and one was African-American. Sentencing is scheduled for November 12. Thomas' attorneys say they will appeal. [Troy Record] [TU] [WTEN] [Fox23] [WNYT] [CBS6]

Nelson Costello, the man accused of killing David Bacon 40 years ago in Waterford, pleaded guilty to manslaughter Friday. Recordings of phone conversations between Costello and witness apparently helped prompt the plea. Costello's attorney says his client is remorseful and "almost wants to be punished." Costello has apparently agreed to help officials find Bacon's body in Virginia. [TU] [Saratogian] [WTEN] [WNYT]

There's been yet another report of an attempted abduction, this time in Albany (map). [Fox23] [WNYT]

Archaelogists have found the skeleton of an infant at the former grave site turned up during the Delaware Ave reconstruction in Albany. The remains will be re-buried at a cemetery in Glenmont. [CapNews9] [TU]

David Paterson has scheduled a special session of the legislature for November 10 to address the budget gap. He also wants a joint session on November 9. [NYO] [CapNews9]

Andrew Cuomo has reportedly secretly told Rudy Giuliani that he will be running for governor next year. David Paterson has continued to state that he also will be running. [NY Post] [NYT]

Joe Bruno's federal trial is scheduled to begin today. [WNYT] It was a pre-trial hearing. The actual trial starts November 2.

The TU reports that the feds are investigating whether the SUNY Research Foundation helped the state Office of Mental Health in an alleged cover-up of the number of ineligible people getting assistance from Medicaid. [TU]

Tighter restrictions on lending and changes in the appraisal process have resulted in a higher number of Capital Region home sales falling through. [TU]

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany has a suspended a Rensselaer County pastor after it says it found "reasonable grounds to believe he sexually abused a minor about 27 years ago." The statute of limitations has lapsed on the alleged crime. The priest has served at a handful of local parishes. [TU] [Troy Record] [Troy Record]

An analysis of state data by a contractors' org reports that 38 percent of the bridges in New York State are in need of repair. [CapNews9]

Nine local hospitals have announced that flu concerns have prompted new rules for hospital visitors. [Saratogian]

A "flood of upstaters" has been looking for teaching jobs during the last year. [TU]

The campaign for Colonie supervisor candidate Michael Hoblock has alleged that the Guptill family (the roller rink people) want to open a gravel pit on land they received in a swap with the town, but the family says the allegation is a "lie." [TU]

Democrat Frank LaPosta and Republican Bob Mirch rode in the same car down to NYC for their Sunday appearance on Fox News. [Troy Record]

The Schenectady Free Clinic got a $75k grant that will allow it to stay open through the end of the year. [Daily Gazette $]

There's apparently more beaver trouble in southern Saratoga County. Beavers were also recently blamed for problems around Ballston Lake. [CBS6] [WNYT]