All Over Albany

Legislature back for another try at budget fix, demand up at food banks, local venture capitalists criticized for not taking enough risks, the weekend in crime

The state legislature is scheduled to be back in town today for another special budget session. David Paterson continued to sound the alarm about the budget gap, warning of "furloughs, layoffs, borrowing, downgraded credit ratings" and a range of delayed payments (including to state workers). He also has continued to blame the legislature -- especially the state Senate -- being in "denial" about the problem. It seems the legislature's not a huge fan of him, either. [CapNews9] [Daily Politics] [NYDN] [NY Post]

Summations in the Joe Bruno trial are expected to start today. On Friday, Jared Abbruzzese, a longtime Bruno friend and business associate, testified that he had hired Bruno has a consultant for the senator's contacts and "aura." He said the $80k he paid Bruno for a horse was payment to settle a "a moral obligation" for canceled consulting contracts. And Abbruzzese also said Bruno introduced him to Donald Trump, who -- in Abbruzzese's words -- "walked over me." Even though Abbruzzese was the prosecution's last witness, he may have been most helpful to the defense. It was also announced on Friday that Bruno will not be testifying in his own defense. [TU] [TU] [Fox23] [NYDN] [NYT] [TU] [Troy Record]

Kirsten Gillibrand has been calling state senators in an effort to get "yes" votes for the same-sex marriage bill. [Daily Politics]

Food banks and pantries report that demand for help is up this year, especially among people with jobs. [Troy Record] [TU]

Albany police say two women walking along New Scotland Ave Saturday night were attacked by a group of about 25 teenage girls (map). One of the teens also reportedly robbed them. [WNYT] [Fox23]

Troy police say the man who robbed the Bank of America in in downtown Troy on Friday got away with $16,000. [@CAPowCAPow] [WNYT]

The APD says two men robbed the KFC on Delaware Ave (the one next to the Spectrum) at gunpoint Friday night. [CapNews9]

The APD says a man was arrested early Saturday morning after he was found driving a pickup truck naked, drunk and accused of beating up his girlfriend. [WNYT]

The APD says a woman was assaulted early Saturday morning on Pearl Street near the Cap Rep parking garage. [WNYT]

State police say a man's body was found in the wreckage of a garage that burned down Saturday night in Schenectady County. Neighbors say they heard an explosion before the garage was "engulfed." [CapNews9] [Fox23]

Troy police say there's been another rash of car break-ins downtown. [Troy Record]

Archaeologists found two more skeletons at the site of the Delaware Ave reconstruction. [TU]

The UAlbany English department is using a "quarantine box" for papers submitted to students because of concern about H1N1. [TU]

Are the Capital Region's venture capitalists not venturesome enough? [TU]

Among the possible cuts from Saratoga Springs' budget: the city's two police horses. [TU]

Demand for restaurant-made Thanksgiving dinners continues to grow locally. [TU]

One complaint about this year's Polar Bear Plunge in Lake George: it was too warm. About 200 people took the chilling tepid dip this year. [Saratogian] [TU] [WNYT]