All Over Albany

Record snowfall yesterday, Paterson defends Wall Street, parking ticket plan approved, new license plates still on the way, again no ice skating at ESP

Yesterday's storm dropped 7.3 inches of snow on the Capital Region, according to the National Weather Service (forecasts on Tuesday had been predicting 2 to 5 inches). That's a record for December 9 (the previous high mark was 6.3 inches). Parts of Saratoga County reported getting as much as 10 inches. [NWS] [Saratogian]

A freight train hit a snow plow at a crossing in Northumberland yesterday morning, killing one of the the men on the plow truck and injuring the other (map). The crossing doesn't have gates or signals. [Post-Star] [CapNews9] [Saratogian]

Albany County's public works commissioner says yesterday's short, strong blast of snow made it hard to keep the roads clear during rush hour. Troy somehow found a way to clear its streets without Bob Mirch. [TU] [Troy Record]

David Paterson again vowed to hold back aid to local governments in order to keep the state solvent (his budget director compared the fiscal situation to driving in the snow). The chair of the state Senate finance committee says Paterson will be sued it he tries to do that. [NYO] [Daily Politics] [TU]

During the same speech yesterday, Paterson also defended Wall Street -- calling it the engine of New York State's economy. Said a state Senate "source" of the speech: "I half-expected to see Michael Douglas come out and reprise his role as Gordon Gekko." [NYT] [NYDN]

Paterson said yesterday that the new "Empire Gold" license plates are still on the way -- but everyone won't be forced to get them. [NYO]

"Sources" tell the NY Post that Eliot Spitzer is "seriously thinking" about running for state comptroller next year. [NY Post]

Kirsten Gillibrand said yesterday there it still no new information about the death of Colonie solider Amy Seyboth-Tirador in Iraq -- and the military's delay is "odd." [WNYT]

The Albany common council has approved the city's planned reform of its parking ticket system. [TU]

The Saratoga County board of supervisors approved the 2010 budget yesterday. It doesn't include a tax increase, but does draw heavily on the reserve fund. [Saratogian] [Post-Star]

The mother of the student at the center of the Saratoga Springs bike-to-school flap says the district's new rules on cycling to school are just another obstruction to a parents' freedom." [TU]

Albany police say a man reported being shot at Monday afternoon behind the Brighter Choice School on Central Ave. [TU]

There will be no skating rink at the ESP for the second straight year because of the budget crunch. [TU]

Union scored four goals in the third period last night to beat RPI 5-4 in hockey. [Troy Record]