All Over Albany

Cuomo hands off Paterson investigation, movie theater planned for Troy, Porco conviction upheld, bizarre chase ends in tasering

Andrew Cuomo has handed off the investigation of the Paterson administration to former chief judge Judith Kaye. Cuomo said a "preliminary review" of the situation concluded "there are credible issues to be resolved." He said he was turning the investigation over to Kaye because of an "abundance of caution, or a zeal to ensure that the public has total confidence in the investigation." (The sharp drop in Cuomo's approval rating in a recent poll might also have had something to do with that.) Kaye has never worked as a prosecutor. She won't be paid to head up the investigation. [NYT] [TU] [Daily Politics] [NY Mag] [NYT] [Daily Politics]

The Paterson administration announced that the tentative agreement with AEG to run a racino at Aqueduct is now off the table. The deal would have paid the state $300 million and revenue from the racino would have helped fund NYRA -- including improvements at Saratoga. That has some now saying that this year's season at The Track could be in jeopardy. [NYT] [TU] [Saratogian] [Saratogian]

Testimony in the Steven Raucci trial yesterday focused an explosive device that attached to the door of a Rotterdam home in 2001. Prosecutors allege that Raucci planted the device in attempt to retaliate over a union matter -- but they say he put it on the wrong house. [Daily Gazette $] [TU]

The Saratoga County sheriff's deputy accused of forcing four women to perform sex acts on him while he was on duty took a plea bargain yesterday. The deal includes six months in jail and a resignation from the sheriff's department. He won't have to register as a sex offender. [Daily Gazette $] [CBS6] [WNYT] [Saratogian]

A $160 million development proposed for the Congress-Ferry corridor in Troy includes a movie theater. The city's planning board also gave the official OK to the new Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, which is now expected to open in August. [TU Places and Spaces] [Troy Record] [Fox23] [CapNews9]

A state appellate court has upheld the conviction of Christoper Porco. The unanimous decision cited "overwhelming evidence" of Porco's guilt. Porco's attorney says they'll ask the Court of the Appeals -- the state's highest court -- to review the case. [Troy Record] [Daily Gazette $] [TU]

The first two candidates interviewed for the Albany police chief job touted their experience with community policing and leadership ability. [CapNews9]

A state agency has concluded that access to an RPI building doesn't meet fire code. The building has been one of the points of contention between RPI and the TFD. [TU] [WTEN]

It looks like Neil Breslin will have two challengers in the primary for his state Senate spot. [TU]

State assemblyman Felix Ortiz says his proposed ban on restaurants using salt in food is a "can opener." [CBS6]

Glenville police say a man stole a mobile phone, then stole a truck, drove on the runway at Schenectady County Airport, bit an officer and was then tasered yesterday. [Daily Gazette $] [WTEN] [TU] [CapNews9] [WNYT]

Professor Java's building suffered smoke damage yesterday after a coffee roaster caught on fire. [@KevinMarshall] [TU]

The harness track in Saratoga seems to be doing well. [Post-Star]

Troy's police dogs speak Czech. [Troy Record]