All Over Albany

Murphy and Tonko vote for healthcare reform bill, man shot and killed by sheriff's deputy by airport, man arrested for walkin dogs with overweight chains, RPI going smoke-free

Both Scott Murphy and Paul Tonko voted for the healthcare reform package that passed in the House this past weekend (by a seven vote margin). Murphy had voted against the previous version of the bill -- he said he voted in favor of the new version after concluding it's "much more fiscally conservative" and will "slow the growth of out-of-control health care costs." Murphy's vote will almost surely be one of the main issues in the NY 20 election this fall. There are now two Republicans in the running to challenge Murphy. [Scott Murphy] [Paul Tonko] [NYT] [Saratogian] [Post-Star] [TU]

The Albany County sheriff's department says a deputy shot and killed a man early Saturday morning after the man allegedly made a threatening motion toward the deputy. The sheriff's department says the deputy had stopped to ask the man, who was walking a long a road near ALB, what he was doing. The sheriff's department says that's when the man threw a chunk of concrete at the deputy and then raised his arm from behind his back and the deputy fired two shots at the man. Officials haven't been able to determine the identity of the man. The sheriff's office says it will release the identity of the man this afternoon. [Troy Record] [TU] [Fox23] [YNN] [WNYT] [WNYT]

Schenectady schools superintendent Eric Ely sent Steven Raucci a "heads up" email about allegations that the former facilities head was the subject of an ongoing investigation, according to evidence presented by the prosecution on Friday at Raucci's trial. A former school board member says she doesn't recall the email being mentioned in the report from the district's internal investigation of the situation. The president of the school board says information coming to light as part of the trial "may mean making some drastic changes at various levels of the school district." Two district employees who worked under Raucci testified on Friday that they had seen Raucci with explosive devices. [Daily Gazette $] [TU] [Daily Gazette $] [Daily Gazette $]

The husband of Amy Seyboth Tirador, the Colonie soldier whose death in Iraq has been ruled a suicide by the military, says he's seeking a new autopsy because he believes his wife did not kill herself. [TU]

It looks like there's a potential solution to keep Thacher Park and the other state parks slated for closure open this year. [Fred Lebrun]

An state appeals court has ruled that New York State can annul the same-sex marriage of two Schenectady County women who got married in Vermont. [TU]

The Saratoga County sheriff's office says human remains were found in Ballston on Sunday near a bike path. [CBS6] [YNN]

The Albany school district is looking to cut 100 positions. The district says charters schools have made it hard to keep teacher staffing and enrollment levels balanced. [TU] [TU]

Saratoga Springs police say they've recovered the car involved in the fatal hit-and-run on Henry Street in downtown Saratoga. [TU]

A woman is accusing an Albany police officer of using excessive force on her and her friends on Pearl Street after the St. Patrick's Day parade last weekend. [WTEN]

Troy police say a man was arrested for walking his dogs with "grossly overweight chains" chains around their necks. [Fox23] [WNYT]

Construction has started on the big mixed used development planned for Malta. [Daily Gazette $]

RPI is set to become a smoke-free campus. [Troy Record]

This year's Tour of Battenkill cycling race will include 22 pro teams. [Daily Gazette $]

A UAlbany professor is an expert on the chemistry of garlic. [Daily Gazette $]