All Over Albany

Attorney says hit-and-run suspect feared for his life, possible development in decades-old arson case, GloFo looking for more state money, warm spring tough on maple syrup producers

The attorney for Travis Carroll, the man who allegedly drove the car involved in the fatal hit-and-run on Henry Street in Saratoga, says his client was fleeing the situation because he feared for his life after a fight. Carroll's attorney says his client had been beaten with a belt buckle and threatened with a knife. Saratoga Springs police and Carroll's attorney differ on the amount of time that separated the fight and the car collision. Police alleged that Carroll removed the damaged windshield from his car shortly after the collision in attempt to hide the evidence. Carroll's been charged with two felonies -- leaving the scene of an accident and tampering with evidence. [Post-Star] [Fox23] [Saratogian] [TU] [WNYT] [YNN]

Local investigators are reportedly in Washington State to pursue leads in a suspected case of arson that killed seven children and a father in Cohoes in 1978. The lone survivor of that fire -- the mother and wife of the victims -- now lives there and says she was questioned by investigators. The woman, Virgina Utigard (formerly Virginia Gratto), told a Spokane television station KXLY that she was pressured into a signing a confession. Utigard reportedly told KXLY that her relationship with her first husband had been abusive. [TU] [Daily Gazette archive] [Troy Record] [KXLY] [WTEN]

Steven Raucci trial Day 18 A state police forensic scientist testified that DNA found one of the unexploded bombs matched DNA collected from Steven Raucci. And FBI employees testified that devices allegedly used by Raucci were much more powerful than firecrackers. [TU] [Daily Gazette $]

David Paterson reportedly was involved with drafting a statement the he hoped would be issued by the woman who accused his former aide of domestic abuse. The woman reportedly refused to go along with the statement, which indicated the incident was non-violent. [NYT] [NYDN]

GlobalFoundries is reportedly asking New York State for $300 million more in incentives so it can add extra capacity to the Luther Forest chip fab. [TU]

The board of directors of the Albany Convention Center Authority voted Friday morning to buy three more acres for the project -- the biggest land acquisition so far (map of the parcels -- the new ones are labeled "City Square Associates"). The purchase brings the total land holdings to "nearly 75 percent" of the total needed for the project. [email press release, no link]

A Guilderland man who faced rape charges here died in Minnesota this week when he fell over a railing at the Mall of America. Two of the man's brothers died in an ATV accident last summer in Schaghticoke. [YNN] [Minneapolis Star-Tribune] [TU]

The Albany man convicted of killing a man and dumping his body in an empty building after drug deal turned robbery has been sentenced to 25 years to life. [TU] [YNN]

Albany police say a car chase that started on Delaware Ave led them into Rensselaer where the suspect ran his car into a house. [TU] [Fox23]

Saratoga Springs accounts commissioner John Franck: "We're broke. I can't make it any clearer than that." [Post-Star]

The Albany Diocese is closing St. Patrick's in Troy's North Central neighborhood. The church has been open for 130 years. [Troy Record] [Fox23]

The puppy that was tortured by a Schenectady man, who killed two other dogs, has been adopted by a new owner. [YNN]

The relatively warm (until now) spring has made it a not-great year for maple syrup production. [Saratogian]