All Over Albany

Parks deal may really be in place this time, former DA threatens man who plotted to kidnap her, employees credited with foiling alleged bank robbery attempt, lucky guy

There appears to be a deal to open the closed state parks, including Thacher Park. The Assembly passed the measure during the night -- and the state Senate is expected to pass it this morning. [TU] [YNN] [State of Politics]

Andrew Cuomo accepted the Democratic Party's nomination for governor yesterday. In his speech, Cuomo said he would be building an army "ready not just to win an election in November, but to turn this state around in January." Apparently it wasn't all rah rah rah -- from NYT: "there was lingering unease in some party circles about [Cuomo's] ascension, partly by Mr. Cuomo's own design." Said the chair of the state Republican Party: "He's talking like a Republican." And there was this sideshow. [TU] [New York Now] [NYT] [Buffalo News] [Daily Politics]

At the sentencing yesterday for the convicted bank robber who pleaded guilty to plotting to kidnap her, former Rensselaer County DA Patricia DeAngelis said: "If you come near me or my family, I will kill you." The judge sentenced the man to a longer sentence than the one proposed in the plea deal. The man's attorney argued that DeAngelis' victim impact statement influenced the sentence. [TU] [YNN] [Troy Record]

After residents complained about chemicals being sprayed in an Albany park, officials found out the herbicide being used is banned in the City of Albany. [WNYT]

Both Paul Tonko and Scott Murphy voted to allow the repeal of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. [NYT]

There is reportedly a tentative deal in the Assembly to more than double the state's cap on charter schools. The increase is expected to increase the state's chances of landing federal money. [NYDN] [NYT]

The regional EPA administrator told the TU the agency will follow through on the Hudson River PCB dredging project even if GE drops out. [TU]

The Fort Orange Club was granted permission yesterday to knock down those two buildings on Washington Ave -- and was then blocked again shortly thereafter. [TU] [Fox23]

A Rensselaer man has pleaded guilty to running over a Troy woman with his car -- three times. [TU] [Troy Record]

A Schenectady man has been charged with stabbing the manager of a Colonie strip club. [TU]

An Albany man was acquitted of all charges related to the shooting a teenager in Arbor Hill last summer. [TU]

A parolee involved with the stabbing death of a man in Washington Park in 1999 has been arrested for having a knife. [TU]

Glenville police credited two Bank of America employees for noticing two men who allegedly were preparing to rob the bank yesterday. The employees called 911 and the men were arrested. [CBS6] [Fox23]

The Cohoes school district will be sending slightly smaller budget back out for a re-vote. [Troy Record]

Boaters on the state canal system are now forbidden from dumping their sewage into the water. [TU]

Plug Power is consolidating all of its operations to its headquarters in Latham. [Daily Gazette $]

A proposed cell tower near The Track is meeting some resistance from residents. [WTEN]

The chair of Union College's board of trustees has donated $2 million to the school. [Daily Gazette $]

Louis Sgambellone is a lucky guy -- or just a persistent lottery player. [TU]