Report: Paterson admin planning state worker layoffs, questions over banned pesticide use in Albany, how to be arrested, bumper crop of farmers markets
A "senior administration official" tells NYT that the Paterson administration is preparing a plan to lay off thousands of state workers January 1. That date marks the end of Paterson's term and the end of his no-layoffs pledge with the state worker unions. [NYT] [NYDN]
The state legislature has approved a measure that would create a "55/25" early retirement option for state workers. [TU]
A former contractor from Loudonville who's serving a 25-year sentence for violating asbestos laws has asked a federal judge to temporarily let him out of prison so he can donate a kidney to his son. [TU]
Albany's parks and rec commissioner says he didn't know about the ban on the pesticide that was being sprayed at Ridgefield Park. City agencies also haven't been filing required reports on their use of less toxic pesticides. [TU] [TU]
SUNY's top attorney apparently hasn't been showing up for work -- but he's still getting paid. [TU]
Smoke from a large cluster of forest fires in Quebec hung over large portions of the North Country this weekend, including Lake George. [Montreal Gazette] [Fox23] [WTEN]
The state Republican Party convention starts today. [State of Politics]
The Conservative Party has nominated Rick Lazio for governor. [TU]
Police say an Albany man drowned in Lake George after the canoe he was in capsized in the wake of larger boat. Police say the man and another man in the canoe were not wearing life vests. [Post-Star] [TU]
Albany police searched a section of Whitehall Road Friday for evidence that might be connected to the apparent disappearance of the mother of a one-year-old. [TU]
Prosecutors allege that a feud between two groups led to the fatal shooting of Ganesh Ramgoolam in an ambush on Schenectady's Maple Ave in February. They allege police found a "sniper's nest" during a raid of the suspects' home in the Vale neighborhood. [Daily Gazette $] [TU]
Schenectady police are hoping the public may have some info related the killing of a man in his apartment on Wendell Ave in April. [TU]
Five greater Capital Region counties have sued the the Hudson River-Black River Regulating District over the $4.5 million the flood control org is trying to charge the counties. [TU]
Terry Kindlon on former Rensselaer County DA Patricia DeAngelis' "I will kill you" victim impact statement: "I don't want to knock Trish's integrity, but that was profoundly inappropriate." [TU]
There was a confrontation between Harry Tutunjian and city councilman Ken Zalewski over the signing (or not) of a resolution supporting immigration rights for same-sex partners. [Troy Record]
The City of Troy is cracking down on
Clifton Park is scheduled to start taking water from the Saratoga County water system this week. [Daily Gazette $]
Schenectady's Civilian Police Review Board is considering the creation of a course on how to be arrested. [Daily Gazette $]
It seems that being nice can go a long way toward getting out of parking ticket in Schenectady. [Daily Gazette $]
The number of farmers markets in New York State has doubled over the last 10 years. [Daily Gazette $]
An initiative to provide city-wide wi-fi in Saratoga Springs has slowed to a halt. [Post-Star]
Park officials say they expect the Indian Ladder Trail at Thacher Park will be ready to open next week. [Fox23]
Five brothers -- all Marine Corps veterans -- were the grand marshals for yesterday's Memorial Day parade in Albany. [TU]
... said KGB about Drawing: What's something that brought you joy this year?