All Over Albany

State government shutdown vote today, high schoolers arrested for pranks, police say driver hit pedestrian and fire hydrant and utility pole

Will the state government shutdown? The state legislature votes on the next budget extender today, which includes more than $300 million in cuts. "Insiders" say the bill is expected to have enough votes in the state Senate to pass (the Assembly has been passing the bills easily). After making noises about voting "no," Pedro Espada says he'll vote "yes." But Ruben Diaz continues to say he won't vote for the bill. That means at least one Republican will have to vote "yes." Roy McDonald says that vote could come from him. There are indications Hugh Farley might also vote "yes." [YNN] [AP/Troy Record] [TU] [State of Politics] [NYDN] [NY Post]

So, where are things at on the whole state budget? Negotiations have apparently broken down as Paterson and the legislative leaders are still $2 billion apart. [NYT] [WTEN]

A grand jury has cleared the two Albany police officers involved in the fatal shooting of the man who pinned an officer against a fence with his car on Quail Street in February. [TU] [YNN]

Former Schenectady police officer John Lewis has been arrested. Again. This time he's accused of assaulting his wife. [TU] [Fox23]

Schenectady officials say there's a new culture in the city's police department after the firing of five officers (including Lewis). [Daily Gazette $]

Four seniors have been charged with a felony for the oily vandalism/prank at Berne-Knox-Westerlo's secondary school last week. And in Saratoga, six students were arrested for allegedly vandalizing the high school grounds as part of a prank. [TU] [Saratogian]

Albany police say a man hit a pedestrian while driving drunk up Madison Ave early Saturday morning, before hitting a fire hydrant and telephone pole on Western (map). [WNYT] [Fox23]

Rensselaer County exec Kathy Jimino wants an across-the-board five percent reduction in spending in county departments. [Fox23]

The Saratoga Springs city council will vote Tuesday on whether last call should be rolled back to 2 am. [Saratogian]

Residents of Bradford Street in Albany say they're worried about the impact of a new charter school building's that's been proposed for the street (map). [TU]

An Albany police officer and a neighbor are being credited with helping evacuate people from that apartment fire on Central Ave last week. [TU]

NYRA says the pool of applicants for jobs at the Saratoga Race Course this summer is reverting to the typical mix of students, retirees and people with the summer off. [Saratogian]

The Girls Scouts of Northeastern New York say they're in the early stages of a deal that would sell Camp Little Notch to a conservation organization. [Troy Record]

A couple got married on the field at Joe Bruno Stadium this past Saturday. [YNN]