All Over Albany

No state government shutdown, police investigating muggings around Washington Park, flag and flagpole stolen, Don Weeks retiring

The state budget extender passed -- and, as a result, the government did not shutdown. As promised, Democratic senator Ruben Diaz voted "no." But three Republicans voted "yes" -- including Hugh Farley and Roy McDonald. Both Farley and McDonald said the voted for the extender out of concern for constituents who work for the state or rely on state contracts. On the Senate floor, Farley said his vote shouldn't be counted on for future budget extenders. And said McDonald of the overall budget situation: "We have lost the respect of real people in this state." [TU] [Fox23] [YNN] [WNYT] [NYT] [AP/Post-Star]

So what is the status of the overall budget? David Paterson and the legislature are still somewhere between $2 billion and $1.3 billion apart, depending on who's talking. [Buffalo News]

Ward Stone on allegations he dropped the ball during the West Nile virus outbreak in 1999: "I didn't blow anything, that is totally bull." [TU] [YNN]

There are school district budget re-votes in Schenectady and Cohoes today. [TU] [Troy Record]

Troy police say they've made a third arrest in the 2002 murders of Arica Schneider and Samuel Holley. [Troy Record]

Albany police say they're investigating a string of late night muggings in the greater Washington Park area. They say many of the victims were intoxicated or walking alone. [TU] [WNYT]

The Port of Albany is getting $5 million in federal stimulus money to replace a wharf. [TU] [WTEN]

Halfmoon is the center of the Capital Region's home building activity. [TU]

The Saratoga County man accused of fraudulently passing himself off as a psychologist has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. [Saratogian]

Albany police say a slow-speed pursuit along Washington Avenue ended with the driver shooting himself in his car after stopping the Melrose neighborhood (map). The man's girlfriend had called 911 to report the man as suicidal. [WTEN] [WNYT] [TU]

Troy police say man was mugged at gunpoint last week a few blocks from the RPI campus (map). [Troy Record]

Cohoes police say their investigating a rash of vandalism around the city. A Sunday night hit included anti-Semitic messages. [WTEN] [Fox23]

Residents near Frear Park in Troy say vandals stole an American flag and flagpole from a memorial in the neighborhood. [Troy Record]

Carl Erikson was officially appointed to the Schenectady city council, but not before some drama. [TU] [Daily Gazette $]

A man had a heart attack on Hudson River tour boat -- right between Albany and Troy. [Troy Record]

The developer of the Ingersoll mansion site in Niskayuna is now proposing to move the historic home. [Daily Gazette $]

A family that lives out past Amsterdam has 30 children. [YNN]

WGY morning host Don Weeks announced today that he's retiring when his contract at the station ends later this year. [WGY]