All Over Albany

State budget hits more snags, APD says safety plan for Center Square is in early stages, push to increase state unemployment benefits, it's lonely at the top

The state budget is still not finished. The latest hang-up to passing the final revenue bill: the state Senate has now decided there needs to be a contingency plan for the possible loss of $1 billion in federal Medicaid money (David Paterson has been pushing this for sometime). Another snag: whether SUNY and CUNY "flagship" campuses should be allowed to set their own tuition rates -- Neil Breslin apparently was willing to his withhold his vote from the majority when UAlbany wasn't included in the pilot program. [TU] [NYDN] [Fox23] [AP/Post-Star] [TU]

David Paterson is scheduled to start vetoing all 6,900 of the legislature's appropriation bills today -- a task that could take him 29 hours. [CBS6] [NY Post]

The budget snags aren't stopping a "veritable flotilla of special-interest bills" from moving through the legislature as the session nears its end. [NYT]

Proposed Albany police chief Steve Krokoff says the APD is in the early stages of developing a new safety plan for Center Square. Appearing at the same press conference on Lark Street (along with Jerry Jennings), David Soares said the assault and mugging of a man following the Capital Pride festival were "crimes of opportunity" -- and not hate crime. Police allege the three people arrested for that attack were also involved in a mugging on Lancaster Street. [TU] [Fox23] [YNN]

Albany police say a man was shot in the leg early Wednesday morning in the South End (map). Police say the man told them he was fired at from a car. [CBS6] [Fox23]

The Paterson administration is pushing legislation that would increase unemployment benefits in the state. [Troy Record]

Troy city council reactions to the multi-million dollar suit filed by the police union against the city range from "I certainly take this lawsuit very seriously" to "the most frivolous thing I've ever seen." [Troy Record]

A state Supreme Court judge has denied a request to block the closing of the New Covenant Charter School. [TU]

Former Schenectady school district superintendent Eric Ely has been offered the superintendent's job in the the Southbridge school district in Massachusetts (map). It's not clear how his hiring would affect his separation agreement with the Schenectady school district. [Worcester Telegram and Gazette] [Daily Gazette $]

John Yagielski, the former Shen superintendent who will serve as Schenectady's interim superintendent, was the victim of a car fire bombing during his term heading up Shen in the 90s. [Daily Gazette $]

There apparently was a bit of a run on cigarettes during the last week before today's $1.60/pack state tax increase. [Daily Gazette $] [Fox23]

Attendance at local state parks was way up this spring compared to last spring. [TU]

An animal control officers says the dog found dead at the Poestenkill Gorge in Troy may have been involved in dog fighting. [WTEN]

Famed horse Rachel Alexandra arrived in the Capital Region yesterday via 727 jet. [Daily Gazette $]

Says the guy who sits at the top of the Green Island bridge, operating the lift: "It can get lonely and boring." [Troy Record>