All Over Albany

Marine from Washington County killed in Afghanistan, frat gets OK to take over former church property in Troy, Dinosaur now eyeing late October opening

A Marine who grew up in Washington County was killed in Afghanistan. Philip Charte had lived in Cambridge before moving to New Hampshire in 2007 -- he has family in Salem. [Union-Leader (NH)] [Fox23] [TU]

The City of Saratoga Springs has settled a lawsuit over the assessment of David Silipigno's mansion and will give him $180,000 in property tax refunds and credits (map). The house reportedly has seven bedrooms and 13 bathrooms. [Saratogian] [Zillow]

Troy's zoning board approved an RPI fraternity's application to use the former St. Francis de Sales Church property on Congress Street as a frat house. Phi Sigma Kappa is a dry frat because of an alcohol violation six years ago. [Troy Record] [Fox23]

NYRA's president says the first priority in the $100 million-worth of improvements slated for the Saratoga Race Course is upgrading accommodations for backstretch workers. The conditions for backstretch workers have been described as "hidden shame of Saratoga." [Saratogian] [NYDN]

A former Troy school district teacher pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on his district laptop. [Troy Record]

The org behind the proposed $15 million Hudson River research center on the waterfront in Troy say they're still planning to move ahead with the project. Eventually. [TU]

Did the "boutique" meet at New Jersey's Monmouth race track provide competition for Saratoga? [Daily Gazette]

The chair of the House Agricultural Committee was in Saratoga yesterday to campaign for Scott Murphy. Among the topics brought up by farmers: immigration, corn and milk prices. [Post-Star] [Saratogian]

The attempt to establish the "Change Albany Now" independent party in Schenectady County has prompted a dispute between assemblyman George Amedore, a Republican, and his opponent Angelo Santabarbara, a Democrat. [Daily Gazette]

The five Democrats competing for the nomination for state attorney general debated again last night in New York City. The discussion apparently focused on that timeless game: Who's the Real Albany Outsider? The primary is next week. [YNN] [NYT]

An NYT analysis concludes that Carl Paladino has "quietly funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars to candidates across the state through a technique that campaign finance experts say major donors have often used to mask their donations and avoid public scrutiny." Paladino's campaign apparently is now looking for its own contributions. [NYT] [AP/CBS6]

Andrew Cuomo is no doubt breathing a sigh of relief: Eliot Spitzer is voting for him. [NYT City Room]

Says a New York Farm Bureau spokesman of the warm temps and relative lack of rain this summer: "It's been a very unusual growing season." [TU]

The Waterford Police Department is looking for a local nurse so they can recognize her for stopping on the side of the road to help save a man's life in August. [Troy Record]

The general manager of the Troy Dinosaur Bar-B-Que says restaurant is now slated to open in late October or early November. [Troy Record]