All Over Albany

Cuomo continues to hold big lead, state workforce smaller than last year, incumbent as a dirty word, Mexican Radio's spot in Schenectady

Andrew Cuomo continues to hold a big lead on Carl Paladino, according to a Q Poll out Wednesday. It reports Cuomo is up 55-35. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand also had a big leads in their races. [Q Poll]

It sounds like Andrew Cuomo and Bill Clinton have a bit a of a bromance going on. [NYT]

Noted: if we're elderly and in failing health, we won't allow Carl Paladino to manage our finances. [NYT]

The state workforce is down about 5,000 employees from this time last year -- but layoffs could still be on the way. Update: David Paterson says there will be 898 state employee layoffs. [TU] [TU CapCon]

GlobalFoundries showed off its new test lab at the Saratoga Technology + Energy Park yesterday. The lab will be used to test processes and train workers for the full-scale fab being built at Luther Forest. [TU] [WNYT]

About Luther Forest... the head of the org that runs the tech park is expected today to speak publicly for the first time about the state's announced intention to take over the park. The chairman of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors said he had a "very productive" meeting about the situation with officials from the state's economic development arm (what was productive about it wasn't clear). Local officials have said they're concerned what a state takeover might mean for taxes and zoning. [Saratogian] [Daily Gazette] [Post-Star]

The TU declares that "bedbugs have officially infiltrated the Capital Region." [TU]

Parents of students at Berlin Elementary got angry at a meeting Wednesday about the continued problems with lead contamination at the school. An attorney representing some of the parents say he doesn't know of any children who have yet tested positive for high lead levels. [Fox23] [WNYT]

One this year's games involving campaign signs: slapping "incumbent" stickers on them. (The campaign was not amused.) [@mstyne] [WNYT]

Bob Reilly says his imitation of a constituent with CP during a recent debate was not meant to be offensive. The constituent says the story is "getting way too much play." [Fox23] [Fox23]

The Schenectady school district has settled the rosary case for $1,500. [YNN]

From the Local Annals of Bad Ideas: pouring gasoline on a fire in your backyard. [Fox23]

A group of angel investors is forming to fund startups in the Capital Region. [Post-Star]

The owners of Mexican Radio say they'll be setting up their planned Schenectady restaurant in the OTB Imperial Racing Center building at State and Broadway (streetview). [Daily Gazette]

Amid what they described as an outpouring of support from the neighborhood, the owners of a historic brownstone near Washington Park in Troy that caught fire this week say they will rebuild. One spot of good news: the couple's dog, feared lost in the fire, was found -- alive and well -- hiding under a bed. [Troy Record] [TU]

Multiple buses full of people will be heading from the Capital Region to DC on Friday for the John Stewart/Stephen Colbert rally. [Daily Gazette]

A toilet paper company is testing rolls without cardboard tubes in the Northeast. [CBS6]