All Over Albany

Cuomo names transition team, Mark Ruffalo leads anti-fracking rally at UAlbany, Pastor Charlie gets $30 thousand from Sears, Two Saratoga Co. Soldiers honored, 109th Assembly results expected today, " Taps composer Union alum

Andrew Cuomo named his Lt. Governor elect to lead his transition team. Robert Duffy will lead a bi-[artisan team that includes former Comptroller Carl McCall and Republican Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney. Cuomo also named members of a new committee to advise him on the budget. That team includes Home Depot Founder Ken Langone -- a guy Elliot Spitzer allegedly told he wanted to "drive a stake" through his heart."
Cuomo also named all four leaders of the state legislature to a committee for personnel search committee. [CBS6, AP, NY Observer, ]

On a NYC radio program yesterday Andrew Cuomo said he would support hydrofracking if it was safe for the watersheds and created jobs. [Fox23]

Meanwhile here in Albany, vocal anti-fracker, and Western NY native, actor Mark Ruffalo held a Fracking Awareness rally at UAlbany.[YNN]

Kirstin Gillibrand was in Afghanistan yesterday, talking about women's rights with Hamid Karzai. [CBS6]

Crime may be up in Albany, but in some neighborhoods, violent crime is down.[TU]

Two fallen soldiers were honored yesterday in Saratoga County. The names of David Taylor Miller and Major John Paul Pryor were added to the Saratoga County Veterans monument at the Saratoga National Cemetary. [YNN]

Victory Church Pastor Charlie Muller got a $30 thousand check from Sears yesterday for the Albany Boys and Girls Club on Delaware Avenue. [CBS6]

Results in the 109th Assembly race should be final later today. Assemblyman Bob Reilly is expected to beat challenger Jennifer Whalen by a very narrow margin. [CBS6]

The Albany Democratic Committee is no more. [TU]

Last week Albany's Gang Prevention Specialist was put on probation for abusing sick time. This week Albany lawmakers are considering eliminating his position entirely. [TU]

An agreement with a private food service provider is expected to cut meal costs at the Albany county jail from $6 a day per prisoner to $2.89 and save the county about $700,000 a year. [TU]

Demolition is underway at the old American Locomotive Company building in Schenectady to make room for condos, offices and a hotel. [WNYT]

A car went through the window of a wireless store in Wilton Thursday. [Saratogian]

The Mohawk/Hudson Animal Shelter is a finalist in a national competition for a $100,000 grant. [WTEN]

Only 42 people in the Capital Region have volunteered for that Public Service Commission's Jumpstart program that lets you monitor home energy usage. [TU]

SeethroughNY.net now allows you to see the salaries of school employees.[TU]

The thoroughbred owner convicted on 33 counts of animal cruelty in March is still free on bail pending appeal. [Saratogian]

Troy police are warning elderly residents to beware of the "Hi, Grandma" scam.[Record]

Some Skidmore students want to know how much your grandmother drinks. [Gazette $]

An Averill Park Eagle Scout led the effort to restore Troy's Monument to WWII Vets. [Record]

The composer of Taps is a Union College graduate[WNYT]

If you're going over the river and through the woods in NY this Thanksgiving, buckle-up. [CBS6]