All Over Albany

Cuomo "shocked" by State Police raises, Gillibrand visits Giffords, Union College chips in, traffic stop allegedly turns up 27 jars of shrooms

Andrew Cuomo called the raises given to top State Police officials last month "problematic" and "insensitive." He said he was "shocked" when he heard about them. [WNYT] [TU] [Fox23]

We have now apparently entered the "muscle-flexing stage" of the state budget process. [TU]

Operators of the state's racinos -- including the one in Saratoga -- say they want the planned Catskills casino blocked because it will cost the state tax revenue and "may well spell the end of the New York horse racing industry." [TU] [Saratogian]

Kirsten Gillibrand was reportedly holding the hand of Gabrielle Giffords when the injured Arizona Congresswoman opened her eyes yesterday for the first time after the shooting. Gillibrand had flown to Tucson with Barack Obama and other officials for the memorial service. KG told reporters on Air Force One that she and her husband are friends with Gifford and her husband -- and recently went on a double date with them. [AP/CBS6] [State of Politics] [State of Politics]

The state Board of Regents is changing curricula all the way down to the kindergarten level in an attempt to get high school students in the state better prepared for college. [TU]

The plan to re-organize Albany High School has prompted concerns that the school's honors classes will be watered down. [TU]

Prompted by a plea for money from mayor Brian Stratton, Union College has given the City of Schenectady $40,000. (Last year, Stratton had proposed a "curb fee" in an attempt to get tax-exempt orgs to contribute to city coffers.) [TU]

Troy police say two people were shot inside a home in south central Troy (map). Police are searching for multiple people as part of the investigation. [Fox23] [TU]

State police say an executive at a credit union in Saratoga County embezzled $400k from the institution over four years. [Saratogian]

East Greenbush police say they've arrested two teens for allegedly breaking into a house and stealing money and guns -- and third teen for allegedly and then later firing one of the guns accidentally. [TU] [Troy Record]

The Schenectady officer arrested for alleged DWI recently didn't take a breathalyzer test right away. [Daily Gazette]

The Harmony Mills apartment conversion has been a success whose benefits have yet to spread to the rest of Cohoes. [TU]

The Rensselaer County legislature approved a new contract for HVCC professors that includes 3.75 percent annual raises. [Troy Record]

"Severe mechanical problems" involved with the printing of today's Troy Record caused the paper to cancel home delivery today. [Troy Record]

Albany pastor Charlie Mueller is organizing a cargo container to be sent to Haiti with supplies to help orphans start three different micro businesses. [YNN]

The state DEC says it has vanquished oak wilt in Glenville. [Daily Gazette]

Farther afield: state police say a man pulled over by a trooper in Schoharie County allegedly had 27 mason jars of psychedelic mushrooms in his car. [CBS6]