All Over Albany

It's really cold, Stratton flying high from AF1 trip, Gibson pushing for nuclear power plant, Alternate Route 7 just keeps rolling

This just in: it's cold. Last night's low was almost -12. At 10 am this morning, it was -4. And today's forecasted high is 7. [NWS] [NWS]

The Capital City Rescue Mission says the shelter has been "packed" the last few nights as people look for refuge from the extreme cold. The Saratoga Springs school district canceled classes because of the cold. [Troy Record] [Saratogian]

Still NOT a good idea: using a blow torch to melt ice on your house. [Daily Gazette]

It sounds like it's going to take Brian Stratton a while to come down from the high of hanging out with Barack Obama on Friday. The Schenectady mayor met with the President in the Oval Office, rode with the him from the White House via helicopter, and then aboard Air Force One up to the Capital Region. Stratton called the experience "surreal." He also scored some presidential M&Ms. [TU] [CBS6] [Daily Gazette] [WTEN] [Fox23]

One of Chris Gibson's top priorities is getting a new nuclear energy plant built in the region. [Post-Star]

The push back against the Andrew Cuomo's tax cap plan is uniting unusual allies. [NYT]

In his state of the city address, Saratoga Springs mayor Scott Johnson said the Saratoga Citizen
charter reform group would be formally asked for an estimate of the financial impact of changing the city's form of government. The org says it's treating the request as an opportunity to show "exactly what this will do for the city." [Saratogian] [Saratogian]

Saratoga Springs' public works commissioner says the city needs to borrow $220k to complete a state-ordered environmental cleanup. [TU]

Colonie is investigating the possibility of privatizing the operation of its landfill. [TU]

Saratoga County and New York State are being sued by the victim of a 2009 car wreck at the intersection of Route 29 and County Route 104 because, the suit alleges, the intersection is inherently dangerous (map). [Saratogian]

The City of Albany has posted special no-parking signs on a handful of streets in order to aid snow removal. [Fox23]

The Cohoes Public Library will soon be loaning out e-readers. [Troy Record]

The "Alternate Route 7" name won't go away. [TU]