There's a state budget deal, $319 million lottery ticket sold in Albany, focus on code enforcement following riot
The Three Men in a Room have announced there's a state budget deal. The plan closes the $10 billion gap and includes no new taxes. It also cuts spending about two percent compared to the year before -- the first such rollback since the mid-90s. If the legislature approves the budget this week, it would be the first early budget since 1983. [NYT] [TU] [WSJ] [NYDN]
The budget ended up not including some contentious provisions: the income tax surcharge extension ("millionaire's tax"), a property tax cap, rent control extension, or the medical malpractice cap. [State of Politics]
Andrew Cuomo hailed the budget -- and the process the led up to it -- as "a new day for New York." And Cuomo is being hailed as the big winner in the budget game -- "the true steamroller." [AP/Post-Star] [NYDN]
The winning ticket in Friday night's $319 million Mega Millions lottery was sold at Coulsen's in downtown Albany. The winners can't claim the prize until today -- but the word circulating is that a pool of seven state employees have the winning ticket. [TU] [Troy Record] [Fox23]
Officials say a Milton man killed his wife -- and then killed himself -- Friday. Police say the couple had been separated. A joint funeral is planned for this week. [Saratogian] [TU] [TU]
Among the solutions that keep being mentioned in the discussion about how to fix Albany's student ghetto: code enforcement. [TU]
The state geologist is in hot water over comments he made about hydrofracking. [TU]
A Manhattan Assemblywoman is proposing legislation that would cap hospital executives' salaries at $250k. [Daily Gazette]
An Albany County legislator is proposing legislation that would ban "bath salts" that people snort to in order to get high. [TU]
A teen died at West Mountain this weekend after a skiing accident. [Post-Star]
Schenectady County's director of the bureau of weights and measures has been arrested on fraud charges. [TU]
The attorney for Edward McDonough -- the Rensselaer County elections commissioner indicted in the Troy voter fraud case -- alleges that the case's special prosecutor is going after his client because of an alleged grudge against McDonough's father. [Troy Record]
Albany police say a 68-year-old man threatened a woman with a machete Saturday night. [TU]
Bartenders at three Crossgates Mall restaurants were busted Friday for allegedly serving underage customers during a sting. [Troy Record]
A group of RPI students have started a mobile app development company. [Troy Record]
A project in Dutchess County is aiming to be the largest maple syrup operation in North America. [Saratogian]
The Beechnut baby food factory ended production at its plant in Canajoharie Friday, ending a 100-year run in the village. [Daily Gazette]
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A $319 million dollar lottery ticket sold in Albany and an early state budget. Equally unlikely.
... said komradebob on Mar 28, 2011 at 10:18 AM | link
I can't wrap my head around having a joint funeral for the separated wife and husband in the murder-suicide. First, they were separated. Second, he killed her. I can't imagine that a joint funeral would create a peaceful or ideal situation for either side of the family.
... said Cassie on Mar 28, 2011 at 10:39 AM | link
I look forward to reading the results of AOA's bath salt taste test.
... said Jeff S on Mar 28, 2011 at 10:45 AM | link
@cassie - I had the exact same reaction. I am sure there is more to it than we know, and maybe it was done was a joint funeral by the family for financial reasons, but still - I recoiled reading that. I can't imagine that her family would want to see the body of the man that took her life, when saying goodbye to her.
... said kert on Mar 28, 2011 at 11:47 AM | link
@Cassie & kert, I also read that and did a double take.
... said Summer on Mar 28, 2011 at 7:10 PM | link