All Over Albany

Concern about possible explosion in tanker crash, state budget details being worked out, Albany considers smaller common council, could an Exit 3 be on the way?

A portion of Route 7 in Rensselaer County is still closed because a propane tanker trunk rolled over and caught fire yesterday near Hoosick Falls (photos) (map). Officials are concerned about possible explosions, including "an extreme fireball," and have evacuated the surrounding area in a one-mile radius. They say it could be two days before the stretch of road is open again. [Troy Record] [CBS6] [Fox23] [YNN] [TU]

State legislators are still finalizing details on the budget deal announced Sunday. Among those anxiously awaiting the details: school districts, which still don't know how the deal will affect their funding levels (aside from being lower). Education groups say they will keep pushing for an extension of the income tax surcharge in an attempt to restore some funding. [YNN] [Daily Gazette] [TU]

Apparent conventional wisdom on this budget process: Andrew Cuomo played the game expertly, and Sheldon Silver's power is diminished. For now. [NYT]

The winners of the $319 million lottery ticket sold in downtown Albany have not yet claimed the prize -- but the seven state employees who apparently have the ticket reportedly did not show up for work yesterday. [Fox23]

Local attorney Mae D'Agostino's nomination for a federal judgeship was confirmed 88-0 by the Senate yesterday. She'll be the first woman to sit on the federal bench in Albany. [@ChuckSchumer] [TU]

Albany's Common Council is holding hearings on whether the size of the council should be reduced. [TU]

The attorney for Michael LoPorto, the Troy city councilman indicted for voter fraud, has filed a motion to have the case dismissed, arguing that the special prosecutor in the case is politically biased against his client. He also argues the amount of media coverage ahead of the indictment prejudiced the public against his client. [TU] [Troy Record]

Kymeir Turner, the now-16-year-old who was convicted of fatally shooting Henry Ferrell during a robbery in Albany in 2009, was sentenced to 3.3 to 10 years in prison. [TU]

The Albany County DA's office says the Albany man recently arrested for allegedly kidnapping and ransoming his wife allegedly had a taser and sawed-off shotgun in his BMW. [TU]

Schenectady fire officials say one person had to be rescued -- and a mother and young son had to jump -- from a house fire yesterday in Hamilton Hill (map). There's not much left of the house. [Fox23] [Daily Gazette] [TU]

Saratoga Springs police say an officer was injured this past weekend while breaking up a fight between to drunk men on Caroline Street. [TU]

Americade organizers have worked a deal with the state for parking at the annual Lake George motorcycle festival. [TU]

CDTA is planning BusPlus routes along Western and Washington avenues in Albany. [Daily Gazette]

Plans may be in motion to create an Exit 3 for the Northway. Eventually. Probably. [TU]

This winter has been good for ski mountains. [Saratogian]

A group is working to create a 62-mile run/walk/bike trail from Waterford to Whitehall along the Champlain Canal. [Post-Star]