Enviro groups rally against fracking, Mantello officially running for Troy mayor, from police chief to big house to pancake house
The anti-fracking rally at the Capitol -- here's a photoset.
About 500 people showed up at the Capitol yesterday for anti-fracking rally organized by environmental groups. The natural gas industry is pushing for the state to speed up its review process of the extraction technique. The state DEC commissioner has said a decision could come by the end of the summer. (Here's a photoset and post about the rally, which includes some good background, by Bennett.) [YNN] [TU] [AP/Troy Record]
Is passage of a property tax cap tied to passage of rent control renewal for NYC? Maybe. [YNN]
Republican Carmella Mantello is officially into the pool for the Troy mayor's race. Mantello is the former head of the state canal corp, and ran for mayor in 1999. She appears to have the backing of the Republican establishment. Five Democrats have expressed interest in running for the office. [Troy Record] [TU] [WNYT] [YNN]
The attorney for Ayerious Benson, the Troy teen accused of fatally shooting Tunham Tate last year, told jurors yesterday that Benson did shoot Tate -- because he "snapped" after Tate allegedly threatened him. Benson's attorney says his client has an IQ of 66. [Troy Record] [TU]
A Saratoga County family court judge has ruled that the media will be allowed into the proceedings involving the 12-year-old accused of fatally shooting his friend in an accident. Among the restrictions: the boy's name can't be used in the coverage. A county attorney, as well as the attorney for the child's family, had opposed the motion to open the proceedings to the media. [Daily Gazette] [WNYT] [TU]
The Schenectady County legislature is considering a plan that would weight legislators' votes based on how many people they represent. [Daily Gazette]
The state Senate confirmed new heads for the Office of People With Development Disabilities and a watchdog commission for organization that serve the disabled. [TU]
The two men accused of kidnapping a man outside an alleged pot house in Albany's New Scotland neighborhood have now been charged with murder (map). [TU] [Daily Gazette]
The Albany County legislature approved a measure that eliminates the requirement that supermarkets have item pricing (you know, price stickers on every item). [Fox23]
The proposed re-organization of parking along Upper Union Street in Schenectady continues to be contentious. A customer of a bridal shop, the parking for which could be taken through eminent domain, said during a public hearing that she would not have bought her $4,500 wedding gown at the shop if there wasn't parking in front of the store. [Daily Gazette] [CBS6] [TU]
A portion of I-90 in Rensselaer County was closed yesterday after a tractor trailer exploded on the side of the road. [WNYT]
Saratoga Springs police say a man spent the night in the woods in Spa State Park he got disoriented while hiking Sunday. Emergency responders found him using GPS info from his phone. [TU] [Saratogian]
Stewart's says it's giving all its hourly employees a 25 cent/hour raise "to help with food and fuel inflation." The chain says the average hourly wage for its employees, including benefits, is $13.50. [@GaryDake] [WNYT]
It can cost more than $6,000/year to care for a retired race horse. [Post-Star]
Angelo Mazzone says he works 14 hours a day Monday through Saturday -- he takes Sunday afternoon off. [TU]
Former Schenectady police chief Greg Kaczmarek, now out of jail, is managing an IHOP. [Marv Cermak]
photo: Bennett V Campbell
... said KGB about Drawing: What's something that brought you joy this year?