All Over Albany

Officials say Tulip Fest alcohol restrictions not a reaction to riot, three man tango over property tax cap, school boards cut to make budgets, fracking is gassy

Jerry Jennings says the new, stricter alcohol rules for the Tulip Festival are not a reaction to the kegs and eggs riot -- but rather an attempt to the make the event more "family-friendly." [TU] [Daily Gazette]

Albany County exec Mike Breslin announced he's not running for re-election when his term is up at the end of this year. A spokeswoman says Breslin has no current plans to join the Cuomo administration (as has had been speculated) -- at least, not yet. Speculation now turns to possible candidates for the county exec job. [Breslin admin] [TU] [Troy Record]

The Three Men in a Room are engaging in the ever popular three man tango as they negotiate/talk past each other/whisper sweet nothings/feint on a property tax cap deal. Republicans are trying to cast Sheldon Silver as the one holding up the process -- but Silver says he's open to it, with some exceptions. Dean Skelos says the Senate has passed Andrew Cuomo's tax cap bill and has no interest in watering down the bill. Silver, in turn, says Skelos actually wants the Assembly to "to do a better bill that takes into consideration certain things that have to be taken into consideration." Where's all this heads (aside, perhaps, group therapy): a trade of rent control renewal for a tax cap. Maybe. [NYT] [YNN] [State of Politics] [State of Politics] [AP/Troy Record] [Buffalo News] [TU]

State legislators are making noises about restricting the sale of "alco-pops" -- sugary malt liquor beverages such as Four Loko. [YNN]

The 13-year-old witness who allegedly saw Ayerious Benson shoot Tunham Tate seven times broke down on the stand yesterday while recalling the series of events. Tate's fiancee testified that Benson told her, "I'm going to go get a gun and shoot him." [TU] [Troy Record]

Farther afield: Newburgh police say a woman drove her minivan into the Hudson River with three of her children inside -- all four died. [Poughkeepsie Journal]

State Senator Greg Ball received a threatening package -- containing a Curious George stuffed animal -- at the Legislative Office Building yesterday. Fox23 apparently was able to contact the woman says she sent the package before law enforcement did. [State of Politics] [Fox23]

Troy police say a man was shot in the leg on the street in Troy's North Central neighborhood yesterday evening map. [Fox23]

A third person has been charged in the alleged murder of pot deal in Albany's New Scotland neighborhood. [TU]

The Skidmore student who pleaded guilty to smashing a plate over a man's head in Compton's was sentenced to community service and restitution, as well as discipline from the school. The judge said a probation officer reported being troubled by the student's "failure to accept responsibility" for the incident. [Saratogian] [TU]

An 20-year-old man admitted yesterday to punching an 87-year-old Schenectady man in the face. [Daily Gazette]

The Albany school board approved a budget that includes a 1.7 percent tax levy increase and the elimination of 91 positions. [TU]

The Shen school board approved a budget that would raise taxes 3.5 percent -- and eliminate 72 positions. [CBS6] [TU]

The Saratoga Springs school board approved a budget with "no increase in the budget, no increase in the tax levy and no staff layoffs." [Saratogian]

The Averill Park school board approved a budget that includes a 5.1 percent tax levy increase and the elimination of 40 positions. [Fox23] [CBS6]

The Burnt Hills-Ballson Lake school board approved a budget with a 2.2 percent tax levy increase. [CBS6]

The Schalmont school board approved a budget with no tax increase -- but it's closing two schools. [Daily Gazette] [TU]

Parents at Troy's School 12 say they're frustrated that the school district won't tell them exactly why the school has been slated to close. The school district superintendent says the info will be made public -- eventually. [YNN] [Troy Record]

State Senator Betty Little is pushing legislation that would require kids under the age of 14 to wear helmets while snow skiing. [Post-Star]

A study by Cornell researchers concludes that natural gas extracted through hydro-fracking could have a bigger greenhouse gas footprint than coal because of the methane that escapes into the atmosphere during the mining process. [Cornell] [TU]

The Lark Street complex that formerly housed Planned Parenthood is under contract to a buyer who reportedly has plans to redevelop the site. [TU]

The Borders on Broadway in Saratoga has closed. Among the books well represented in the remainders: Sarah Palin's "America By Heart." [Saratogian] [Post-Star]

Siena baseball player Dan Paolini, a junior, has set the school's record for most career home runs. [CBS6]