All Over Albany

IG: OGS worker went to bars while on the clock, Benson found guilty, worries about ability to respond to chemical spills related to chip fab

The state inspector general alleges that Gregory Ruth, a building construction manager for the state Office of General Services, "routinely" spent afternoons at bars, not on the job as he reported on time cards. Documents filed with the Ruth's arraignment allege his supervisor signed off on the time cards even though he knew the Ruth had been at bars. Ruth was allegedly spotted at taverns in Colonie while when he was supposed to be on the clock. He's been suspended. [NYS IG] [TU] [Fox23] [YNN]

Ayerious Benson, the Troy teen accused of fatally shooting Tunham Tate, was found guilty of second-degree murder. Jurors deliberated for more than 16 hours, reportedly stuck on whether emotional distress from an earlier confrontation with Tate had caused Benson to snap (as his attorney had argued). Benson could get 25 years to life. [Troy Record] [YNN] [WNYT]

Saratoga County honored Clarence Dart yesterday -- he's a 90-year-old WWII veteran and was part of the Tuskegee airmen. Dart flew 95 missions over Europe and was shot down twice. Said Jim Tedisco to Dart: "You stood up for the United States of America when in some instances it wouldn't stand up for you." Said Dart's wife of her husband's service in the war: "He's so quiet. We brag more about it than he does." [TU] [Saratogian] [Daily Gazette] [Post-Star]

Albany County had the highest number of foreclosures in the state last month. [Daily Gazette]

The Capital Region housing market continues to be slow. [TU]

The labor contract the Cuomo admin struck with Council 82 -- and which Cuomo says should be a model for new contracts with larger state employee unions -- significantly reduces the amount of sick time retiring employees can put toward health insurance premiums. [TU]

Work has stopped on the $23 million apartment building in downtown Albany for state Court of Appeals judges. [CBS6]

The population growth in Saratoga County is prompting a re-weighting of the votes on the county board of supervisors. [Daily Gazette]

Round Lake officials they're worried that local emergency responders won't have adequate training in the event there's a spill of hazardous chemicals being shipped to the GobalFoundries chipfab. [TU]

Currently at issue in Troy: whether cars should be towed for street sweeping. [Troy Record]

Witnesses statements from the incident involving Skidmore students in Compton's last December paint contrasting pictures of what happened. [Saratogian]

It appears work has started on the big intermodal rail road planned for Mechanicville, Stillwater and Halfmoon. [TU]

A Latham solar power company is rapidly growing. [TU]