All Over Albany

Cuomo and legislature poking each other over ethics, "wealthy welfare mom" pleads guilty, reports of big season for ticks, ice cream prices rising

Andrew Cuomo says there's "no war against lawmakers," but his public campaign to push the legislature toward his agenda is getting more pointed. Said Cuomo in a video message released yesterday: "the legislature doesn't want to pass real ethics reform." Dean Skelos responded by suggesting that ethics laws for the executive branch could also use some attention -- and said Cuomo's tactics are starting to appear Sptizer-like. [WNYT] [Cuomo admin] [State of Politics] [AP/Troy Record]

Cuomo says he doesn't want a same-sex marriage to come up in the state Senate unless it's sure to pass. Opponent seem to think passage is becoming more likely -- they're ramping up efforts against legalization. [NYT] [TU]

On negotiations for a new contract with the state's biggest public employee unions, Cuomo said things are close, but: "It really is very easy to get close. It's the last few inches that are the problem." [Fox23]

Clement Campana, president of the Troy city council and a Democrat, formally announced he's in the pool for mayor of Troy. Among his pledges: that city hall will move to the Dauchy Building. Camapana made the announcement in front of the partly-demolished former city, of which he said: "I didn't want the demolition of this building. There was no council approval and [Harry Tutunjian] went ahead and did it anyway."" [Troy Record] [TU] [YNN]

Paul Tonko has reintroduced legislation in the House that would pay for safer rest areas for truckers. "Jason's Law" is named after Jason Rivenburg, a Schoharie County man who was murdered while resting at an abandoned South Carolina gas station in 2009. [TU] [YNN]

A think tank report concludes that CDTA is among the better transit systems for connecting people with where they work. [TU]

The company demolishing the former Troy city hall has gotten the necessary bonding to continue moving ahead with the project. [Troy Record]

Angela Lopez, the Colonie woman accused of illegally taking $95k in welfare benefits, pleaded guilty yesterday. She faces 2-6 years in prison, along with paying restitution. [WTEN] [TU]

Troy police say the alleged victim of a mugging helped identify the suspect while riding along with a patrol officer. [Troy Record]

Colonie police say an employee at the Colonie Center Macy's was arrested for allegedly stealing more than $42k in jewelry from the store. [TU]

Colonie police say two men making a Chinese food delivery at a Siena dorm stole items intended for charity from the building's vestibule. [TU]

There's anecdotal evidence of more ticks this spring. [Fox23]

Higher milk and fuel costs have prompted Stewart's to raise the cost of an ice cream cone to $1.99 from $1.75. [Daily Gazette]

Local used car dealers say demand is up, and as a result, so are prices. [YNN]

The Saratoga Springs Public Library will be getting self-checkout stations. [Saratogian]

A Lake George man -- who's both deaf and legally blind -- will graduate with a PhD in chemistry from UAlbany on Saturday. [TU]