All Over Albany

Same-sex marriage bill part of end-of-session rush, plans for Exit 3 are off, man allegedly rams police car with tractor, no Whitney Gala this year

Today is the last scheduled day of the state legislature's session, but there's a clog of late-developing legislation that could extend the session later into the week. Caught in the end-of-session rush: the Marriage Equality Act. The sticking point still appears to be Senate Republicans' worries about protections for religious groups that refuse to participate in same-sex marriages. Said Dean Skelos on Friday: "There is a concern right now as to the unintended consequences of some of the religious clauses, carve outs, protections, and we're reviewing that." That review is reportedly almost finished and a deal is said to be close. [TU] [AP/Troy Record] [TU] [NY Post]

Andrew Cuomo's prominent support of same-sex marriage legalization is raising his profile around the country. On Friday, Cuomo tried to emphasize that the Marriage Equality Act applies to "marriage in a civil context," not a religious one. [AP/Troy Record] [State of Politics]

There was an interfaith rally for same-sex marriage this past weekend in Troy. [Fox23]

A federal appeals court heard arguments Friday on whether federal prosecutors should be allowed to re-try Joe Bruno. Bruno says the whole process has been "exasperating." [Troy Record] [TU]

A handful of groups that lobby on behalf of local municipalities are largely funded by public money and their employees are enrolled in the state retirement system -- even though the groups are private orgs. [TU]

Charlie Muller's first gun buyback day in Schenectady netted four illegal guns. [Fox23]

The crisis detox center at the Capital District Psychiatric Center, the last-chance place for many chronic homeless alcoholics, will shut down soon because of state budget cuts. [TU]

AJ Rivera was sentenced to 7.5-15 years in prison for the fatal shooting of Amanda Burns in Troy. [Troy Record]

For the moment, the state has decided to not create an Exit 3 on the Northway, and instead plan for a reconfiguration of Exit 4. [TU]

The family of a woman who suffered a serious head injury this past February allegedly at the home of the son of the people who own McGuire's are suing the man and his parents for $30 million. [TU]

Trying to set a bar on fire because the bartender won't serve you can get you nine years in prison. [TU]

A hazmat crew was called to a Stillwater home Friday night after a man died in a car from inhaling a toxic vapor. Authorities say it appears two household chemicals had been mixed in the car to create hydrogen sulfide gas, which turns into hydrochloric acid in the lungs. [Post-Star] [TU]

The Washington County sheriff's office alleges a Greenwich man intentionally rammed his tractor into a patrol car while the deputies were trying to serve a warrant. [Post-Star] [Saratogian]

Families moving to the Capital Region because of GlobalFoundries are using schools as the first criterion for selecting where to live, according to a Saratoga Springs school district official. [Post-Star]

The largest nursing school in the nation is the Albany-based Excelsior College, an mostly online college. [TU]

This is why your parents told you to not throw rocks. [TU]

Tech Valley High School graduated its first senior class (and nano emperor Alain Kaloyeros was decked out for the affair). [Troy Record]

A Schenectady Catholic elementary school has built a "peaceful playground" without traditional play equipment such as swings so that the kids can't fight over them. [Daily Gazette]

Marylou Whitney and her husband will not hold a Whitney Gala this year. Whitney's husband says they just decided they'd rather focus their efforts on supporting programs for backstretch workers at the Track. [Daily Gazette] [TU]

Jimmer Fredette visited his old elementary school in Glens Falls on Friday and was then honored in the state Senate. [Post-Star] [Politics on the Hudson]

Three of the last five valedictorians at Corinth High School have come from the same family. [Post-Star]

A Rensselaer County man has been voted "Hottest Dad With Facial Hair" in an online poll. [TU]

Peaches the Cohoes racing pigeon has been reunited with his/her owner. [Troy Record]