All Over Albany

State Senate stalls on same-sex marriage and other major issues, pedestrian killed in Schenectady, video exposes fraud attempt, RPI experiment on last shuttle mission

The state Senate adjourned last night without taking up the high profile bills -- including same-sex marriage. The Marriage Equality Act is stuck in a tangle of late-session legislation that doesn't appear to clearing as fast as many had predicted. Democrats accused the Republican majority of "a complete work stoppage." The Senate is expected back in session this morning, to what effect is anyone's guess. Dean Skelos says the same-sex marriage bill won't be brought up until all the other major issues (tax cap, mandate reform, rent control) have been addressed. Liz Benjamin on the scene at the Capitol: "It doesn't help matters that the Capitol is increasingly feeling like a small country under siege, with poor ventilation, insufficient food stocks and overflowing garbage cans." [TU] [NYT] [AP/Troy Record] [State of Politics] [Daily Politics] [State of Politics]

Schenectady police say pedestrian was killed in Schenectady yesterday after a two-car collision caused the vehicles to veer off the street in Hamilton Hill (map). Another pedestrian was also hit and suffered minor injuries. [Fox23] [TU] [YNN]

Yesterday was Albany County sheriff James Campbell's last day on the job after 21 years. Undersheriff Craig Apple is taking over for the retiring sheriff on an interim basis -- and he's also the Democratic Party establishment's pick to run for the job in the fall. [CBS6] [TU]

The former pastor at a church in Albany alleges that the parents of a deacon accused of engaging in sexual conduct with two boys are blocking efforts to remove the deacon (map). [TU]

It looks like the bill that would allow mixed martial arts bouts in the state has lost another round in the Assembly. [Post-Star]

The Troy city council took one step toward approving the sale of the former city hall site to the developer behind the Troy City Center project. [Troy Record]

Danielle Nisselbeck, accused of kicking a police officer in the crotch as if she was kicking a football, pleaded guilty in her re-trial and was sentenced to time served. [TU]

An Albany woman was sentenced to up to three years in prison for trying to defraud the the state Insurance Board and the Workers Compensation Board by claiming she had a neck injury. Problem: there was video of her which demonstrated she clearly didn't have the injury. [TU] [WTEN]

The handler for Elza, Troy's ace police dog: "I don't know if I will be able to get her to retire. I hope I get another dog and she can come to work with me. I'll have to split the kennel. I'm a little attached to her." [Fox23]

An RPI professor's experiment will be on the last space shuttle mission. [Troy Record]

There will be trolley ferrying kids around to summer programs in Albany this summer. [Fox23]

The Scotia Cinema is expanding its theater. [Daily Gazette]

The North Colonie school district's Maplewood Elementary graduated its last class -- it's closing after 114 years. [Troy Record]