Lawsuit filed over same-sex marriage, plane crashes near Berne, county exec candidate's campaign fund built with developer money, "vegetarian piranha" caught in the Hudson
The first lawsuit over same-sex marriage has been filed -- a group called New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedom is arguing that the state Senate violated open meeting laws before passing Marriage Equality Act. (The suit may not make it far because of... Fred Dicker.) An informal survey indicates that more than 1,200 same-sex marriage licenses have already been issued across the state. [AP/Troy Record] [TU CapCon] [NYT]
Troy city clerk William McInerney announced that he's resigning. The special prosecutor in the Troy ballot fraud cause reportedly had offered McInerney a plead deal earlier this month that would have required his resignation. [Troy Record] [TU]
The potentially $100 million plan to privatize Colonie's town landfill -- and wipe out the town's deficit -- could be voted on this Thursday. Denise Sheehan, the Republican challenger to supervisor Paula Mahan in the fall election, is calling for the plan to be put on hold so it can be examined more thoroughly. [TU] [YNN]
Colonie police say two recent armed robberies in Latham appear to be connected -- and the escalation in violence from the first to second robbery is "troubling." Police say the three men who robbed the Friendly's on Loudon Road early Sunday morning had a gun and used duct tape to bind five employees. The first robbery was at a Domino's, also on Loudon Road. [Fox23] [TU] [YNN]
The pilot who died when his Piper Cherokee crashed into the hills near Berne Monday was in cloud cover so severe that a state police helicopter would not fly in it. Acting Albany County sheriff Craig Apple said it appeared the plane had hit tree tops. [TU] [YNN]
Donations from entities connected to local development/construction giant Columbia/BBL account for almost a quarter of the campaign money raised by Dan McCoy, who's currently the only candidate in the race for Albany County exec. [TU]
People living near the GlobalFoundries chip fab are complaining about an "irritating" hum from the facility. GloFo says it thinks the noise is coming from equipment used to maintain a steady flow of power. [Daily Gazette] [Saratogian]
NYRA says the amount bet at The Track over the first week (actually 4 days) is up more than 10 percent from last year. [Saratogian]
Another member of the notorious Albany gang Original Gangsta Killas has been sentenced in federal court -- Nakeem Stratton got six years for shooting a rival gang member as well as bystanders in the South End. [TU]
New North Greenbush town supervisor candidate C.B. Smith is a Rensselaer County political gadfly who has attended every town board meeting for the past four or five years. [Troy Record]
The owner of the Playland Arcade in Lake George is giving a Slingerlands teen $500 to pay for legal bills after the kid was arrested for carrying a knife he'd won legally at the arcade. [WTEN]
The religious order that owns the historic Kenwood campus in south Albany is selling off pieces from the facility and preparing to mothball the buildings because it can't find a buyer. [TU]
Rensselaer County's looking into whether it can cut costs for paper and printing by giving legislators iPads. [Troy Record]
The redevelopment of Troy's Riverfront Park has started. [Troy Record]
Two bills waiting for action from Andrew Cuomo: "Complete Streets" legislation and approval for municipal "land banks." [TU]
Cuomo is teaching his 16-year-old twins defensive -- and offensive -- driving. [NYT]
Molli the Schnauzer has been returned to her owners after she went missing following a break-in at the family's Schenectady home. Her return was preceded by a mysterious phone call. [Fox23] [CBS6]
A fisherman pulled a a "vegetarian piranha" from the Hudson near Watervliet this past week. [TU]
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A conversation recently overheard:
Cara: Dad, do we have to go out driving again?
Mariah: Yeah, we've done this a hundred times already.
Andrew: Girls, I'm a car guy, a motorcycle guy, a boat guy, and your Dad. So you two are going to get all the car driving experience you need, but only the car driving experience you need.
Cara: But Dad, we've had a lot of professional instruction. We took Driver's Education and did really well. And we think we're already good drivers.
Andrew: Sure, sure. Ya' know, that's what Carl said last year during the campaign, and you know what happened to him? What a car wreck! You girls don't want to get in a car wreck, now do ya'?
Cara, Mariah (in unison): No, Dad, we don't.
Andrew: Now, take it easy on the gas. We're short on cash this month and we have to economize. In fact, instead of taking the Chevrolet Suburban, we're going to take the Chevy Aveo.
Cara, Mariah (in unison): But Dad, can't we take the GTO convertible? We like that!
Andrew: Well, girls, we all have to sacrifice. In fact, that's just what I told Danny and Ken just last month.
Cara: But the Aveo -- it's so small!
Andrew: Girls, ya' need to be satisfied with what you have. At least you have a car to practice in. And it's not as small as public employee paychecks will be in a couple of years!
... said Bob on Jul 26, 2011 at 10:42 AM | link
I'm curious as to why the New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedom weren't as vocal in support of a statewide referendum when same-sex marriage failed several years ago...
... said Fred on Jul 26, 2011 at 12:55 PM | link