All Over Albany

Hugh Carey passes away, APD investigating whether attacks are related, "wealthy welfare mom" gets 2-6 years, the 4-year-old trash man

Former New York governor Hugh Carey has passed away Sunday -- he was 92. He's remembered for helping to keep New York City solvent as the city faced bankruptcy during the 1970s. Said Andrew Cuomo in a statement: "[Carey] was tough, he was smart, and he was the person our state needed to see us through crisis." Said Jack McEneny of Carey's administration: "To this day, a lot of people don't realize they were saved (by Carey)." (More reaction from current leaders.) [NYT] [AP/Post-Star] [Cuomo admin] [TU] [State of Politics]

Jack McEneny on all the controversy surrounding the redistricting in the state: "I think we could get to the point where we have it drawn up by Canadians." [TU]

The president of NYSUT, the powerful teachers' union, says recent developments in the state education policy have contributed to a "a conservative, right-wing agenda that is using a sort of hostage-terrorist approach to public service." [AP/TU]

One person was killed and another injured Friday night when a train struck a car at a crossing in Cohoes -- and then pushed the car for quarter mile. A witness says it didn't appear that the train's conductor immediately recognized that the car was being pushed by the train. There are conflicting reports about whether the gates were down at the crossing. [CBS6] [TU] [Fox23] [WNYT]

Albany police say they're investigating the mugging and attempted sexual assault of a woman on Yates Street early Saturday morning (map). It says detectives are looking into whether the attack is related to the one on Hamilton last week. Says a manager at Bogies, which is just down the block: "The later it gets, the more creeps come out it seems." [APD - press release after the jump] [Fox23]

A stretch of State Street in Schenectady and some adjacent streets will be closed today because of Place Beyond the Pines filming. [CBS6]

An Albany police cruiser hit a car on Central Ave Friday night while responding to a call (map). The APD says it appears the car turned left in front of the cruiser. No tickets were issued that night. [WTEN] [TU] [Fox23]

Albany police say a pedestrian was injured Saturday night in a hit-and-run on South Pearl (map). [APD -- press release below]

Angela Lopez -- the "Wealthy Welfare Mom" -- was sentenced to 2-6 years in prison and pay restitution of almost $100k. Ahead of the sentencing, Lopez told the judge she had "felt so pressured" to plead guilty earlier this year. Lopez also said she is pregnant -- it would be her sixth child. [WNYT] [Daily Gazette] [WTEN]

An Albany County corrections officer accused of attacking his girlfriend in Rensselaer County was found dead Friday. Acting Albany County sheriff Craig Apple says it appears the man died of a drug overdose. [CBS6] [TU]

The contract the town of Colonie signed to privatize its landfill has finally been made public. [TU]

The city of Albany pays about $25 million a year for health insurance -- 40 percent of that to retirees, most of whom don't pay anything for it. [TU]

Acting Schenectady mayor Gary McCarthy is now on the job full time. [Daily Gazette]

According to "site selection consultants," the good about the Capital Region: momentum, lots of water. The bad: taxes, electricity costs, perceptions of upstate New York. [TU] [Daily Gazette]

Copper pipe thieving has gotten so bad in Schenectady's Mont Pleasant neighborhood that some rehabbers have switched to using plastic pipe when fixing up buildings. [Daily Gazette]

A Troy landlord says tenants trashed her apartment so badly that she "literally vomited because the odor was so bad" -- and the city condemned the place. [Troy Record]

At the top of NYRA's list for improvements and upgrades at the Saratoga Race Course: improving the dorms for backstretch workers. [TU]

In North Hoosick, there's concern that a closure of the area's tiny post office could mean the loss of its zip code, too -- and North Hoosick "wouldn't exist anymore." [Troy Record]

New Salem Saab is going out of business after 50 years. [TU]

Motivated by a passion for waste disposal, a four-year-old boy in Niskayuna has taken it upon himself to wheel the neighborhood's garbage cans to and from the curb each week. [Daily Gazette]

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APD Press Release: Yates Street assault

Albany police are investigating an early morning assault and robbery of a 26 year old woman on Yates Street.

The victim had just walked out of Bogies at 3:00 a.m. and had stopped alongside of a fence on Yates Street. She told officers a black male with dreadlocks approached her, started to choke her and hit her with an unknown object in the head causing her to briefly lose consciousness. He pulled her up Yates Street towards Partridge Street. While on the ground the victim came to and started to scream when the suspect attempted to sexually assault her. . A witness heard the victim scream and came to her aid. The suspect stopped the attack and grabbed the victim's purse and ran west on Morris Street.

The witness helped the get to Albany Medical Center where staff called police. She sustained a laceration to her forehead and bruising to her face and both eyes.

Detectives and officers canvassed the neighborhood early this morning.

They are looking into whether there is as connection between this incident and Thursday's morning attack on Hamilton Street.

Anyone with information should contact the Detective Division at 462-8039.

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APD Press Release: pedestrian hit

Albany police are investigating a hit and run accident last night that left a pedestrian in critical condition at Albany Medical Center.

Michael Jackson, 57, of Broad Street, was walking south on South Pearl Street near the intersection of Arch Street when he was struck by a car driving in the same direction. The car, possibly a grey BMW sedan, fled the accident scene southbound on South Pearl Street according to witnesses.

Jackson sustained head, body and leg injuries and was taken to Albany Medical Center.

The accident occurred just before 9:00 p.m.

Traffic Safety Officers are reconstructing the accident.

Anyone with information should contact the South Station at 462-8049.