Road planners compelled to consider non-drivers, high mercury levels in Ravena, NAACP takes on Schenectady, Mendes serves up some tuna melts

Cycling and pedestrian activists are applauding a new state law that requires road project designers to consider non-motorists. [Daily Gazette]

A dozen employees of a state watchdog group have been given pink slips [TU]

Residents in Ravena are dubious of the Department of Health's declaration that some people living near the Lafarge cement plant have elevated but non-toxic levels of mercury in their bodies. [TU]

The NAACP is questioning the Schenectady police department about its use-of-force policy in the wake of the fatal shooting of a man last week.
Luis Rivera's sister-in-law witnessed the shooting and said "his lips were kissing the floor and his back was full of blood." [Daily Gazette] [Fox23]

A rape suspect on trial in another courtroom helped catch a defendant who was attempting to escape from Albany County Court. That same day, Nicholas Kordas' defense suffered a blow when the judge ruled that it could not talk about the fact that the woman who was allegedly raped spent time in prison with famous murderer Pamela Smart. [TU]

Albany police are looking for two women who assaulted and robbed another woman last night. They stole the woman's purse and some money in the area around Lincoln Park. [Daily Gazette] [TU]

Hoosick Falls is losing a factory that provided about 100 jobs. [Daily Gazette]

The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors voted to raise the number of people each supervisor can represent to 25,000. The population of Saratoga County rose 16.5 percent in the past decade, so if they didn't change the law, they would have required more supervisors. [Saratogian] [Daily Gazette]

A Troy city council candidate is calling for more election oversight in the city after a slew of elected officials were arrested for ballot fraud. [YNN]

Cohoes Police are still seeking witnesses to that train vs. car accident that happened two weeks ago. [Fox23]

Village officials are hoping to prevent a repeat of 2009, when up to 10,000 gallons of sewage spilled into Lake George, with a new sewer improvement plan. Lake George will get $1.8 million in no-or-low-interest loans from the state to make the upgrades. [Post-Star] [Daily Gazette]

A local sergeant was greeted with a military welcome as he arrived home for leave after being injured in Afghanistan. [Fox23]

When we finally get those electric cars, Albany will be ready for us. [YNN]

The original Shenendahowa High School football coach, who has been coaching for close to 60 years, is retiring. [TU]

Eva Mendes served up a side of celebrity to Route 7 Diner customers this week. [TU]

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Recent Comments

What a sad case. It's very difficult to find a developer with the resources, vision, and commitment to take on a costly and risky project like St. Joe's. It's a shame that the hidebound conservatism of the neighborhood stymied the first and only realistic, pragmatic, and frankly very cool, project to come along in many years. I hope the church and the neighborhood gets one more shot, although I'm not optimistic.

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