All Over Albany

Tornado confirmed near Amsterdam, question of whether towns should rebuild, price tag for UAlbany's non-stadium stadium, man found dead said to climb buildings for fun

The National Weather Service has confirmed that a tornado ripped through parts of Montgomery and Schenectady counties on Sunday (video). NWS rated the tornado as an EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, with winds as strong as 110 mph. The hamlet of Cranesville suffered the most damage (map). Said a woman who was a nearby restaurant: "Everyone was scared, I never saw or heard any noise that bad." [NWS] [NWS] [TU] [Fox23]

Andrew Cuomo says 2,000 people signed up to volunteer as part of the "Labor for Your Neighbor" volunteer effort for Irene recovery (and the state suspended signups after it hit that mark). The governor and First Lady-friend Sandra Lee were in Margaretville Sunday helping with the cleanup (map). [YNN] [NY Post]

The cleanup continues in hard-hit areas such as Rotterdam Junction, where some cellars are filling with water even as they're pumped out because of rising groundwater from rain (map). Chuck Schumer was there Sunday pledging he'd push for federal aid: "You can't ask a small community like Rotterdam Junction to pay millions and millions of dollars." [Daily Gazette] [TU]

For some towns in the Catskills devastated by Irene flooding, the question some are asking is not whether they can rebuild -- but should they? [NYT]

Repairs to flood-damaged roads and bridges are racing the start of winter, after which work will pretty much have to stop. [AP/Post-Star]

Why does the flood water (and streams and rivers) stink? Because it has everything in it -- mud, sewage, fuel oil, all sorts of contaminants. [Daily Gazette]

Hydrologists say much of the flooding upstate probably qualifies as a hundred year event -- that is, there's a 1 percent chance of it each year. [Daily Gazette]

A civil engineering expert says the Green Island Bridge and Schoharie Creek Bridge -- both of which failed during historic flood episodes in the past -- are now "both pretty much bomb-proof" because of improvements in design. [TU]

Troy city officials say it appears the Poestenkill Dam is stable for now -- but work needs to be done to evaluate it further and shore it up. [Troy Record]

The owners of the Gold Krest Farm in Rensselaer County say flooding caused a total crop loss. [Troy Record]

Three local hospitals made it onto a list of the state's safest hospitals -- and one placed on a watch list. [TU]

In the Albany, Schenectady, and Troy school districts, the majority of households with school-age children are headed by single mothers. [TU]

Colonie police say a pedestrian was hit and killed as he tried to cross Central Ave Monday night (map). [YNN]

Troy police say the man found dead recently near the Old Brick furniture store on River Street was known for recreationally climbing tall buildings, elevator shafts and other structures. [TU]

The price tag for UAlbany's proposed "multi-use turf athletic field" (stadium-like facility): $18 million-$24 million. [TU]

A recent string of small earthquakes in the Albany County Hilltowns has prompted researchers from Columbia University to come study them. [TU]

At the Saratoga County airport, there's a conflict between private jets and gliders. [Saratogian]