All Over Albany

Six-year-old helps save mom, Occupy given partial credit for Cuomo change on taxes, popular music teacher charged with child porn possession, Christmas tree ticks

A six-year-old boy helped save his mother from a car wreck in Berne on Saturday. After swerving to avoid a truck and rolling down an a bank, Aaron Wright's mother was trapped in the overturned car -- so he found her mobile phone, climbed out of the car through the trunk, up a snowy bank in his socks, and called 911. Said acting Albany County sheriff Craig Apple of Wright: "He's a smart little fella." [Fox23] [WTEN] [YNN] [TU]

Says former state Assemblyman Richard Brodsky of the Cuomo's administration's decision to change course on income tax increases for the rich: "Time was austerity and tax cuts were the only acceptable place to be. Now, income inequality and the 99 percent dominate practical politics. [Occupy Wall Street] paved the way; Cuomo and [California governor Jerry] Brown seized the moment." Said an Occupy Albany protestor this weekend: "It's pretty obvious that the politicians are listening and they know we're here." [AP/TU] [WNYT]

Free pigs-in-a-blanket and bite-sized spanakopita are back on the menu for legislators after a change in ethics rules has re-opened the way for catered legislative receptions. [TU]

Schenectady mayor elect Gary McCarthy says he's filing for retirement from his investigator position with the Schenectady County DA's office -- which means he'll be collecting a pension in addition to his mayoral salary. [TU]

The city of Troy has submitted an offer for the former Verizon Building, which is currently the temporary (and perhaps future) city hall. [Troy Record]

The aftermath of Irene flooding has led to abundance of flood-damaged homes being put up for sale. [Daily Gazette]

The Schenectady school district says it's seeing positive results from its restructuring of the 9th grade -- and many fewer students are being held back, which is often key indicator of whether students will graduate. [Daily Gazette]

What seems like nearby residents' primary concern about whether the city or a private company runs the city sewage treatment plant: who can make it stop stinking? [Daily Gazette]

A Ballston Spa elementary school music teacher has been charged with possessing child porn. The teacher was apparently popular with students and parents. [Daily Gazette] [WNYT]

Schenectady police are investigating shots fired last night near Steinmetz Park in Northside (map). A man reportedly stopped his car, got out and fired multiple shots after someone yelled at him. [WTEN] [YNN]

A man accused of running a ring that transported 50-75 pounds of pot into the Capital Region each week has pleaded guilty. Earlier: Pot prices around New York State. [TU]

Albany County sheriff's deputies say two Knox men were arrested for allegedly stealing a van after offering to fix a neighbor's tire, then crashing it. Deputies were called again when the men allegedly were fighting over who was responsible for getting them arrested -- a fight that allegedly included one guy hitting the other guy with firewood. [TU] [YNN] [Fox23]

Says a neighbor of the people who were allegedly running a scam charity donation call center out of a residential home in Colonie: "If I saw them, I would wave but they never waved back" (map). [WNYT]

The sister of the Schenectady woman who's in a coma after being struck by a car last week is upset about what she says is the SPD's description of her sister as "a homeless derelict." [TU]

Nine people showed up for an Occupy Schenectady protest outside GE, accusing the corporation of not paying its fair share of taxes and outsourcing jobs. A spokesperson for GE says the company pays about $18 million a year in Capital Region property taxes and has created 1,400 jobs here in the last three years. [Daily Gazette] [YNN] [TU]

Possible result of the warm fall: Christmas tree ticks. [CBS6]

The bald eagle injured being shot near the Hudson in Columbia County can fly again. [WNYT]

The Ten Broeck Mansion now has a $600k endowment thanks to the Swyer family. [TU]

The Clifton park pizza delivery guy who helped rescue an elderly woman from a fire last month is now helping raise money for the woman and her husband. [Daily Gazette]

The first Nissan Leaf (an all electric car) has arrived at a dealership in the Capital Region -- but you can't buy it. [WNYT]