Krokoff calls for patience on shooting investigation -- and defends tactics used to remove Occupy, man accidentally falls off bridge to his death, mind your old TVs and bear gall bladders
This just in: it's cold. Today's forecasted high is 20, with a low tonight near zero. Somewhat warmer temps are ahead Thursday. [NWS]
Says a pastor and community leader about the investigation into the incident in which Albany police shot and killed Nahcream Moore in the South End last week: "Just because we are patient doesn't mean we are going to let this die." Last week Albany police chief Steven Krokoff said officer Gregory Mulligan fired on Moore after Moore allegedly pulled a gun on two officers during a traffic stop, and an investigation by both the department and the district attorney's office is in progress. Common councilman Lester Freeman, who represents the South End, says he'd like to see an independent investigator examine the case. [TU] [TU] [YNN]
Krokoff yesterday defended the APD's actions during the removal of Occupy Albany last week, alleging protesters were trying to provoke a confrontation with police in order to raise their profile. [TU] [AOA]
An elderly man died following a home invasion at an apartment complex for seniors in Cohoes Friday night. Cohoes mayor John McDonald says the suspect arrested for the attack allegedly had been knocking on doors throughout the complex looking to rob residents and had also assaulted an elderly woman. Police say he appeared to be high on crack when he was arrested. McDonald says it's unclear how the man got into the locked building. [YNN] [TU] [WTEN] [Troy Record]
Saratoga Springs police say a pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle while walking in a lane on Route 9 near PJ's Bar-B-Q Sunday night. Five pedestrians have been killed along that stretch in the five years. [Saratogian] [TU]
Officials say the body found in the Hudson River Sunday was that of Thomas Warren Belcher III, who apparently had accidentally fallen off a train trestle connecting Green Island with Cohoes' Van Schaick Island as he walked home. Belcher's girlfriend said she was on the phone with him when she heard the phone fall and the connection ended. Belcher was a well-liked bartender at the Waterworks Pub in Albany. [Troy Record] [CBS6] [TU] [Fox23]
Saratoga Springs police say a man was stabbed in the Metro nightclub downtown on New Year's Eve. [Saratogian]
Schenectady police say it appears someone has been throwing rocks or concrete at passing cars from overpasses on I-890. There are six similar recent incidents under investigation. [WNYT] [TU]
The state Education Department says the Albany school district failed to submit its teacher evaluation plan on time, which could mean a loss of millions in funding -- but the district says it was hand-delivered early. Update: NYSED says it's found the paperwork. [TU] [@518Schools]
After 18 years of pressuring the Schenectady City Council from the gallery, Vincent Riggi is now on the council. [TU]
Former Albany County sheriff George Infante died yesterday -- he was 92. [Troy Record]
Mind your old TVs and bear gall bladders -- it's a new year and new state laws have taken effect. [Fox23]
Hugh Farley has been pushing the same bill in the state legislature since 1980. [TU]
First Lady-friend Sandra Lee apparently out-shined Andrew Cuomo by a few orders of magnitude at the annual New Year's Day open house at the Executive Mansion. Said attendee of Lee: "She's gorgeous and also very charming." Left out of the open house: Albany common councilman Anton Konev, who complained (perhaps he's a big Semi-Homemade fan). [TU] [Daily Gazette] [TU]
Odd winter so far: little or no snow on the slopes, golfers on the greens. [Saratogian] [CBS6]
The first baby born in 2012 in the greater Capital Region was a boy at Glens Falls Hospital. The first baby born in the core Capital Region was a girl at Samartan Hospital in Troy about a half-hour later. [Post-Star] [Troy Record]
Almost 1,400 people participated in the annual Lake George polar plunge this year. Or was it more than 1,500? Or roughly 2,000? [Daily Gazette] [Saratogian] [Post-Star]
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Regarding the tragic death of Thomas Warren Belcher III, linked to above.
There is an online petition with 750 signatures now demanding that the old closed train bridge be torn down because "we can not afford to risk losing another precious life. "
www.gopetition.com/petitions/demolition-of-the-black-bridge.html
This is a bridge that has been long been slated to be repaired and re-opened for a pedestrian/bicycle path. Funding is tight and these things take time. Some people have already suggested that the bridge be re-opened as a kind of memorial to Warren, who as reported:
"Whenever he went for a walk, he liked to explore," Babcock said. "He never liked to take the main path. I think that's how he got on the tracks."
That does not sound like a person who would want to see this bridge torn down. So I would like to suggest that these 750 petition signers look into donating money to hasten the repair and re-opening of this bridge as an alternative to the "main path"...which in our region means highways and cars.
This bridge crosses a beautiful, tree-lined stretch of the Mohawk river -- just as it enters the Hudson -- and would make for a good place to reflect upon and honor this young man's memory.
... said Duncan Crary on Jan 3, 2012 at 10:23 AM | link
What am I going to do with all of this bear gallbladder and bile I have lying around? I really wanted to sell it.
Seriously though, regarding those new laws, I thought it was already the law that you had to slow down or move over for emergency and maintenance vehicles.
... said Valerae on Jan 3, 2012 at 11:02 AM | link
@Valerae: The move over law has been in effect since last year, but (as I understand it) the new state law expands the the group of vehicles that now should prompt a move over.
When in doubt, move over (if possible).
... said Greg on Jan 3, 2012 at 11:24 AM | link
Seems to me that the Police decision to fight over a freaking TENT wasn't the best considered. It's almost like they were looking for an excuse to escalate force and use chemical weapons against non-violent protesters.
... said Mike Lieman on Jan 3, 2012 at 11:41 AM | link
I would love to see the transcript of the session about the bear gall bladder and bile. Who brought that up? How many times has there been a bear gall bladder or bile incident? I have no opposition to the law but I just wonder about it's importance population-wide. Is this a serious issue I was unaware of?
... said Chrissy on Jan 3, 2012 at 12:21 PM | link
@Mike Lieman: you are not alone in that thinking, and assuming that you are correct, it would be in line with the kind of behavior that has been on display throughout the country these past few months...
... said Cincinnatus on Jan 4, 2012 at 6:50 AM | link