All Over Albany

Former clerk says public housing residents were targeted in alleged ballot fraud, Tedisco pushes for 9/11 license plate, Saratoga County government not exactly a tech leader

Anthony DeFiglio, the former Troy Housing Authority clerk and Democratic Party operative, testified yesterday during the Troy ballot fraud trial that he and other party members targeted people in public housing for the alleged absentee ballot scheme because they figured the residents would be less likely to report the crime. DeFiglio also alleged that former city clerk Bill McInerney was involved in the alleged scheme because he'd lose his job if Democrats lost a majority on the city council. DeFiglio said it was "very stupid" for him to get involved with the scheme. [WNYT] [Troy Record] [TU]

The attorneys for the employees of the former Northwoods nursing home in Schaghticoke accused of not providing proper care for a patient argued yesterday that whatever mistakes may have been made were not criminal. Each employee has her own defense attorney, which resulted in a string of objections during the testimony of the facility's director of nursing. [TU] [Troy Record]

North Greenbush officials disputed the scathing state comptroller's audit of town finances last night -- said supervisor Al Spain: "We now have accurate information and we know exactly where we stand financially." He said the town ended last year with a surplus, but he didn't know the exact amount, yet. Officials say the town cleared up its record keeping problems after bringing in a new comptroller last year. [NYS OSC] [Troy Record] [TU] [WNYT]

Bethlehem police say a spat over a paintball fort ended in a teen driving his car into three other teens in Selkirk, hitting one of them (map). Police say the driver apparently didn't intend to hit anyone, just scare them. [YNN] [TU] [Fox23] [WNYT]

Schenectady police say there was a shooting early this morning outside a bar in the Central State neighborhood (map). One person was hit. SPD says it's looking for the shooter. [YNN] [Fox23] [CBS6]

The mortgage settlement between the states and a group of big national banks will result in about $790 million going to benefit 46,000 homeowners in New York State. [Gannett/TU]

A federal judge has ruled that the primary day for federal elections in the state will be June 26. [TU]

George Amedore is taking steps to potentially run for the new state Senate district that would cover the southwest part of the Capital Region. [Daily Gazette]

Prompted by the state DMV's announcement of the Giants Super Bowl commemorative license plate, Jim Tedisco is pushing for a license plate honoring first responders on 9/11. Said Tedisco: "... I would not classify [Eli Manning] or any of his mates on the Giants team as heroes. I would classify the law enforcement officials, volunteers, firefighters, the paramedics and the victims. I would call them heroes." [TU] [YNN]

The Saratoga Springs Housing Authority has parted ways with the outside PR firm it hired to help handle press calls during the recent turmoil. Also surfacing: authority director Ed Spychalski had sued his former employer -- the Watervliet Housing Authority -- in 1998 for allegedly violating his civil rights. [Saratogian] [TU]

Albany County's anti-"predatory towing" law apparently is rarely, if ever, used -- and isn't applied inside the city of Albany. [TU]

State Police went through records at the Double Happyness office in Albany yesterday to make sure the bus line wasn't operating buses in violation of the shut-down order issued by the feds. [CBS6]

A Troy man has been indicted on charges he allegedly pulled armed robberies at five businesses in Troy, Brunswick, and Rensselaer over the span of a month last fall. [TU]

After much initial criticism, parents in the Schenectady school district apparently are now big supporters of K-8 in one school. [Daily Gazette]

Ballston's town board has decided to not issue a moratorium on pole-mounted solar systems. [Saratogian]

Saratoga County sends a person around to all of its building to calibrate its clocks, which takes an estimated 14 work days a year. The county is also replacing its computers an average of every 22 years. [Saratogian] [Post-Star]