All Over Albany

Grand jury clears police in Moore shooting, former Golub employee gets jail for massive gift card theft, neighbors sue for $1 million over solar panels, killer skillet lightning

An Albany County grand jury cleared Albany police in the shooting of Nah-Cream Moore during a traffic stop in the South End last December. Said DA David Soares at a press conference: "We have a very accurate picture of what transpired on that evening." Soares said officers Gregory Mulligan and Jason Kelly tried to disarm Moore after spotting a gun, and Mulligan fired after Moore had turned in a way that exposed the officers to being shot. Soares says the situation presented "no other alternatives, other than deadly force" for the officers. The DA's office also released the police car dash cam video of the incident, though the struggle and shooting happened out of frame. In a statement, APD chief Steve Krokoff called Mulligan's actions "heroic" and said he likely saved Kelly's life. Said Common Council president Carolyn McLaughlin: "Nobody is winning in this situation ... The facts are what they are and we gain nothing dragging it out. We need to think positive and let Nah-Cream Moore's death not be in vain." [Daily Gazette] [WNYT] [TU] [WTEN] [YNN] [APD press release] [Fox23]

Christina Pagano, the former Golub employee who pleaded guilty to stealing more than $300,000 from the company via gift cards, has been sentenced to 1-3 years in prison. Pagano still owes the company more than $140k in restitution. She stole more than 6000 gift cards over 10 years. She had worked for the Price Chopper parent company for 34 years. Said Schenectady County DA Robert Carney: "It's just not enough to pay it back and say I'm sorry and it won't happen again when it's a theft of that magnitude." [Daily Gazette] [WTEN] [YNN] [TU]

The Saratoga Springs Housing Authority board voted to not renew embattled exec director Ed Spychalski's contract. It's a five-year rolling contract, so Spychalski still has four years on the deal. The board's chair said they'll be re-evaluting Spychalski's salary. He makes significantly more money than the housing directors in Albany, Schenectady and Troy -- all of whom oversee significantly more units. [WTEN] [Fox23] [WNYT]

The Troy city council voted to not fund the raises mayor Lou Rosamilia gave to four top members of his administration without council approval. [Troy Record] [TU]

A state appellate court overturned a handful of convictions against Victor Hernandez Perez, convicted of attacking and kidnapping a woman in Saratoga Springs in 2009, because the charges were already covered by higher level charges. But he's still staying in prison for 25 years. [Saratogian] [TU]

A state appellate court ruled that Troy police did not use illegal or unfair interrogation methods on Adrian Thomas, who was convicted of killing his infant son by throwing him onto a bed. Police got Thomas to admit he had thrown the child after telling him the death appeared accidental and saying his wife could be charged. [Troy Record] [AP/WNYT]

The state's top court ruled that state judges can't require defendants to post bail all in cash. [NYT]

A former Albany County assistant district attorney has been charged with kicking and choking his wife. [TU]

Guilderland's town assessor says he was fired without being given a reason -- though a locked door may have had something to do with it. [TU]

Noise complaints about the GlobalFoundries fab continue. The company says it's hoping to have the problem fixed by the summer. [Daily Gazette] [Saratogian]

A group of in a Ballston Spa development have sued their neighbors for $1 million over pole mounted solar panels the group says have damaged property values. [Saratogian]

Water levels in Lake George and the Hudson are low because of the lack of snow melt. [Post-Star]

A planned wire walk over Niagara Falls by Nik Wallenda -- of the Flying Wallendas -- required a law passed by the state legislature. [TU]

"Killer skillet lightning strike prompts paranormal probe in South Glens Falls" [Post-Star]

Syracuse beat Wisconsin 64-63 in the NCAA tournament. The #1 seed Orange advance to face #2 seed Ohio State in the regional finals. [ESPN]