All Over Albany

McEneny won't run again, suspect arrested in Albany shooting/robbery, Albany teen stabbed in Swinburne Park, state clothing tax hiatus begins Sunday, Schumer to chair inauguration, Jumpin' Jack's opens today

Assemblyman Jack McEneny declined the democratic party endorsement and officially announced last night that he will not run again. After 40 years in government and 20 years as an Albany assemblyman, McEneny says he feels it's time to "pass the torch". "Younger people are going to have different priorities for a different generation. The longer you hang on, you're denying them that opportunity," he told reporters yesterday. As many as sixteen people have expressed an interest in succeeding McEneny. Albany County Democratic Party Chairman Matt Clyne says the race to replace McEneny will be "A three ring circus." [YNN] [WNYT] [TU] [CBS6] [Capitol Confidential]

A plan to consolidate "back office" functions for state agencies (like purchasing office supplies, operating toll free information lines and buying vehicles) that is part of the soon to be passed state budget is expected to save nearly $1 billion in the next five years. The plan will put the Office of General Services in charge of purchasing for most state departments. [TU]

Senate Republicans say they won't challenge Andrew Cuomo's plan to establish a statewide health insurance exchange via executive order, even though they did not include the measure in the 2012-13 budget. [YNN]

State Legislators began voting on the $132.5 billion dollar state budget on Wednesday.The budget is still on track to be passed by Friday, two days ahead of the deadline.[Fox 23]

The Albany Common Council Finance Committee is recommending that the council not back a plan to borrow $9.3 million in new bonds for the city landfill.

An Albany teen was stabbed following an after school argument in Swinburne Park on Wednesday. The teen was taken to Albany Med with two stab wounds and a collapsed lung.[YNN] [News 10]

Police have arrested 23 year old Kareem Alston of Albany for allegedly shooting and robbing a Troy man on outside a 3rd street home last week.[APD press release (full release posted below)]

The Independence Party has endorsed Paul Tonko in his bid for reelection to the 20th Congressional District.[Post Star]

Albany police arrested a Nassau roofer Wednesday for allegedly stealing a 1995 Corvette a snow blower, moped and three motorcycles from the garage of a n Albany client. [APD press release(full release posted below)]

Chuck Schumer will chair the next presidential inauguration.[CBS 6]

A one year break on the 4% state clothing tax starts on Sunday. The tax won't be collected on items that cost less than $110.[CBS 6]

Scotia's Laura LaFrate is now one of the nine finalists on America's Next Top Model. [TU]

The mystery surrounding the skeleton of an American Indian found at Fort William Henry will be the featured on The Decrypters tonight on The National Geographic Channel. [YNN]

A number of Troy Police officers are hairier than they were on March 1st.[Fox 23]

Jumpin' Jacks has renovated after last fall's flooding and will reopen for the season today.

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APD Press Release

Albany detectives arrested a 51 year old Village of Nassau man for burglary after he stole three motorcycles and a Corvette out of a storage garage while working on its roof last summer.
 
Acting on information obtained through a joint investigation with the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office, detectives learned that Timothy Williams, 51,  of 141 County Route 7 , stole three motorcycles, a moped,  a snow blower, and a 1995 Chevrolet Corvette from the garage at 287 Myrtle Avenue.
 
He is alleged to have stole the property between July 1, 2011 and March 13, 2012.   Williams owned Brother's Roofing Company and was hired by the garage's owner to fix the roof. 
 
Police conducted surveillance of William's residence and observed the Corvette in his driveway. A search warrant was obtained and detectives recovered the Corvette, snow blower, moped and three motorcycle helmets.
 
Williams was charged with Burglary 3rd and Grand Larceny 3rd.
 
He was arraigned this morning in Albany City Criminal Court.

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APD Press Release

Albany police arrested a 23 year old Garfield Street man in connection with a last week's shooting in front of 95 Third Street that left the victim with a fractured leg.
 
Kareem Alston, 23, of 45 Garfield Street, was arrested last evening by detectives for shooting Nathaniel Waugh, 33, of Troy, last Tuesday while he was in front of 95 Third Street. 
 
During the course of the weeklong investigation detectives developed information that Alston was a suspect in the shooting.   
Waugh originally told responding officers that night that a man approached him just before 11:00 p.m., pointed an unknown type handgun at him and demanded his jewelry. He said that the suspect then took a gold necklace from his neck and an earring from his ear.
The suspect then shot Waugh in the right thigh.  As Waugh's friends and family came out of the house to help him, the suspect fired 2 to 3 shots at them as he was running southeast towards Second Street
Waugh was taken to Albany Medical Center that night and eventually underwent surgery for a fractured femur.
Alston was arrested at the South Station last evening.  He was charged with Criminal Use of a Firearm 1st, Robbery 1st, and Reckless Endangerment 1st. He was arraigned this morning in City Criminal Court and remanded to the Albany County Jail.