All Over Albany

Marchione to primary Roy McDonald, Amedore running for Senate, poll: New Yorkers think backroom budget meetings unnecessary, budget cuts may jeopardize Troy Flag Day parade

High winds contributed to a Rensselaer fire that destroyed three buildings, killed a dog and chased eight families from their homes. [WTEN]

Saratoga County Clerk Kathy Marchione will challenge State Senator Roy McDonald in a primary for his 43rd Senate District seat. Marchione has the endorsement of the Republican Committees in both Saratoga, where McDonald Resides, and Wilton, where he served as supervisor for 23 years. Marchione claims that McDonald's decision to break with the party and vote in favor of marriage equality, was only part of her decision. [YNN] [Record] [WNYT]

Republican State Assmeblyman George Amedore kicked off his campaign for the New York State Senate's 46th district yesterday. [YNN]

Sheldon Silver and other legislative leaders think state lawmakers have earned a pay raise -- while it's not necessarily on the table right now, it hasn't been ruled out. [YNN] [TU]

A new Quinnipiac poll Wednesday shows 55 percent of voters said closed-door negotiations weren't necessary to finalize New York's budget. The poll also shows Kirsten Gillibrand with a comfortable lead in her bid for reelection. [Record] [State of Politics]

The Albany City School District Board of Education has approved a $207.7 million budget plan that includes a 1.5 percent tax levy and calls for the elimination of 40 jobs. The plan goes before voters on May 15. [YNN]

Saratoga County Sheriff's Deputies have arrested a Spa City man for allegedly breaking into a home in McGregor Villas in Wilton and stealing $14,000 [TU]

Police in Queensbury say charges won't be filed against the manwho shot his neighbors dog, since they've determined the dog was attacking his dog when the incident occurred. [Post Star]

Employees in prisons and mental health centers took home more than half of the $260 million in overtime paid out by New York State. The employee who took home the most overtime -- for the second year in a row -- is a treatment assistant at an Orange County psychiatric center. [TU]

An 80 year old South Glens Falls man who gave out personal financial information in one of those email "you have one the lottery" phishing schemes may have lost $100,000.[TU]

Police are still searching for four suspects believed to be part of the Gunners Gang following a large scale crime sweep in Schenectady earlier this week .[YNN]

The controversial adult bookstore that was forced to close to make way for the Erie Blvd. Construction project, has reopened on Broadway in Schenectady. [TU]

A 56 year old felon from Schenectady is headed back to prison after being convicted of raping a teenage girl with mental-health problems and forcing her into prostitution. [TU]

Dozens of UAlbany students took part in a 1,000 campus vigil last night to demand justice for Trayvon Martin. [News 10]

Peebles Island State Park will get $3 million in state funds to restore the historic Belachery building as part of the New York Works program. Grafton Lakes, Saratoga Spa, Thacher and Moreau Lake State Parks will also be getting improvement funds. [YNN]

Glenmont's Job Core -- a job training facility for low income youth, is getting a $23 million dollar upgrade that will include new dorms and a recreation center renovation.[TU]

Saratoga business owners are concerned that the publicity surrounding bar brawls is giving the city a bad name. [Gazette]

A study commissioned by Skidmore College shows the educational institution has a more than $400 million impact on the Saratoga County economy. [Saratogian]

The National Weather Service says the Capital Region will soon be covered by a new $225,000 dual polarization doppler radar that scans the skies both horizontally and vertically. [Fox 23]

Troy's Flag Day Parade tradition may be in jeopardy because a $15-thousand payment the parade committee was expecting was eliminated in state budget cutbacks. [WNYT]

Fifteen Capital Region residents were honored with Jefferson Awards for serving the Capital Region with projects from Cancer Retreats for women to broadband programs to bridge the digital divide for inner city residents. [TU]

Union College takes on Ferris State in the Frozen Four this afternoon. [Gazette]