All Over Albany

Union bounced from Frozen Four, state panel holds go-ahead for Albany County nursing home, Schenectady witness intimidation plot alleged, warm spring weird for wild animals

Today is Good Friday. Passover begins at sundown.

The Union College men's hockey team lost 3-1 to Ferris State in the Frozen Four yesterday afternoon. The game was tied until Ferris scored the go-ahead goal with 4:43 remaining in the third period. About 1000 people filled Messa Rink on the Union campus to watch the game. [TU] [Daily Gazette] [WNYT]

A state appellate court has ruled that Saratoga Citizen's petition to change the the city of Saratoga Springs' form of government should be on the ballot this November. Saratoga Citizen is pushing to change the city government from a commissioner-led model to one in which a city manager oversee operations and report to a council. The decision follows a long-running fight over the effort, for which the city has spent almost $50,000 on legal fees. City officials sound like they're ready to get it over with. [Saratogian] [Daily Gazette] [TU] [Saratogian]

A state Department of Health committee voted to hold off approving Albany County's bid to build a new county nursing home while it waits for more info about the project's finances. [TU]

The city of Troy has place economic development coordinator Vic Christopher on 30-day unpaid suspension . The unofficial word on why: allegations of building material theft from the city. [Troy Record] [TU]

The State Police bomb squad removed eight 1950s-era tank shells from a Ravena basement after the homeowner found them. His first call wasn't to police, though -- it was to the cable show Sons of Guns to find out if the shells were worth anything. Producers for the show told him to call the police immediately. [YNN] [Fox23] [WTEN]

A Schenectady gang member awaiting sentencing for manslaughter has been indicted for allegedly being part of a plan to kill and intimidate witnesses. [TU]

Rensselaer officials say the Wednesday fire that destroyed two buildings near the train station is being considered suspicious (map). [Troy Record]

Law enforcement officials are reviewing how domestic violence cases are handled following the February murder-suicide in Schenectady involving a man who had been ordered to have no contact with his girlfriend. [Daily Gazette]

There was a rally in Schenectady's Hamilton Hill neighborhood yesterday evening for Trayvon Martin. [Daily Gazette]

The Bethlehem school district's proposed budget will require an override of the tax cap. It would also cut 56 positions. [TU] [WTEN]

Campbell Ave in Troy isn't expected to re-open until July. [Troy Record]

Harness racing will resume next week at the Saratoga racino after officials say the outbreak of a infectious disease among the horses there is now under control. [Saratogian]

The latest turn in the saga of the proposed CVS pharmacy at Curry Road and Guilderland Ave in Rotterdam: CVS will appeal to the town board for a zoning change necessary for the project (map). [Daily Gazette]

An Albany anesthesiologist has temporarily surrendered his license after allegedly injecting himself with a powerful sedative at an eye surgery center. [TU]

Albany Common Councilwoman Barbara Smith is featured in a PBS documentary called "Makers: Women Who Make America." [TU]

A student from RPI and a student from UAlbany's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering have won prestigious national science scholarships. [TU]

There was a fire last night at Quintessence in Albany. [Fox23]

The Town of Colonie has bounced the owners of the restaurant at the town golf course, reportedly without telling the owners why. [TU]

The stretch of warm weather this spring has prompted some early -- or just strange -- behavior in wild animals -- including an "aggressive" wild turkey in Albany's Pine Hills neighborhood. [TU]

The nation's oldest mini-golf course -- in Lake George -- has been knocked down for a bumper car and bumper boat business. [Post-Star]