All Over Albany

High speed chase that ended in crash started with fight, expert witness from Casey Anthony case to testify at Albany trial, changing last call rules in Toga mean changing them for the county,alleged cat hoarders appear in court, Sinise will play Armory

Many Public Employees in Albany and other New York cities and counties are getting raises while working without contracts. Negotiations between the union and local governments are stalled in part because the local governments can't afford the raises -- but a state law called The Triborough Amendment protects longevity-based salary hikes until a compromise can be reached. [NYT]

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has created a Conviction Review Bureau, tasked with investigating potential wrongful convictions in questionable cases across the state.[NYT]

The announced departure of Ron Canestrari, Jack McEneny and Bob Reilly will make eight Democrats with over 15 years experience that have the assembly since 2010 and is fueling rumors that Sheldon Silver may step down by the end of the year. [TU]

The new state budget includes provisions to speed up teacher disciplinary hearings in an effort to cut costs. [TU]

Police say the high speed chase that ended in a fiery one car crash in Wilton yesterday, began with an argument in Dutchess County. Matthew Ripo of Wappingers led police on a 60 mile chase through four counties that reached speeds of 120 miles per hour after he allegedly tried to run over his girlfriend. Ripo was hospitalized when his car slid off the side of the Northway on Monday night and hit a tree. Ripo is facing a string of charges, including DWI and fleeing a police officer. [TU] [Saratogian] [Post Star]

An expert on body decomposition who testified in the Casey Anthony case will testify in an Albany murder trial. A judge will allow William Rodriguez III to testify in the trial of three men charged with killing a high level drug dealer in 2010. [TU]

Albany County Executive Dan McCoy wants state environmental officials to test a former dry cleaning building for toxic contamination. McCoy wants the state to pay for the clean-up of what are believed to be hazardous chemicals inside the building at 566 Washington Avenue.
The effort is part of McCoy's plan to clean up several dozen vacant buildings in the county and auction them off to promote redevelopment.[TU] [WNYT] [Fox 23]

Attorneys for the New york State Liquor Authority say any changes that would force Saratoga to roll back it's 4AM "last call" would have to be applied across the whole county. [Saratogian]

Members of Citizen Action and Common Cause are supporting a publicly financed Fair Elections system that was requested by Assembly Republican Roy McDonald and Democrat Ron Canestrati,in hopes that it will help bridge the disparity between rich and poor voters in the election process. [Record]

A former Albany policeman and DARE officer admitted in court yesterday that he made inappropriate sexual comments to a 16 year old girl, but denied molesting the girl and her brother. [TU]

The Attorney General's Office will not file charges against a Fort Edward mother whose two children were among six who died in a fire at her home in 2010. The Attorney General's investigation concluded that the blaze was caused by an Electrical fire and that no criminal charges were warranted. [Post Star]

Police in Hoosick Falls are investigating the death of an infant that occurred on Monday night.[YNN]

21 Year old Quintril Clark, who was acquitted on attempted murder charges last year in Troy, is now facing felony drug charges in the Collar City. Clark was pulled over at a routine traffic stop in January when police found cocaine in his car. [TU]

An Albany man was arrested for allegedly breaking into Graney's Bar on New Scotland Avenue three times to steal liquor and money. [YNN]

State Police are investigating threatening email sent to local media outlets, but due to the "sensitive nature of the case" are withholding details for now. [TU]

Fired police officer Robert Schunk says he plans to appeal his termination for immoral conduct. [Fox 23]

The family involved in the recent cat hoarding cases appeared in court yesterday. [YNN]

Assemblyman Jim Tedisco is proposing a three step plan he hopes will help stop animal hoarding. [News 10]

Saratoga voters will decide on a $109.7 million 2012-13 budge in May. The spending plan, approved last night by the boar do education, calls for a 2.56 percent tax hike. [Saratogian]

Saratoga County supervisors are moving toward a plan to sell the ten year old Saratoga County landfill to a private company. [Gazette]

A 244 unit riverfront condo project in Halfmoon has gotten the go-ahead from the town board. [YNN]

You can now register as an organ donor on New York's DMV website. [TU]

The harness track in Saratoga reopens tonight after being declared free of an equine disease called Strangles. The outbreak in the backstretch forced the Raceway to close a few weeks ago. [YNN]

The mild, snowless winter that wasn't of 2012 means less water in the Adirondacks -- which is causing some problems for whitewater rafting companies. [Gazette]

Gary Sinise is recovering from injuries suffered in a recent car accident and will play a scheduled April 28th benefit concert for Air Force Tech Sgt. Joe Wilinson at the Washington Avenue Armory.[TU] [YNN]