All Over Albany

Big fire in Albany's Mansion neighborhood, Schenectady police chief (maybe) not retiring, arrest for shots fired at drive-in, possible Schenectady food co-op

A large fire in Albany's Mansion neighborhood last night destroyed five historic row houses and displaced more than 20 people (map). The flames and smoke prompted an evacuation of the area surrounding the scene of the fire. A witness says (on Twitter) it appears the fire started on a back porch. Photos: intense flames | porch engulfed in flames | fire fighters trying to knock down the fire | aftermath, the next morning. [TU] [WTEN] [Fox23] [@_1134 (Abraham Hmiel)] [@DJTrumastr] [@YNNAlbany] [@patrickdodson] [@dylanboyce]

Contrary to what "sources" told the Times Union last week, Schenectady mayor Gary McCarthy tells the Daily Gazette that police chief Mark Chaires does not intend to retire this summer -- and Chaires "wants to fight the article." Not necessarily making things clearer: the police department issued a statement Friday that Chaires would not confirm or deny rumors. [TU] [Daily Gazette] [WNYT]

Marra's Pharmacy -- the drugstore run by Cohoes mayor John McDonald and his family -- is fighting a $1.46 million fine levied against it by the state for alleged Medicaid violations. [TU]

Among the names circulating for a possible run at the state Assembly seat currently held by the retiring Ron Canestrari: Cohoes mayor John McDonald, former Mike McNulty chief of staff Charlie Diamond, and Albany councilman Dominick Calsolaro. [Troy Record]

The Albany 12-year-old accused of being involved with yet another stolen car this past week was sent to a juvenile detention center. [TU]

A fire in an apartment buildings in Troy's North Central neighborhood Saturday has displaced 15 people (map). Troy's fire chief says the fire is considered suspicious. [Troy Record] [WNYT]

Troy police say they arrested an 18-year-old Saturday afternoon for allegedly firing a gun into a crowd of people in North Central (map). Police say he fired multiple shots during a fight between two groups of women. [Troy Record] [Fox23]

A Clifton Park man was arrested for allegedly firing a shotgun -- twice -- at the Malta Drive-in Saturday night. He allegedly fired the gun into the ground in an attempt to break up a fight. [Saratogian] [WTEN]

Troy police say they've arrested two men who allegedly stole a "substantial amount" of sports memorabilia from a home near the RPI campus (map). [TU] [Troy Record]

Charges against a Schenectady man for allegedly exposing himself in front of two teens have been dropped after a judge and prosecutors apparently concluded the police had the person police should have actually arrested was the man's relative, who has the same name. [TU]

Vic Christopher, the city of Troy's economic development coordinator, announced on Friday that he's resigned. Christopher had been on suspension because of an inquiry into allegations that he was found taking city building supplies. [Troy Record] [TU]

A group of Skidmore students marched in downtown Saratoga Friday as a protest against what they say is a worsening problem with sexual harassment and harassment basement on sexual orientation. [Daily Gazette]

Saratoga County is considering whether it should charge for-profit ambulance services for access to its dispatch system. [Saratogian]

John Sweeney has gotten back into politics -- and drama has followed him. [TU]

UAlbany basketball coach Will Brown makes more than $250k/year in salary and perks. [TU]

A brush fire in Galway Saturday consumed "a garage and several cars." [WNYT]

A street in Clifton Park has been named for John J. McKenna IV, a Marine reservist who was fatally wounded in Iraq (map). [TU] [Daily Gazette]

A potential Schenectady food co-op is looking at a site downtown (map). [Daily Gazette]

Says a 95-year-old Troy woman of what turned around an initially negative first encounter with her husband, 94, to whom she'll be married 75 years in May: "He was a good dancer. That's why I started to change my mind about him." [Troy Record]

Headline of the day, from the Troy Record: "Suspicious garage fire termed suspicious"