All Over Albany

Cuomo's tax bill nearly $50k, 3-year-old left on school bus, UAlbany breaks ground on sports complex, little leaguer rescued after cardiac arrest, rats on cocaine and Miles Davis

Andrew Cuomo paid more than $46,000 in taxes on his $230,000 in income in 2011 -- a tax rate of just under 18%. Lt. Governor Bob Duffy and his wife reported a gross income of $238,00 in 2011. Oh, and if you happen to run into Bob Duffy at the Saratoga Racecourse this summer, ask him for a hot tip. [NYT] [YNN]

Two school bus company employees are facing charges after a three year old was left unattended on a bus for nearly three hours. The two men, a bus driver and a monitor, didn't notice that the child failed to get off the bus at a special needs program at Capital District Beginnings in Berlin. The child was treated for dehydration but was otherwise alright.[TU] [News 10] [WNYT]

Troy police have arrested two people in connection with the theft of valuable artifacts from St. John's Episcopal Church that took place over the weekend. [TU]

A 22 year old Rensselaer man is facing attempted murder charges, weapons and reckless endangerment charges in connection with an Albany shooting at Swinton and Thorton Streets last September. [APD] (Press release below)

Two Albany teens were charged with Robbery for allegedly punching a man in the face and attempting to steal his laptop computer. [APD] Press release below

A repeat felony offender from Albany was sentenced to three consecutive 16 year to life sentences for burglarizing three homes over the summer. [TU]

More beat cops will be walking the streets of Troy as part of the Collar City Peace Initiative, which pairs officers with community leaders who can help point out neighborhood hot spots and ease mistrust between police and the community. [YNN]

Troy's former Corporation Council is suing the city, along with former mayor Harry Tutunjian and former Deputy Mayor Dan Crawley for wrongful termination. Mitchell claims he was fired after forming a labor union with fellow city employees [Record]

Albany County Executive Dan McCoy says the county is taking a bad deal and making the best of it by spending $22.8 million to buy its Family Court building on Clinton Avenue from a developer in an effort to save $1 million a year over the next ten years -- even though they're paying $15 thousand more than the building was appraised for. [TU]

Saratoga's City Council will hold a public hearing to discuss a the possibility of putting a proposal to change the city charter on the November Ballot. The council also agreed to draft a corrective action plan to deal with complaints of nepotism and the questionable contract and salary of executive director Ed Spychalski [Saratogian] [YNN]

Senator Roy McDonald picked up the endorsement of Rensselaer County republicans. Troy and Brunswick republicans also voted to endorse McDonald. [Capitol Confidential] [Record]

NYRA says wagers are up about 12.6 percent at the state tracks in the first quarter of 2012, but that's not enough for the Franchise Oversight Board that monitors the agency. [Saratogian]

The town of Bethlehem is facing $3 million in infrastructure repairs that occurred during tropical storms Irene and Lee. [TU]

The former APD officer convicted of sexually abusing a Rensselaer County teen last week has three days to decide whether to take a plea deal or stand trial on similar charges in Warren County [Post Star]

The good government group Citizens Union says the recent NYS budget approval process should have been more open to the public and easier for New Yorkers to understand. [CBS 6]

Reacting to news that UAlbany plans to name its new football field after him, longtime head coach Bob Ford said "It's a humbling thing. There are moments when I almost want to laugh at it, and there re other moments where you almost want to cry." School officials made the announcement at yesterday's groundbreaking for the first phase of the first phase of the university's $2million multi sports complex. [TU] [YNN]

An 11 year old Colonie Little League player was revived by his coach and EMTs on Monday, when he went into cardiac arrest after being hit in the chest by a pitch. [TU]

Schenectady's newly formed arson investigation team already has a backlog of cases. [Gazette]

A California group that opposes animal research has added Albany Medical College to its list of offenders for a study--involving exposing cocaine addicted rats to Beethoven and Miles Davis music -- to determine whether music triggers cravings in drug-addicted animals. [TU]

Five concrete barges built to haul grain and coal along the Erie Canal in 1918 will be visible at Lock 9 in Rotterdam Junction until the canal begins lowering dams on Thursday. [Gazette]

A Schoharie County BOCES got a $24,000 Lowes grant to rebuild two parks and a cemetery damaged by Tropical Storms Irene and Lee. [YNN]

Cuomo2016 is for sale by GoDaddy -- for $48,499.00 [Twitter] [State of Politics]
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APD Press Release -- Shooting

Albany detectives arrested a 22 year old Rensselaer man yesterday for a shooting that happened last September at Swinton and Thorton Streets in the City of Albany.

Hiquan Griffen, was arrested on a sealed indictment warrant just after 4:00 p.m. yesterday evening.

On September 15, 2011, around 7:30 p.m., 48 year old, Clifton Taylor of Albany, was driving north on Thorton Street when his vehicle was shot at. When officers arrived, the driver's side window of Taylor's vehicle was shattered and he was found to have a bullet fragment lodged in his lip.

Griffen became a suspect after a thorough investigation by detectives.

He was charged with Attempted Murder 2nd, Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd, Criminal Use of a Firearm 1st, and Reckless Endangerment 1st.

He was arraigned this morning in Albany County Court and remanded to the Albany County Jail.

The investigation is still ongoing.

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APD Press Release --Robbery

Albany police arrested two teens in connection with Central Avenue robbery that occurred on March 31st, 2012

Police responded to the area of 28 Central Avenue just before noon, after the victim called stating he was just robbed. When officers arrived, the victim told them that he was meeting someone in order to sell them his laptop computer. He stated two teens walked up to him, punched him in his face, and stole a bag from his hands that contained the computer.

Robert Coley, 18, 76 Hill Street, Troy, was arrested on March 31st by detectives. He was charged with Robbery 2nd and arraigned the following morning in Albany City Criminal Court.

Detectives arrested John Alston, 19, 73 Second Street, Albany, was arrested yesterday for his role in the March incident.

He was charged with Robbery 2nd and arraigned yesterday afternoon in Albany City Criminal Court.