All Over Albany

Federal charges against man in Albany Med mercury case, state troopers suspended amid prostituion ring allegation, jet-threatening geese given to food banks, you're not too old

Federal prosecutors have filed charges against Martin Kimber, the retired pharmacist from the Hudson Valley who's accused of spreading mercury around Albany Medical Center. The feds allege Kimber was involved with four mercury incidents -- involving pounds of mercury -- at the hospital dating back to March 2011, including one incident in which a person ended up ingesting mercury. They also allege they found a book at his home "reflecting a sympathy for domestic terrorism." [Daily Gazette] [TU] [Troy Record]

Three state troopers in Western New York have suspended as part of an investigation into whether one (or more) was promoting a prostitution ring. The trooper at the center of the investigation is the son of a retired State Police colonel and had been assigned to Albany from 1998 to 2010. [TU] [Buffalo News]

The Court of Appeals -- the state's highest court -- heard arguments yesterday in the suit challenging the expansion of the state Senate to 63 seats. The court could rule on the case within a week. [AP/Troy Record] [TU]

Eight of the nine men being sued by the family of Alexander Grant -- the college student who died after an odd, apparently drunken night Saratoga in March 2011 -- are currently Skidmore students. [Saratogian]

Schenectady mayor Gary McCarthy wants RPI to remove the tiny nuclear reactor it owns at the former Alco site. [Daily Gazette]

A Troy man convicted on a weapons charged related to a 2009 shooting death in North Central (map) will get a new trial after a state appellate court ruled that a Rensselaer County Court judge made an error in providing written instructions about the law to the jury. [TU] [Troy Record]

Katherine Seeber will go on trial later this year for the strangling death of her step great grandmother in Stillwater in 2000 following a ruling by a state appeals court about evidence that was used to prompt her to take a plea deal -- the evidence had been examined by Gary Veeder, a former State Police forensic scientist who falsified results in multiple cases. [Saratogian] [TU]

Former state Senator Carl Kruger was sentenced to 7 years in prison for corruption. [NYT]

An accountant has been arrested for allegedly stealing $100k from an East Greenbush print shop over the last five years. The account's mug shot is a strong contender for mug shot of the day. [TU] [Troy Record]

Two men were arrested after a police chase that involved a helicopter in Albany yesterday for allegedly shooting guns out the window of a car in West Hill (map). The police chase also include an officer on a bike who "pursued the vehicle on bicycle as long as he physically could." [TU] [WNYT]

Two men convicted of a string of muggings last September in Guilderland and Albany using a pellet gun were sentenced to five years in prison. [TU]

The Desmond says international hackers had access to its room billing system from May 2011 until this past March. [Fox23]

Cohoes mayor John McDonald is expected to officially toss his hat into the ring today for the state Assembly seat being vacated by Ron Canestrari. [YNN]

Andrew Cuomo announced that $800 million will be spent to make state and local government buildings more energy efficient. [TU]

Each year Canada geese near ALB in Colonie are killed (and "processed for human consumption for food banks") in order to protect planes taking off and landing at the airport. [TU]

A Times Union-organized event at the YMCA in Clifton Park back in January has officially been declared as the world record for the most simultaneous fist bumps. [TU]

Saratoga Springs resident Betty Mason has her first gallery show next week -- at age 91. [Saratogian]