Agreement to strengthen domestic violence laws, sheriff: jail escape attempt was "a total breakdown," CEO accused of raiding pension fund, upset over possible knockdown in Troy

Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders announced a deal to strengthen the state's domestic violence laws. The measures are intended to better protect victims of domestic violence and increase penalties for repeat offenders. Among the measures: people accused of murdering their spouse will not be allowed control of their spouse's burial. [Cuomo admin] [Fox23] [AP via State of Politics]

The state legislature unanimously approved a bill creating a statewide tracking system intended to crack down on people who go doctor shopping for prescription drugs. [TU]

The Albany County Sheriff's Office says a county jail inmate was able to get through three unsecured doors and change out of his jumpsuit before being caught during an escape attempt last Friday. The inmate was out of the jail's control for two hours. Sheriff Craig Apple called the escape attempt "a total breakdown on our part." One corrections officer has been suspended without pay. Said Apple of the officers on duty: "... basically a couple of our officers had a flagrant disregard for our policies and procedures and, needless to say, they will pay the price for that." [ACSO] [Troy Record] [TU] [News10] [Fox23]

The Albany County legislature has approved the purchase of the county family court building for $22.8 million -- the purchase is projected to eventually save the county $1 million a year over what it would have been paying on the lease. [TU]

The Albany County legislature has passed a two-year ban on fracking on county-owned land. It prohibits the county from leasing county-owned land to gas companies intending to use hydrofracking. [YNN] [TU]

Colonie police say three homemade explosive devices were left outside a home in Latham -- apparently part of a series of vandalism (map). One device had already exploded. The explosive devices were two-liter bottles containing acid. [TU] [WNYT] [Fox23]

Albany police say a teen was shot with birdshot early Sunday morning in West Hill (map). APD says the victim said he didn't know who shot him. [APD]

The CEO of an East Greenbush hydraulics company has been arrested for allegedly emptying the company's pension trust fund. [TU] [Troy Record]

Schenectady County prosecutors allege a man in the county jail has called a woman at least 1,800 times since November -- even though he's not supposed to have contact with her. [Daily Gazette]

Saratoga Springs police say a man was charged this weekend after his two year old son was found wandering outside -- with a finger cut on a marijuana pipe. [Saratogian]

The motorcyclist nabbed for allegedly going almost 150 mph on the Northway just north of the Twin Bridges this weekend is a member of the Latham Fire Department and has been placed on leave. [TU] [Troy Record]

Colonie police say a psychiatrist has been arrested for allegedly rubbing up against two employees at his office. There's no evidence he inappropriately touched patients. [YNN] [Daily Gazette]

The Albany County Sheriff's Office says a man was arrested in Guilderland for allegedly forcing his way into a residence early Sunday morning and demanding money for two kegs of beer delivered. The homeowner apparently hadn't ordered any kegs -- and responded by arming himself with a a 12-gauge shotgun and calling 911. [ACSO] [WNYT]

Albany County sheriff Craig Apple says there's been a rash of burglaries in the Hilltowns. [Troy Record]

Total from the Dave Matthews Band weekend at SPAC: 200 tickets or citations issued, about 70 fake IDs confiscated, and no felonies. [Saratogian] [Daily Gazette]

Municipalities are looking for all sorts of ways to increase revenue -- including increasing the fees for birth and death certificates. [TU]

Some preservationists allege the owner of the buildings next to the proposed Bombers in Troy will demolish them for a parking lot -- the owner says the claims are inaccurate (map). (See also: Matt Baumgartner's comment about the rumored parking lot: "stop using my name as the culprit for this project because I have nothing to do with it.") [Troy Record] [Friday Puppy]

Among the items to get planning board approval for the Mansion Square project in Niskayuna (map): an approximately 40,000 square foot "food market." [Daily Gazette]

A review of mobile phone service in the Capital Region concludes that Verizon offers the fastest data speeds. [Root Metrics] [TU]

Hattie's and the Seven Horse Pub are looking to turn the alley between them in downtown Saratoga into outdoor seating. [Saratogian]

Jim Tedisco was a scoring machine at Union College. [TU]

____

APD: Shooting

Albany police are investigating the shooting of a 17 year old city resident early Sunday morning at Third and Ontario Streets.
Police were called to Albany Memorial Hospital, just after 1:00 a.m., after hospital staff called stating a 17 year old male had just walked into the emergency room after being shot with bird shot. The victim told police that he was walking in the area of Third and Ontario Streets around midnight when he was shot by an unknown person.
He was treated at the hospital and released.
The investigation is still ongoing.

Comments

AOA - Please don't succumb to the blatantly incorrect financial reporting of the Times Union. This county courthouse deal does not save taxpayers $1 million a year. It saves them $1 million in taxes and rent. But it also takes the building off the tax rolls. So that negates the tax issue. And they are borrowing $23 million to get this "savings". I realize the county executive may not understand this, but you have to pay that money back, with interest. Why don't you ask them how much that will be each year and then subtract that from the $1 million "savings".

Hi there. Comments have been closed for this item. Still have something to say? Contact us.

The Scoop

For a decade All Over Albany was a place for interested and interesting people in New York's Capital Region. It was kind of like having a smart, savvy friend who could help you find out what's up. AOA stopped publishing at the end of 2018.

Recently on All Over Albany

Thank you!

When we started AOA a decade ago we had no idea what was going to happen. And it turned out better than we could have... (more)

Let's stay in touch

This all feels like the last day of camp or something. And we're going to miss you all so much. But we'd like to stay... (more)

A few things I think about this place

Working on AOA over the past decade has been a life-changing experience for me and it's shaped the way I think about so many things.... (more)

Albany tightened its rules for shoveling snowy sidewalks last winter -- so how'd that work out?

If winter ever gets its act together and drops more snow on us, there will be sidewalks to shovel. And shortly after that, Albany will... (more)

Tea with Jack McEneny

Last week we were fortunate enough to spend a few minutes with Jack McEneny -- former state Assemblyman, unofficial Albany historian, and genuinely nice guy.... (more)

Recent Comments

My three year old son absolutely loving riding the train around Huck Finn's (Hoffman's) Playland this summer.

Thank you!

...has 27 comments, most recently from Ashley

Let's stay in touch

...has 4 comments, most recently from mg

A look inside 2 Judson Street

...has 3 comments, most recently from Diane (Agans) Boyle

Everything changes: Alicia Lea

...has 2 comments, most recently from Chaz Boyark

A few things I think about this place

...has 13 comments, most recently from Katherine