All Over Albany

Push back on comments about downtown Albany and crime, rash of thefts in Niskayuna, man killed after being swarmed by bees, boofing the money, how Steinbrenner tried to pick up women in Troy

The Jennings administration assembled a bunch of downtown Albany business owners and economic development officials yesterday to counter the assertion by Jillian's owner that people are afraid of crime in the area. And Albany police chief Steve Krokoff says crime is down in that neighborhood. The friction between Jillian's owner Ralph Spillenger and officials was apparent, with a prominent economic development official basically saying Jillian's failed because it wasn't good enough. Spillenger's son said the assembled group didn't represent business owners who operated after dark, and that's when the problems occur. [Troy Record] [Fox23] [WNYT] [TU] [YNN]

The three men on trial for allegedly being involved in the kidnapping and killing of an Albany drug dealer (and then dumping his body in sewer) have been found not guilty. [TU]

Most of the Democrats running to succeed Jack McEneny in the state Assembly support the Albany Convention Center (to some degree). [TU]

Andrew Cuomo has signed the "Sewage Pollution Right to Know" law, which increases public sewer systems to notify the public when they discharge untreated or partially treated sewage. (background) [Cuomo admin]

About 40 percent of the campaign money supporting Shawn Morse in his primary challenge to Neil Breslin for the state Senate is linked to the Independent Democratic Conference, the group of Democratic state senators who have been positioning themselves between Democrats and Republicans in the narrowly-divided body. [TU]

Kirsten Gillibrand was at UAlbany's East Campus Thursday pushing federal legislation that would make federal money available for the early work on commercializing research advances. [Troy Record] [TU]

Albany County legislator Gary Domalewicz says he'll continue to push on his effort get the recently-vetoed second-hand dealers law passed. [Troy Record]

State Police say a man walked into the Aldi in Gansevoort and told a clerk he had a planted bomb in the store (no bomb was found). [Saratogian]

Niskayuna police say there's been a rash of about a hundred thefts from unlocked cars and open garages this summer. [Fox23]

Schenectady's fire chief says the Wednesday night house fire that displaced 13 people was started by a 4 year old. [TU]

The former Albany County assistant public defender convicted of soliciting sex from a client by telling her he'd worker harder on her case if she had sex with him has had his law license re-instated. [TU]

A property acquired by the city of Troy in foreclosure -- and set to be demolished -- turned out to be occupied. [Troy Record]

Unfortunate ways to go: swarmed by bees; kicked by a jumping horse. [TU] [YNN]

If someone offers you money that's been "boofed," you might want to decline. [Daily Gazette]

A union at odds with Verizon argues that a deal between Verizon Wireless and TWC would (further) limit the roll out of FiOS. [TU]

Concern for new Saratoga County software that includes a chat room function: it could violate open meetings laws. [Saratogian]

The town of Ballston has erected more hoops to jump through for homeowners wanting to install free-standing solar panels on their property. [Saratogian]

The Albany County Sheriff's Office is going with a "retro" black-and-white color scheme for its new cars. [WNYT]

Message on the marquee on the old State Theater in downtown Schenectady: "Will you marry me" [Daily Gazette]

Memories of how George Steinbrenner tried to pick up women in Troy back in the day. [Saratogian]