All Over Albany

More fires in Troy, apple crop way down this year, vacant houses a problem all over, state historic artifacts on display at Capitol, the Giants eat a lot

Two fires on the same block in Troy's North Central neighborhood early Sunday morning have displaced about two dozen people. The first fire was at a house already vacant because another fire a month ago. Crews responded to the second fire -- with flames 20 feet above the roof tops of multiple houses -- about four hours later. Fire officials say the buildings will have to be demolished. Troy's fire chief says the first fire was "definitely suspicious." It's the latest in a string of suspicious fires, and Troy police reportedly have a team of detectives working the case full time. [News10] [TU] [Fox23] [YNN] [Troy Recod] [WNYT]

This year's weird weather has had a severe effect on the apple crop both in the Capital Region and the state -- some orchards won't be offering pick your own as a result. Some trees have very few or no apples on them. [Daily Gazette] [Saratogian]

Said two women to police of the tractor trailer that flipped off I-88 in Schoharie County onto Route 7 below on Sunday: "The truck fell out of the sky!" The driver of the truck died, and the women are being treated for serious burns. [News10] [TU]

The way state Supreme Court judges angle for ballot spots is secretive, complicated, and odd. [TU]

Albany police say a 15-year-old was shot Friday night in Sheridan Hollow. [News10]

The Dunn Memorial Bridge was closed for a while Sunday afternoon as local emergency responders stopped a man threatening to jump. [Fox23]

The head of a prison legal service advocacy group says New York State is "the leader in putting people in solitary for disciplinary reasons." [TU]

Tim Nichols -- Bob Reilly's former chief of staff, and in the running for the Democratic nod to replace Reilly -- says he supports legalizing MMA bouts. (Reilly has been the biggest opponent of MMA in the state legislature.) Three other Democrats in the primary oppose legalization. Jennifer Whalen -- the Republican candidate -- supports it. [TU] [WNYT] [WNYT]

Schenectady mayor Gary McCarthy is putting a stop to take-home cars for top police department officials. Some members of the city council praised the decision as a cost-saving move. [Daily Gazette] [TU]

Bethlehem supervisor John Clarkson's actions are apparently irking many people associated with city government -- primary among them: fellow Democrats. [TU]

Lawyers for Larry Flynt will be arguing in favor of Latham strip club Nite Moves' appeal that it shouldn't have to pay sales tax on lap dances. (background) [TU]

Allison Lee -- the wife of Congressman Maurice Hinchey -- was sentenced to 60 days in jail for DWI after a crash on Lark Street earlier this year. [TU]

The former state DEC employee accused of racking up $20,000 in phone sex charges by making calls from work has pleaded guilty and paid restitution. [TU]

Saratoga Springs police say six people were arrested after a "melee" on Caroline Street around 3 am Saturday morning. [Saratogian]

The city of Schenectady is readying to seize almost 600 properties for tax delinquency. [Daily Gazette]

A Troy neighborhoods group is trying to do something about the vacant building problem in the city. [Troy Record] [Troy Record]

The vacant upscale North Greenbush house that was trashed in large underage party is still empty and un-repaired, red cups still littering its inside. [TU]

A $1 million judgement against the city of Saratoga Springs in racial discrimination suit has been overturned. [TU]

The Saratoga Springs Design Review Commission is inviting public comment on whether it should allow the historic Winans-Crippen House to be knocked down. [Saratogian]

Schenectady's schools superintendent says kids may need therapy for the "trauma" of intense poverty. [Daily Gazette]

Five companies have agreed to a $9.3 million plan to clean up longstanding mercury contamination at a site on the Colonie/Guilderland border. [Troy Record]

The Animal Protective Foundation says 22 cats were found in the home of an elderly Schenectady woman -- and so much stuff it was difficult to get the woman out. [WNYT]

The circus in downtown Schenectady last week from saved from rain by inmate labor. [Daily Gazette]

Many historic items from the State Archives have been taken out of storage and put on display at the Capitol. [AP/Troy Record]

A 15-year-old has been designing and manufacturing skateboards made from aircraft aluminum in Cohoes. [Daily Gazette]

Giants eat a lot of food. [TU]

It would appear some people in Glens Falls won't let the facts get in the way of a good story about Hacksaw Jim Duggan. [Post-Star]