All Over Albany

Rape reported in Albany student neighborhood, two men shot in Schenectady, family says child was bitten by camel, eight generations at one house

Albany police say an 18-year-old UAlbany student reported being raped early Saturday morning at Western and Quail in Pine Hills (map). APD says the student reported she was walking alone when she ended up inside a home and was raped. APD says it's trying to piece together details of the attack -- it's not clear whether the student was taken inside the home by force or not, or whether she knew the person who attacked her. It says it's trying to determine which house she was taken to. APD says the student was "highly intoxicated" and had become separated from a friend who was with her. [APD] [TU] [YNN] [WNYT] [New10] [Fox23]

Albany police say they were 16 arrests in Pine Hills over the weekend. [News10]

A passport and a backpack prompted a bomb scare in downtown Albany Monday night (map). There were evacuations of some nearby businesses and residences. The suspicious bag turned out to not be a threat. [YNN] [TU] [Fox23] [WNYT]

Sheldon Silver says he's asked Brooklyn Assemblyman Vito Lopez to resign. Lopez is the Assemblyman accused of sexually harassing staffers, a situation that prompted the Assembly to pay out more than $100,000 in settlement money. Word of the settlement only got out after Lopez was recently censured (and not referred to the ethics committee) -- said Silver yesterday of the situation: "Ultimately, I'm the speaker and I'm responsible, and clearly mistakes were made." Last week state attorney general Eric Schneiderman called the Lopez settlement "wholly inappropriate and contrary to the public interest." State Democrats appears to still be supporting Silver -- he'll have the honor at the Democratic National Convention this week of announcing that New York's delegates are endorsing Barack Obama. [State of Politics] [NYT] [TU] [TU] [AP/Troy Record]

New York State has the highest per pupil spending in the country. [TU]

Schenectady police say two men were shot outside a house party in Hamilton Hill Sunday night (map). There were reportedly three shooters, using shotgun and hand guns. SPD says it's looking for the suspects. [TU] [WNYT] [Fox23]

Albany police say a man reported being shot in the back of the head with birdshot Sunday night in West Hill (map). [APD]

Two Albany police officers were injured in a car wreck Monday afternoon in Pine Hills (map). APD says they were responding to a call with the car's lights on, and when going through a red light were struck by a car coming from the cross street. [TU] [News10]

The Halfmoon woman convicted of stabbing her husband multiple times last year has been sentenced to 16 years in prison. [Daily Gazette]

East Greenbush police say they arrested a man for alleged sexual abuse of a 98-year-old woman. [Troy Record]

The Warren County Sheriff's Office says it nabbed a Cohoes man after he allegedly hit 140 mph on a motorcycle during a chase on the Northway. [TU]

A Mechanicville couple says their two-year-old was bitten by a camel at the Schaghticoke Fair. [News10]

The city of Schenectady has reportedly laid off a group of employees, and is seeking a new county sales tax deal, in order to address its shaky finances. [TU]

Albany County announced Friday that there's been a confirmed case of West Nile Virus in the county, the first of the year. The person is reportedly "doing well." There have been 11 confirmed cases -- and one death -- in the state this year. [Albany County] [TU]

A trio of East Greenbush residents have been filing FOIL requests trying to figure out what's up with the town's longstanding sewer system and budget issues. [TU]

The city of Troy has put the River Triangle and Dauchy buildings up for sale again. [TU]

Spa State Park was the fifth-busiest state park this summer (in terms of attendance), and Moreau Lake State Park the most popular campground. [Saratogian]

With New York State perhaps close to opening the way for fracking, natural gas pipeline companies are eyeing the state. [AP/Saratogian]

Counties are on the hook for a fee when their residents attend community colleges in other counties -- example: Albany County sent $8 million to HVCC last year. [TU]

Neil Breslin and Shawn Morse continue to trade shots ahead of next week's primary. [TU]

A focus of local labor orgs this Labor Day: raising the minimum wage. [Troy Record]

Agricultural noise in Feura Bush: cannon blasts. [TU]

The Slingerlands ShopRite is expected to open by the end of September. [TU]

The first Steeplechase Festival, scheduled for mid-September at the Saratoga Race Course, has been postponed until 2013. Organizers say ticket sales weren't high enough to cover the the operational costs. [Daily Gazette] [Saratogian]

The summer was warmer and a bit drier than a typical summer, but not record breaking. [Daily Gazette]

Residents of Schenectady's Mont Pleasant neighborhood are fixing up their neighborhood hydrant by hydrant (map). [Daily Gazette]

Says a Gansevoort man of the obsession that led to him develop a new, and apparently very popular, type of wild animal trap: "I've had the concept for a wire-trigger, power-door, swim-through trap for 20 years, and I'm probably not the only one who did." [Post-Star]

An 80-year-old man in Schodack is the ninth generation of his family to live in their house, which dates back to the 17th century. [TU]
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APD: Sexual Assault

Albany police are investigating a rape that occurred early Saturday morning in the area of Quail Street and Western Avenue.

Officers were summoned to Albany Medical Center Hospital, just after 3:00 a.m., after an 18 year old girl stated she was sexually assaulted. The victim told police that she was walking alone in the area of Quail Street and Western Avenue, around 12:30 a.m., when she was brought into a home and raped.

She states that after the assault, she ran out of the house and called a friend to pick her up.

The investigation is ongoing.

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APD: Shooting

Albany police are investigating the shooting of a 22 year old city resident last night at Second Street and North Lake Avenue.

Officers responded to Second Street and North Lake Avenue, just before midnight, after receiving a call that a male had been shot. When officers arrived, they learned that the victim had already been taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital by someone in the area.

While investigating the incident at the hospital, Officers spoke with Kedar Morton, of Albany, who stated that while walking in the area he was shot in the back of the head with bird shot.

He was treated at the hospital and is listed in stable condition.

The investigation is still ongoing.