All Over Albany

No BYOB at Larkfest, Lopez likely subject of a JCOPE executive session, Breslin/Morse debate highlights similarities, police dog named for former sheriff

In an effort to cut back on public drunkenness and other untoward behavior, the Lark BID announced Tuesday that coolers and BYOB will not be allowed at Larkfest this year. [TU] [ YNN]

The State's bi-partisan JCOPE commissioners held a special closed door meeting Tuesday, which is believed to have been about Vito Lopez. After a two and a half hour executive session the JCOPE panel said there was "no information being reported out." Sheldon Silver is being criticized for his role in authorizing a $135,000 settlement to two women who claim to have been harrassed by Lopez. Assembly candidate Frank Commisso Jr. said he won't support Silver in another term as speaker, and other assembly candidates are questioning his actions.
Meanwhile Vito Lopez has issued a statement saying the allegations against him are politically motivated and that he does not plan to step down but will let the voters decide in the upcomming election. Silver says expelling Lopez from the Assembly would require a criminal conviction. [YNN] [TU] [WNYT] [YNN] [Capitol Confidential] [NYT]

The family of a college student who died following a late night party in Saratoga in March of 2011 has dropped a $5 million lawsuit against the people involved with the party and is now offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of anyone who may have committed a crime in the young man's death. [Saratogian]

A state audit of Colonie shows that even though the general fund deficit has been fixed, the town is a half million in debt in the highway budget. [TU]

Among the many issues Senator Neil Breslin and challenger Shawn Morse seemed to agree on at at debate at Russell Sage College on Tuesday : NY should raise the minimum wage, legislators shouldn't get pay raises now, unfunded mandates need reform and marriage equality is a good thing. Their differences were fewer and included gun control and the statute of limitations for child sex abuse victims. [Record] [TU]

The state's highest court will take up a local strip clubs claim, today, that nude dancing is and art and should be tax exempt. [AP/TU]

Bethlehem police are looking for three armed men who forced their way into a Selkirk home wearing ski masks and attacked a man with a baseball bat. [TU]

Police have arrested a 19-year-old in connection with an April drive-by shooting in Albany's West Hill neighborhood. [TU]

Police in East Greenbush arrested a pair of New York City men for allegedly stealing credit cards, altering their digits and using them to get cash and merchandise from local stores. [TU]

Albany County has purchased the Clinton Avenue family court building for $22 million. [TU]

Texting may have played a role in a car bicycle accident in Hoosick on Monday that left the cyclist seriously injured. [TU]

The lack of rain is speeding up the PCB dredging process on the Hudson River. [TU]

The Republican primary for Roy McDonald's 43rd Senate District seat has taken an ugly turn in the last few days.

A Saratoga County management analyst says pension contributions are the fastest growing expense for the county.[Saratogian]

Governor Cuomo is expected to announce the new NYRA board on October 1. [Saratogian]

State legislators will be on hand for a public meeting today at the Alfred E. Smith Building on the plan to hike Thruway tolls by 45 percent.

The new ShopRite gas station will open today at the corner of Central and Watervliet avenues. [YNN]

The proposed Troy Public Library budget would increase the tax levy by more than $30,000. [Record]

Schenectady City Councilwoman Barbara Blanchard has been hospitalized due to a progressive neurological illness [Gazette]

Funeral services were held Tuesday for the Queensbury football player who died last week of a still unknown infection. [News 10]

Dogs rescued from a Bronx dogfighting operation has been placed with a humane society in Columbia County.[News 10]

A $3 million scratch off lottery ticket was purchased at a Stewart's in Hoosick.[TU]

In an interesting tribute, the Albany County Sheriff's Department is naming its new police dog George, in honor of the recently deceased former Sheriff George Infante. [TU]