All Over Albany

Count/recount in McDonald/Marchione could start this week, police looking for driver in SUV vs. building crash, reward for info about puppies found on train tracks

A counting of absentee ballots -- and a recount of regular ballots -- could start this week in the too-close-to-call race between Roy McDonald and Kathy Marchione for the Republican line in the state Senate 43rd district (Marchione currently leads by more than a 100 votes). McDonald on his current plans for the general election: "I'm going to run; I'm going to run hard." The National Organization for Marriage -- an anti-same-sex marriage org -- has been claiming credit for Marchione's showing in the primary. (McDonald was one of the key votes in favor of the Marriage Equality Act.) [TU] [Saratogian] [State of Politics]

Albany police chief Steve Krokoff on the new alcohol policy at LarkFest this year: "I feel it's been a great success." Said a Chestnut Street resident of the situation: "It was an improvement ... A big improvement." [Daily Gazette] [WNYT]

Schenectady city councilman Vince Riggi on the city's financial condition, and impending increase in debt payments: "We're in deep doo-doo." [Daily Gazette]

The state Board of Parole has been declining early parole for prisoners who are tagged for deportation. Also: the parole board is operating with five of its 19 seats unfilled. [TU] [TU]

Upgrades on train track in/near the Capital Region is close to starting -- it's hoped the long planned work will reduce delays. [TU]

Colonie's proposed 2013 budget will stay within the tax cap, according to town supervisor Paula Mahan. [TU]

UAlbany president to be Robert Jones on expanding the school's role in the community: "The University of Albany should be the model for the rest of the SUNY system for seamless community partnerships." [TU]

"Insiders" say the lone bidder for the city of Troy-owned Dauchy and River Triangle buildings is associated with Saratoga developer Sonny Bonacio. [Troy Record] [TU]

Mechanicville mayor Anthony Sylvester is trying to get rid of city term limits so he can run for a third term. [TU]

There was an early morning fire in Troy Saturday that destroyed a home. Officials didn't say yet if they think this fire is suspicious. [Troy Record] [TU]

Colonie police say they've arrested man for allegedly pointing a gun at a Muslim man from Afghanistan and threatening to kill him. [TU]

Coeymans police are looking for the driver who apparently fled the scene after crashing an SUV into a building. Police say they surprised someone could walk away from the crash. [YNN] [TU] [Fox23]

An arbitrator has ruled that Schenectady County must re-hire a corrections officer fired after an inmate died at the county jail in February 2011. [Daily Gazette]

The city of Schenectady has taken away the take-home cars for its police chief and two assistant chiefs. (The city has been cutting back on the use of take-home cars by city employees.) [TU]

The city of Schenectady is considering a plan to turn vacant houses over to contractors who could fix them up, re-sell them, and split the profits with the city. [TU]

There are about half a dozen homes in Schenectady's Stockade neighborhood that were damaged by Irene flooding and are still vacant. [Daily Gazette]

Trend? An increase in pistol permits in the state, perhaps because more women are getting them. [TU]

Tales of New York State red tape, massage therapy edition. [TU]

Troy police say the found more than $100k in cash at the home of an alleged drug dealer in North Central (map). [Troy Record]

There's now a $7,000 reward for info leading to an arrest of whoever nailed three puppies to railroad tracks in Albany. [Troy Record]

Unionized employees have approved a new contract after long-running, at times drama-filled, contract negotiations. [TU]

The Schenectady school district is overflowing with kindergartners. [Daily Gazette]

Tiny non-profit at Albany Med: a foundation focused on people who eat via feeding tube. [TU]

Odd, unfortunate historical note: the nation's first known police officer fatality was in Albany County -- in 1791. [TU]

A bear climbed into a tree on the west side of Saratoga Springs Friday -- and was gone by Saturday. [Saratogian]