All Over Albany

Pro-fracking rally in Albany, New York's unemployment rate stands out -- in a bad way, large rock slide, back to Antarctica

A pro-fracking rally in downtown Albany Monday drew several hundred people. Among the concerns expressed over the possible rejection of the drilling method in the state: missed jobs and economic development opportunities, and the loss of property rights. Said one person to Fox23: "Why should we be paying exorbitant taxes, having people lose their jobs, cuts in services, when we can take what God's given underneath us?" Also: the best sign had to be the "pass gas" sign. [Politics on the Hudson] [TU] [TU] [Fox23] [@JonCampbellGAN]

Over the last year, New York is the only state in the nation with a statistically significant increase in its unemployment rate, according to federal stats. [NYT]

Troy mayor Lou Rosamilia is looking to get a police review committee reinstated. The word came during a meeting on police/community relations in North Central. Some residents alleged that TPD officers have been aggressive and/or rude toward people in the neighborhood. TPD chief John Tedesco said there had been problems with people resisting arrest: "The thing I wanted to get across here, and I don't know if we did...you know, comply with the officers, file a complaint later on. Because physical resistance is going to get you hurt." [Troy Record] [YNN] [Fox23] [WNYT]

Brent Dickinson -- the man who pleaded guilty to threatening to "torture and kill" school children in Saratoga County -- has been sentenced to up to three years in prison. Dickinson told the judge at his sentencing that he "was off my meds at the time because they weren't available to me." (The Saratoga County DA's office says a separate case involving threats Dickinson allegedly made against the President is being handled by federal prosecutors.) [Saratogian] [Saratoga County DA] [TU]

Report: campaign money in the state follows the winners (at least in the state Senate). [TU]

The state attorney general's office has reached a settlement with Walgreens over flu shots and Empire Plan members. The AG's office says an investigation found the pharmacy chain misled 3,000 members of the Empire Plan "into thinking they were covered for flu shots administered at the pharmacy, when they were not." It says the chain has agreed to give refunds to plan members who ended up having to pay out of pocket. [NYS OAG]

Surprise entry into the field of candidates to run the new agency to monitor the treatment of people with disabilities in the state: Syracuse University. [NYT]

Jerry Jennings' proposed city of Albany budget includes a plan to split code enforcement duties from the city's fire department. [TU]

The Schenectady city council has agreed to raise the fees for using the Central Park rose garden for events -- but it did not agree to necessarily pass the money on to the group that's been maintaining the garden. [Daily Gazette]

Dispute in Princetown: a town justice was also serving as a court clerk, jobs which the state AG's office says are "incompatible." [Daily Gazette]

Lou Rosamilia on the city's latest move to the Hedley Building: "Time will tell if this is the final location of the City Hall." [Troy Record]

A section of upper Congress Street in Troy will be closed through the end of this week for construction (map). [Troy Record]

The Erie Boulevard re-construction project in Schenectady is scheduled to last another six weeks. [Daily Gazette]

Another person has pleaded guilty in the Rotterdam ex-girlfriend's-new-boyfriend firebombing case. [TU]

State Police say two men were arrested for allegedly running illegal poker games in Saratoga Springs (map). [Saratogian]

An RPI official on Shirley Ann Jackson's $2.3 million compensation: "In short, she is worth every penny." [TU] Earlier: Capital Region college president compensation

A bunch of Saratoga businesses have taken Google up on its offer to photograph their interiors as part of the new streetview-like service for businesses. [Saratogian]

A big rock slide -- with huge boulders -- closed a road near the state line with Vermont in Fort Ann (map). Contrary to some initial reports, State Police say it appears no vehicle was trapped under the rocks -- though it appears a person may have had to back out of the area as the rocks were falling. [TU] [Post-Star] [Fox23]

The New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing -- the one at Stratton Air National Guard Base in Glenville -- is starting up a new season of Antarctic supply missions this week. [Daily Gazette]