All Over Albany

Gibson/Schreibman debate, girl in Albany fire dies, NYRA re-org board picks, Rocky loved Oreos

Yesterday's debate between incumbent Republican Chris Gibson and Democratic challenger Julian Schreibman for the 19th Congressional District was pointed -- with the two going at each other over a range of issues, including Medicare, energy, education and same-sex marriage. Another point of contention: the tone of the race. [TU] [Troy Record]

Among the issues on which Kathy Marchione (R) and Robin Andrews (D) disagreed during their state Senate 43rd candidates forum Thursday: a state spending cap and a minimum wage increase. But they also found agreement on a handful of issues. (Marchione also said she would have primary-ed Roy McDonald even if he hadn't voted for the Marriage Equality Act.) [Daily Gazette] [Saratogian] [WNYT]

The picks for the NYRA Reorganization Board were announced yesterday. Andrew Cuomo selected Cornell president David Skorton to chair the committee. Nine of the 17 members were already on the NYRA board (and a tenth had served in the past). Also among Cuomo's picks: Bobby Flay (he owns horses and frequently visits Saratoga during Track season). Four other Cuomo picks have contributed more than $250,000 in campaign money to Cuomo during the last decade. John Hendrickson -- Marylou's husband -- was named as "special advisor for Saratoga." [Cuomo admin] [TU] [Daily Gazette] [Saratogian]

The three-year-old badly burned in an Albany house fire this week has died at a hospital in Boston. [TU] [WNYT]

Andrew Cuomo endorsed incumbent Republican state Senator Steve Saland, who was one of the four Republicans who voted in favor of the Marriage Equality Act. [State of Politics]

Cuomo floated the idea of making the state legislature subject to FOIL. [TU]

Albany County owes the Albany school district $251,000 in taxes for the family court building -- and may not end up paying. [TU]

Attorneys for the state argued at the Court of Appeals that the state can't be sued for anything regarding the Ethan Allen* -- even if (and they did not admit fault) state inspectors made mistakes. (*The Ethan Allen was a Lake George tour boat that capsized while carrying a crowd of elderly passengers in 2005 -- 20 of them died.) [TU]

The 24-year-old man convicted of second-degree murder for the fatal 2011 Commando Lodge stabbing in Albany was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison. [TU]

A Schenectady man with a long criminal record was sentenced to 15 years to life after being convicted of raping a teen with mental health problems and forcing her into prostitution. [Daily Gazette] [TU]

The conviction of man accused of assaulting three people near Washington Park after LarkFest in 2009 has been reversed and a new trial ordered. [Daily Gazette]

Rotterdam police say a Schenectady man was arrested on DWI charges -- for the ninth time. [Daily Gazette]

Troy police say they arrested a 20-year-old man for allegedly posting threats against Langsingburgh High School students on Facebook. TPD says the man told them he had made the threats in an effort to protect his girlfriend. TPD says it doesn't think the man had access to weapons. [TU] [Troy Record] [Fox23]

Three Schenectady city employees' reward for rescuing a cat from a storm drain: rabies shots. [Daily Gazette]

The developer proposing to building a six-story hotel/office/retail complex on Congress Street in Saratoga Springs presented plans to the city's Design Review Commission. [Daily Gazette]

The Roman Catholic Church will be canonizing Kateri Tekakwitha -- and a big crowd is expected at the shrine for her near Amsterdam. Kateri was born near there in 1656. [TU] [Daily Gazette]

The rock slide this week in Fort Ann that narrowly missed a few vehicles and closed a road was made up of "gneiss." [TU]

The state has allocated money new playgrounds at Thacher Park and Spa State Park. Alas, the zip line planned for Thacher is for kids. [Cuomo admin] [TU]

Nelson Rockefeller loved Oreos. [TU]