All Over Albany

Power restored to Capital Region, NYC slowly starting routine after Sandy, Cuomo suggests a levee for NY,Schenectady council approves budget but slashes tax hike, Halloween is on in the Capital Region

Nearly all power lost in Hurricane Sandy in theCapital Region has been restored. Albany International Airport had to cancel 49 flights because of the storm, but things are getting back to normal there, though there are still some delays and cancellations to deal with.
Amtrack is beginning to get service going but all service from Albany to NYC has been suspended until further notice. [TU] [Saratogian] [Gazette] [YNN]

In New York City it's a very different story. Routines are beginning to restart in NYC, though it may be days before public trasit is able to resume normal operations. As of yesterday afternoon Governor Cuomo said 90 percent of Long Island was still without power. Cuomo praised first responders but said climate change related storms are now a reality for New Yorkers. Cuomo suggested that New York should consider installing a levee or some type of surge protectors to keep the state safe in future storms and flood situations. He said New York needs to rebuild for a new reality. Governor Cuomo says the rebuilding of New York city will be a long term situation. State and local leaders assessed the damage from storm Sandy yesterday and estimate that recovery could cost as much as $50 billion. [TU] [YNN] [Saratogian/AP] [NYT] [Capitol Confidential][YNN]

National Guard members from the Capital Region and other parts of the state are headed to New York City to help rescue stranded people and transport local police and firefighters. [Fox 23] [TU]

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the Red Cross is seeking blood donations.[TU]

Said the mother of the Nigerian immigrant and Saint Rose student at the sentencing of the driver who killed her son in a hit and run accident last year: "People should know that whatever decisions you make, you have to think properly and when you're behind the wheel you have to know that there are other people there and other lives out there and families." Edward Zwack was sentenced to 3 1/3 to 10 years in prison on manslaughter charges and 21/3 to 7 years for leaving the scene of an accident. [TU] [Fox 23] [Record]

Schenectady's city council approved a city budget last night, but only after slashing Mayor Gary McCarthy's proposed spending plan, based largely on suggestions from the former city budget analyst fired by McCarthy last month. The Council cut $2.2 million from Gary McCarthy's proposed spending plan, bringing the proposed property tax increase in the city down from 4.18 percent to 1.7 percent. The new budget does include plans for both a police chief and a police commisioner.Mayor McCarthy says he'll examine the impact of the proposed cuts [TU] [Gazette] [WNYT] [News 10] [YNN]

Troy Police Chief John Tedesco's proposed department budget includes
getting rid of the city'ShotSpotter system and does not include plans to hire a police commissioner. [Record]

The lawyer for the former State Police Aviation unit head says charges that his client stole a GPS from his unit and sold it to another state police officer just don't make any sense. [TU]

Shell casings were recovered after multiple shots rang out near Sixth and Swift Avenues in Troy overnight. Police say nobody was hit but there may have been more than one shooter. [Record]

State Police say a 25 year old man was found in a truck that crashed into the Hoosic River on Tuesday. [TU]

Saratoga County Sheriff's Deputies arrested a Waterford man yesterday for allegedly selling heroin. [TU]

The crackdown on rowdy college parties and underaged drinking continues in Albany. [TU]

A freight train derailed Tuesday and landed in the woods in Hoosick Falls. No injuries were reported and the train was not carrying any hazardous material.[News 10] [YNN]

The latest Siena poll shows Chris Gibson's lead over Challenger Julian Schreibman in the 19th Congressional district race shrunk by 11 points in a month to just a 5 point lead now. [Record]

A researcher from Ualbany who was part of a team that flew directly into Hurricane Sandy this week to gather data about the storm to examine a system with properties of both a noreaster and a hurricane. [TU]

Construction on the final phase of Harmony Mills in Cohoes is slated to begin near the end of November.[Record]

Another bear cub has been removed from a tree in Glens Falls. [Post Star]

Halloween is on in the Capital Region -- expect trick-or-treaters.[TU]

New York is stepping up supervision of sex offenders during Halloween.

One Colonie Street is bracing for Halloween - a night where, last year, in spite of a heavy police presence, authorities found 21 shaving cream cans, 11 empty egg cartons, streams of toilet paper and candy wrappers in the aftermath of an annual teen mischief spree. [TU]

Hey, look, it's the Wienermobile[TU]