All Over Albany

Mystery billion dollar project scouting the Capital Region, Sandy cost to New York could be $33 billion, Schenectady superintendant says district being shorted millions

An unnamed corporation has been scouting the Capital Region -- and other sites around the world -- for what appears to be a multi-billion dollar chip fab project (AKA, "Project Azalea"). [Biz Review] [TU]

LuAnn Burgess -- who was the wheel of the SUV that plowed into a Vorheesville church last year, killing three people -- has pleaded guilty to three counts of criminally negligent homicide. [TU]

The total cost of Sandy to New York State -- including damage and lost economic activity -- could be $33 million, according to Andrew Cuomo. On top of that, Cuomo says the storm could result in tacking on another $1 billion to the state's budget gap. [AP/Saratogian] [TU]

New York City has started even/odd gasoline rationing because supplies still haven't been smoothed out. [NYT]

Cuomo says he has "no intention of getting involved" with what is looking like could be a political drama of the first order in the state Senate to determine which party -- or coalition -- controls the chamber. Democrats appear to have an advantage in absentee ballots in the two very close races: state Senate 46th (Amedore-Tkaczyk) and 41st (Saland-Gipson) -- though counting hasn't started, yet. [State of Politics] [State of Politics]

The Schenectady schools superintendent argues his district is being "shorted" $62 million a year in state aid that it should be getting under the school funding reforms passed by the state in 2007. [Daily Gazette]

The Colonie town board has approved a budget that includes a total tax rate increase of less than 2 percent. [TU]

The only person to speak at -- and apparently one of the only people to show up for -- the final public meeting about Troy's proposed budget: Kim Mazor. She criticized the proposed creation of the public safety commissioner position. [Troy Record] [TU]

About 2000 more people voted for US President in Saratoga Springs than voted on the charter reform provision, based on unofficial totals. [Saratogian]

The Democratic Party machines in Cohoes, Green Island, and Watervliet are apparently well-oiled and running smoothly. [TU]

Albany County exec Dan McCoy was deployed downstate this week with the New York National Guard for Sandy recovery. [TU]

A Dutch company has bought the Schenectady-based Fortitech for $634 million. The buyer says the Schenectady operations will continue to be a "a very important part" of the company. Fortitech makes food nutrient additives. [Daily Gazette] [Biz Review]

The group that represents second-hand goods dealers in Albany County is pointing to a recent arrest as support for its proposal for how a sales registry should work. The re-proposed Albany County law is scheduled for a vote next week. [WNYT] [News10]

A Rotterdam site on the state's Superfund list for almost 30 years has been dropped from the list -- because it was determined to have never been polluted. [TU]

Three 20-year-olds have been charged with gang assault after Glenville police say they beat a 19-year-old unconscious this past summer (approximate area map). [Daily Gazette] [TU]

A man has pleaded guilty to using a camera attached to his shoe to take video up the skirt of a woman in the Wolf Road Hannaford. This is apparently the second time this guy has been nabbed for voyeurism. [Daily Gazette] [TU]

Colonie police say a Times Union newspaper deliveryman was arrested for allegedly setting fire to bags of leaves and a recycling bin Monday morning (approximate area map). [Daily Gazette]

From Washington County: "Police officer escapes injury during collision with cow." [Post-Star]

The grand marshal of this year's Albany Veterans Day parade is an 88-year-old veteran of WWII who fought in Italy and France: "I'm very, very humbled by all this ... I'm lucky to still be here." [TU]