All Over Albany

Charges of police racism in North Central Troy, why drivers licenses may soon be black and white, Bruno trial may be delayed, SGF parents may have hired stripper for teen birthday party

A well known pastor from Troy says the North Central neighborhood is "a powder keg with a very short fuse." At a community meeting last night about the relationship between police and citizens in North Central, Pastor Willie Bacote suggested that racism is a problem in the community, claiming some of the Troy police officers, "use the 'n' word to address some of the citizens in North Troy."[WNYT] [YNN]

New York drivers licenses may soon be in black and white, even though the tentative contract to produce the licenses went to the highest bidder -- a Canadian company -- and will cost $38 million more than the current contract. DMV commissioner Barbara Fiala issued a statement saying the company was one of only three that bid on the project and was selected because the other two companies produce inferior products. [TU] [WNYT]

Joe Bruno's retrial on theft of honest services charges could be delayed because his defense team is working on the criminal trial of longtime Albany brokers Timothy McGinn and David Smith, which has been delayed until January.[TU] [YNN]

Police in South Glens Falls are trying to determine whether the parents
of a teenager hired strippers to perform at his 16th birthday party at a bowling alley in the village. [WNYT]

A Schenectady street division supervisor has chosen to retire rather than face disciplinary action stemming from charges that he swore and used racial slurs toward employees on the job. [Gazette]

The East Greenbush town board has approved Regeneron Pharmaceuticals' $70 million expansion project. [YNN]

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's office has subpoenaed Con Ed and the Long Island Power Authority for information about their preparation for, and response to, Superstorm Sandy. [NY Times]

Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer have requested up to $1 billion in federal aid for the first phase of a multibillion-dollar plan to rebuild areas of New York City after Superstorm Sandy.[NYT]

Jury selection continues today in the ballot fraud retrial of Edward McDonough.[YNN]

SEFCU is planning to foreclose on and auction 26 Troy properties owned by Campus Habitat. [Record]

Former State Comptroller Alan Hevesi, who was sentenced to prison last year for approving a kickback scheme involving the state's pension fund, appeared before a parole board on Wednesday and is awaiting a decision today.[Fox 23]

A Wilton couple has filed a lawsuit against a former neighbor convicted of stalking and harassment, stemming from his obsession with their son. [Gazette]

Apple picking is on the rise in Albany -- but not the good kind. [News 10]

Glenville's town board passed a $12 million budget that carries a 3.55% tax hike. [TU]

The case against a former Troy police sergeant picked up in an internet sex sting where he allegedly sent a message to a police officer who was posing as a 14-year old girl has been postponed for a third time while he considers a plea deal.[TU]

"Dredging season" on the Hudson between Hudson Falls and Fort Edward has come to a close for this year -- GE's PCB dredging project is nearly halfway to its goal. [TU][Post Star]

Company members of the soon-to-be-closed Osborne Road fire station in West Albany say they'll try to operate the building as a banquet house.[TU]

Part of 6th Avenue in Troy has been renamed Uccellini Avenue in honor of the late Walter Uccellini, the Troy businessman who died in a plane crash over the summer. Uccellini was the force behind the new City Station development in Troy.[YNN] [Record]

Assembly Republicans have re-elected Brian Kolb as minority leader.[YNN]

The New York State United Teachers union spent about $4.5 million on the 2012 elections, mostly on tv and radio ads for Democratic state Senate candidates.[TU]

A Waterford restaurant owner is facing felony charges after he allegedly purchased a cash register system that once belonged to him, knowing it had been stolen from its new owners. [TU]

Saratoga County's law and finance committee voted to create a local development corporation to take control of the sale of its county nursing home, step one in the process of privatizing the nursing home. [Saratogian]

The Friends of the New York State Military Museum have been pressured into firing the new employee at the museum's book store who earlier pled guilty to stealing collectables from the New York
State Library in 2008.[Saratogian]

The Saratoga North Creek Railway is planning to expand the number of Snow Train runs to North Creek this year. [Post Star]

Eighty-six-year-old jazz musician Lee Shaw on making music: "Playing the piano is keeping me alive." [TU]

A Saratoga Springs author of historical "thriller nonfiction" for young readers has been nominated for a National Book Award. [Gazette]