All Over Albany

Local Marine killed in Afghanistan, Cuomo in DC for Sandy aid, state Senate is endless source of drama, goose goose goose

A Marine from Mechanicville -- Lance Cpl. Anthony Denier -- was killed in Afghanistan by enemy fire this past weekend. He was 26. Said Denier's mother to Fox23: "He knew what he was getting into, and he knew the road he was taking. And he was proud to take it, and I'm proud of him." Denier will be buried at Saratoga National Cemetery. [TU] [Daily Gazette] [YNN] [Fox23] [Troy Record]

Said a Shen student yesterday to the Daily Gazette, about the crash that killed two teens and left two others seriously injured: "It doesn't really register yet ... It feels like there has to be a rewind button somewhere that hasn't been pushed yet." [Daily Gazette]

Andrew Cuomo visited the White House and Capitol Hill Monday to lobby for the $42 billion in federal Sandy aid that he's requested. Among those he met with: John Boehner, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and White House chief of staff Jacob Lew. Among those he did not meet with, apparently to much chagrin: Democratic House members from New York State. Also: the Cuomo-walking-into-the-White-House gif. [NYT] [TU] [State of Politics] [State of Politics]

The Albany County legislature voted to override the tax cap and approve a budget that includes a 7.6 percent tax increase. [TU]

The Rensselaer County legislature approved a budget that includes a 1.25 percent tax increase, the smallest among Capital Region counties this year. [TU]

The judge overseeing the counting of absentee and affidavit ballots in the 46th state Senate election indicated Monday that he'd be willing to hear the legal arguments behind the objections to challenged ballots -- three quarters of which were challenged by George Amedore's campaign. Amedore leads Cecelia Tkaczyk by 111 votes with 887 contested ballots up for review. Also, what would a count be without accusations of shenanigans. [TU] [YNN] [Daily Gazette]

Democratic state Senator Malcolm Smith -- who was majority leader during the Democrats' recent, and brief, control of the chamber -- is joining the Independent Democratic Caucus, the break away group looking to form a ruling coalition with Republicans. Smith's decision may have little to do with state Senate, and more to do with NYC. [NY Post] [State of Politics]

Former Troy city clerk William McInerney testifying during the Troy ballot fraud trial about how he used rubber gloves and water to seal absentee ballot envelopes in order to avoid leaving DNA: "Like you see on Law & Order." [Troy Record] [TU]

The family of the Schenectady teen seriously injured during a baseball bat attack last month says the attack was part of a larger, ongoing feud in the Mont Pleasant neighborhood. [Daily Gazette]

Proctors CEO Philip Morris has been getting the STAR exemption on two properties over the last two years -- people involved say it was a mix up. [TU]

A Princetown couple has filed suit against Schenectady County after the county changed the name of their street without consulting any of the residents. [Daily Gazette]

Thousands of snow geese made a stop in Saratoga Springs Monday. [Saratogian]