All Over Albany

Driver in fatal weekend crash says he wasn't drunk, Saratoga County man pleads guilty in fatal July crash,Cuomo says Senate Dems "squandered opportunity" when they had control

The 22 year old driver involved in the accident that killed two Shenendahowa athletes this week told his lawyer, Steve Coffey, that he was not drunk at the time of the crash. Dennis Drue has a history of drug and disorderly conduct issues and traffic tickets and was arrested several years ago on charges of marijuana possession and resisting arrest.[WNYT] [TU] [Record]

Shaker High senior Bailey Wind was released from Albany Medical Center yesterday[YNN]

A Saratoga County man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to causing the crash that killed 14-year old Kari Liedel as she was walking on a West Milton roadside in July.
Gavin Staulters pleaded guilty to second-degree vehicular manslaughter and admitted that he was driving drunk at the time. Staulters attorney told a judge that his client didn't want to put the Liedel family through a criminal trial[WNYT] [Saratogaian] [TU]

Police say the man charged with murdering Tonette Thomas and stabbing her sister and aunt last month made menacing phone calls to the house threatening to kill the women a few days before and had a history of arrests and domestic violence .[TU]

At a public meeting last night, Saratoga Springs Police Chief Christopher Cole said he realizes that the department should have told the public about a rape that occurred in the city in September. Cole told a group at the public forum that The SSPD has since started emailing the daily police blotter and arrest reports to the media. [WNYT] [Gazette]

Andrew Cuomo says Democrats"squandered opportunity" with legendary dysfunction when they briefly controlled the chamber in 2009-2010 session and that he'd wait and see how the new Senate coalition would work. [TU]

From the Watervliet School Superintendent whose district may end up being one of the first in the state to become educationally and financially insolvant-- "I literally can't give them a meaningful education if I have to cut one more person." [TU]

Plans for Troy's ambitious city center and apartment building have fallen through, which may not be the worst thing in the world for the city. [TU]

The head of Albany's parking violations bureau has been hired to be the Washington Ave Armory's new part-time head of security. [TU]

Three Albany men have been arrested for allegedly robbing a Pearl Street store in October and beating the clerk.[TU]

Bail has been set at $100,000 for the man charged with the murder of his 15month-old son in Warren County last year. [WNYT]

The South Glens Falls man charged with assaulting a boy in his care has been sentenced to three years in prison and three years post-release supervision.

A conflict of interest has caused a judge to order a new public defender for Brandon Warrington, who was charged with the death of a child in his care .[WNYT]

Investigators have scheduled a news conference to mark the fifth anniversary of Jaliek Rainwalker's disappearance. [TU]

After more than 20 years, assistant public defender John Ciulla is stepping down from his Saratoga County post. [TU]

Buses from around NYS pulled up in Albany on Wednesday and students, teachers, parents and education advocates marched from the state Museum to the Capitol to protest education reform.[YNN]

State comptroller Tom DiNapoli says the "fiscal cliff" tax increases could New Yorkers $43 billion.[Capitol Confidential]

A recent Siena poll shows more registered NY voters support hydrofracking than oppose it. [Gazette]

The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation has filed a restraining order to prevent the demolition of the Winans-Crippen House in historic Franklin Square. [Saratogian]

The Marine Corps League's Toys for Tots Foundation will send toys directly to a handful of local youth organizations that were turned down by the new leadership of the league's local volunteer group.[TU]