All Over Albany

Budget headed for weekend vote, the "Jimmy Fallon tax credit," court considers local fracking bans

The UAlbany men's basketball team faces Duke in the NCAA tournament today. Tip time is 12:15. The game is on CBS.

Details to fill out the "conceptual framework" for the deal on the state budget started to surface Thursday. It appears the budget is on track for the legislature start voting on it on Sunday -- there's a push to get the budget vote finished before Passover starts Monday evening. [AP/Troy Record] [TU]

Among the provisions tucked into the budget bills: "the Jimmy Fallon tax credit," which would give NBC a tax credit for bringing the Tonight Show to NYC when/if Jimmy Fallon takes over for Jay Leno. [NYDN] [NYDN]

A New York affiliate of the NRA has filed in federal court for an injunction to stop parts of the NY SAFE Act. The suit alleges the law violates multiple Constitutional amendments, restricts interstate commerce, and violates due process. Also currently irking gun rights supporters: a state tip line for reporting illegal guns. Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin -- who represents much of Rensselaer County -- says the program is a "gun-grab plan" and "seeks to turn neighbor against neighbor." [AP/Troy Record] [TU] [Daily Gazette] [Steve McLaughlin]

A state appellate court lifted the injunction preventing Lifetime from showing its Christopher Porco movie this weekend. Porco, representing himself, made his arguments before the court via telephone from prison. [AOA] [TU]

The Times Union has obtained dash cam video from the 2011 fatal shooting of Luis Rivera by Schenectady police officers -- a grand jury cleared the officers of wrongdoing. [TU]

Adeujuan Adams -- the 16-year-old seriously stabbed last year in Albany's South End in what prosecutors say was an attempt to steal his bike -- has passed away, apparently from complications of his injuries. [TU]

Issued before a state appellate court: whether local bans against hydrofracking are legal. [AP/Saratogian]

Potential problem in the trial of the Schenectady man accused of fatally hitting a pedestrian in a 2011 hit-and-run on Erie Boulevard: the man's truck, which should have been held as evidence, has been destroyed. [Daily Gazette]

At issue in the appeal before the state's highest court of an Albany man's 2007 murder conviction: whether his legal representation was a display of "sheer incompetence" or just less than perfect. [TU]

The attorney for Edward McDonough, acquitted in the Troy ballot fraud cast after two trials, has filed an intent to sue many of the people involved in the prosecution of McDonough. The notice alleges "malicious prosecution, abuse of process, intentional infliction of emotional distress and defamation of" McDonough. [TU] [Troy Record]

Among the justifications cited in the Saratoga Springs Housing Authority's "corrective action plan" for the salary of its executive director (which is higher than heads of much larger housing authorities): it's comparable to that of two principals in the Saratoga Springs school district, as per a policy from 1981. [Daily Gazette] [Saratogian]

HVCC has moved to limit the credit hours taught by some of its adjuncts in order to avoid being required to provide health coverage to the adjuncts under the new federal Affordable Care Act. [TU]

The SI Group has been fined $277k by the DEC for emission violations after a control device failed at its Rotterdam Junction plant. [Daily Gazette]

It's appears that Albany common councilman Dominick Calsolaro -- a frequent critic of Jerry Jennings -- will not be running for re-election. [TU]

The Shen school district is looking at selling land it owns off Route 46 -- proceeds from which could be used to build the district's first school in Halfmoon. [TU]

The interim executive director of the Palace Theatre -- Holly Brown -- has been named to the job permanently. And the theater reports it's headed for a second straight season with a surplus. [Daily Gazette] [TU]

A group of dog owners in Schenectady is organizing to raise money for new/renovated dog area in Central Park. [Daily Gazette]

A new pub/beer garden -- with mystery owners -- is opening today at Union Street and Broadway in Schenectady (map). [Daily Gazette]

If UAlbany beats Duke today, Great Danes coach Will Brown gets a $5,000 bonus as part of his contract (he'd get a $50k bonus if they win the national title). [Daily Gazette]

Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski is wearing a "Shen strong" bracelet given to him by the family of Deanna Rivers. [Saratogian] [TU]

Syracuse mauled Montana 81-34 -- yes, 81-34 -- in the first round of the NCAA tournament. [Post-Standard]