All Over Albany

Details on state rebate for families with kids, residents express complaints about police training operation, odd burglary case in Troy, her 100th birthday

There are now details on the $350 state rebates many families with children will be getting in 2014 (lots of details). The rebate checks are scheduled to arrive in October 2014 -- yep, right before election day. [TU] [YNN]

The observances of Passover and Easter this week complicated the budget process -- and gave legislators another thing to fight about. [TU]

That state budget includes increases in the amount of video lottery terminal money for both Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County -- though it's still short of levels from 2008. [Saratogian]

At a community meeting Monday night residents of the Ida Yarbrough Homes expressed their complaints about an Albany Police Department training exercise last week that used simulated ammunition and injuries. Some residents said they were confined to their apartment during the training, or blocked from getting to their apartment. And another resident said she worried about the effect the training had on kids in the complex. APD assistant chief Brendan Cox said there was "a lack of communication" about the training. [YNN] [TU] [WNYT] [News10]

A state comptroller's office audit of the Rensselaer County public health department concludes that almost $209,000 was not properly accounted for or remitted for deposit over a six year period. A deputy comptroller tells the Times Union OSC believes a public health department employee arrested last year and accused of stealing $75k was responsible for all of the money. [NYS OSC] [TU]

A now-disbarred Albany-based attorney pleaded guilty in federal court to attempting to defraud clients, including in one case failing to file an appeal for a client but making it look like the appeal had been denied. [TU]

An investigation in Troy involves stolen laundromat washers, $800 in wheat pennies, and Craigslist. [Troy Record]

A text message with a photo from atop an interstate overpass and a threat to jump sent Albany police searching two overpasses on I-90 looking for the man. [TU]

A $4.25 million federal grant will be used to overhaul a Troy elementary school with longer school days, increased instruction, uniforms, and a new principal. [TU]

A Saratoga Springs school district literacy program is being used a model for how low-performing school districts around the state can improve. [TU]

CSEA -- which represents employees at Saratoga County's Maplewood nursing home -- is suing to block the county's plans to sell of the facility. [Daily Gazette]

Acting mayor of Cohoes George Primeau is officially into the pool for this fall's mayoral election. [TU] [Troy Record]

A $10 million gift from an anonymous donor is going toward the $150 million makeover of Samaritan Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital in Troy. [Troy Record]

The agreement worked out between residents around one Glass Lake and the town of Sand Lake could set a precedent for public access to all of the town's other lakes. [Troy Record] [TU]

A Cornell report concludes New York has more tappable maple trees than any other state -- but it's tapping a relatively small percentage of them for maple syrup. Also: there's a new international system for grading maple syrup (apparently the current system was too confusing for Californians). [TU] [Daily Gazette]

A bear -- maybe the same bear -- has shown up in the yard of an North Greenbush couple's home for three straight years. [TU]

Leonard Morgenbesser -- an Albany resident was active in anti-gun violence campaigns, and kept a detailed list of gun-related crimes in the city -- has passed away. [TU]

Jennie Towers Pattist of Saratoga Springs turned 110 on Sunday. [WNYT]