All Over Albany

Rivenburgh pleads not guilty, Assembly Republicans seek amendment allowing recall elections, Spa City police chief resigns

Relatives of Tammy and Jessica McCormack looked on in Schenectady County Court while Brice Rivenburgh was arraigned on Wednesday. Rivenburgh pleaded not guilty to 26 counts in connection with the murder of the mother and daughter in their Rotterdam home this month .[TU][YNN]

State Assembly Republicans are calling for a constitutional ammendment allowing recall elections for officials charged with corruption.[WNYT]

Saratoga police chief Chris Cole is retiring
after 23 years on the force--only 3 and a half as chief. Cole was suspended for a short time in 2011 for sending "racy" text messages to a woman he was dating. [WNYT][Saratogian]

Police in Albany and Colonie are warning residents to beware of scam artists claiming to be bank investigators after attempted scams were reported by elderly people in Loudonville and Albany. [TU][YNN]

Eric Schneiderman released a 21-page letter to US Secretary of State John Kerry, arguing an environmental review of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline that would carry oil from Canada to Texas failed to address the projects potential impact on climate change. [TU]

Fracking opponents are asking state lawmakers and the DEC to scrap the work on an environmental impact review done by a consulting firm, arguing the firm is part of a pro-fracking lobbying group. The firm has responded, saying it had one of its members join the group to keep abreast of the developments in the gas industry.[Record/AP][TU][Capitol Confidential]

Schenectady's school board has adopted a proposed $150 million 2013 -2014 budget that includes plans to plans to close the Blodgett School and lay off more than 100 people. [YNN][Gazette]

Saratoga's planning board has approved a six-story, 145-room hotel for Congress Street.[Saratogian]

An Albany teen is now facing second-degree murder charges for allegedly stabbing another teen who died ten months after the attack.[TU]

A Milton man was arrested for arson and burglary after he allegedlywent on a rampage, trashing his girlfirends trailer and smashing a glass display case at a Cumberland Farms .[TU][Saratogian]

Police arrested a Queensbury Walmart employee for prostitution after he allegedly offered sex for cash in the store. [TU][WNYT]

Police will soon be able to send Amber Alert notifications to cell phones. [TU]

State Police have released new photos of a Glenville woman who disappeared 34 years ago.[WNYT]

A Facebook post has helped to solve the nearly 50 year old mystery of a fatal hit and run that killed a 4-year-old girl in Fulton, NY.[TU]

Albany County legislators are expected to vote next month on whether to lease the county nursing home to a private operator. [YNN]

A small emergency corps that serves Milton and Ballston will begin wearing bullet proof body armor, after what they're saying is an increase in the level of violence in the calls they're responding to. [TU]

Inmates at the Albany County jail will soon be allowed video visits via cameras and laptops. [YNN]

A local man's story of prison, mental illness, and the case against solitary confinement.[TU]

The girlfriend of an Albany businessman who was robbed this week claims her psychic abilities led her to find and follow the alleged crook earlier this week. [WNYT]

Leaders in Cohoes are hoping projects like Ravens Head Brewing and the St. Joseph's Church community center will spur growth in the city's downtown. [TU]

Massry Center programmer Sal Pizio has been appointed consulting executive director of Cohoes Music Hall. [TU]

New York State has purchased 2,500 acres of land along Lake George for $1.8 million. [YNN]

Neighbors of Lebanon Valley Speedway are battling a proposed new motocross track that will bring the speedway noise closer to their homes.[TU]

Colonie is expecting about 100 new jobs from the expansion of a venting apparatus company.[Record]

Colonie native and Siena grad Jimmy Plourde, the firefighter pictured rescuing a college student from the Boston bombing site, was reunited with the student on Wednesday's Today Show.[WNYT]

A group of Afghan leaders, including the country's first female mayor, visited the New York State Capitol on Wednesday as part of a tour of the US.[TU]

Local farms making efforts to convert waste to energy.[Saratogian]

Freihoffer Baking Company Officials got the key to the city of Schenectady yesterday in honor of the company's 100th anniversary and their community outreach efforts -- and to celebrate, they gave way free bread and chocolate chip cookies. [TU]