All Over Albany

Cuomo talks about "restructuring" local municipalities, schoolwork cheating alleged at UAlbany, is he the sexiest vegan next door?

Andrew Cuomo hinted at some of the "restructuring" options his administration could propose for financially struggling local municipalities -- including changing the system of binding arbitration between municipalities and and police and fire unions. [State of Politics] [TU]

Environmental groups say two more consulting companies working on the state's environmental review of hydrofracking were listed as members in a gas lobbying group's letter -- and now fingers are pointing in various directions: environmental groups at the Cuomo admin, the consultancies at the lobbying group, the lobbying group at the environmental groups. [TU]

The attorney for state Assemblyman Steve Katz -- pulled over on the Thruway in Coeymans recently, allegedly in possession of pot -- has got an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal for Katz that involves community service and a parking fine (the ever popular ACOD -- if Katz stays out of criminal trouble, the case will be dismissed). Katz's attorney wouldn't address whether the Assemblyman actually had pot during the stop. [TU] [State of Politics]

After an Albany Student Press story reporting that "as many as 500 students" have been paying other students to do their school work, UAlbany says it's conducting an investigation. [ASP] [TU]

National Grid says it devoting six out-of-town crews to replace three miles of underground electrical cable in downtown Albany, part of an effort to head more manhole cover explosions. [WNYT]

The state Department of Taxation and Finance says a dozen "roll-your-own cigarette outlets" in the Capital Region/Hudson Valley were raided, netting 10 arrests. The department alleges the stores had "quantities of pre-rolled, untaxed cigarettes" for sale to the public. Roll-your-own shops have been an irritant to tax officials, cigarette makers, and shops that sell regular cigarettes because they're accused using loopholes to avoid state cigarette taxes. [NYS DTF] [TU]

East Greenbush police are investigating an armed robbery of Adult World on Columbia Turnpike Wednesday night -- a surveillance camera caught video of a masked man with what looked like a gun sticking up the clerk. [EGPD]

A Fort Edward man is facing charges he arranged illegal boxing matches and fights in Lake George and Saratoga Springs. A spokesperson for the state attorney general's office alleges the man was "basically hosting souped-up bar fights." [Saratogian] [TU]

A radioactive cleanup project at the Knolls Atomic Power Lab is scheduled to start up again in June after a multi-year delay because of problems with the initial effort. [Daily Gazette]

Judy Dagostino -- chairwoman of the Schenectady County legislature -- says she won't be running for re-election this fall, nor will the deputy chair. [Daily Gazette]

The Bethlehem school board approved a proposed budget that fits under the tax cap -- it draws on reserves and drops freshman sports to do so. [TU]

The Saratoga Springs planning board has approved a plan for a new county mental health facility at a former car dealership site on South Broadway. [Saratogian]

As part of a conference in Albany, 200 medical professionals will meet for programs focused on care for transgender people. [TU]

Two student teachers from Israel -- one Jewish, the other Muslim -- have been at Doane Stuart as part of a cultural exchange. [TU]

New life for the card catalog at the Saratoga Springs Public Library. [Saratogian]

A Malta man is a finalist for PETA's "Sexiest Vegan Next Door" contest. [TU]