All Over Albany

Report: Cuomo admin used economic development org to provide jobs for the connected, investigation into death of man in Albany, Coccadotts on Cupcake Wars

A NYT investigation concludes that the Cuomo admin has used the Empire State Development Corporation to provide jobs for the politically connected (or their children) -- the admin says the investigation was an attempt to "create a scandal." [NYT]

With all the talk about ethics and reform in state government, many reforms that could cut deeply into the problem aren't on the table. [AP/Troy Record]

Despite frequent talk about municipal consolidation in New York State, the idea usually faces strong opposition when it comes to specific consolidations. [TU]

Bethlehem police say a car plowed into a Delmar apartment building early Sunday, just missing a couple as they slept in their bedroom. BPD says the 18-year-old driver had been drinking. [News10] [WNYT] [TU]

A small plane crashed in a backyard in Hoosick Falls on Sunday afternoon. A witness says the plane landed nose down. The pilot -- the only person on board -- suffered head and neck injuries, and eventually was transferred to Albany Med in critical condition. [TU] [YNN] [Troy Record] [News10]

A Scotia smoke shop owner has been cleared of charges he sold cocaine after the Schenectady County Sheriff's Office says video indicated the man had been set up by the confidential information working with the sheriff's office. [TU]

Albany police say they're investigating the situation surrounding a man found dead in the South End Friday morning (map). APD was looking into what killed the 35-year-old man. [TU] [WNYT]

After a pickup truck allegedly hit a pregnant woman in a Troy crosswalk Friday night, a witness says four or five people physically blocked the truck to keep the driver from leaving. [WNYT]

State Police say they arrested a Clifton Park man last week wanted in the case of a double murder in the Philippines in 2011. [NYSP] [TU]

It was a busy end to the week for State Police making DWI arrests in Saratoga County. [Saratogian]

The estimated cost of publicly financing state-level political campaigns ranges from $104 million to $333 million, depending who's doing the estimating. [TU]

The Cuomo admin says the State Liquor Authority has cut the average processing time for a liquor license from 6 months to 2-3 months. [TU]

There are now about 140 high-definition surveillance cameras watching Schenectady for the city's police department. [Daily Gazette]

After not getting much response from landlords after sending out letters about apartment inspections, Schenectady will be trying tickets and fines this week. [Daily Gazette]

The city of Schenectady lined up successful Schenectady High School students for an event touting the school in an effort to combat perceptions about the city and its schools. [Daily Gazette]

Among the issues potentially on the table for Albany County's charter review: whether the county should switch from coroners to medical examiners. [TU]

The North Colonie school district's proposed budget includes a 4.3 percent tax increase, and the Shen school district's proposed budget includes a 2.3 percent tax increase -- both fit under the rules of the cap. [TU] [TU]

Watervliet city officials say the bell tower on St. Patrick's is scheduled to come down this week. [TU]

The addition of the first tech tenant for the Vista Technology Campus in Bethlehem -- currently the site of a ShopRite, a bank, and a medical office -- has been delayed. [WNYT]

A NanoCollege professor on safety related to working with nanoparticles: "When there are spills, they have to be disposed of properly. You don't just break out a Shop Vac." [TU]

Headline of the day: "Extinction looms at civic center after ice age ends" [TU]

Coccadott's did better in its return appearance on Cupcake Wars. One of its watch parities included 3,000 cupcakes. [Tablehopping] [Daily Gazette]