All Over Albany

Conflicting policies about search warrants, second teen pleads guilty in fatal Troy stabbing, police say death in UAlbany parking lot was accidental

There are conflicting, and often informal, policies about how judges around the area handle search warrants, making it difficult to review how warrants are approved and perhaps prompting "judge shopping." [TU]

Saratoga County DA James Murphy says there's a 4-6 month turnaround for some types of forensic evidence because of a backlog of work at the state crime lab. [Saratogian]

A second teen has pleaded guilty in connection with the murder of Takim Smith in Troy. Seventeen-year-old Keith Ferguson told a judge he acted as a lookout for the alleged scheme in which a group of teens lured Smith to an apartment and fatally stabbed him during a robbery. [TU] [Troy Record]

The adult son of Gloria Nelligan -- the Schenectady woman accused of beating her grandson to death -- alleges he was misled and manipulated by police and prosecutors as they worked to build a case against his mother. [TU]

The St. Patrick's bell tower, still standing as of Sunday night. Pieces of the tower were taken down on Friday. But complications have pushed the continuation of the demolition to Wednesday. [TU] [Troy Record] [YNN]

UAlbany police reported that an 18-year-old was found dead in car in a parking lot Saturday morning. They've identified the man as an Oneonta native who a student from Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania, who had been visiting the campus. Police say initial investigation indicates it was an accidental death -- further lab work could take 6-8 weeks. [WNYT] [YNN] [TU] [News10]

The Albany County Sheriff's Office says an inmate at the county jail committed suicide Saturday morning by hanging himself. Sheriff Craig Apple says letters found in the man's cell indicate he was depressed. [Troy Record] [TU]

Saratoga Springs police say a woman reported being raped early Sunday morning in the parking lot of the Saratogian building downtown. SSPD says the woman is acquainted with the accused, and police are investigating. [TU] [Saratogian]

Police testimony in the case against Joshua McWain, the Greenfield man accused of killing his mother and burying her under a shed: the blunt object allegedly used to kill the mother was a floor buffer. Police also allege that McWain left a "world's greatest mother" statue in the hole where the woman was buried. [TU] [Daily Gazette]

As the state heads toward a debate about medical marijuana, a sticking point for medical experts: limited data on the use of the drug as therapy. [TU]

Albany County is headed toward a self-imposed "fiscal tiff" over the privatization of the county nursing home. [TU]

The city of Troy and the state DOT announced changes for the Hoosick Street corridor intended to make it safer for pedestrians. [WNYT]

Another topic on which the Capital Region's many municipal subdivision make things difficult: taxi cabs. [TU]

The parents of a Stillwater High School student have sued the district, arguing the school didn't do enough to stop another student from repeatedly bullying their son -- including an alleged attack that caused a concussion. [Daily Gazette]

Four percent of the Schenectady school district's 815 teachers are non-white -- the district says it will be recruiting in NYC this summer in an attempt to diversity its teaching ranks. [Daily Gazette]

The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and a local bike manufacturer are pushing a petition asking Amtrak to allow bikes on trains between NYC and Montreal. [Saratogian]