All Over Albany

Cuomo proposes "Bill of Rights" for women, poll: majority of New Yorkers think Silver should resign, arson suspect to face federal prosecution

Andrew Cuomo unveiled his proposed "Bill of rights" for women on Tuesday. The ten-point plan would toughen laws against human trafficking, domestic violence, gender-based discrimination and pay inequity as well as updating the state's abortion laws. The abortion language constitutes about five sentences at the end of the 56 page bill and would secure a right to late-term abortions when the health of the pregnant woman is at risk or when the fetus is not viable. State Senate Republicans argue wrapping abortion legislation in with the women's rights billis a political maneuver, and may keep the bill from reaching the floor. [TU][YNN][NYT][Capitol Confidential]

A new poll Quinnipiac poll reports New York voters believe Sheldon Silver should step down for his handling of the Vito Lopez scandal by a margin of 51 to 22. [NYT]

Lopez, the former Assembly member, is expected to be fined $330,000 by a legislative ethics panel for allegedly sexually harassing former employees.[NYT]

The prosecution of Saratoga man charged with starting the Schenectady fire that killed 32-year-old David Terry and four of his children will be handled by federal prosecutors in US district court, opening the possibility that he could face the death penalty if found guilty. [Saratogian] [TU] [YNN]

The former CFO of the Brighter Choice Foundation, convicted for stealing $54,000 from Key Bank in his previous job, will spend 5 to 10 years in prison for stealing nearly $203,000 from Brighter Choice -- money he says he believed was "owed" to him. [Record] [YNN] [TU]

An Albany man is facing charges for allegedly sexually abusing a kindergartner in the bathroom of the State Museum. The child was on a field trip with his class from Cambridge Elementary School and his mother was waiting for him outside the bathroom door. [TU][YNN][WNYT]

The mother of the 5-year-old Warren County boy that Brandon Warrington is alleged to have killed testified against Warrington on Tuesday. Jennie Mattison told the courtshe had lied earlier to protect Warrington. [YNN][WNYT]

Albany County Sheriff's deputies arrested a taxi passenger on drug charges when they allegedly found him with an ounce of cocaine after pulling the cab's driver over for speeding at the intersection of Washington and Colvin Avenues in Albany early Monday morning.[TU] [Record]

Two men arrested for DWI in Saratoga Springs early Tuesday morning were driving the same car. [TU] [Saratogian]

A former Albany cop who left the force to become a U.S. marshal in 1999 is now facing federal charges for allegedly accepting over $3 million in bribes in exchange for providing tourist visas to Vietnamese citizens. [TU]

An Oklahoma woman is dead after she drove the wrong way on the Northway and crashed head on into a truck near Exit 22. [TU]

A Schenectady man is a suspect in the murder of two people in Oneida County. [YNN]

After Albany County executive Dan McCoy was accused of ignoring union bidding requirements, Albany County put a contract to renovate a floor of an Albany County office building for an SCCC satellite campus out to bid for a second time, and the same company came in with the low bid -- but it was $87,000 higher than before. [TU]

The State Attorney General's office has taken over the investigation of six Rensselaer County DPW workers for alleged no-show work and theft of city fuel.[TU]

A proposed home for homeless alcoholics in Troy's little Italy neighborhood is facing opposition from neighborhood residents. [Record]

Fire at a former service station in Altamont caused a minor explosion that downed power lines early this morning. [News10]

New York legislators are considering a bill that, if approved by state voters, would amend the state constitution to extend the mandatory retirement age for judges from 74 to 80.[NYT]

Colonie police are looking for the public's help in identifying a man who allegedly sexually assaulted a woman near Central Ave and Vly Road on Sunday morning. [YNN][Colonie PD Press Release]

Thirteen months after former NYRA CEO Charles Hayward was fired, the board of the racing association still has not found a replacement.[YNN]

Student reporters from across New York State grilled state education commissioner John King on Tuesday about subjects like standardized testing and teacher evaluations.[TU]

Animal advocates, including Saratoga resident and reality TV star Michele Riggi, lobbied for tougher animal cruelty laws at the Capitol on Tuesday.[Saratogian][YNN]

The Capital Region has ten new wheelchair accessible taxis.[WNYT]

A ceremony onboard the USS Slater on Tuesday marked the anniversary of The Battle of Midway. [Gazette]

A pair of German brothers, reunited in Rensselaer, recount the harrowing tale of their escape from Germany during WWII. [TU]

The first class of HVCC's Clean Technologies and Sustainable Industries Early College High School program graduated Tuesday. [Saratogian]

A Scotia man who has been a quadriplegic for 30 years has helped to invent, and become proficient at, a computerized musical device he can use to play a variety of digitized instruments.[TU]

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CPD: Sexual Assault under investigation that occurred near Central Avenue and Vly Road

The Colonie Police Department is investigating a sexual assault that occurred early Sunday morning 06-02-13 near Central Avenue and Vly Road. A 19 year old female came into the Mobil Station at 370 New Karner Road at 2:53 am and told the employee that she had been attacked along Central Avenue east of the Mobil Station. The female victim reported that she had been in the City of Albany on North Pearl Street near Pine Street and was offered a ride home by two males previously unknown to the victim. During the ride they pulled off of Central Avenue and she was attacked and sexually assaulted.

The victim suffered injuries consisting of a fractured orbital bone, fractured nose, and rib pain. She was transported by Colonie EMS to Albany Medical Center Hospital where she was admitted for treatment and has since been released.

The investigation has revealed that the incident took place near the intersection of Central Avenue and Vly Road and there is some surveillance images of a vehicle and subject that we are attempting to identify. This subject is not considered to be a suspect at this time. The vehicle in the photo is a light colored four door Hyundai. The subject is a white male, medium build, dark hair, white t-shirt with an American Flag emblem, dark red/purple pants, and black footwear.

Attached are still images of the vehicle and subject. We are unable to provide the video at this time, but efforts are underway to make that available in the future. Further information will be released when it is available. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Colonie Police Department at 783-2744.