All Over Albany

Feds: mosque and Islamic center were "viable targets" in alleged radiation weapon plot, tension over Women's Equality Act on last day of legislative session, $1 million / 20

Federal prosecutors said Glendon Scott Crawford took undercover FBI agents to an Albany mosque and Schenectady Islamic center Tuesday as part of a scouting trip of "viable targets" in the alleged radiation weapon plot -- and then took the agents to the alleged device at former auto body shop in Schaghticoke before he was arrested. Attorneys for Crawford and Eric J. Feight argued there clients are not a threat, and weren't capable of building the weapon the feds allege was in the works. A federal district court judge ordered Crawford and Feight held without bail. [TU] [Daily Gazette] [TU] [Troy Record]

Among the allegations against Crawford is that he had contact with the KKK -- law enforcement officials say they haven't seen indications that the KKK or other organized hate groups are operating in the area. [TU]

As the last scheduled day of the legislative session starts, the abortion provision of the 10-point Women's Equality Act continues to be a sticking point between the state Assembly -- which passed all 10 provisions as one -- and the state Senate, whose leaders are aiming to pass the other nine provision separately. [TU] [AP/Troy Record]

With the fact that much of the city's property is already tax exempt in mind, the two presumptive frontrunners for Albany mayor -- Democrats Kathy Sheehan and Corey Ellis -- are watching closely what happens with the Cuomo admin's Start-Up NY/Tax-Free NY plan. [TU]

Sheila Abdus-Salaam was sworn in as the newest member of the Court of Appeals, New York's highest court. She's the first African-American woman to be appointed to the court. In attendance at the ceremony: US attorney general Eric Holder, a law school classmate of Abdus-Salaam. [TU] [WNYT] [NYDN]

Jason Guynup pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the stabbing death of Nikki Hart, the mother of his children, in Schodack this past December. The plea deal includes 20 years to life in prison. Rensselaer County DA Richard McNally called Hart's death "a brutal act of domestic violence." [WNYT] [YNN] [Troy Record] [TU]

James Wells was sentenced to 30.5 years to life for the fatal shooting of Schenectady High School basketball player Eddie Stanley at a party. Stanley's mother told Wells in a statement in court the she hopes her son's killing haunts Wells for the rest of his life. [TU] [Daily Gazette]

Two more teens pleaded guilty to being involved with the setup, robbery, and killing of Takim Smith in Troy this past February. [TU]

With the possibility that federal prosecutors could seek the death penalty, an attorney with extensive experience in death penalty cases has been added to the defense of Robert A. Butler, accused of setting the fire that killed a father and three of his children in Schenectady last month. [Daily Gazette]

Despite objections by the state Medical Society, the state legislature has passed a bill that if signed would require doctors to offer a test for Hepatitis C to patients born between 1945 and 1965. [TU]

The Albany school district is apparently still investigating the situation surrounding the "think like a Nazi" assignment. [TU]

GlobalFoundries is offering to buy a beach on Saratoga Lake in Stillwater and open it to the public as part of a "community benefit agreement" in return for town approvals for a second fab -- but Malta leaders say they're holding out for more. [YNN] [Daily Gazette]

The board of commissioners for the Saratoga Springs Housing Authority and the Saratoga Springs city council disagree about salaries for the authority -- but agree that the state law about whether matters is unclear. [Saratogian]

Ellis Hospital is trying to get the state to designate its recently opened urgent care facility in Clifton Park as an emergency department. [Saratogian]

A group of 20 employees at a chain restaurant in Queensbury each got the big cardboard check for a $1 million Powerball prize. [Post-Star]