All Over Albany

Storm rips through Rensselaer, push to save Women's Equality Act, maybe a little to eager to move to Schenectady, three decades of bagels

A possible microburst during Monday's thunderstorms did some serious damage in Rensselaer and North Greenbush. Its sounds like there were a few intense moments. [TU] [YNN] [News10]

Andrew Cuomo and Dean Skelos are both suggesting/pushing the state Assembly to return to pass the nine non-abortion measures in the Women's Equality Act. (The Assembly passed all 10 measures as one bill -- the state Senate passed the nine as separate bills, thus the conflict.) The pass-the-nine option is also getting support from both anti-abortion and abortion rights groups. [State of Politics] [State of Politics] [TU]

This fall there will be six state constitutional items on the ballot -- ranging from whether to approve casino gambling to whether state Supreme Court justices should be allowed to serve until their 80. [TU]

Quietly removed from the state legislation that advanced the approval process for full casino gambling in the state: a provision banning orgs with a casino license -- or seeking a casino license -- from making state and local political campaign contributions. Theories as to why: 1) it might have been unconstitutional 2) its removal "basically created a whole new class of special interest money." [Daily Gazette] [State of Politics]

Federal prosecutors are not seeking prison time for Annie George, convicted of harboring an immigrant to work as a servant at the Llenroc mansion in Rexford. Instead, they're asking for home detention, probation, community service, and a fine. [Daily Gazette] [TU]

The pilot who died in an air show accident in Ohio this past weekend -- that's been in the news across the country -- is originally from this area. [TU] [Daily Gazette]

Saratoga Springs police say a man armed with two handguns robbed a downtown CVS overnight in search of narcotics (map). [Saratogian]

The man accused of attacking fellow cookout attendee with a machete in Saratoga Springs in April has pleaded guilty to assault -- still not clear, though: whether there was actually a machete. [Saratoga County DA] [Saratogian]

A rep for seniors who live in Saratoga Springs public housing says some residents are "barricading their doors" because of what they regard as threats from "outside people" -- and the residents are afraid to go to the police. [Daily Gazette]

SSPD says the investigation of the reported rape in the Saratogian parking lot May 12 has been suspended because of insufficient evidence. [Saratogian]

Among the motorcyclists State Police say they stopped during a recent sweep northern Albany and southern Saratoga counties: a guy from Ballston Spa who was allegedly caught going 132 mph in Colonie. [NYSP]

How a surcharge intended to help pay for regulation of the state's utilities ended up being used for the state's general fund -- and why a commission is recommending that money be directed back to utilities. [TU]

A Tennessee company is apparently eager to move to Schenectady to take advantage of the Start-Up NY tax-free program -- maybe a little too eager. [TU]

Local Congressional reps on the huge, not-yet-passed federal farm bill. [TU]

Question in Schenectady: Who should set parking meter rates, the city council or mayor? [Daily Gazette]

A problem with a chlorine delivery has delayed the opening of the Central Park pool in Schenectady. [Daily Gazette]

Unusual: Three Schenectady police detectives have elected to go back to being patrol officers. [TU]

The Mohawk Hudson Humane Society has been practicing setting up emergency disaster shelters for pets. [YNN]

A Shaker High School teacher has been picked to be an education fellow as part of a program at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in DC. [TU]

A restoration and redesign of the FDR library in Hyde Park -- headed up by an Albany architecture firm -- is almost complete. [TU]

The first Bruegger's opened in Troy 30 years ago this month. [TU]