New standardized tests had 31% pass rate, Poulin convicted of manslaughter, wife of man shot by State Police critical of response
State Education commissioner John King says the fact that there was only a 31 percent pass rate on the new standardized tests in math and English language arts in New York's schools for grades 3-8 -- compared to a 55 percent pass rate last year -- is more of a reflection that the bar was raised than of a decrease in student performance. In Schenectady, where only 5.7 percent of eighth graders were proficient in math and 10.8 in English, district superintendent Laurence Spring said the scores are a "clarion call" for the district. [TU] [Business Review]
Calling him "arrogant," a US district court judge sentence former stockbroker Tim McGinn to 15 years in prison for defrauding investors. McGinn's partner, David Smith, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. E. Stewart Jones, McGinn's attorney, says if the two had been "allowed to do what they did most of their professional lives, everybody would have been made whole by now." [TU] [YNN]
A Rensselaer County jury convicted Rory Poulin of second-degree manslaughter -- but acquitted him on murder charges -- in the shooting death of his girlfriend, Margaret Jordan. [TU] [Record]
The wife of a Clifton Park man shot by State Police on Tuesday when he refused to put down a loaded .30 caliber rifle after troopers responded to a 911 call to check on his welfare, says the officers acted too quickly. She says the officers did not attempt to talk to her husband, but ran toward him screaming. Tonya Stewart says her husband "wasn't wielding the gun, running around the house, or even sitting on the front porch." She said he was distraught, and she called 911 because she "was afraid he might think there were no more options."[TU][WNYT][Saratogian]
Albany police are investigating a shooting that occurred on Second Avenue on Tuesday night, when a 32 year old man was found with two gunshot wounds in his leg. [APD Press Release]
Police in Colonie are investigating the explosion of a plastic soda bottle bomb on a Central Ave sidewalk. A driver reported that concrete debris from the explosion hit their car[YNN][WNYT]
The girlfriend of a rookie Albany police officer charged with misdemeanor third-degree assault alleges he banged her face against a car dashboard and dragged her out of the car by her hair. [TU]
The apartments above the Glenmont buffet restaurant where at least one employee has been charged with identity theft, and others have deportation warrants, were cited for having too many occupants . [TU]
The former Troy police officer arrested in a sting last year for sending sexual material to a minor over the internet has been sentenced to five years probation and a sex offender program and has to register as a sex offender in New York State.[TU]
A Lansingburgh man is being tried for sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl for the second time in three months. [Record]
A Pennsylvania man -- found guilty on Wednesday of trying to set up a sexual encounter with what he thought was a 14-year-old girl in Saratoga, but turned out to be a police officer in a sting operation -- could spend the rest of his life in prison.[YNN]
Police in Queensbury are looking for the driver of a car that was found rolled over on the Northway early Wednesday morning. [WNYT]
Albany police are still looking for the man who burglarized a Myrtle Avenue home last year. [TU]
A second Troy city councilman is asking questions about why an emergency demolition on the King Street buildings next door to the Troy Bombers was carried out earlier this week. [Record]
The Tennessee-based e-commerce company Etailogic won't be coming to the Capital Region to take advantage of START-UP NY benefits after all. [Capitol Confidential]
Schenectady officials broke ground on a new police dispatch center on Wednesday.[YNN]
Saratoga Springs is working to acquire land for a new East Side firehouse.[Saratogian]
Saratoga Springs City Council is considering installing a $40,000 set of windows on the Congress Park carousel pavilion that will help preserve the historic horses. [Daily Gazette]
A 125-unit apartment building is being planned near the intersection of Delaware and Holland avenues in Albany. [Business Review]
A Ballston Spa couple is suing their neighborhood homeowners association
over to the fact that the neighborhood doesn't allow campaign signs for political candidates. [TU]
Skidmore College as been named the "most marijuana friendly school" on the recent Princeton Review "Reefer Madness" list.[Saratogian]
Colonie ShopRite is getting new shopping carts designed for kids with special needs. [News 10]
I got the horse right here -- on my iPad.
Mechanicville's biggest birthday party. [Gazette]
_____________________________________________________________________
APD Press Release -- Shooting
On Tuesday August 6, 2013, at approximately 9:30 p.m., officers responded to the 100 block of Second Avenue for a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, officers located a 32 year old male with two gunshot wounds to his leg.
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He was treated at the scene by medical personnel and transported to Albany Medical Center Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
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The investigation is still ongoing.
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