All Over Albany

Criticism of process that resulted in Troy emergency demolition, what to do about apparently abandoned fish, concern about teacher evaluation system

Troy city officials faced criticism Thursday night of the process that resulted in the emergency demolition of four buildings along King Street this week. City councilman Mark McGrath has alleged "the administration's desire to develop that block resulted in their political greed and ambition surpassing their concern for public safety -- and for the law." And councilman Ken Zalewski requested to see a report from the fire chief about why the buildings had to come down. [YNN] [TU] [Troy Record]

Anthony Repp, accused of killing his mother and stepfather in Schaghticoke on July 4, was extradited from Massachusetts and has pleaded not guilty in Rensselaer County Court. [WNYT] [News10]

The state DEC says it will recommend that any market-sized fish from the apparently closed Local Ocean indoor aquaculture facility near Hudson be donated to a local food pantry. [TU]

Among the New York Power Authority spending criticized by the state comptroller's office in a new report: the state's practice of pulling money from the New York Power Authority for the state budget (while customers in the state pay some of the nation's highest electricity rates). NYPA manages power plants across the state and is one of the state's largest public authorities. [NYS OSC] [TU]

There's some concern that the state's new evaluation system for teachers includes a quirk that could unfairly mark some teachers as "ineffective." [TU]

Democrat Sean Eldridge continues to lay the groundwork for a possible run against Chris Gibson. [TU]

Colonie police say two men armed with box cutters and pepper spray -- and wearing swim goggles -- robbed a gas station of cigarettes early Wednesday (map). CPD says the men used the pepper spray on the clerk and two customers and forced them into a bathroom. [TU] [Troy Record]

A 12-year-old testified in Rensselaer County Court Thursday that the man accused of raping and sexually assaulting her threatened to kill her mother -- or put the mother in jail -- if the girl didn't comply. [Troy Record]

A Schuylerville woman has been accused of stealing $36k from the Saraotga Saddlery while serving as the store's bookkeeper. The Saratogian reports this isn't the first time the woman has been caught up in these sorts of allegations. [YNN] [Saratogian]

Contrary to some earlier reports, Saratoga Springs police say authorities have not concluded that the cause of the large Woodlawn Ave fire was electrical. [Saratogian]

The mother of a woman who now has severe disabilities after losing consciousness at the 2013 Camp Bisco is suing the festival and many others alleging negligence in being adequately prepared for the event. [Daily Gazette]

Ellis Medicine has explained a bit more why it wants to expand its proposed parking garage from three stories to five (the project has been facing opposition from residential neighbors). [Daily Gazette]

The founder of Serotta bike company in Saratoga Springs -- which makes high-end custom bikes, and has been struggling financially -- says he was fired by the company's new management -- over the phone. [Saratogian]

The new press at Times Union will be used to print the Saratogian, Troy Record, and Daily Freeman. [Saratogian]

Vital Vio, a Troy-based company working on LEDs that produce disinfecting light, has gotten early stage funding from two venture capital firms. Earlier: We met the Vital Vio founders as they worked at Tech Valley Center of Gravity

The Dudley Observatory is moving in with miSci. [TU]