All Over Albany

Gibson: don't strike Syria, Drue attorneys file motion to get case moved from Saratoga County, that's what almost $400k in cash looks like

Chris Gibson: "I would tell you, I am doing the very best I can to convince my colleagues and the administration that striking Syria will not resolve the matter." [NYSNYS/Troy Record]

Attorneys for Dennis Drue -- the driver accused of causing the Northway crash that killed two Shen high school students and seriously injured two other teens -- have filed a motion in state court requesting his trial be moved from Saratoga County, arguing the attention the case has gotten prevents him from getting a fair trial. Says Drue attorney Steve Coffey: "This tragedy absolutely consumed the entire county" and "The underlying passion in this case is sub-volcanic anger." Saratoga County DA Jim Murphy called the motion "without basis." [TU] [Daily Gazette] [WNYT] [Saratogian]

The head of the Albany NAACP -- Bernard Bryan -- criticized Albany County DA David Soares Thursday arguing that the DA "in trying to allay the fears of white suburbanites, has basically turned his back on his own community." Bryan also asserted that the recent handling of a drug case involving a county deputy exec indicates not everyone is treated the same under Soares' watch. Bryan's comments were made at a press conference to discuss a report from The Center for Law and Justice that concludes "much progress has been made" in developing mutual respect between the Albany police under chief Steven Krokoff and the community -- and argues there's more work to do. [TU] [WNYT] [CLJ] [YNN]

A look at the ongoing tension over the Central Ave motels in Colonie, which are used by social service agencies as housing. [TU]

Troy police say a man was shot in the torso Thursday afternoon in what may have been a drive-by (the role of a car seen leaving the scene is unclear) on Sixth Ave in North Central (map), which follows two other reports of shots fired in the last two days. TPD says it's still gathering details and evidence about the incident. [Troy Record] [News10] [YNN]

"People with knowledge of the murder investigation" tell the Times Union the shooting of two men -- one fatally -- in the Central State neighborhood last week was part of a fight between romantic rivals. This week Schenectady police say two men were arrested on resisting arrest and disorderly conduct charges following a large gathering at a curbside memorial Wednesday for the man killed after police responded to reports of shots fired. [TU] [TU]

Troy police say they were led into a wooded area off 11th Street Thursday to the head of the "Birds of Oakwood" Uncle Sam, which was decapitated August 23. TPD says the publication of a suspect photo prompted "numerous" tips about the case, and they're holding the head as evidence. Earlier this week a Mechanicville woman was charged with criminal possession of stolen property for having the "Uncle Rainbow" Sam head. [TPD] [TU]

The Stillwater town board has approved its final zoning changes that open the way for a possible second GlobablFoundries chip fab at Luther Forest. (Malta already approved its portion of the necessary changes.) [TU]

A Saratoga County committee has recommended an Austin, Texas firm to replace the Saratoga Economic Development Corp as its strategic planner for economic development. [Saratogian]

Following the Sandy Hook shootings, school districts in this region have been increasing their security practices. [Daily Gazette]

The owner of Kobe -- the 3.5-feet-long alligator that was missing in Columbia County, and found this week -- and a town animal control officer say the gator could have been stolen from his temporary cage. State Police tell the TU there's no evidence to indicate that. But News10 reports "police" say there is "a person of interest and charges are pending." (Based on WNYT's report, the "police" may be the animal control officer.) [YNN] [TU] [News10] [WNYT]

A Clifton Park man is accused of trying poison his neighbor's cats with tainted tuna -- the neighbor's dog ended up eating it instead. [News10] [WNYT]

A car crashed into a Saratoga Springs drug store Thursday (map) -- the second time that's happened to the store in the last two years. [Saratogian]

Things don't appear to be moving ahead on schedule for the redevelopment of the Latham Circle Mall. [YNN]

Advocates for Olana in Columbia County are fighting a new communications tower they argue will mar the viewshed from the historic site. [NYT]

Almost $400k in cash was wheeled out in front of Green Island students to make a statement about staying in school. [Troy Record]
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TPD: Head of "Birds of Oakwood" Uncle Sam recovered

At approximately 12:15 pm, Troy Detectives were led to a wooded area off 11th Street in Troy to recover the head of an Uncle Sam Statue that was vandalized in the early morning hours of August 23rd.

Publication of a suspect photo led to numerous tips to Troy Detectives, leading them to recover the statue head in a black plastic garbage bag. The head is now safely in the Troy Police evidence vault and will be processed for trace evidence.