All Over Albany

APD looking for "community mobilization" on guns, arguments in Wandering Dago free speech case, fatal fire -- and then fatal crash -- for family, resistance to soccer complex next to cemetery

Albany police chief Steven Krokoff says the APD knows what's prompted a recent of cluster of shootings in the city, but: "The victim even tells us, 'I know who shot me, but it's an ongoing thing and I'll take care of it myself.' ... And I'm not just looking for more cooperation with police, I'm looking for community mobilization." [TU]

Martin Kimber -- the retired pharmacist who spread mercury around Albany Med on multiple occassions because he was upset about a bill -- was sentenced to 14 years in prison. He's also been ordered to pay $200k in restition (in addition to his still outstanding medical bill). Authorities say they found white supremacist materials at Kimber's home in Ulster County, but at the sentencing he disputed prosecutors' asserations that he was a Nazis sympathizer: "The exotic behavior I displayed ... I was intoxicated and it was done out of frustration." [WNYT] [Daily Gazette] [TU]

During oral arguments in federal court Thursday for the Wandering Dago's lawsuit against the state alleging its free speech rights were violated after it was prohibited from vending at the Saratoga Race Course and Empire State Plaza, attorneys for NYRA and OGS argued that the race course and plaza are "nonpublic forums" that allow the agencies control some aspects of speech. The food truck's attorney argued the agencies actions were unconstitutional because they hadn't established clear codes of conduct for the spaces. A new detail from Thursday: the Wandering Dago's attorney shared an email that indicates Bennett Liebman -- the Cuomo admin's deputy secretary for gaming and racing -- was the state official who raised the issue of the food truck's name with NYRA officials. [TU] [WNYT] [TU CapCon] [Daily Gazette]

Troy police say they're looking for "a person of interest" who would be "of significant importance" to the investigation of a recent string of shootings. [Troy Record]

Albany police say they've made an arrest in the case of a stabbing Wednesday night in West Hill (map). [APD FB]

Albany police say they've arrested a Schenectady man in connection with a July robbery of the Key Bank across the street from St. Peter's (map). [APD FB]

The prominent Saratoga County harness racing trainer who was found guilty and pleaded guilty to charges related sexual misconduct with two teens has been sentenced to three years in prison. [Saratogian]

Saratoga Springs police say the recent burglary of trophies from the National Museum of Racing appears to be connected to a burglary at another horse racing museum in Goshen, New York. [Sartogian]

Five people were taken to the hospital following a fire at an apartment complex overnight in Watervliet. The situation included some intense rescues. [YNN] [TU]

North Greenbush police say the father of the man who died in the Poestenkill house fire this past weekend was seriously hurt in a collision with an oncoming vehicle Thursday afternoon -- he died after being taken to the hospital. [Troy Record] [News10]

The union that represents production workers at the Fort Edward plant GE announced is closing is putting together a proposal to persuade the company to change its mind. [TU]

After a count of absentee ballots, two more Albany Common Council incumbents lost in their Democratic primaries. [TU]

Chris Gibson says NYC's proposed $50 million plan for protection of its upstate drinking water watershed doesn't include enough attention on flood mitigation for areas such as Schoharie County (the big Schoharie Reservoir is part of the NYC system). [Daily Gazette]

Said a critic of the Albany Park South redevelopment plan at public meeting Thursday evening: "It's starting to look like a tunnel down New Scotland Avenue with a big brick box here and a brick box there." Among the changes to the plan that need approval: increasing the height of the buildings along New Scotland Ave. [YNN] [News10]

Duanesburg planning officials say the promoters of Camp Bisco haven't filed required post-event reports by their deadline, which could jeopardize next year's festival. [Daily Gazette]

At issue in Colonie: Whether Afrim's should get the OK from the Zoning Board of Appeals to build outdoor soccer fields and indoor dome next to the Memory Gardens cemetery (map). An opponent of the soccer complex argued it would affect the "serenity and peacefulness" of the cemetery. [TU] [WNYT]

Schenectady is launching a new anti-graffiti initiative, which includes a "positive expression" wall. [Daily Gazette]

Sodexo's contract for food services at the Empire State Plaza is up in November, and OGS says it's open to new ideas. [TU]

Sailing up the Hudson on a replica of the Half Moon. [Troy Record]