All Over Albany

GE plans layoffs in Schenectady, Nelligan found guilty in beating death of grandson, proposed Albany budget holds residential taxes steady

GE says it will lay off as many as 200 salaried workers at its Schenectady operation between now and the end of the year as part of a restructuring effort. The company says it is not cutting hourly manufacturing employees.[TU][Gazette]

A judge found 43-year0old Gloria Nelligan of Schenectady guilty in the beating death of her 8-year-old grandson. Nelligan now faces 25-years to life when she is sentenced next month. [TU][YNN]

Former RPI business coordinator Christine Dickson pleaded guilty to grand larceny on Tuesday, admitting to charging $350,000 in travel and cash advances on a college credit card over six years. [WNYT][Record]

The New York State customer center for New York State of Health -- the state "health exchange" set up as part of the federal Affordable Care Act -- saw heavy activity on first day Tuesday -- with more than 2,500 calls in the first two hours. The rush caused some glitches in the website for the exchange. And this morning the website is encouraging "users who are unable to log in to come back to the site later when these issues will be resolved." [WNYT] [Saratogian]

Employees at military sites throughout the Capital Region have been sent home without pay due to the federal government shutdown. [Saratogian]

Gazette articles continue be open-access because of a computer problem.

Proposed budgets for Capital Region cities are being released:

+ Jerry Jennings' proposed $171 million Albany budget (pdf) includes no tax increase for homeowners, but the commercial tax rate would increase. The proposed budget also includes no raises for city employees, and would pull almost $10 million from the city's "rainy day fund." [TU] [YNN]

+ Schenectady mayor Gary McCarty's proposed budget calls for a 1.1 percent property tax increase and an overall budget increase of 1.97 percent compared to 2013. [Daily Gazette] [YNN]

+ Troy's proposed $66.4 million budget would raise property taxes by 2.76 percent.[Record]

+ Saratoga Springs' proposed budget would raise property taxes by .68 percent.[Saratogian]

A Brooklyn man is suing New York's Board of Elections over the language used in the upcoming ballot question about whether New York should allow full casinos. [Capitol Confidential]

A new ranking by a Buffalo business publication concludes teachers for the Albany school district earned the second-highest pay out of 429 upstate school districts. [TU]

Albany police are looking for a man who allegedly approached two young girls in a silver van on Monday as they walked home from Arbor Hill Elementary School. [TU][WNYT]

A 9 and 10 year old are facing felony counts of burglary and criminal mischief for allegedly causing $9,000 in damage by driving a tractor across a Stillwater property, hitting a boat with an ax, and setting a fire. [TU][WNYT]

A Troy man may lose his eye after police say he was stabbed in his apartment on Tuesday night. [TU]

Albany police are investigating a rash of recent burglaries in the city in which thieves have entered homes during the day by pushing in window air conditioning units. [APD press release below]

A Stephentown man was arrested on animal neglect charges after State Police eemoved emaciated horses from his property. [News 10] [YNN]

The family of the man in a coma from injuries sustained during a police chase in Saratoga in August says they're seeing an FBI investigation into the incident. [WNYT]

Thousands of acres of Adirondack land held for years by Finch Pruyn timber company, and bought by the state last year, are now open to the public under an interim plan by the state Department of Environmental Conservation. [TU]

The fish from Local Ocean, the Columbia County indoor fishery that closed recently, have apparently been sold to markets and to a fertilizer company. [WNYT]

The search for a missing film made to thank Albany for 300 tons of donations to help rebuild Nijmegen, a city in The Netherlands, after WWII.[TU]

Schenectady teens who drop out of school are learning constructions skills and earning equivalency diplomas as part of a "YouthBuild" program.[TU]

The Troy Spring has reopened to the public after renovations. [Record]
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APD:Burglary Trend in Albany

Albany Police are investigating a recent trend of burglaries that have occurred throughout the City of Albany.

Since August 12, 2013, 11 burglaries have been reported in various parts of the City in which the suspect(s) have entered homes by pushing in portable air conditioning units. Seven out of the 11 burglaries have occurred during the daytime hours while the other three have occurred at night.  It is unknown when the other burglary occurred.

The suspect(s) appear to be targeting unoccupied homes with portable air conditioning units that are installed in windows. While inside, the suspect(s) have been stealing various electronic items.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Albany Police Detective Division at (518) 462-8039.