All Over Albany

Man charged in Albany shooting death, parents trying to raise awareness against bullying, Red Sox items make stop in Colonie before heading to Baseball Hall of Fame

A Guilderland man -- 32-year-old Damien Zervos -- has been charged with second-degree murder for the shooting death of Charee Akins-Maddox in an apartment on 100 block of Lark Street (map) overnight Thursday. Zervos has pleaded not guilty. Police say Akins-Maddox was shot in the back of the head with a rifle. Neighbors said they heard yelling before the shooting. APD says Zervos and Akins-Maddox were in a relationship, and four children were in the residence at the time of the shooting. Akins-Maddox's aunt told the media Thursday she had received a call from the woman's daughter overnight: "I think my mommy's dead." [APD FB] [YNN] [WNYT] [News10] [TU]

The Saratoga County DA's office says a Milton man is accused of assaulting and kidnapping his former girlfriend this past July. Saratoga County DA Jim Murphy: "This was his effort to try and re-connect the relationship." Prosecutors say the woman escaped by convincing the man she would resume the relationship. [TU] [Saratogian] [News10]

Fire officials say a 71-year-old man died of injuries sustained in a Rotterdam house fire (photo) Thursday afternoon (map). [Daily Gazette] [TU] [WNYT]

Says one of the parents of the 14-year-old Schalmont student who killed himself recently about the persistent stories -- unconfirmed by the school -- that he had been bullied: "Right now we're in a battle not only advocating for our son but bringing awareness to the school." [Daily Gazette]

The Cuomo admin is pushing for the creation of the "Upstate New York Flood Warning System" for better forecasting, mapping, and modeling of flooding. The proposed system would cover 13,000 square miles and three river watersheds: the Mohawk River, the upper Hudson River, and the Oswego River. The state is trying to get $8.5 million from FEMA to build the system. One of the envisioned benefits of the system: more warning time for people to evacuate. [Cuomo admin] [Daily Gazette]

Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday that the feds have approved a $1.6 billion low-interest loan for the new Tappan Zee Bridge. The project is expected to cost close to $4 billion. [Cuomo admin] [TU]

An investigation by the federal Department of Education has prompted SUNY schools -- including UAlbany -- to update policies for how reports of sexual assault and sexual harassment are handled. [YNN]

The proposed Saratoga County 2014 budget increases the tax levy per $1000 of assessed value by one cent. It also expects the privatization of the county nursing home. [TU] [Saratogian]

The Albany Citizens' Police Review Board will be running a mediation program in which people who feel they've been wronged by police can have face-to-face meetings with officers to discuss their concerns.

East Greenbush police say a 17-year-old was arrested for allegedly running a pot sales operation out of his house. [TU]

The Moreau woman charged with misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child for allegedly hiring strippers for her son's 16th birthday party has, at least for the moment, rejected a plea deal that would require parenting classes or community service in return for having the charges dropped. The Saratoga County DA says his office is ready for trial and they've "identified and located the dancers, and they have agreed to cooperate." [Post-Star] [TU] [Daily Gazette]

Albany police are trying to identify the man accused of attempting to rob Elissa Halloran Designs on Lark Street October 20. [APD FB]

A Schenectady woman has been accused of animal cruelty during an event aimed at protecting animals. [YNN]

Rain -- along with Twitter and Facebook-monitoring police -- may have contributed to a quieter than usual Halloween in Colonie. Also: Eggs were confiscated. [TU] [News10]

Some of the evidence in the investigation of the large international gambling operation that included people here in the Capital Region: wiretaps of Skype calls. [TU]

At issue in Malta: Whether there was an attempt to delay an ethics committee report about the town clerk's alleged use of town employees for political purposes until after the the election. [TU]

Among the issues highlighted in the Sand Lake supervisor race: taxes and heroin. [TU]

Among the issues highlighted in the Glenville supervisor race: taxes and economic development. [TU]

Among the issues highlighted in the Duanesburg supervisor race: a sewer project. [TU]

As the city of Troy tries to add Washington Park to the tax rolls, the Washington Park Association says a 1977 court decision affirmed the park as tax exempt. [Troy Record]

Researchers are about to start a detailed survey of Lake George aimed at creating a topographical map of the lake from its bottom to the tops of surrounding mountains. [TU]

The new Walmart "Neighborhood Market" opens in Niskayuna today. [TU]

Idea that bubbled up during a Capital Region infrastructure planning conference this week: a bridge connecting Albany and Rensselaer that would include light rail and retail space. [TU]

An archaeological survey at Lake George's Million Dollar Beach turned up artifacts that archaeologists say could be from as far back at 10,000 years. [Post-Star] [TU]

Items from the Red Sox World Series win -- including a beer-soaked jacket and dirty spikes -- were on display at the Desmond Thursday before they were taken to the Baseball Hall of Fame. [Troy Record]