All Over Albany

Dennis Drue sentenced, investigation in apparent Albany homicide, resident permits for downtown Troy off-street parking, Siro's for sale

Dennis Drue was sentenced to 5-15 years in prison for his guilty plea to more than 50 counts related to the fatal Northway crash last year that killed Chris Stewart and Deanna Rivers. At the sentencing Bailey Wind -- one of the two teens who survived the crash, but were seriously injured -- told Drue repeatedly to look at her while she spoke and called him a "murderer" and said, "You're drenched in their blood forever." Stewart's mother spoke of how many of her son's things still sit where he left them, including his toothbrush: "I hope every time you pick up your toothbrush in your jail cell, you think of my son and my grief ... I hope it inspires you to do bigger and better things with your life, and I hope it gives you perspective to see things from someone else's eyes." In the five years leading up to the crash, Drue had been ticketed 22 times, had his license suspended, and was involved in four accidents, all reported to be his fault -- and prosecutors said he was drunk and had marijuana in his system at the time of the fatal Northway crash. Just before the sentence was announced, Drue apologized for the first time publicly: "I never meant to hurt anybody ... I take full responsibility. I'm so sorry, I really am." Rivers' father expressed disappointment in the length of the sentence: "We feel that someone who takes two lives by committing this type of reckless crime should receive more than five to 15 years in prison." [TU] [WNYT] [Daily Gazette] [Saratogian] [News10] [YNN]

Shanikqua Thomas -- who pleaded guilty to assault for running over six people on Elk Street in Albany in August -- was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Said a woman whose pelvis was broken during the incident: "I try not to think about that day but am constantly reminded because of the physical injury and emotional scars I carry." [News10] [Albany County DA] [TU]

Albany police say they're investigating what appears to be a homicide in an apartment on Western Ave near to the Saint Rose campus (map). APD says officers responding to a call about a broken window Wednesday found a deceased man, apparently from a physical altercation. APD says it's arrested a man in connection with an alleged burglary, but any possible involvement in the death is still under investigation. [APD]

Part of the recent haul in what's reported to be the Capital Region's largest-ever drug seizure: more than 500 pounds of pot and more than 130 pounds of cocaine. [TU]

An Albany man convicted of raping an 8 year old was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison. The judge in the case said the man should be civilly committed after serving his sentence if he still requires treatment for. [Albany County DA] [TU]

Argument from a NYSUT analysis of the state's property tax cap: The cap hurts school districts in economically poor areas because cap-allowed tax increases don't generate as much in absolute terms as they do in well-off areas. [TU]

The Albany County legislature approved a 2014 budget that includes full-year funding for the county nursing home. (There's been an ongoing back and forth over whether the facility should be privatized.) [TU]

The incoming Troy city council president says the council will look into the ongoing drama between the city police chief and the city, the latest turn of which included a visit from the FBI. First issue: what sort of investigative or subpoena powers the council has. [TU] [Troy Record]

The Troy city council approved a plan for resident parking permits for overnight parking in city-owned downtown parking lots and garages. [TU]

Contentious question facing Rotterdam about its ambulance service: for-profit or not-for-profit? A nearly five-hour meeting Thursday night included a packed crowd -- some holding signs. [Daily Gazette] [News10] [TU]

The city of Albany has a contract with a Texas-based company to build a publicly-accessible database and website for building permits, code violations, and other related info. [TU]

The Greenfield town board approved a proposal for a large solar farm on land owned by Skidmore. [TU]

The city of Schenectady is looking at options for reshaping the "non-efficient" intersection of the Erie Blvd and Nott Street.

Most common question asked of one of the "ambassadors" at ALB: "Where's the bathroom?" [TU]

Siro's -- the restaurant near the Saratoga Race Course -- is for sale. List price: $1.85 million. [Daily Gazette] [Roohan Realty]