All Over Albany

Cuomo to push forward on limited medical marijuana legalization, Joe Biden to visit Albany, fatal fire on Dove Street in Albany, all that and the wrong person

"State officials" tell the New York Times that Andrew Cuomo will announce during his State of the State address Wednesday that he will open the way for limited use of medical marijuana in the state via an executive action. (Bills to allow medical marijuana haven't been able to make it through the state Senate.) The move will rely at least in part on provisions in a 1980 state law, though the legislature may still have to get involved in some way. Supporters of pot legalization were chuffed by the news, but the floated 20-hospital limit for the program muted some of the excitement. [NYT] [State of Politics] [TU]

Joe Biden will be in Albany Tuesday for an event with Andrew Cuomo, according to a White House press release, though there weren't many details about the visit. "Sources familiar with the event" tell the Times Union the Vice President's visit will touch on the use of federal disaster aid for rebuilding infrastructure. [WH press release] [TU]

A look at how Massachusetts has gone about the casino siting/selection process -- and how New York's process is (or isn't) shaping up. [TU]

Despite efforts to diversify the Albany Fire Department, the ranks of city fire fighters are still overwhelmingly white and male -- among the reasons cited by people inside and outside of the department: criteria used during the screening process and the composition of the civil service exam. [TU]

The person who died in the Dove Street fire in Albany Friday (map) has been identified as Daniel N. Ladopoulos III, who at one point owned the former Bleecker Cafe. [TU] [WNYT] [Legacy.com] [Table Hopping]

Schenectady police say a man was shot in the chest Saturday night in Hamilton Hill (map). SPD said the man was alive, but there was no information on his condition. [Daily Gazette] [TU]

A tractor trailer hauling grain was hit by a train in Schaghticoke Friday afternoon. The collision knocked the cab of the truck into the Hoosic River -- but the driver only suffered minor injuries. The Times Union reported Saturday, citing comments from officials and family members of the truck driver, that the truck slid onto the tracks when it couldn't stop on a slippery slope. News10 reports that the man's wife said her husband didn't hear the train coming, and a fire official said the crossing needed better signaling. [NYSP] [Troy Record] [TU] [News10]

There were three overnight armed robberies around the area, one each in Colonie, Albany, and Troy. [TWCN]

State Police say a 50-year-old Schaghticoke man was arrested after he allegedly approached a man in a Mobile Mart, verbally abused him, followed him home, chased him around his yard, then left only to return with more people for continued harassment. All that and: "Waldron admitted that he mistakenly thought the victim was someone else." [NYSP]

State Police say surveillance cameras set up by a scoutmaster in Brunswick led them to arrest a man for allegedly stealing returnable bottles and cans from collection bins used by a Boy Scout troop. [NYSP]

State Police looking for the public's help in identifying two people suspected of defrauding Coin Star machines at Price Choppers in Rensselaer County. [NYSP]

Odd rumor: "Public officials" say Jerome Hauer, the Cuomo admin's director of homeland security, used the laser sight on his handgun as a pointer during a presentation last fall to a visiting delegation from Sweden. [TU]

The owners of Bob & Ron's Fish Fry in Albany pay $26,000 a year in property taxes for their site on Central Ave. Earlier: Bob & Ron's owner says "taxes in Albany are not sustainable." [TU] [Saint Rose Chronicle]

Schoharie County is still trying to get FEMA to put up the money necessary to rebuild the historic Blenheim Covered Bridge, washed away during Irene -- that is, put up more money than would be required to build a gazebo. [Daily Gazette]

A Greenfield man has moved beyond snow tires. [Daily Gazette]

Machine used to maintain the new outdoor ice skating rink in Wilton's Gavin Park: the Bambini, "a baby Zamboni." [Saratogian]