All Over Albany

Police investigating death of elderly man, Troy City Council calls for outside investigation of Kokopellis incident, Albany County bans use of e-cigarettes on its property

Albany snow emergency continues with even side parking. It flips to ODD side parking at 8 pm Friday, and ends at 8 pm Saturday.

Albany police say they're investigating the death of a 79-year-old man as a homicide. APD says officers responded to a report of a disturbance Thursday afternoon at a town home on the city's southwestern edge (map) and found the man unresponsive. One suspect is in custody. "Sources" tell WNYT that police had gotten a tip from a bank related to checks belonging to the man. Many details of the situation are still unclear. [APD] [WNYT] [WNYT] [TU]

The Troy City Council is asking the mayor Lou Rosamilia for an outside investigation of the Kokopellis incident. Meanwhile, the State Liquor Authority has been reviewing Kokopellis for potential violations. In his state of the city address Thursday, Rosamilia said in reference to the recent incident at the club: "I believe all people should be treated fairly, equally and with respect. Whenever those liberties are seemingly disregarded, it demands action." [TU] [Troy Record] [Troy Record] [TU]

On Thursday, in a separate case that also includes alleged use of excessive force by a Troy police officer, the opening arguments at trial depicted two very different version of events on a South Troy sidewalk. And in another separate case, a former HVCC student has filed a notice of claim against the city alleging he was assaulted by police officers after being confronted for jaywalking. [TU] [Troy Record]

The Albany Common Council approved mayor Kathy Sheehan's request to go before the state Financial Restructuring Board in an attempt to get a chunk of state aid -- though there were a few reservations. [TU]

The state Gaming Commission announced the names of the first three people to be appointed to the board that will select the sites for casinos. All three appointees are from downstate. One of the owners of the Saratoga Casino and Raceway, which will be be competing for a selection, praised the board picks. The Cuomo admin says it's still aiming for site selections by this fall. [NYS Gaming Commission] [Saratogian] [Daily Gazette] [TU]

The state Department of Health reports that a young child was admitted to Albany Med with measles January 31. It's the second recent measles case in this area -- an RPI student turned up with it last weekend. [NYS DOH] [TU]

Albany County exec Dan McCoy has signed an executive order banning the use of e-cigarettes on county property. There's also a bill in the state legislature that would ban the use of the devices in most workplaces. [Albany County] [TU]

North Greenbush police are hoping the scarf worn by the person who's alleged to have robbed a First Niagara Bank Thursday morning might lead to a tip (map). [TU]

A 54-year-old man pleaded guilty to second-degree arson for setting a fire at Albany Med last August. [TU]

From an Albany PD press release about a house party broken up (map) this past weekend: "As officers were attempting to quell the disturbance, one of the residents urinated off the rear staircase directly onto a uniformed police officer." [APD]

The state's Catholic bishops say their worried a mental health provision in the SAFE Act will make people more reluctant to seek help. [TU]

A SUNY vice chancellor on the UAlbany/NanoCollege split: "We actually haven't reached a decision on how it's going to happen -- and it hasn't happened yet -- but we can fully keep the Legislature informed of that progress." [TU]

The Schenectady school district is switching its schools from K-8 back to the elementary and middle school formats. [Daily Gazette]

Saratoga Springs is moving ahead with a project to expand its water supply -- summer spikes in demand had occasionally pushed the system beyond what was considered its max safe production. [Daily Gazette]

Malta is planning to use eminent domain to acquire land for its next two roundabouts -- which, like roundabouts generally, is irking some people. [Saratogian]

There are plans to redevelop the former Kirker's Restaurant site on Route 9 in Latham (map). [TU]

Feathers Furniture in Brunswick is closing after more than 70 years in business. [Troy Record]

Farther afield: The Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz is being shutdown for a week because of an "aggressive stomach virus." [Times Herald-Record]