All Over Albany

Land purchase for Albany convention center approved, another bomb threat at Mechanicville High School, cold storage wars

The Albany Convention Center Authority approved the purchase of the bulk of land for the proposed convention center at Eagle Street and Howard Street in downtown Albany. [TU]

With the aim of reducing surprise medical bills, the Cuomo administration is proposing an expansion of out-of-network coverage requirements for emergencies and specialists for all health insurers in the state. [AP/Daily Gazette]

A state attorney general's review of telemarketing operations that collect money for charity concludes that more than 60 percent of the money collected goes to fees rather than the charities. [TU]

A man accused of setting five fires, nabbed after officials say he was noticed frequently showing up at fires, has pleaded guilty to setting a fire at a Schenectady flea market in 2010. [Daily Gazette]

On speculation that former Saratoga in Decline blogger John Tighe was somehow framed by having child pornography planted on his computer, a State Police investigator says there is "no indication of that at this time." [TU]

State Police say a 56-year-old Albany was arrested at the State Museum Thursday "after museum patrons complained that he was masturbating near the Fulton Fish Market Exhibit." [NYSP]

For the second day in a row, officials say there was a bomb threat at Mechanicville High School. On Thursday a 13 year old was arrested for allegedly making a verbal threat. Officials say they don't believe the two alleged threats are connected. [Daily Gazette] [TU]

Yet another chapter in the ongoing story of neglected horses at a Greenfield farm: The Saratoga County DA's office says a vet was at the farm recently to provide care for the animals at the DA's office's request. [Daily Gazette]

Among the reasons cited by Albany police chief Steve Krokoff for the APD's overtime being over budget in 2013: increased police presence at events such as the Freihofer's Run, prompted by the Boston Marathon bombing. [TU]

Two top Albany city officials -- the commissioner of buildings and regulatory compliance, and the director of planning -- are leaving city office. [TU]

Albany police showed off new "Law Enforcement Survival kits," which include medical supplies originally developed for combat situations. APD says supplies from a kit were used to help a person recently found shot in the city. [News10] [News10]

The Saratoga Springs planning board has again delayed a vote on the proposed Rip Van Dam hotel addition because of concerns about traffic. [Saratogian]

Ahead of an anti-bullying forum in Schenectady weekend, said an 11 year old of the continual bullying she said she's faced in school: "I feel like everyone in my school is trying to be one person, but me and my friends, we just, like, stand out, and we don't really care." [TU]

Similar to the national trend, local healthcare officials say the dominant flu strain circulating this year appears to be hitting younger and middle age adults the hardest. (That's not really all that unusual -- some variants of the influenza virus tend to do that.) [TU]

Storage Wars 518 is apparently not as fun as Storage Wars. [TU]