All Over Albany

Common Core discontent puts focus on Board of Regents, McCoy pushes for styrofoam ban at all businesses, UAlbany women headed to NCAA tournament

The latest turn in the ongoing drama over the state's implementation of the Common Core standards: today's Board of Regents elections in the state legislature. The elections are getting extra attention because of the current structure of the legislature and discontent over things Common Core related. On Monday the Cuomo admin released draft recommendations on how to improve Common Core implementation. Said Andrew Cuomo in the press release: "The flawed implementation of the Common Core curriculum has resulted in frustration, anxiety, and confusion for children and parents." [TU] [State of Politics] [Cuomo admin]

A Rensselaer County Court jury found Ariel Myers guilty of assault for the shooting of Robert Guynup near the Griswold Heights apartments in 2009. It was the third time Myers had been tried in the case. [Troy Record] [TU]

Herman Robinson -- the Schenectady man accused of serially raping a young woman for years, impregnating her, and then killing the baby shortly after it was born -- pleaded not guilty Monday to a group of charges that included second-degree murder. Robinson faces 25 years to life if convicted. [TU] [Daily Gazette]

Law enforcement officials say the credit/debit card skimming case at an Asian buffet in Glenmont appears to be part of series of cases through the Northeast in which an organized crime ring is training people to get jobs in restaurants in order to steal the card info. [TU]

The police informant who pleaded guilty to trying to frame a Scotia shop owner in a drug case -- the shop owner was arrested before video evidence cleared him -- has been sentenced to 6-12 years in prison. Said the shop owner: "I could be the one sitting here in that jump suit waiting to do a maximum of 25 years. I still do not understand how or why this happened to me. I can only imagine how things would be if I did not have those cameras." [Daily Gazette] [TU]

State Police say a trooper used a taser to stop a man who was threatening to jump from the Patroon Island Bridge Saturday evening. [NYSP]

The Albany Fire Department says a woman was in critical condition after being pulled from a house fire in the Eagle Hill neighborhood Monday morning. A handyman working nearby is being credited with helping to pull two other people, including a baby, from the fire. [TU] [WNYT]

The chair of the NYRA board -- David Skorton, currently also the president of Cornell -- is slated to become the head of the Smithsonian Institution. Unclear: How much longer he'll be staying with NYRA. [TU] [Daily Gazette]

In his state of the county address, Albany County exec Dan McCoy said he wants to expand the county's styrofoam ban from chain restaurants to all businesses in the county within three years. [TU]

Latham-based fuel cell company Plug Power has signed a deal with Walmart, Plug's biggest order ever. [Daily Gazette]

old infrastructure + freezing/thawing = broken water mains [WNYT]

Photo: An Albany garbage truck stuck in what appeared to be a sink hole on First Street. [TU]

That really big, red barn along Route 85A in New Scotland is facing the end of its life if a new use can't be found for it. [TU]

A Queensbury landlord says he spray painted "crack house" on his own building in an attempt to get tenants he alleges are using drugs in the house to move out. [WNYT]

Farther afield: SUNY Brockport students are accused of making a dog do a keg stand. [TWCN]

Sports page

The UAlbany women's basketball team won the America East conference tournament and is headed to the NCAA tournament for the third straight year. [TU]