All Over Albany

Joe Bruno retrial starts, charter school fighting order to close, yet another Troy investigation, a long bike ride

Joe Bruno retrial: During opening arguments the prosecution cast consulting payments Bruno received from Loudonville businessman Jared Abbruzzese a "a quid pro quo bribery scheme" for Bruno's actions or influence in state government. Bruno's attorney called the prosecution's argument "hogwash" and argued it was "picking facts out of midair." (And there are court sketches.) For day two: the first evidence and testimony. [Daily Gazette] [TU] [Troy Record] [News10] [TWCN]

The board of the Ark Community Charter School in Troy has decided to file a lawsuit over the state's decision to close school. The SUNY Board of Trustees Charter School Committee cited poor performance in ordering the school closed, but the charter school's board says the decision was "arbitrary." Said the school's board chair: "Our school is way out performing any of the schools that have been re-chartered." Said the mother of one of the school's students: "If Ark were to close, it would be a hole in the city." [TU] [News10] [Troy Record] [WNYT] [TWCN]

A Schenectady city firefighter has filed a notice of claim for a potential lawsuit alleging she has been subject to multiple incidents of sexual harassment on the job as well as two death threats. [Daily Gazette]

Yet another Troy investigation: State and federal environmental agencies are investigating whether asbestos construction materials were buried at the King Fuels site in South Troy. There's also a state labor department stop-work order at the site. [TU] [Troy Record]

In which a call from the Times Union apparently breaks up a gathering of Halfmoon town board members at the town supervisor's residence. [TU]

A Pro Publica investigation concludes that aides to Andrew Cuomo appear to be using personal email addresses to shield messages from disclosure. [Pro Publica]

As e-cigarettes gain in popularity, there's state legislation that would ban the sale of liquid nicotine. [TU]

The state is apparently still pursuing the proposed public health lab at the Harriman office campus in Albany -- though it's shielding details of the project from disclosure. [TU]

Amsterdam mayor Ann Thane, the new president of the New York Conference of Mayors, at an event in Saratoga Springs: "Our local governments are under siege by a state government that sees us as frivolous. We need the state to cap our costs." [Saratogian]

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the town of Greece, near Rochester, had not violated the Constitution by starting its board meetings with a prayer. And Monday's night's board meeting opened with a prayer. [NYT] [D&C]

A student-organized campaign at Skidmore is pushing for more attention for the voices and concerns of people of color on campus. [Saratogian]

Bethlehem police say a man was arrested for allegedly stealing beer from Stewart's -- twice in the same day. [TU]

The apparent cause of a fire that damaged six apartments in Guilderland Sunday, according to fire officials: hot coals that had been improperly disposed of. [TU]

NYSERDA is funding a Saratoga Springs firm's electric bike project. [Daily Gazette]

It's official: the Calgary Flames' AHL affiliate is moving from British Columbia to Glens Falls. [Post-Star]

Headline of the day, from the Times Union: "Cohoes man is not missing, just on long bike ride." (Schoharie County sheriff deputies say he had become disoriented and biked all the way to county.) [TU] [WNYT]