All Over Albany

Former Bruno secretary testifies in retrial, King Fuels demolition halted after allegations of criminal activity, Senate debate over yogurt as official state snack

Testimony got underway on Tuesday in day two of Joe Bruno's retrial on fraud charges. Bruno's former secretary ttestified that disgraced ex-judge Thomas Spargo once called Bruno, trying to get box seats at the track for Loundonville, businessman Jared Abbruzzese, but was rejected by Bruno. Meanwhile a former partner of Abbruzzese testified that he had never formally met Bruno before the Senator appointed him to serve on NYRA's board of trustees, after Abbruzzese hired Bruno as a consultant for $20,000 a month. [News 10][Record][TU]

The NYS Court of Appeals has ruled that the names of retirees who receive public pensions much be disclosed under Freedom of Information Law.[TU][WNYT]

The Demolition at the controversial King Fuels site is on hold until the ground can be tested for asbestos contamination. The hold comes after complaints claiming criminal activities on the site, like trying to bury asbestos-contaminated material. [WNYT] [Record]

The developer of a potential casino site in Rensselaer says two operators are looking at the site, which has its environmental approvals in place already. [TU]

The Racino owners presented plans for a hotel expansion at Tuesday's Saratoga City Council meeting. The council wants a greater role in approval for the expansion. Raceway reps promised they would seek advisory opinions from city planners on Tuesday, while project opponents pushed for the council to grain more control over the $30 million expansion. The Racino VP told the council "Our goal, our strategy, is to build a hotel the city will e proud of." [News 10][TWCN][TU][Gazette]

A march will be held in Troy this evening to demand information about an April 4 fire in Lansingburgh that killed 19-year-old Vanessa Miliken, an expectant mother. [TU]

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is now reporting that the New York Department of Health has made another $60.8 million in unallowable Medicaid reimbursements . [TU]

A two day training exercise at the Port of Albany is teaching firefighters and emergency workers how to respond to oil fires.[TU]

Nominations are underway for the panel that will handle the awarding of casino licenses in New York State. [TU]

South Colonie's school board members say they don't feel good about the spending plan they created, which eliminates nine full time teaching positions, a guidance counselor, school psychologist and other positions. [TU]

The construction/design firm that built GlobalFoundries Malta chip fab plant and has been working with the SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering has moved its headquarters from Texas to Watervliet. [TU]

Twenty police officers killed in the line of duty, including the late State Trooper David Cunniff of Duanesburg, were honored on Tuesday at the Empire State Plaza. [TU]

In an effort to close a disclosure loophole allowing outgoing state legislators to shield potential conflicts of interest, Cecilia Tkaczyk introduced a bill on Tuesday that would require lawmakers who are out of office by the May 15 deadline to disclose their financial interests. [TU]

State lawmakers joined with members of the Oneida Indian Nation on Tuesday to ask pro-sports teams to stop using Native American racial slurs in their names.[WNYT]

If you're driving a Tesla, you can now charge up at Colonie Center.
[TU]

Billy Harrell, a former Siena basketball star whose number was the first one retired by the school, died Tuesday at the age of 86. [ ] [TU]

Albany's gardner says the tulips should be ready to go this weekend.[TU]

The Union College men's hockey team will be honored on the floor of the state Senate today.[TU]

The NYS Senate has approved yogurt as the official state snack, but not before an hour long debate in which some senators expressed concern for their lactose intolerant constituents. The fate of the bill, launched after a campaign by fourth grade students, now rests with the Assembly. [NYT][Buzzfeed]