No arrests in suspicious Troy fires, Cuomo continues big lead on Astorino, uproar over coach's firing, another brewery
No arrests have been made in the
Troy police have yet to make an arrest in the fatal stabbing of a teen at a birthday party in Lansinburgh Friday night. A church is offering $1,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction. [TWCN x2]
Pablo Cruz -- the man accused of drunkenly driving into a cyclist in Albany, killing the man, and leading police on a high-speed chase -- testified Monday: "It wasn't me. I wasn't in that truck on the 24th. They made all this (expletive) up!" Cruz's attorney told the judge his client testified against his advice. [TU] [TWCN]
Continuing nano drama: After NanoCollege allegations of "disgusting politics" and "misinformation" in the media, the city of Albany is apparently now trying to get a financing deal back together with the NanoCollege for the ZEN building -- while the county tries to poach the deal, and the approximately $1.9 million fee that goes along with it. [TU]
Andrew Cuomo is ahead of Rob Astorino by 37 points in the Siena poll released Monday. When asked about Cuomo's primary opponent, Zephyr Teachout, 86 percent of respondents said they didn't know about her or had no opinion. [Siena SRI]
As school districts in the state look ahead to the possible approval of the $2 billion Smart Schools Bond Act this fall -- which would provide funding for school technology -- a consideration of "knowledge builders," "active learning environments," "human capital," "glorified movie projectors," and "digitizing the status quo." [TU]
The Schenectady school district has filed a formal complaint with the US Department of Justice alleging the state's school funding formula is discriminatory and a civil rights violation. (The district had a similar appeal to the federal Department of Ed dismissed this past spring.) [TU]
With property value assessments reportedly more than 20 percent higher than market value, the Schenectady City Council is planning to take up the issue of whether there should be a citywide property reassessment. [Daily Gazette]
Albany mayor Kathy Sheehan and the Common Council have reached a compromise on the commissioner/director issue for the city's top job for code enforcement. [TU]
Farther afield: Some of the bidders for the Hudson Valley casino licenses are also looking for property tax breaks. [Capital]
In what Rensselaer police say is a coincindence, a cousin of the teen fatally stabbed in Troy this past weekend was stabbed and critically injured around the same time in Rensselaer. [TU] [Troy Record]
Albany police say two young women -- ages 17 and 15 -- have been arrested allegedly knocking down, kicking, and robbing women on a two occasions a little more than a week ago in the neighborhood bordered by Washington Park, Western Ave, and Madison Ave (map). [APD FB]
Saratoga Springs police say a couple -- ages 60 and 52 -- are facing multiple charges for an alleged marijuana grow operation that included more than 100 plants. [Saratogian]
The Lansingburgh school district won't say why the coach of the girl's soccer team -- who's headed the team for three decades -- was let go. Former players, and even coaches of other teams, spoke in favor of the coach at a board meeting Monday night. [News10] [WNYT]
Kirsten Gillibrand was at RPI Monday to push legislation that would provide federal funding for university-based startup projects with the hope of helping them attract venture capital. [Troy Record] [TU]
A new craft brewery is planned for South Glens Falls. [Saratogian]
... said KGB about Drawing: What's something that brought you joy this year?