All Over Albany

Saratoga County DA resigns, big tax breaks for Park South redev, investigation into death of man found behind State Museum

Saratoga County DA Jim Murphy resigned from office Thursday (press conference video), after 17 years in the position -- and 27 years working in the DA's office). He's running unopposed for a Saratoga County judgeship this fall, and his resignation allows his first assistant, Karen Heggen, to takeover the office as interim DA. Murphy, a Republican, framed the decision as a choice to support continuity of staffing in the DA's office. If Murphy had stayed in office past this week, Andrew Cuomo (a Democrat, of course) would have been allowed to appoint an interim replacement until a special election in 2015. It also prompts an election this fall and Heggen has been endorsed by the county Republican committee. Another Republican, David Harper, is also considering a run for the office. [Daily Gazette] [TWCN] [TU] [Saratogian] [Saratoga County DA] [WNYT] [Saratogian]

The Albany IDA approved $32.5 million in tax breaks for the Park South redevelopment project, one of the largest such package of tax breaks on record for the area. Albany mayor Kathy Sheehan said the scale of the project -- $110 million and 268 new residential units -- make the breaks worth the risk. [TU] [Biz Review x2] Earlier: Park South redevelopment plan gets final OK

The Troy City Council finance committee unanimously supported the plan to sell the One Monument Square site developers or $650k for the currently proposed $25 million plan for two mixed-use buildings on the site. (It still requires a final vote of the full council.) [TU] Earlier: The latest One Monument Square plan evolves

The state Authorities Budget Office is investigating "whether the [the state Environmental Facilities Corp] board acted appropriately" in approving $511 million in loans from a clean water fund to be used for the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement. (This week the federal EPA blocked almost all of the money from being used.) [TU]

The EPA says it will be testing flood plains along the Hudson River for PCBs starting next spring. [Saratogian]

An autopsy has concluded that the body of the man found dead behind the State Museum recently had been there more than a week before being found -- State Police are investigating what caused the man's death. [TU]

Rotterdam police say they arrested a 53-year-old woman for allegedly trying to rob a Mr. Subb while wearing a mask and pointing a BB handgun at the clerk. [Daily Gazette] [TU]

The man who pleaded guilty to biting the arm of a Guilderland police officer during incident outside a pizza shop this summer explained that it was an "out-of-control rage thing" prompted by low blood sugar. [TU]

State Police say DNA evidence helped them identify and catch a Clifton Park teen accused of inflicting "damage consisting of dents, scratches and a broken window to a Toyota Camry" in 2012. [NYSP]

Family members of a 72-year-old Schenectady recently injured in a hit-and-run in a parking lot are hoping the public will be able to help them identify the vehicle that him. [Daily Gazette]

Colonie police say the boy injured when a tomb stone fell on him at the Albany Rural Cemetery almost two weeks ago is still in critical condition. [TU]

An explainer on the not-easy-to-understand process (and fight) for picking candidates for the local district of the state Supreme Court. [TU]

At a public event in Bolton Landing, in which he asked reporters questions, Joe Bruno told the crowd that federal prosecutors "don't really know what the hell goes on in government in New York state." [NYSNYS/Troy Record] [TU]

There's a new proposed plan on the table for the renovation of Albany High School -- it has a price tag of $199 million. [TU]

The installation of a new sidewalk along a roughly 2.5 mile stretch of Western Ave in Guilderland -- on the western-bound side, from UAlbany past Crossgates -- is expected to be completed by November. [TU]

With LarkFest just ahead, some backstory about the recent unsettled state of its organizer, the Lark BID. [TU]