All Over Albany

Unofficial details spreading about Guilderland quadruple homicide, bear killed in Rotterdam, NYSP: trooper vehicle hit by wrong-way driver

Officially-released details continue to be sparse about the investigation into the Guilderland quadruple homicide. Friday afternoon State Police released the names of the adult victims. Jin Feng Chen, age 39, and his wife, Hai Yan Li, age 38. And the names of the two children were released later in the weekend -- the Guilderland school district called them "kind, gentle and joyful boys." Law enforcement agencies working the case locally have been in contact with the NYC police department -- a "source close to" the investigation says the NYPD contact is with a task force specializing in gangs. The lack of official information has opened the way for the circulation of many unofficial details and speculation, such as the "trusted source" that told WNYT that "hammers and knives were used in the murders." In New York City, Chen's family announced a $5000 reward for information leading to an arrest. [TU] [NYSP] [News10] [Daily Gazette] [TU] [News10] [WNYT] [WNYT] [TWCN]

Said the mother of two kids who attended school wit the two boys killed in the Guilderland case of the white ribbons she was tying on poles near the scene as a memorial: "I went by earlier and I just saw one bouquet of flowers on the lawn ... I just thought there needed to be more." [Daily Gazette]

Albany police say a man was stabbed just outside the Washington Ave Armory early Sunday morning. APD says it couldn't confirm whether the man had attended the foam party event at the armory that night. [TWCN] [TU]

The state Department of Environmental Conservation says a bear was killed in Rotterdam Saturday when it "exhibited aggressive behavior" after coming down from a tree. The bear had been hit with tranquilizer darts, and fireworks had apparently also been used to get the bear to leave the tree. [TU] [Daily Gazette]

State Police say two troopers suffered non-life threatening injuries after their vehicle was hit by a vehicle driving the wrong way down an exit ramp at Exit 8 on I-90 in North Greenbush Sunday. The other driver was arrested on multiple charges, including DWI. [Troy Record] [NYSP]

Albany police say a car rolled over after a collision with another vehicle at Washington Ave and Quail Street in Albany Saturday afternoon. [CBS6]

Unusual: A person who pleaded guilty to a felony charge as part of an alleged scrap metal scheme in the Rensselaer department of public works will be allowed to have the plead vacated and then instead plea to a misdemeanor if he cooperates with an investigation. [TU]

A look at the state constitutional amendments, and a state bond act, on this fall's ballot. [TU]

Profiles of the competitors for the 110th state Assembly seat, incumbent Phil Steck (D) and challenger Tom Jasiewicz ( R ). [TU]

On Friday the Troy IDA approved almost $1.1 million in tax breaks for Columbia Development's project to buy 27 rental buildings near RPI. [TU]

Albany County legislator Gil Ethier (D, Cohoes) on pork-ish grants that are once again being distributed by the legislature's leadership: "We're passing it out as if it's our money, and it's not. It's the taxpayers' money." [TU]

An Andrew Cuomo spokesman responding to questions about the holiday gifts the governor apparently bought using campaign money and gave to his State Police protection unit: "No tax dollars were used, and I look forward to seeing how Jim Odato uses these benign facts." [TU]

Schenectady County Court judge Karen Drago, who has been instrumental in the county's drug court program, is retiring at the end of this year. [Daily Gazette]

Question facing the Schenectady school district: As the district adjusts school attendance zones, how should it balance population, geographic proximity, and diversity? [Daily Gazette]

The city of Schenectady's savings as part of the switch to the consolidated county dispatch system appear to be falling short of projections. [Daily Gazette]

Union College now owns every house on the 300 block of Seward Place (map). [Daily Gazette]

The Union men's hockey team raised its national championship banner to ceiling of Messa Rink before its season opener Friday night. [Daily Gazette]