All Over Albany

Food pantries say high demand continues despite economic recovery, the "living hell" of heroin addiction, three casinos instead of four?

Officials at local food pantries says demand continues to increase as the economic recovery hasn't spread to all parts of the income spectrum and many people with low-wage jobs continue to struggle to afford basic necessities. [Daily Gazette]

Two Guilderland parents on the "living hell" of watching their son descend into heroin addiction. Also: A Colonie woman has gotten the attention of state legislators in her push for a state law that would allow family members to petition for involuntary addiction treatment for addicts. [TU x2]

Halfmoon developer Bruce Tanski pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor election law violation Friday for funneling contributions to the campaign of former town supervisor Mindy Wormuth through other people. [Daily Gazette] [TU]

After the uproar about the "Ghetto Chopper" t-shirts, the shirt's creators say Price Chopper has issued a cease and desist letter. The artists also apologized and said the shirts were meant as satire. [Ken Screven/TU] [News10] [Smallbany FB]
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Update: Albany police say one of the college students to taken to the hospital this weekend for "treatment related to excessive alcohol consumption" has died. APD had responded to call on Hamilton Street early Sunday morning -- it says officers found an unconscious individual along with four other 19 year olds who were also treated for excessive alcohol consumption. [APD press release] [TU] [News10]

Crime statistics point to declining numbers of crimes in Schenectady -- but perception has been slow to follow. [Daily Gazette]

Troy police are hoping video of a bizarre assault Halloween night will provide them a lead on the suspect. [WNYT]

A Times Union review of arrests and prosecutions concludes that about $30 million was embezzled by public employees across the state between 2011 and 2014. [TU]

A former Guilderland middle school math teacher was sentenced to six months in jail for embezzling $100k from the Guilderland Teachers Association. [TU] [Albany County DA]

Could the state Gaming Facility Location Board award just three locations rather than four? [AP/Troy Record]

The Troy Fire Department says a bed bug infestation at a facility for people who are chronically homeless is slowing down crews because every time they respond to the location the crews have to follow a decontamination process of their equipment. [TU] [News10] [WNYT]

Municipalities are facing a 30-percent increase in the price of rock salt. [Daily Gazette]

The Troy budget situation has now extended to include friction between the city and its IDA over money and staffing. [TU]

Albany firefighters approved a contract change that their union and the city say will save a large chunk of the money that had been targeted by the controversial Ladder No. 1 suspension. [TU]

There's a $60k settlement agreement on the table for a $3 million lawsuit alleging police brutality in Troy in 2012. [TU]

An Albany city employee has filed a suit against the city alleging sexual harassment at the Albany landfill -- the city calls the claim "completely baseless." [TU]

The Rotterdam and Glenville police departments say they've been having trouble buying enough ammunition for training, apparently because suppliers have been swamped by demand from the federal government. [Daily Gazette]

Impending competition from the not-yet-built Albany convention center was cited by the head of the Saratoga Springs City Center as one of the reasons his facility needs the controversial parking garage planned for High Rock Ave. [TU]

A PEF vice president is organizing opposition against the union's president. [TU]

Two orgs pushing for laws that would all fines for retail stores selling toys tainted with heavy metals say tests they ran on toys bought in Albany County found multiple instances of items with potentially toxic heavy metals. [TU]

Some background on the IBM/GloFo deal. [TU]

Marketing experts weigh in on the Price Chopper-to-Market 32 name change. [TU]

How a Union hockey player helped save the life of a Guilderland man last December near Syracuse. [Daily Gazette]

Jack Keenan, a local old-time radio show historian, died at age 80 last week. [TU]

Two Capital Region residents will appear on Jeopardy! in December. [Troy Record]