Cuomo tries to blame NWS for snow forecasts, pedestrian killed in Colonie, water main break affects busy restaurants
On Saturday Andrew Cuomo blamed the National Weather Service for not forecasting the massive lake effect snow that hit the Buffalo area last week. Except the NWS did forecast multiple feet of snow and the possibility of a "historic" lake effect snow event. Cuomo walked some of his comments back Sunday, but still used the events to tout a planned state-run system of weather sensors. [TWCN] [Gawker] [Buffalo News]
The new weather concern in the Buffalo area: flooding, as warm weather melts the multiple feet of snow. [Buffalo News]
Colonie police say a 66-year-old pedestrian was killed Friday night in Colonie in a hit and run. CPD says the driver was an 88-year-old woman and she was unaware she had hit the man. [TU] [News10] [TWCN]
The city of Troy is looking at eliminating 27 full-time positions in an attempt to address its budget situation. Of those positions, 18 are in the police and fire departments. [TU x2]
Troy police say they've made an arrest in a shooting on 4th Street downtown in September. [Troy Record]
Albany police say they've arrested a 15 year old for the shots fired on North Lake Ave last Thursday afternoon. APD says the teen told detectives he fired the shots during a fight. [APD press release]
A water main break Saturday had restaurants along Wolf Road scrambling to deal with a boil water advisory. (The advisory has ended.) [TU x2]
The current Tappan Zee Bridge -- the one the Cuomo admin is planning to replace -- generates 20 percent of Thruway toll revenue while carrying 10 percent of the system's traffic. [TU]
Neil Breslin and John McDonald sent a letter to Andrew Cuomo -- not the Gaming Facility Locations Board -- to lobby for the selection of the Rensselaer casino site. [TU]
Some New York State context for discussion over the $84,000 treatment for hepatitis C (the $1k per pill drug): the state's Medicaid program has 60,000 enrollees with hep C. [TU]
Local officials are asking why the Cuomo admin is trying to push executive director of the Lake George Park Commission out of the job. [TU]
The Saratoga Springs Police Department is expanding its wearable cameras program for officers. [Daily Gazette]
The Shen school district is looking at a plan to provide access to alternative bathrooms and locker rooms for transgender students. [TU]
National Grid came close to shutting off the power to the Rotterdam Square Mall Friday over an unpaid $300k bill. [Daily Gazette]
Andrew Cuomo signed a bill legalizing sparklers in the state. [TU]
The 84-year-old nun who mugged recently in Schenectady says she's praying for the alleged attacker. [Daily Gazette]
How "Black Friday" is becoming "Black Thursday" or even "Black Week" at retail stores. [Daily Gazette]
The restaurant Javier's in Saratoga Springs has closed. [TU]
... said KGB about Drawing: What's something that brought you joy this year?