All Over Albany

Albany signs $11 million casino agreement with Rensselaer, Shen approves transgender bathroom/locker room plan, Feds to probe Schenectady schools funding discrimination claims, SUNY system adopts new sexual consent policy

The city of Albany, which already has an $11 million dollar deal in exchange for support of the proposed East Greenbush casino, has signed an $11 million agreement with Rensselaer in return for support of the proposed Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.[TU]

Faced with action by the NYCLU the Shenedahowa School Board voted to change its bathroom and locker room policies to allow transgender students to use the facilities where they feel most comfortable.[Gazette][TWCN][WNYT]

Troy's City Charter doesn't include a plan to adopt a tax levy when a city budget is adopted but not approved by the City Council, as was the case this year , leaving the city with a $66.1 million dollar 2015 budget and no way to fund it. [TU]

Where will Albany's red light cameras go? [AOA]

Red light camera violations will not come with license points.[TU]

Federal Education Office for Civil rights will investigate the Schenectady school districts allegations that discrimination has led to the city's schools losing millions of dollars in aid annually.[Gazette][TU]

Plans to settle a three-year-old voting rights lawsuit in Albany failed when lawmakers scrapped the vote on the plan because they couldn't muster enough to override a veto by county executive Dan McCoy. Hours earlier McCoy threatened to sue to stop them from settling the suit. [TU][TU]

More than 40 people who work in the State Department of Labor, including some who help people who are unemployed, are facing layoffs due to a lack of funding and a deadlocked congress that has not worked out an agreement over federal unemployment funding.[TU]

A new definition of sexual consent adopted by New York's state university system on Tuesday is meeting with skepticism among students. [WNYT][TU]

A fire early Tuesday at a home on West Lawrence Street in Albany that assists immigrants has been labeled suspicious and may be a case of arson. [WNYT]

A $103 million FEMA plan to repair and upgrade dams along a 40-mile stretch of the Mohawk to reduce the risk of flooding along the Erie Canal does not include a concrete dam at Lock 7 in Visher Ferry, which may be helping to fuel flooding in Schenectady, Scotia and Glenville. [TU]

Ellis hospital has closed its ER at McClellan Street.[Gazette]

George Amador spent $535,136 on his campaign in the final weeks (October 24 - last Monday) - more than any other state Senate candidate.[TU]

Spending on two Schenectady County judgeship races this year topped a quarter-million dollars. [Gazette]

The Cuomo administrations effort to reign in debt collectors.[Daily News]

The Capital Region's only Islamic school is expanding.[Gazette]

A Medal of Honor for WWI hero Henry Johnson is included in a national defense bill that Congress is expected to vote on sometime this week. [TU]

Mike Dennis, one of the developers credited with transforming the Saratoga County town of Wilton, who built more than 2,000 homes in the town since the 1970s, has died. [Saratogian]

Coming in March: a learning center where students can experience what its like to be part of a space exploration program - with shaking simulated launch seats, consoles, televisions and computers. [Gazette]