Clifton Park man shot by state trooper sentenced, allegation of excessive force in death of Ballston Spa man, state ethics loopholes persist, an impromptu chorus of 300
Douglas Stewart III was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison Friday for the incident in which he pointed a loaded rifle in the direction of a state trooper, and then was shot by the trooper, in Clifton Park in August 2013. Said the trooper, Miguel Orabona, at the sentencing: "Never in my 38 years on this planet have I ever been so scared in my life." Stewart's attorney says his client was depressed and drunk and had been planning to take his own life at the time of the incident. The attorney also alleged that Stewart was struck in the back by the trooper's shot, and that trooper could have diffused the situation without firing. [News10] [WNYT] [TU] [Saratogian] [Daily Gazette]
The family of Daniel Satre -- the Ballston Spa man who died after being tased during a encounter with police in September -- say they believe Satre was the victim of excessive force used by police. [TU]
Citing wiretap transcripts, the Times Union reports that the gambling operation run by two former Albany County corrections officers involved the former superintendent of the jail. [TU]
A group of protesters presented a list of demands to the US Attorney's office in Albany Friday related to inequality and injustice in the treatment of people of color. [News10] [TU]
A look at the state ethics loopholes that live on after the end of the Moreland Commission. [NYT]
North Greenbush police are asking for information in a crash that killed a pedestrian at Routes 43 and 4 Saturday night. [TU]
Rotterdam police say they've arrested a man who's a suspect in a long string of commercial burglaries. [Daily Gazette]
The Buddha Tea House club in downtown Albany -- the liquor license for which was recently suspended after an episode the owner alleges police misrepresented -- has closed, possibly permanently. [TU]
Three former Saratoga Springs officials have filed a lawsuit against the city alleging the Collamer lot land deal was inappropriately administered. The former officials allege the city didn't get full market value for the lot on Broadway. [TU] [Daily Gazette]
Advocates for people suffering from Lyme disease are supporting the state "Patients' Rights/Doctor Protection Bill," which would prohibit the state's doctors' oversight board from investigating physicians solely because they use unorthodox treatments. [TU]
The new president of Saint Rose, Carolyn Stefanco, wants the college to become a university. [TU]
Should high school sports programs be required to have an athletic trainer? [TU]
The Dolge Mansion in Dolgeville in Fulton County was destroyed by fire. [TWCN]
The chief of staff for Mitch McConnell's person US Senate office is an Albany High School grad and former Daily Gazette reporter. [Daily Gazette]
A startup from RPI has set up in Colonie to produce thermoelectric nanocrystals. [TU]
Backstory on William Polk Carey, whose estate funded the Carey Institute for Global Good in Rensselaerville. [TU]
A Colonie elementary school has a "Buddy Bench," where kids who are feeling left on the playground can sit to signal that they want to be included. [TU]
Three hundred people gathered on a Rotterdam street to sing Christmas carols to a 12-year-old who's fighting cancer. [Daily Gazette]
A personal trainer in Albany was awarded $25,000 for his Warriors on Wheels program for veterans as part of the "CNN Heroes" presentation that aired Sunday night. [TU]
... said KGB about Drawing: What's something that brought you joy this year?