All Over Albany

Metro North train collides with car- six killed, Heastie elected Assembly Speaker, renewed effort to move up last call in Saratoga,from prison to state park

Six people were killed in Westchester County on Tuesday night when a Metro North train hit a car in Valhalla. [TWCN][NYT]

Carl Heastie has officially been elected Speaker of the NYS Assembly. Heastie is the first new speaker in 21-years. At a press conference on Tuesday he told the chamber,"The resignation of the previous speaker has brought about change in the leadership of this house. And this change in leadership will bring about much needed reform." But for a speaker, he appears to be a man of few words. Meanwhile former speaker Sheldon Silver took a desk in the back of the chamber. Most Republicans voted for Brian Kolb, and one cast his vote for Preet Bharara, the federal prosecutor who had Silver arrested.
[TWCN][TU][NYT][CNY][Record]

State Police arrested the Canadian truck driver involved in the fatal accident that killed Trooper David Cunniff a year ago. Officials allege 66-year-old Gary Blakely was negligent behind the wheel, citing unsafe lane changes, reckless driving and operating over allotted hours. He's in the Montgomery County Jail on several charges including aggravated manslaughter and aggravated criminally negligent homicide.

Five companies -- two of the largest-- are vying to get the contract for Albany's red light cameras.[TU]

A Tuesday morning crash on I-90 sent a Nassau man to Albany Medical Center.[TU]

A federal grand jury has indicted a Utica man for the alleged robbery of the Eastern Parkway Key Bank in Schenectady. [TU]

Moody's has removed the negative outlook for Schenectady's $35.3 million in debt, claiming the city has stabilized its finances in the past two years, reducing costs and improving liquidity.[TU][WNYT]

Schenectady County was promised $482 million in new investment and 1,826 new jobs in 2014 according to a recent report from the said Ray Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority.[Gazette]

61 vehicles were towed and ticketed on Tuesday in Troy's first snow emergency under the new rules established in 2014. [TU]

At least 24 Lansingburgh families were left without heat overnight after water seeped into gas lines. The Red Cross opened a shelter to aid the families on Tuesday night. [WNYT][News10]

A renewed effort to get some Saratoga Springs bars to close by 2 am. [Gazette]

Schenectady Councilman Vincent Riggi wants to be sure the planning commission realizes it has the power to recommend zoning amendments for the proposed Mohawk Harbor project.[Gazette]

Representatives from Brighter Choices Middle School will go before the SUNY Charter School Committee once more to plead their case for the school's charter renewal. [TU][WNYT]

Plans for two CDTA Rapid Transit bus routs may be in jeopardy because of flat state revenue.[TU]

The three year old Joint Commission on Public Ethics is asking lawmakers to allow them more freedom to release investigation findings to the public. [TU]

A group of doctors and patients wants NY to make physician assisted suicide legal.[NYT]

More on proposed legislation to make NY two separate states. [TU]

Members of Saratoga PLAN have met with the Cuomo administration about turning the land around the now closed Mount McGregor Prison into state park land and adding it to nearby Moreau State Park. [TWCN]