Details on ethics agreement, Skelos says no deal yet, another body identified in Jay Street fire, grand jury clears officers in taser death, who owns the word moose?
The agreement between Andrew Cuomo and Assembly Democrats is nearly a carbon copy of the plan Cuomo laid out in February. Among other things it includes a requirement provision that would require a lawmaker to disclose the nature and source of his or her income if it is more than $1,000 and disclose client or customer names if the income tops $5,000 - with an exemption for lawyers working on things like wills or divorce cases .
The agreement also includes a verification system that would use attendance swipe cards to prevent lawmakers from claiming per-diem payments when they weren't really at the Capitol and constraints on the use of campaign funds.Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos says he wants better disclosure requirements for the Executive branch, including disclosure for domestic partners such as Governor Cuomo's girlfriend Sandra Lee, and the naming of campaign donors that are awarded state contracts. Skelos reinforced on the agreement between governor Cuomo and Assembly speaker Carl Heastie "All it is is a two-way announcement" - something that is a departure from Cuomo's usual approach .[TU][WNYT][TU][Gazette][Capital NY][TU][NYT]
Meanwhile State Senator Liz Kruegar and Assemblyman Danny O'Donnell are pushing Cuomo to drop the 90-day email purge policy. [TU]
There will be no charges in the death of Daniel Satre, who died in Ballston Spa in September after being tasered in a confrontation with six police officers. A grand jury has cleared the police officers involved in the case. [TU][WNYT][TWCN]
The body of a third person recovered from the Jay Street building destroyed by fire was identified on Wednesday. Setup work began on Wednesday for the demolition of the apartment buildings. Schenectady code enforcement officials inspected all 20 units of 104 Jay street the day before the fire and the owner of that building he owner says there was no sprinkler system in the building because it was not required by law. [WNYT][TU][Gazette]
The Saratoga Sheriff's Department is warning of a phone scam in which someone impersonating a deputy threatens arrest in an attempt to get people to pay unpaid tax bills. [TU]
According to Troy Mayor Lou Roasamilia, taking down burnt out buildings in Lansingburgh is the responsibility of property owners, not the city, unless the homes present an immediate danger. [TU]
Federal prosecutors are investigating safety issues surrounding the demolition of the King Fuels site and three other buildings in South Troy.
All nine members of the Troy City Council have been subpoenaed in the case. [TU][Record]
One thing Republicans and Democrats in the legislature are both calling for : A school property tax reduction. [TU]
The Schenectady School Board is predicting a $6 million increase in state aid, and they are so sure they are going to get it, that they are adding it to their budget. [Gazette]
An Albany man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly shooting a handgun from an Irving Street balcony. [TU]
Police arrested a man and woman in Albany after finding heroin in their car. [TU]
Longtime Stillwater Mayor Ernest Martin was defeated in Wednesday's election 194-132.[TU]
Incumbents maintained control in other local village elections on Wednesday.[TU]
The former Albany County legislator who allegedly dumped cat feces near the homes of his enemies is now facing two orders of protection and nine charges, including harassment and unlawful disposal of waste.[TU]
Tom DiNapoli is strongly opposed to a budget proposal that would move controlof New York's oil spill fund from his office to the Department of Environmental Conservation. [Capital NY]
A Federal judge has yet to rule on a motion to dismiss charges against Sheldon Silver based on his attorney's claims that a news conference by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara violated Silver's civil rights. [News 10]
Saratoga County supervisors have approved a law making sparklers legal but restricting sales from June 1 to July 5 and December 26 yo January 2. [Saratogian]
Andrew Cuomo is launching a $1 billion effort to use Capital Fund bank settlements and private -sector investments to bring high speed internet to the entire state. [WNYT]
The new, giant, $4.5 million crane at the Port of Albany. [WNYT]
The UAlbany men's basketball team is in Columbus, preparing for Friday's NCAA Tournament game against Oklahoma. The Women are playing in North Carolina. To get to both games is almost impossible. [TU][TWCN][TU]
President Obama has picked Oklahoma over Ualbany.[TU]
Why a Canadian company doesn't want a Lake George brewery and soda works to call their product Moose Wizz. [TWCN]
... said KGB about Drawing: What's something that brought you joy this year?