Jay Street fire ruled accidental, VLT casino proposed for Rensselaer, questions about death of man tasered by police, together for 75 years
The investigation into the Jay Street fire has concluced that it was accidental, Schenectady officials announced Friday. SFD chief Ray Senecal said the investigation had determined the fire started in an upholstered chair -- maybe because of candles, incense, or cigarettes -- in the apartment of Harry Simpson, who then tried to drag the chair out of the apartment into the hallway, but it got stuck in a doorway. Simpson died in the fire, but officials say he managed to alert two other residents who escaped -- one of whom says he'd have died if Simpson hadn't woken him up. Schenectady County DA Robert Carney said the investigation is continuing into the specific circumstances related to the deaths of the four people who didn't make it out alive. [Daily Gazette] [News10] [WNYT] [TWCN] [Daily Gazette] [News10] [TU]
Schenectady police say two people were wounded in an exchange of gunfire between two vehicles Friday around noon in Mont Pleasant. The incident prompted a lockdown at several nearby schools. [Daily Gazette] [TU] [TWCN]
Capital District OTB wants to open a video lottery terminal casino at de Laet's Landing in Rensselaer, a plan that has the support of Rensselaer's mayor of other local elected officials. [Daily Gazette] [TU]
A spotlight on child poverty in some of the Capital Region's urban areas, specifically Schenectady and Troy. [Daily Gazette] [TU]
The UAlbany men's and women's basketball team lost their NCAA tournament games. [TU x2]
A Schenectady County Court jury found John Wakefield guilty of first-degree murder in the 2010 death of Brett Wentworth in Schenectady. A new technique for analyzing DNA evidence played a central role in the trial. [Daily Gazette] [TU]
Albany police say two people were stabbed during an argument Sunday night in Arbor Hill (map). [TWCN]
Cohoes police say a standoff Sunday afternoon -- during which a woman allegedly threw knives and weights at police and threatened to burn down the apartment building she was in -- ended peacefully. [WNYT] [TU]
Colonie police say the same person is accused of bank robberies in East Greenbush last Thursday and Colonie on Friday. [TU]
The Saratoga County Sheriff's Office says two men have been arrested for allegedly robbing a nutritional supplements store at Clifton Park Center with a shotgun. [TU]
Guilderland police say they arrested a man for allegedly trying to inappropriately touch an 11 year old in the bathroom at the Dave & Busters in Crossgates Friday. An expert tells the Times Union these sorts of attacks are rare. [News10] [TU]
Chris Churchill: There are still a lot of questions surrounding the death of Daniel Satre, who died after being tasered multiple times by police in Ballston Spa, and for now it appears many of them will go unanswered. [TU]
A look into how the FBI came to investigate former Halfmoon supervisor Mindy Wormuth. [TU]
A look at the tax breaks that have been associated with the Schenectady casino site. [TU]
Saratoga Springs Republicans have endorsed John Safford to run for mayor. [TU]
To what degree is the dam at Lock 7 responsible for flooding along in the Mohawk in Schenectady? [Daily Gazette]
From short Times Union story about a Schuylerville family rescuing a bald eagle: "Liotta said Ahern was scared of the eagle at first, but thought it was pretty cool once she got to hold it." [TU]
How has a Rotterdam couple managed to stay married for 75 years? "Well, we just loved and respected each other." [Daily Gazette]
... said KGB about Drawing: What's something that brought you joy this year?