All Over Albany

Accuser testifies in Herman Robinson trial, push for federal transit funding, down on Start-Up NY, a kidney to spare

Herman Robinson trial
The woman prosecutors say was repeatedly raped by Herman Robinson took the stand Thursday for the first time in his murder and rape trial. Earlier in the day Dr. Jennifer Canter, a pediatrician who examined the woman, testified that she's performed exams in hundreds of sexual assault cases: "I haven't quite seen something that looked this disturbing." Canter also testified that there indications the young woman had given birth. [Daily Gazette] [WNYT] [TU]

Investigation into death of Dontay Ivy
The Albany Police Department issued a statement Thursday that it welcomes the independent investigation of the Dontay Ivy case by the Albany County DA's office. And continued: "In order to ensure a fair and impartial investigation by the District Attorney's Office the police department is unable to comment any further until the investigation has been completed." [APD press release]

Also on Thursday, a group of UAlbany students rallied for a better police/community relationship. [TWCN]

Jay Street fire lawsuits
Another law firm says it's planning to file lawsuits on behalf of people killed or injured in the Jay Street fire. [Daily Gazette]

Push for federal transit funding
CDTA and regional elected officials pushed for increased federal funding transit Thursday, including money for two new bus rapid transit lines. About 12 percent of CDTA's funding comes from the feds. [Daily Gazette] [TU]

Down on Start-Up NY
State Assemblyman Robin Schimminger on the performance of the Start-Up NY program so far: "If we applied the methodology suggested by the [Cuomo] admin for evaluating teachers, right ... you'd have to rate Start-Up NY either in the lowest tier or below that." [Capital]

Not a page turner, apparently
The new unauthorized biography of Andrew Cuomo -- The Contender, Michael Schnayerson -- sold just 400 copies its first week. (Cuomo's own memoir -- All Things Possible -- sold fewer than 2,000 copies during its first six weeks.) [Politics on the Hudson] [TU]

Marijuana wax
State Police say they're starting to find pot that's been converted to a wax-like substance, and sometimes is carried in lip balm containers. [TWCN]

Too much milk
A handful of dairy farms around the region say they could be forced to close after they were dropped by their milk processor due to a milk surplus. [News10]

Fact

There is one federal railroad inspector for all 3,000 privately-owned train bridges in New York State, according to Chuck Schumer's office. Schumer says that person is also responsible for rail bridges in 13 other states. He's pushing for more funding for inspections. A railroad industry spokesman says the private companies also conduct their own bridge inspections. [Chuck Schumer press release] [TU]

Quote

"I can do that; I have a spare."

-- Kim McFarlane of Cohoes, to the Times Union, about on her thought process leading up to donating a kidney to person she didn't know. [TU]

Stuff going on today

It's Friday. (Thank goodness.) So, of course, we'll have our big stuff-to-this-weekend post coming up a little later this morning.