All Over Albany

Derailed Amtrak train was speeding, teen dies following Plotter Kill fall, Wormuth in federal court, Fido on the patio

Derailed Amtrak train was speeding
The Amtrak train that derailed on a sharp curve between Philadelphia and NY on Tuesday night, killing seven people was speeding at more than 106 mph before it went off the tracks. The engineer says he has no recollection of what happened. Chuck Schumer is calling for Positive Train Control systems that would slow down trains when they are going to fast or when there is a car or another train on the track. [NYT][WNYT][News 10]

Teen dies following Plotter Kill fall
The Clifton Park teenager who fell 50 feet while hiking at Plotter Kill Preserve on Tuesday has died.[TU]

Wormuth in U.S. District Court
Former Halfmoon Supervisor Melinda Wormuth appeared in U.S. District Court on Wednesday. Wormuth's attorney E. Stewart Jones argued that Wormuth was not read her Miranda rights before making videotaped statements, claiming a longtime town attorney told her it would be alright to use her political connections to lobby on behalf of the MMA. [TU][Record][Gazette]

Three arraigned in Lark Street shooting
Three men - two teens and a 24 year old - were arraigned on Wednesday on charges they shot and killed a father of six on Lark Street last week.[TU]

DEC releases fracking report
A state DEC environmental review of fracking upholds the need for the ban on the procedure, which was announced in December, citing "major uncertainties about potential significant adverse health and environmental impacts. " [TU]

Schenectady fires
A task force has been formed to look into several recent suspicious fires in Schenectady. [TWCN]

Challenger for Farley
Republican Senator Hugh Farley, who has represented the 49th Senate District for nearly 40 years, will face a primary challenge from 33-year-old real estate agent Christian Klueg. [Gazette]

Teacher evaluation bill
A bill introduced in the Assembly on Wednesday would extend the time schools have to put a new teacher evaluation system in place until 2016. [WNYT]

Combating homelessness in Saratoga
Efforts to deal with the problem of homelessness in Saratoga.[Gazette]

Saratoga police app
A new emergency app helps Saratoga residents reach police. [WNYT]

On the ropes
The man planning Mountain Ridge Adventure ropes course in Glenville says he's not deterred in spite of neighborhood opposition. [Gazette]

ecigarettes may be added to ban
A bill before the Senate and Assembly would add ecigarettes to the state's clean air act which bans smoking in certain indoor areas. [TU]

Fido on the patio
A bill to allow restaurants to let customers bring their dogs to outdoor dining areas at restaurants ha passed in the Senate.[TU]

Schenectady potholes
Schenectady is testing a new fill for potholes that is more expensive but promises to last longer --- up to five to ten years. [Gazette]

Happening today

American Music Festival

Thursday-Saturday: The Albany Symphony Orchestra's American Music Festival returns with a string of events and performances at EMPAC. The capstone concert is Saturday's concert, blurbage: "This 'Migrations' program focuses on the traditions surrounding American History and features Michael Daugherty's Trail Of Tears Concerto with Amy Porter on flute, world premieres from Composer Educator Clint Needham and Andrea Reinkemeyer, and Derek Bermel's Migration Series for Jazz Orchestra." Thursday-Saturday various times - various prices

Seitan 101
Thursday: Jenn Adams is leading a class at Honest Weight about using seitan, AKA, "wheat meat." Thursday 6 pm - free (registration required)