Legislative session in overtime, Cox named APD chief, casino designers will tweak the plan, manhunt for convicts expands
Legislative overtime
The legislative session was slated to end on Wednesday but lawmakers went into overtime today and the end does not appear to be in sight.
Among the items still to be decided: rent control legislation, pension forfeiture for corrupt officials, the property tax cap and education tax credits.But the bill to name the wood frog the official state amphibian squeaked past by one vote after a heated debate. [NYT][TU][WNYT][TU]
A vote on Mixed Martial Arts fighting may also get pushed to the floorin the Assembly today. Another bill winding its way to the close of the legislative session would require New york drivers to updated the photos on their licenses every eight years. [TWCN][TU]
New Albany police chief
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan has tapped former deputy chief and acting Police Chief Brendan Cox to be the city's new Chief. Cox will replace Steven Krokoff, who retired in April. [TU]
Designers to tweak casino plan
A designer for Rush Street Gamings's planned Schenectady casino told a group at a public comment session on the design that his team will go back to the drawing board. "We've heard you loud and clear," Mike Levin told critics of the new casino design, saying the team will work to strike a balance between a more traditional design and what he called the "cutting edge, contemporary,slick building" currently proposed.
Dannemora update
It's day 12 in the search for the escaped convicts from Dannemora, and police are expanding the breadth of their search, but reducing the search force from 800 to 600 officers. Joyce Mitchell, the woman charged with aiding the escapees, told police she backed out of the plan that involved killing her husband and driving the getaway car because she "feared for her life." Mitchell is being held at the Rensselaer County Jail under close watch.Meanwhile, Clinton Correctional facility has shut down its honor block following the escape of two inmates from the maximum security facility.[News 10][TWCN][NYT][Record][TU]
Another Schenectady mayoral candidate
Chris Gibbs, a 27 year old Brooklyn native and SCCC grad has thrown his hat in the ring race for Schenectady Mayor. [Gazette]
The size of a legislature
A new plan backed by Albany County Legislatures charter review committee this week would leave the size of the legislature up to lawmakers every ten years. [TU]
Saratoga Springs buys farm
The Saratoga Springs City Council has voted to pay nearly $1.2 million for the development rights to Pitney Farm, - a 166-acre farm on the city's West side and one of the last active farms in the city. on the city's West Side-- with an eye toward turning it into a perm ant site for the Saratoga Farmers Market
and a training space for new farmers. [Gazette]
They're legal, but they can still be dangerous
Discarded fireworks severely damaged a home in the Washington County town of Kingsbury on Wednesday night. [TU]
Fewer injury related deaths in NY
A new report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Trust for America's Health shows New York ranks lowest in the 50 states for injury related deaths and eighth lowest for drug overdose deaths.[TU]
Hotel partner in Schenectady
Homewood suites by Hilton will partner on a proposed $15 million hotel in Schenectady at the Waters Edge Lighthouse.[Gazette]
Tobacco free market
Market 32 will stop selling cigarettes and tobacco products because they don't fit it with its move toward health and wellness. [Gazette][Business Review]
Because you can bet on pretty much anything
Bookmakers odds that the Dannemora escapees will be caught. [TU]
The Hooligans
Meet the Hooligans of Bethlehem Central High School. [TU]
Happening Today
Huck Finn's Playland
Huck Finn's Playland officially opens today at 5pm.
Kinky Boots
Today-Sunday: A touring production of the Broadway musical Kinky Boots will be at Proctors for the week. Blurbage:
Winner of six Tony Awards including BEST MUSICAL, this inspirational story follows a struggling shoe factory owner who works to turn his business around with help from Lola, a fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos. Together, this unlikely pair finds that they have more in common than they ever dreamed possible... proving that when you change your mind about someone, you can change your whole world.
The show includes a score by Cyndi Lauper, a book by Harvey Fierstein, and direction and choreography by Jerry Mitchell. (And, yep, it was based on
Today-Sunday various times - $20 and up
Music
Chrisette Michele at Alive at Five
Grammy-winning soul singer. With: Bell's Roar. 5 pm - free
Glass Animals at Vapor
Indie rock. With: Gilligan Moss. 8 pm - $18
Rachel Grimes Ensemble at Helsinki Hudson
Post-rock chamber music. With: Alexander Turnquist. 8 pm - $15 ahead / $18 day of
... said KGB about Drawing: What's something that brought you joy this year?