All Over Albany

A dozen employees suspended at Dannemora in wake of escape, Saratoga County shooting ruled suicide by police, planning ahead for Avian Flu

Dannemora suspensions
Twelve employees were suspended from the Clinton County Correctional facility, including Superintendent Steven Racette, two deputy superintendents and nine corrections officers.[TU]

More breakout details

+David Sweat has told authorities that he and Richard Matt were sawing through the cell walls for about six months before their escape from Clinton Correctional facility, and that he did a dry run of the escape the night before. [NYT]

+Sweat told police no power tools were used in the escape, just hand tools and a sledgehammer. [WNYT]

+Sweat also told authorities that police almost caught him twice in the three week search, and that one officer walked by a tree he was hiding in. [News 10]

+Five days after he was killed by law enforcement officials, Richard Matt's body has still not been claimed from the Franklin county Coroner.[TU]

Meanwhile, inside Dannemora
Some prisoners are claiming they were violently assaulted by authorities in an effort to obtain information about the escape. [TWCN]

One report now shows that Clinton Correctional facility has had a history of violence by staff. But some officers say the escape doesn't surprise them because a fear of lawsuits and a push for inmate rights has limited guards. [TWCN][TWCN]

Have a Nice Day:the movie
Chris Churchill is already planning the movie version of the escape.

Busy session
New York State legislators passed 718 bills in the 2015 session, making it the busiest since 2008. [TU]

Heastie
Carl Heastie's look back at his first legislative session as speaker.[CNY]

Chancellor: Regents need more resources
The State Board of Regents chancellor says State Ed isn't getting the resources it needs.[TU]

Avian Flu
New York's preparedness teams are developing plans to deal with the potential arrival of an Avian Flu that has wiped out more than 40 million chickens in the midwest. [TU]

Saratoga County shooting
Monday's fatal shooting of a man by law officers in Saratoga county has been ruled a suicide by police. [WNYT]

Schenectady drug raid
Schenectady police seized heroin and firearms and made two arrests in a drug raid on Avenue A in the city on Tuesday. [Gazette]

Malta board wants clerk's resignation
Malta's town board has asked the town clerk to resign after settling a lawsuit with a deputy clerk who alleged a hostile work environment. [Gazette]

Medical Marijuana in Glenville?
A New York City-based pharmaceutical company has proposed a medical marijuana facility at the Glenville Business and Technology Park. [Gazette]

Seeking developer for SUNY Poly Rensselaer project
SUNY Poly is looking for a developer to create a high-tech research and training "hub" on the former site of the High School in Rensselaer. [TU]

Street renamed for former chief
Albany is naming a city street after the late John Dale, the city's first African American police chief.[WNYT]

Schenectady sends aid to Cuba
Humanitarian aid from Schenectady to Cuba[Gazette]

Fireworks
They're legal, but maybe it's best to leave them to the pros.[Politics on the Hudson]

New Apostrophe
Proctors Apostrophe Cafe is getting a 50,000 makeover this week.[Gazette]

Happening today
Park Playhouse
Provided the rain lets up, Park Playhouse in Albany will open its 2015 season tonight with a production of Singin' in the Rain. Wednesday includes a season kickoff celebration with a pre-show cocktail reception and intermission dessert ($75 / $40 for age 40 and under). Wednesday-Sunday 7:30 pm - reserved seats $16 and up / lawn seats are free

Rockin' on the River Postponed
Tonights Almost Queen at Rockin' on the River
Queen tribute show has been postponed due to weather concerns.