All Over Albany

Percentage of kids in poverty up in both state and Albany area, Cox confirmed as APD chief, blood donors complain of frequent calls, Saratoga County Fair opens

Child poverty
The percentage of children living in poverty increased in New York State to 23 percent (from 19 percent) in 2013 compared to the 2010. In the Capital Region, the rate increased to 16 percent (from 14.3 percent) over the same period. [Annie E. Casey Foundation] [TU]

State tax cap
The property tax increase cap for local governments will be .73 percent in 2016, according to a report from the state comptroller's office. (The cap is set at the lesser of either 2 percent or the rate of inflation.) Orgs that represent municipalities and school districts are warning the cap's rate for next year could mean reduced services on the local level. [NYS OSC] [TU]

New Albany police chief
The Albany Common Council unanimously approved the appointment of acting police chief Brendan Cox to the permanent role as chief. [TU]

65 years to life
The man convicted of the fatal shooting of Jose "Mikey" Torres (and the wounding of Torres's brother) in Schenectady in 2013 has been sentenced to 65 years to life. The prosecutor in the case says the shooting was retaliation for a slap to the face. [Daily Gazette] [TWCN]

Hulett Street fire
Court filings from federal prosecutors include the content of an alleged string of threatening texts sent to David Terry before the 2013 Schenectady fired that killed the father and three children. (The person accused of sending the texts, Edward Leon, has not been charged with the fire -- he's currently charged with lying to a grand jury about his whereabouts around the time of the fire.) [Daily Gazette]

Fatal Henry Johnson Blvd crash
The person who died in the crash at Henry Johnson Blvd and First Street in Albany early Sunday has been identified as Amy Stock of Albany, who had co-founded Sustainable Saratoga and had been working with Capital Roots. Albany police say the other driver has been charged with DWI. [TU] [APD]

Fatal Schenectady motorcycle crash
Schenectady police are still investigating what caused the Erie Blvd motorcycle crash that killed Bryan and Cynthia Blomgren of Rotterdam. [Daily Gazette]

Marquis Dixon case
Support is gathering to challenge the nine-year sentence being served by Marquis Dixon, the Albany teen who convicted of stealing a pair of shoes. [TU+]

GloFo tax breaks
Global Foundries says it's invested $11.5 billion at its Malta site and is continuing to expand -- and it's requesting another $82 million sales tax breaks from the state and the Saratoga County Industrial Development Agency. [Daily Gazette] [Biz Review]

Victory Mill
The Saratoga County IDA approved another $500k in incentives for the planned conversion of the former Victory Mill into apartments. [Daily Gazette]

Campaign cash
State Senator Kathleen Marchione's campaign has gotten more than $30,000 from developer Bruce Tanski this year via the LLC loophole. [TU]

Calling and calling
Some local blood donors tell the Record they've been the subject of "incessant," "borderline abusive" calls from the American Red Cross to return to donate more blood. [Troy Record]

Paul Smith's
Paul Smith's College in the Adirondacks is line to rename itself Joan Weill-Paul Smith's College because of a $20 million pledge from Joan Weill, the wife of former Citigroup CEO Sandy Weill. [TU]

Rocks
A Slingerlands woman has donated more than 2,500 rocks and 600 vials of sand to miSci. [Daily Gazette]

Stuff going on today

National Ballet of China
The National Ballet of China will be at SPAC for a few performances. The company will be performing The Peony Pavilion, an "internationally-acclaimed adaptation of a classic Chinese romantic tale." Tuesday 8 pm / Wednesday 2 pm and 8 pm - $45 and up

Saratoga County Fair
County fair season starts with the opening of the Saratoga County Fair in Ballston Spa. It runs through Sunday. Tuesday-Sunday 9 am-midnight (amusements open later in the day) - $10 admission / unlimited rides $20

Front Parlor
The Front Parlor storytelling series is at The Ale House in Troy. This month's theme is "Identity/ies." Tuesday 7:30 pm