All Over Albany

New details in Dontay Ivy case, no strike for Ellis nurses, American Pharoah finishes second, Ed Lewi remembered

Dontay Ivy case
There has yet to be an official, publicly-released report on the death of Dontay Ivy while in Albany police custody this past spring, but Brendan Lyons reports in the Times Union that a coroner's report designated the death as a homicide -- and a possible grand jury review of the case "has stalled." "A law enforcement official briefed on the investigation" tells Lyons of the incident in which Albany police stopped Ivy: "Everything that could possibly go wrong, goes wrong here." An attorney representing the police officers confirms to WNYT the homicide designation in the coroner's report, noting it's a medical rather criminal determination. [TU] [WNYT]

Ellis nurses
Nurses at Ellis Medicine cancelled their plan to strike later this week after the org representing them reached an agreement on a contract with the hospital group early Saturday morning. The agreement must still be voted on by the nurses. [TU] [Daily Gazette]

American Pharoah
American Pharoah did not win the much-anticipated Travers Stakes at the Saratoga Race Course this past weekend. The Triple Crown winner lost to a horse named Keen Ice in a close race. American Pharoah joins a string of star, undefeated horses to lose at Saratoga. [TU] [NYT] [Saratogian]

Arrest in recent Schenectady gunfire
Schenectady police say they've arrested a man accused of being the shooter in the spray of gunfire last Monday afternoon in Hamilton Hill (there were no injuries reported). The charges include attempted murder. [TU] [Daily Gazette]

Lansingburgh
Chris Churchill calls for ending tax breaks for downtown Troy development and focusing breaks on redevelopment in city neighborhoods. [TU+]

Saratoga racino
The Saratoga Casino and Raceway has added virtual blackjack stations that are, according to state rules, considered video lottery terminals. [Daily Gazette]

Upstate secession
Among the recent ideas in upstate secession: having upstate leave New York and join Pennsylvania, and dividing the state into two essentially autonomous regions. [NYSNYS/Troy Record] [TU]

Red Beards
There will be no Red Beard Party line on the November ballot in Troy. [Troy Record]

Robert Forezzi
Former Albany fire chief Robert Forezzi died this past weekend at age 61 from cancer. He had been a member of the AFD for more than 35 years before retiring in 2013 after seven years as chief. Said current chief Warren Abriel of Forezzi: "He was a true student of the fire service. It was his life." [WNYT] [TU] [TWCN]

Ed Lewi
Ed Lewi, the longtime PR agency head who was a key promoter of the Saratoga Race Course and SPAC, died last week at age 81. There was a moment of silence announce for him Saturday at The Track before the first race. [TU] [Daily Gazette]

Stuff going on today

The Track
It's the last week of the season at the Saratoga Race Course.

ValleyCats
The Tri-City ValleyCats are at The Joe to face Brooklyn.

Music: The JD McPherson show at The Hangar is sold out.

Music: Olivia Quillio at Dana Park in Albany
Celebrating a new album. With: Meara Mctague + Mitchell Joyce. 5:30 pm - free