All Over Albany

Bits surfacing about feds' investigation into the Buffalo Billion, Troy taking crime reports online, arboretum proposed for casino site

Buffalo Billion/SUNY Poly
"People with knowledge of the subpoena to SUNY Polytechnic" tell the New York Times that the recently surfaced investigation of the Buffalo Billion initiative by US Attorney Preet Bharara's office is focused in part on whether requests for proposals were written in such a way as to narrow the field in favor of a construction company whose CEO has contributed tens of thousands of dollars to the Cuomo campaign. [NYT] [Buffalo News]

Part of the ripple from this story: The investigation apparently prompted a member of the NYSERDA board to call for a review of the agency's transfer of the Saratoga Technology + Energy Park to SUNY Poly for $1. A SUNY Poly statement described the board member's call "misguided." [Politico NY] [TU]

Analysis: Jimmy Vielkind observes that Bharara is "making war on campaign fund-raising as we know it" in New York State. [Politico NY]

Drinking water
The cost of maintaining/replacing the drinking water infrastructure in New York State over the next two decades is estimated to be between $22 billion and $39 billion (depending on who's estimating). Some cities in the Capital Region, such as Troy, have water infrastructure that dates back to the 19th century -- and much of it will be need to fixed in the near future. [AP/TU] [TU] Earlier: Cast iron and hollowed-out tree trunks

Fatal stabbing in Schenectady
Schenectady police say they've made an arrest in the fatal stabbing of a man at the Yates Village apartment complex Friday afternoon. SPD says the incident was a verbal argument that escalated. [Daily Gazette] [WNYT]

Albany shooting
Albany police say a man was shot in the arm mid-morning Saturday. APD the says the victim reported being shot on the street in West Hill (map) and didn't know the shooter. [APD FB]

Guilty plea in fatal Central Ave hit and run
The driver in the hit-and-run that killed a woman who crossing Central Ave in Colonie this past April has pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an incident without reporting (a felony) and faces 2-6 years in prison. [TU] [Albany County DA]

Schenectady mayoral race
A profiles of the candidates in the Schenectady mayoral race, along with where they stand on some of the issues. [TU]

Troy mayoral race drama
Chris Churhill runs through the various accusations and dramas in the Troy mayoral race after the charges against former Democratic candidate Ernest Everett. [TU+]

New method for filing Troy crime reports
The Troy Police Department is rolling a system in which people can file police reports for minor crimes online -- the idea is the system will free up officers to do more patrol work. [TU]

Troy homeless veterans
Troy officials say they have identified, and found housing for, all the homeless veterans in the city -- 33 people in total. [Troy Record] [TU]

OTB
The financial condition of New York State's off-track betting operations is deteriorating in the face of a decline in horse race betting, and the increase in other gambling options, according to a report from the state comptroller's office. [TU] [NYS OSC]

GE jobs
Local officials are frustrated that a Texas Congressman's opposition to the federal Export-Import Bank is threatening the longterm future of jobs at GE's Schenectady turbine plant. [TU]

Arboretum for casino site?
MiSci and Proctors are seeking state funding for an arboretum -- an "outdoor museum of trees" -- at Mohawk Harbor. [Daily Gazette]

Megyn Kelly in Bethlehem
Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly was back in Bethlehem this weekend to be inducted into the Bethlehem Central High School's hall of fame. [TU]

Stuff going on today

Next Albany High School
The Albany school district is holding a town hall meeting to talk about plans for the $196 million renovation of Albany High School. (The project is on the ballot this November.) 7 pm at Albany High Schools