All Over Albany

Reaction to Paris attacks, alleged problems at VA hospital, Skelos trial starting, Albany parking ticket amnesty extended

Reaction to Paris attacks
Among the stories of the mutiple people with connections to the Capital Region who were in Paris during the attacks Friday night: Skidmore students studying abroad and the Schoharie native who was in the city visiting friends. [TU+] [Daily Gazette]

On Saturday there happened to be a conference about Islamaphobia at the Muslim Community Center of the Capital District -- said a man from Virginia attending the conference in Colonie: "Anytime there's an attack, I pray for two things. One, I say, 'God, please take care of the families of the victims,' and I pray for the victims. But the second thing, I'll be honest with you, is 'I hope to God it's not a Muslim.'" [TWCN] [Daily Gazette]

Stratton VA Medical Center
The Times Union reports the director of the Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany was suddenly placed on administrative leave last week, and current and former employees (some of the anonymous) allege there have been problems that range from patient care to staff management. [TU]

Albany school buses
School bus drivers who work for the company that contracts with the Albany school district are forming a union, which the say is a response to the company's lack of movement on concerns about safety and staffing. [Daily Gazette] [TU+]

Jacquelyn Porreca case
The two men accused of the murder of Jacquelyn Porreca have been indicted on a range of charges that include murder and robbery. The city of Albany says it's lowering the water level in Washington Park Lake to aid the search for a knife that police say may have been the murder weapon. One of the accussed men is also facing robbery charges in a different case, and court documents include police statements about the concerns of the man's wife regarding "his unstable nature and history of substance abuse." (Police allege the two men robbed Porreca in order to get money to buy heroin.) [Albany County DA] [News10] [TU]

Dean Skelos the trial
With the Dean Skelos trial is set to begin Monday here's an overview of the allegations against the former state Senate majority leader -- they revolve around accusations of Skelos pulling strings for his son. [NYT]

Muncie, Indiana
Andrew Cuomo reelection campaign got a $50,000 donation tagged to an address in Muncie, Indiana -- so Casey Seiler tried to connect some dots on that. [TU+]

Not guilty verdict in Troy club shooting
The owner of the former Kokopellis night club in Troy was found not guilty on an assault and weapons charge for an incident in which he said he accidentally shot someone in the leg. [TU]

Underage drinking bust
The state Liquor Authority says an inspection of the The Smokin' Bull in Albany Thursday night concluded that of the 125 patrons in the bar, 115 were underage. State DMV investigators also confiscated 75 IDs said to be counterfeit, and arrested 71 people for allegedly posessing fake ID or using someone else's ID. SLA is moving to suspend the bar's liquor license. [NYSLA]

Violations filed for party
Both the alleged organizer of a large party in October at a Railroad Ave. warehouse and the owner of the building have been cited for multiple violations by the town of Colonie for the event that's said to have drawn as many as 600 UAlbany students -- more than would fit inside the building. [TU+]

Pedestrian safety issue, or off-campus party issue?
The recent death of Skidmore student who was walking along Clinton Street Halloween night has prompted a discussion in Greenfield about whether the core safety issue is a lack of features for pedestrians along the road -- or the off-campus parties that draw students to walk along the road. [Daily Gazette]

Albany parking ticket amnesty
The city of Albany's parking ticket late fee amnesty has been extended a week. [TU]

GE battery factory
GE is ending the manufacturing of its Durathon batteries at the plant in Schenectady, and will cut 35 positions. [Biz Review] [Daily Gazette]

On-call scheduling
A look at on-call scheduling -- why companies like retail stores and fast food restaurants use it, and how it affects the lives of employees -- as the topic gains more attention from elected politicians. [TU+]

Never too old
A Saratoga County woman went skydiving Sunday -- at age 101. [TWCN]

Red, white, and blue

A few more pics of the Alfred E Smith Building from last night. It seemed fitting to take one in Lafayette Park. pic.twitter.com/ecPo0bv41w

— Albany Archives (@AlbanyArchives) November 15, 2015

Stuff going on today

Stories
The Front Parlor Storytelling series is at the Olde English Pub in Albany. This month's theme is "Anything Goes." Monday 7:30 pm

Music: Boytoy at The Low Beat
"[N]oisy yet melodic rock recalls great '90s bands like Throwing Muses and the Breeders." 7:30 pm - $8.38