All Over Albany

Cuomo:NY won't turn away Syrian refugees, 230 animals rescued in Westerlo hoarding case, Albany to annoy crow overlords

Cuomo won't turn away Syrian refugees
Andrew Cuomo questioned the authority of Republican governors who are vowing to keep Syrian refugees out of their states. Cuomo said said Tuesday that he has no plans to oppose allowing Syrian refugees into New York, saying that closing boarders to Syrian refuges would "defeat the American Dream" [TWCN][TU+][WNYT]

230 animals rescued in Westerlo
More than 230 animals were rescued from a hoarding situation in Westerlo. The homeowner has been charged with animal cruelty. Humane Society workers and sheriff's deputies went to the home for a welfare check and found cats, dogs, birds and goats without food or water in unhealthy conditions. The Hudson Mohawk Humane Society plans to nurse the animals back to health and prepare them for adoption. [TU][TWCN][WNYT][News10]

Alleged killers to be arraigned
The two men accused of killing Jacquelyn Porreca are expected to be be arraigned today by a state supreme court judge.[TU]

$1 Million in payouts from Schenectady
Schenectady is expected to pay out $1 million in two lawsuits -- one for sexual harassment and another for police brutality. [TU][Gazette]

Skelos trial underway
Opening remarks began on Tuesday in the corruption trial of Dean Skelos.
Prosecutors in the Dean Skelos trial argued that jurors were about to hear
"the age-old tale of abuse of political power to satisfy personal greed," [TWCN][NYT]

Attorney calls for new trial
An attorney for the Schenectady man convicted of firing at police offices in a 2010 raid argued that his client should get a new trial because prosecutors in the original trial focused too much on a separate murder charge against the man. [Gazette]

Smokin' Bull loses license
Albany's Smokin' Bull has had its liquor license suspended after 100 underage drinkers were found there and 75 fake Ids were confiscated last week. [WNYT]

Paris and terrorism
UAlbany terrorism experts share thoughts on the Paris terrorist attacks.

Food for fines extended
Albany is extending its Food for Fines program - exchanging food for dropping late fees on tickets. So far the city has collected 1,500 pounds of food in exchange for $180,000 in overdue parking fees. [WNYT]

New life for funeral home
A former Troy funeral home is being renovated for veterans housing. [Record]

Annoying the overlords
Don't be alarmed, it's just an effort to irritate our crow overlords.[TU]

Happening today:

Motown the Musical
Today-Sunday: A touring production of Motown the Musical will be at Proctors. The show is based on the story of the Motown record label and includes more than 60 songs from the label. Tuesday-Sunday various times - $20 and up

Native Peoples of Hudson Valley
The State Museum is hosting an event about the history of Native Americans in the Hudson Valley. Blurbage: "At this time of year people often refer to the role of Native Americans in the founding of what became the United States of America. These origin stories, however, combine fact and myth. come learn about the actual history of Native peoples in the Hudson Valley from Archaeologist Michael Lucas and Jon Lothrop at a special [Albany] City Hall Rotunda Event at the New York State Museum." Galleries at the museum will be open to the public until 7 pm after the talks. Wednesday 5 pm (it looks like the talks start at 5:30 pm) - free

Sound effects
The On Screen/Sound series at EMPAC focuses on the role of sound effects in film with screenings of Deborah Stratman's Hacked Circuit, Kou Matsuo's anime film Yozakura Quartet: Hana no Uta, and Brian de Palma's Blow Out. Wednesday 7 pm - $6

Music

Wednesday: Puscifer at The Palace
"[E]lectro rock band-meets-comedy troupe." 8 pm - $29.50 and up