All Over Albany

Ethics dominate day one for legislators, Cuomo to propose Thruway toll freeze and $22 billion for roads & bridges, Vital Vio founders make Forbes list

New session opens with focus on ethics
Ethics discussion dominated the first day of session for New York legislators.
On day one of the first legislative session after the convictions of Sheldon Silver and Dean Skelos, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle pitched plans for ethics reform, while advocates for good government asked legislators to sign a three point "Clean Conscience Pledge". In addition to ethics reform, lawmakers say minimum wage and the heroin epidemic are issues they plan to address in the new session. [TU][TU][News 10]

School threat may be connected to bank robbery
Police believe a fake threat that put Mohonasen High School into a temporary lockdown on Wednesday may have been an attempt to divert them from a TrustCo bank robbery that took place ten minutes after the 911 call reporting the threat. Half an hour later an Albany NBT bank at 54 State Street was robbed. [TWCN][Gazette]

Tolls, roads & bridges
Andrew Cuomo has announced he'll propose a Thruway toll freeze until 2020 for all drivers and eliminate tolls for commercial agriculture traffic in an effort to drop the cost of doing business. Cuomo is also expected to propose a $22 billion five year plan to improve upstate roads and bridges. [TU][NYT]

Possible Time Warner security breach
The FBI is looking into a possible breach in security at Time Warner Cable that may have compromised some customers account passwords and email addresses. [WNYT]

Teachout considering congressional run
Former gubernatorial candidate Zephyr Teachout is considering a run for the 19th Congressional District seat being vacated by Chris Gibson at the end of the year. [TU]

Watervliet cop sentenced
The former Watervliet police officer who admitted to having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl will spend six months in jail. [TU]

High Rock lot appraised
The controversial city-owned High Rock parking lot in Saratoga Springs
has been appraised at $2.9 million. [Gazette]

Reducing salt costs
A new road salt mixture is expected to help reduce road costs by as much as two thirds in Saratoga County. [TWCN]

Vital Vio founders named to Forbes list
The founders of Vital Vio , the Troy -based company that developed light fixtures that use light -emitting diodes to kill harmful bacteria without affecting people - have been named to Forbes 30 under 30 list. [TU]

Historic building sold in Troy
A company that develops assisted living families for seniors, has purchased the historic Marshall Ray building on River Greet in Troy. [TU]

Flooding sends workers home
Flooding from a burst pipe on the eighth floor at 40 N Pearl sent state workers home on Wednesday.[TU]

Changing roads
Making area roads safer for pedestrians. [TU+]

Golf course may become housing development
The owner of an 18 hole golf course in Clifton Park has applied to convert the course into a housing development.
[TU]

Deer rescue
Scotia firefighters rescued a deer from the Mohawk on Wednesday. [TWCN]

Happening today

Siena
The Siena men's basketball team will be at the TU Center to face Fairfield. Thursday 7 pm - $8 and up