All Over Albany

More water test results in Rensselaer County, presidents point to college affordability problem, taxi app legislation for upstate on hold

PFOA
Rensselaer County exec Kathy Jimino says the county's tests for PFOA on a handful of wells in Petersburgh and Berlin have returned results similar to tests conducted by the state (one was found over the guideline limit, another close to the limit) -- and it's waiting on tests for another 60 wells. Meanwhile over in Hoosick Falls, as residents are being instructed to flush the pipes and water heaters in their homes to clear them of contaminated water, distrust and skepticism of officials continues. [TU] [WNYT]

Also: The city of Albany reported Thursday that tests of its water supply revealed "no detectable levels" of PFOA. In a statement Kathy Sheehan said that was as expected, but the city water department did the tests because of what has happened recently in other communities. [Sheehan admin]

Rescue from fire in Schenectady
The Schenectady Fire Department says firefighters rescued a woman from a fire at a two-family home on Parkwood Boulevard. The fire destroyed the house. Public safety commissioner Wayne Bennett tells the Daily Gazette the fire "does have suspicious indications"; one of its former residents was fatally near the home in December of 2014 -- the arraignment for one of the men charged in the killing is set for today. [TWCN] [WNYT] [Daily Gazette]

Cost of college
A recurring theme at a public discussion with Capital Region college presidents Thursday: too many students are having trouble paying for college. Another prominent topic: the challenge of declining enrollments, prompted in part by demographic trends. [TU] [Daily Gazette]

On Friday an org called New York Students Rising is planning a walkout by SUNY students to protest increases in tuition. [TU]

Troy sinkhole
Troy mayor Patrick Madden says the sewer line involved in the Campbell Ave sinkhole has been repaired -- but it's still not clear when work on the refilling the hole will be complete. [Troy Record]

Friction between Troy City Council and mayor
The Troy City Council and Patrick Madden are in a spat over the council hiring an outside accountant to assist in the response to the critical audit from the state comptroller's office. [Troy Record]

Alleged Troy election fraud case
The charges against former Troy mayoral candidate Ernest Everett for alleged forgeries of petitions have been switched to misdemeanors from felonies. [TU]

Court drama in Albany?
How the scheduling -- and re-scheduling -- of the arraignments in the UAlbany bus incident charges points to possible behind-the-scenes drama involving the DA's office and a judge. [TU+]

Albany school district tax cap override
The Albany school district is one of the six percent of school districts statewide planning to ask for a property tax cap override for 2016-2017. [TU]

Schenectady train station
The state Department of Transportation got one bid for the construction of the new Schenectady train station -- and it was $10 million over the estimated cost. [Daily Gazette]

Schenectady Historic District Commission
The sole member of the Schenectady Historic District Commission who voted against allowing a historic home in the Stockade to be moved out the flood plain was one of two members of the commission recently not reappointed by the mayor. [Daily Gazette]

Pay for health care workers
An SEIU rally for increasing health care worker pay outside St. Mary's Hospital in Troy Thursday drew a line between pay rates and the poverty rates in the city. [TU]

Uber and Lyft
The state legislation that would open the way for taxi app companies such as Uber and Lyft to operate upstate is apparently on hold because of the state budget process. [Biz Review]

ESP bus loop
The bus loop and bike parking inside the ESP are set for a renovation. [TU]

Cornel West at Union
Famous scholar Cornel West speaking at Union College Thursday: "Integrity is a difficult thing to find these days ... We live in the most commercialized, commodified and marketized time in society. And integrity is not a commodity." (He also said Beyonce is no Aretha Franklin.) [Daily Gazette]

Four at the end
The Siena women's basketball team beat Rider 79-76 in overtime in the first round of the MAAC tournament at the TU Center -- and did so with just four players on the court at the end because all the other Saints had fouled out. [TU]