All Over Albany

Maximum sentence for perjury in fatal Schenectady arson, police probe midday Albany shooting,$15 min wage opponents protest

Leon sentenced for perjury in Schenectady arson
Edward Leon -- who prosecutors say is now a suspect in the Schenectady arson that killed David Terry and three of his children, and badly burned Safyre Terry -- was sentenced to ten years in prison for perjury for twice lying to a grand jury about where he was on the night of the fire. Because of the nature of the crime he lied about, prosecutors asked for the maximum ten year sentence for Leon, while they investigate his connection to the crime. [TU][Gazette][TWCN]

Life without parole
After two trials and 12 years , a Troy man will spend life without parole in prison will spend life in prison without parole for the 2003 murder of a witness in a drug trial. [WNYT][Record]

Orange Street shooting
Albany police are investigating an Orange Street shooting that took place at about 2:30pm Wednesday and left a man wounded in the leg and hand.[TU][TWCN]

$15 wage opponents
One day after a rally at the state capitol for the $15 minimum wage, opponents of the measure made their voices heard at the Capitol.
[TWCN]

3 robberies
A Troy man is facing charges for allegedly robbing a Ramada Inn, the Hampton Inn and Suites, and a Sunoco station in Albany on Sunday. [WNYT]

Purse snatching arrests
Two men were arrested for allegedly snatching the purse of an elderly woman in Halfmoon, as she was loading her car with flowers to put on her late husband's grave. [Gazette][WNYT]

Paladino blasts Stefanik
Businessman and failed gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino called for primary challengers for Elise Stefanik, calling the Republican congresswoman a "RINO Washington elitist establishment sell-out."
Chris Churchill examines what the claims say about the similarities between Carl Paladino and Donald Trump, and how they're different from Stefanik. [TU][TU+]

No pictures please
Thousands of dollars in copying fees, and why you can't take pictures of public records with your phone. [TU+]

Assembly votes down Tampon Tax
Assembly members earlier this week passed a bill that would exempt tampons, sanitary napkins and other similar feminine products from the state sales tax.[TU+]

Maria College
Maria College has hired the head of a Catholic liberal arts college in PA to be its interim president while a 12- 15 month national search continues to find a permanent president. [TU]

Schenectady teacher recruitment
Schenectady's school district is hosting a teacher recruitment event in an effort to building a teaching staff that is more reflective of its student body. [Gazette]

Bridge
The Route 9 bridge between Saratoga Springs and Malta is slated for repairs that will start in April and result in some lane closure.
[TU]

Bears
Police in Saratoga Springs are investigating a bear sighting on the city's West Side last night. [NIXLE]

Fewer potholes, less money
How a milder winter adds up to less road money. [TU]

Mallozzi restaurants for casino
Two Mallozzi restaurants -- Johnny's and Villa Italia -- will be included in the new Rivers Casino project, and the Mallozzi's will also operate a burger joint and an asian restaurant in the casino. [Gazette]

Cuomo credits Albany nanotech
At the announcement of two photonics companies in Rochester on Wednesday, Andrew Cuomo credited Albany's nanotechnology success as the groundwork for convincing tech companies to locate elsewhere in New York. [TU]

Political ads
The Assembly has backed legislation to require all political communications to disclose who's paying for them.[WNYT]

Healthiest County
Saratoga County tops a list of healthiest counties in New York State.
[WNYT]

Ghost sign
The demolition of the Olander store on State Street in Schenectady has uncovered a ghost sign for Uneeda Biscuits and an old Schenectady restaurant. [Gazette]

Barn Raising...and moving
Moving a 120 foot, 118 year old barn.[TU]

"Styrofoam ... Really?"
"One person can really make a change," she said. "It doesn't matter how small you are; you can always make a change--" the Voorhesville middle school student who made the finals of a national essay contest and inspired her school district's styrofoam ban. [TWCN]

Happening today

St. Patrick's Day
St. Patrick's Day (observed) was, for many people, this past Saturday. But the actual St. Patrick's Day -- the feast of the Christian saint Patrick -- is Thursday. Many bars and restaurants will be hopping. Here's our annual list of various St. Patrick's Day whatnot.

Immigration and the refugee crisis
The Rockefeller Institute of Government is hosting a panel discussion about issues related to immigrant and recent refugee crises. The keynote speaker will be Maher Nasser, director of the Outreach Division for the United Nations' Department of Public Information. And the panel will also include Jill Peckenpaugh, director of the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants' Albany field office; and Sana Mustafa, a Bard College student and Syrian refugee. Thursday 1 pm - free (registration required)

Aaron Neville at Helsinki Hudson
The one and only. 8 pm - $65