All Over Albany

Budget inches closer and includes $12.5 million for Albany, hundreds of students protest to preserve student union autonomy at RPI, NYS says Hoosick Falls water is now safe to drink

Budget news
The state budget deadline is midnight tonight. An agreement on the budget is expected today, but most of the spending plan is still under wraps and it's will either be passed late or a a lightening pace. Among the items still under discussion is the proposed $15 minimum wage hike. The spending plannow includes the $12.5 million advance on payments for the Empire State Plaza requested by Kathy Sheehan to balance Albany's budget.[WNYT] [TWCN][TU][NYT][TU]

RPI Union
Hundreds of students gathered outside EMPAC at RPI on Wednesday to protest what they see as the administration's moves to take over the student union. Students also say they are concerned with the colleges financial stability. RPI president, Dr. Shirley Jackson issued an email during the protest, saying she would hold off on hiring a new executive director of student activities until the board's executive committee and students review the union constitution. [Record][Gazette][TWCN][TU]

Hoosick Falls water
New York State says the carbon filtration system in Hoosick Falls is doing its job, and that the water in the village is now safe to drink. [TWCN]

Infant dies, father faces charges
The 22 day old infant allegedly thrown against a couch by her father, has died. Police say a grand jury will now decide if the child's father will face additional charges.
[TWCN][WNYT]

Pilgrim Pipeline
Five environmental groups that oppose the controversial Pilgrim crude oil pipeline, which would connect the Port of Albany to a New Jersey refinery along the NYS Thruway, say the
proposal for the pipeline currently violates the law because developers do not have the required approvals from cities and villages along the proposed route.[TU]

DiNapoli wants pipeline issue tracking modernized
Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's office is recommending that New York State tighten up and modernize its system for tracking natural gas and hazardous material pipeline safety issues.[TU]

Gillibrand and Garland
Kirstin Gilibrand met with President Obama's Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland and says she found him "very knowledgable" and "highly qualified." [TU]

Global NY
"The world is waiting" -- Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul at the Albany Marriott on Wednesday, kicking off Global NY, a new, $35 million program $35 million program that offers loans and grants to help New York companies get into the export business .[TU]

Schenectady train station
The DOT is putting the proposed new Schenectady train station project out to bid again, after the single bid returned was $10 million higher than the projected budget.[Gazette]

Schenectady fires
Two fires in nearby vacant Schenectady buildings overnight have been labeled suspicious. [Gazette]

Dredging and fish
NOAA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service say the EPA overestimated by decades how quickly the GE Hudson River dredging would reduce PCBs in fish to levels fit for human consumption. [TU+]

GE Lawsuit
A lawsuit filed by a former GE Global Research employee claims the company failed to adequately respond to allegations of workplace sexual harassment -- including men saying the didn't want women on their floor, posting lewd pictures on machinery and viewing pornography at work. [Gazette]

No NYS hunting fatalities in 2015
The DEC reports that for the first time since the 1950s there were no hunting related shooting deaths in New York State last year. The DEC credits its new hunter education programs for the drop. [TU][WNYT]

College/pharmacy partnership
A new partnership between Hometown Pharmacy and Albany College of pharmacy is the first of its kind in New York State and has helped reopen the low-cost pharmacy. [Gazette]

Rescued bobcat returns to wild
A feisty bobcat rescued in Delanson last year has been returned to the wild. [TU+]

Queensbury Hotel gets local owners
Glens Falls Queensbury Hotel has been sold to its first local owners in 50 years. [WNYT]

Happening today

Hangmen
The Spectrum is showing a National Theatre Live production of the new Martin McDonagh play Hangmen. (It got very strong reviews when it premiered last fall.) Thursday 7 pm -- $15

The Lion King
Thursday-Sunday: A touring production of The Lion King continues its month-long run at Proctors. It is, of course, the hugely-popular musical based on the Disney movie. Tuesday-Sunday various times -- $20 and up

The Blue-Sky Boys
Thursday-Sunday: This is the last week for Capital Rep's production of The Blue-Sky Boys, about "the maverick engineers who stopped at nothing to get a man to the moon and back," continues this week. Tuesday-Sunday various times -- $20 and up

David Gelernter
Computer scientist/commentator David Gelernter will be at UAlbany as part of the New York State Writers Institute visiting writers series. He'll be talking about his new book The Tides of Mind: Uncovering The Spectrum of Consciousness -- "an exploration of the human psyche that shows us how the very purpose of the mind changes throughout the day." Thursday 8 pm, uptown campus, performing arts center -- free

Twyla Tharp
Famed choreographer Twyla Tharp will be at Basilica Hudson to talk about her career. Thursday 7 pm -- free

E Pluribus Unum
Jack McEneny will be at the Albany Institute for a talk "on the generations of immigrants from across the world who struggles, contributions, and culture have created the unique character of each of the neighborhoods and communities that make up our diverse Capital Region." The event is part of the "A City of Immigrants" series. Thursday 6 pm -- free

Raise Your Voice
Raise Your Voice at Proctors
"Raise Your Voice: Sing for Kids to Benefit Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of the Capital Region Singing competition featuring teens and young adults ages 14-22. The show benefits the Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children program serving abused and neglected children in Albany, Rensselaer and Schenectady Counties." 7 pm -- $22