All Over Albany

Crunch time for state legislature, Schenectady tops local property tax rate rankings, Dairy Circus won't rebuild, the #3 overall selection, weather woof

Time running out for state legislature
There are just three days remaining in the current state legislature session and many issues still up in the air -- including bills that would address opiods, ride sharing companies operating outside NYC, and ethics reform. Assembly member Pat Fahy to WNYT: "Everything goes down to the wire here." [TWCN] [WNYT]

Albany police-community relations
A group of local clergy appeared at Albany City Hall Thursday to commend plans made by Albany police for increased training and use of body cameras, and urge continued effort to change. The event also drew activists who said Albany police haven't done enough to address systemic issues related to policing. [TU] [TWCN]

Taxes
The Empire Center has released its latest ranking of property tax rates around the state, tagging the city of Schenectady with the highest rate in the Capital Region. [Empire Center] [Daily Gazette]

Fatal Thruway crash
A man on motorcycle died in a crash with tractor trailer on the Thruway between exits 22 and 23 Thursday that prompted the closure of the northbound lanes for the afternoon. It's the sixth crash death of a motorcyclist in the Capital Region this year. [TU] [News10]

Arrest in fatal Schenectady shooting
Schenectady police say they've arrested a 19-year-old man for the fatal shooting of Marquel Fallen in a car in Hamilton Hill this past January (map). [Daily Gazette]

A flash drive in a hollowed-out book
A flash drive allegedly containing explicit photos -- and hidden in a hollowed-out book in the Niskayuna High School library -- is part of an investigation that's prompted charges against two 2015 grads of the school. [TU]

CDTA STAR bus driver suit
An attorney for the CDTA contractor named in the lawsuit over an incident in which a driver was convicted of sexually abusing a woman with disabilities is pushing back on some of the allegations in the suit, calling the assertion that the driver had 64 prior convictions "an absolute fabrication." [TU]

Attorney involved in Porreca murder case suspsended
A state appeals court has suspended Albany attorney Gaspar Castillo because of accusations of professional misconduct. Castillo has been representing one of the defendants in the Jacquelyn Porreca murder case. [News10] [TU]

State control of NYRA
Andrew Cuomo's proposed plan for re-privatizing the NYRA -- with strings attached -- is catching pointed criticism from prominent members of the horse reacing community in Saratoga Springs. [Saratogian]

Petition pique
The longstanding tension between Albany County DA David Soares and Albany City Courty judge William Carter over the non-prosecution of some Occupy Albany protesters continues to play out, most recently in a behind-the-scenes Democratic Party spat over ballot petitions. [TU+]

Dairy Circus
The owners of the Dairy Circus in Scotia say they've decided not to rebuild after the fire that destroyed the restaurant this spring. [Daily Gazette]

Glenville ropes course
That new Glenville ropes course business is at odds with the town over whether it has the necessary permits to legally be open. [Daily Gazette]

The voice
A Clifton Park woman who runs a voiceover business out of her home won a business competition for visually-impaired entrepreneurs. [TU]

#3 overall
The Atlanta Braves selected Shen pitcher Ian Anderson with the #3 overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft Thursday evening. [Daily Gazette]

Pet connection
"A local German Shepherd makes sure to never miss a NEWS10 ABC weather report." [News10]