All Over Albany

Senate hearings on Rensselaer County PFOA crisis, more water main breaks in Colonie, President Obama commutes Schenectady man's sentence

Senate hearing on PFOA
Shifting guidelines from EPA were the target of criticism on Tuesday at the Senate hearing on PFOA contamination in Rensselaer County. Hoosick Falls residents told some painful personal stories of loss and fear, and some criticized the state for "talking down the risks" posed by PFOA exposure. There were no representatives of EPA at the hearing. An administrator for the EPA's Region 2 told the Times Union that the State Health Department made a judgement not to follow the EPA health advisory of 400ppt because of what they said was a built in margin of error, saying "The health department wasn't confused, they just simply disagreed."The Cuomo administration is seeking reimbursement from the federal government for the cost of responding to the Hoosick Falls PFOA crisis. [TU][NYT][TU][News 10][TU][TU]

Man shot in Schenectady burglary
A Schenectady man was shot during an alleged burglary at his Catherine Street home. Police say they are searching for three suspects in the incident. [TU][Gazette]

Albany County deputy salaries
Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple says lower salaries for deputies are costing the county money because deputies are leaving for other law enforcement jobs within a few years after the county trains them. [TU]

President commutes Schenectady Man's sentence
A Schenectady man serving a 20-year term for his part in a cocaine trafficking ring is among 111 federal inmates whose sentences were commuted this week by President Obama. Daniel Williams is expected be released in August of 2018. [TU]

Medical Marijuana
NY's Medical Marijuana program is expected to expand to allow nurse practitioners to certify patients as medically qualified for the drug and to offer home delivery by the end of September. [NYT]

Water main breaks
Crews are working on multiple water main breaks in Colonie[WNYT]

Sex offender working at theme park
The Warren County Sheriff's Department arrested a Level 3 sex offender when they learned he was working at the Magic Forest fun park in Lake George. [WNYT]

Driver fell asleep
A Pennsylvania man admitted falling asleep at the wheel in Rotterdam that caused him to crash into a guardrail and into the path of a tractor-trailer. [TU]
and Exit 25A in Rotterdam.[TU]

Program for young offenders
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan showed support on Tuesday for a Juvenile Reentry Assistance program to help young offenders get legal aid and assistance to educational and other resources that will help them transition back into society. [TU]

Phone scam
Albany police are warning people about a phone scam where the caller claims to be a police officer seeking to collect a debt payment and threatening the targets with arrest. [News 10]

Race horse deaths
State racing officials say track conditions have not contributed to the deaths of 14 horses over the 2016 racing season.
[Saratogian]

Kayak and canoe launch
Hudson park has a new kayak and canoe launch. [WNYT]

Cookie money protects dog
A Rotterdam Brownie troop used their cookie money to buy a bullet proof vest for a K9 officer.
[News 10]

Happening today

The Track

It's the last week of the season at the Saratoga Race Course. The season wraps up on Labor Day. Saturday is the Woodward Stakes, one of the bigger races of the season. And Sunday is a gate giveaway day, a Saratoga long-sleeve pullover shirt. (And, of course, there is no racing on Tuesday.)

County fairs

County fair season wraps up this week with three fairs around the region:
+ Wednesday-Labor Day: The Fonda Fair at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. It's the county fair for Fulton and Montgomery counties.
+ Wednesday-Labor Day: The Columbia County Fair at the fairgrounds in Chatham
+ Wednesday-Labor Day: The Schaghticoke Fair at the fairgrounds in Schaghticoke. It's the county fair for Rensselaer County. This is the 197th year for Schaghticoke Fair -- it's said to be the 3rd oldest fair of its type in New York State.

Capitol Park After Dark outdoor movie
The Capitol Park After Dark series of outdoors movies in West Capitol Park wraps up its season with The Wizard of Oz. (Rain location is ESP Convention Center meeting room 6). Wednesday 8 pm -- free

Music

Bella's Bartok outside The Egg
"[O]ne of a kind Bohemian Klezmer Punk Pop Dance music." A Made in the Shade show. noon -- free