All Over Albany

Vehicular manslaughter charge in Route 7 crash, Faso and Teachout debate for NY-19, public comment on Troy budget's tax increase, James Franco in Albany

Charges in fatal Route 7 crash
The woman State Police say caused the fatal four-car crash on Route 7 this week was arrested Thursday and charged with second-degree vehicular manslaughter and misdemeanor DWI. Jessica Bellerose of Troy pleaded not guilty and posted bail. Her attorney said she is "devastated" that the crash killed 18-year-old Paige Ahearn of Waterford. [TU] [TWCN] [News10]

Pedestrian dies in crash on 787
State Police say a 47-year-old pedestrian was killed Thursday night in a crash on I-787 just south of Exit 2 in the city of Albany. NYSP say they don't know why the woman, who's from Ghent in Columbia County, was walking on the highway. They're asking anyone who might info to call. [NYSP]

Schenectady police officer testified about attack
Schenectady police officer Mark Weekes testified in court Thursday about the attack on State Street in downtown Schenectady in which James Hilton is accused of assaulting him and knocking him unconscious. [Daily Gazette]

NY-19
A big topic of conversation at the WMHT debate between John Faso and Zephyr Teachout Thursday for the NY-19 Congressional Disrict (the seat currently held by Chris Gibson): Donald Trump. Also discussed: taxes and carpetbagging. [TU] [Politico NY]

Troy budget
Troy residents turned out at a city council meeting Thursday evening to criticize the proposed 28-percent tax increase in mayor Patrick Madden's budget. Council president Carmella Mantello: "I can say for certain there's not six members on the council who will override that tax cap." [TU] [WNYT]

Troy 911 call leak
The attorney for the former Rensselaer County prosecutor charged in the Troy 911 call leak case is arguing Rensselaer County DA Joel Abelove has conflicts of interest and should be replaced by a special prosecutor. [TU+]

Heimroth case
The Rensselaer County prosecutor in the Jacob Heimroth case is pushing back against the defense's allegation that the DA's office committed a Brady violation by not mentioning that one of its witnesses in the trail over the death of Allen and Maria Lockrow was the mother of a defendant in a separate case being prosecuted by the office. [TU]

Airline aggravation
+ A passenger flying from Albany to Chicago this week on United was hassled by the airline for her ASAP Rock shirt and Black Panther hat. [TU]
+ A family flying JetBlue out of ALB last week ended up not being get on its flight because the TSA checkpoint had shut down for the evening. [TU+]

North Colonie schools
Up for a vote this December in the North Colonie school district: a $196 million school renovation and expansion plan. [TU]

SPAC
SPAC said attendance for its classical performances was up more than 3 percent during this past summer's season. And the board meeting this week was for the first for new SPAC president Elizabeth Sobol: "I see my job here as building upon and enhancing what already exists." [TU+] [Saratogian]

New Damien Center facility
The Damien Center has formally broken ground on its new residential facility on Madison Ave in Albany. [TU]

Downtown Troy residential
Sonny Bonacio is proposing to convert two floors of the Hendrick Hudson building on Monument Square into apartments. [Biz Review]

James Franco
James Franco was spotted having lunch in downtown Albany Thursday. [TU]