All Over Albany

Albany JCC evacuated after bomb threat, driver charged in fatal hit and run, Cuomo/Trump discuss ACA, homelessness

Bomb threat at Albany JCC
The Albany Jewish Community Center was evacuated and closed for several hours on Wednesday after a bomb threat. The threat, made by phone, turned out to be a hoax and one of many threats made on Wednesday to JCCs across the country. [TWCN][TU]

Hit and run driver charged
An Albany man could face up to seven years in prison for allegedly leaving the scene of the automobile accident that killed National Guard Master Sgt. Rudolph Seabron in Colonie earlier this month. 33-year-old Brian Tromans of Albany man pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to felony charge of leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle accident without reporting. [TU][Gazette][News10][TWCN]

Cuomo/Trump
Andrew Cuomo and Donald Trump met at Trump Tower on Wednesday, where Cuomo warned Trump about the dangers of repealing the Affordable Care Act. They also reportedly discussed infrastructure spending and federal support to combat homelessness.[NYT][TU]

Millionaire's Tax
New York's budget could hinge on Andrew Cuomo's proposed extension of the Millionaires Tax, something Republican legislators are poised to fight. [TWCN][NYT]

Andrew Cuomo's budget
A breakdown of Andrew Cuomo's proposed spending plan.[TU]

Medical marijuana tax falls short
New York State now anticipates only to $1 million in revenue from the medical marijuana excise taxthis year -- $3 million less than originally anticipated. [Politico]

Start up NY
Start-Up NY is being renamed the Excelsior Business Program and there is a plan to refocus the program on smaller early stage companies. [TU][Business Review]

Pay to stay
Chris Churchill takes a critical view of Andrew Cuomo's proposed "pay to stay"program for recent college grads who opt to buy homes in New York. [TU+]

14-year-old charged with sexual assault
Albany police arrested a 14-year-old boy for allegedly sexually assaulting and robbing a woman at gunpoint earlier this week. [TU]

McCarthy incident prompts police probe
While Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy was not charged in a strange situation where he was accused of following two women to the police department last summer, the special prosecutor's findings in the case have prompted an internal probe into the actions of two commanders and three patrol officers involved in the case. [TU]

Air quality in Albany's South End
The DEC is planning to conduct a detailed study this spring on air quality in Albany's South End. [WNYT]

Former Senate leader sentenced to 5 years in prison
Former Democratic state Senate Democratic Conference leader John Sampson was sentenced on Wednesday to five years in prison for trying to derail an investigation into allegations he embezzled more than $400,000 in state money. [TU][NYT]

Trump's Army Secretary pick punched Saratoga concession worker
Vincent Viola, Donald Trump's pick for Army Secretary,who recently bought a house in Saratoga Springs, was accused of punching a man at last year's Fasig Tipton auctions. Viola, a billionaire who owns the Florida Panthers and a number of race horses reportedly punched a catering employee who he claims shoved his wife -- something the employee denied. [TU][WNYT]

Don't skip tolls
If you rack up unpaid tolls on NYS roadways, you could lose your vehicle registration. [TU]

Med students march
About 60 students from Albany Medical College marched from their school to the Capitol building on Wednesday to protest repeal of the Affordable Care Act.[TU]

"He just had a big heart; he liked to do well for others"
A Schenectady tavern owner who served free Sunday meals for customers and people in need for thirty years, has died. [Gazette]

Stuff going on today

John Cleese and the Holy Grail
John Cleese will be at Proctors for a talk and Q&A about Monty Python and the Holy Grail. There will be a screening of the classic comedy ahead of Cleese's talk. "Absurd and/or ridiculous questions only are requested, please. John will tell stories of his life and career and you just may finally find out the air-speed of an unladen swallow." Thursday 7:30 pm -- $50 and up

Great Danes
The UAlbany men's basketball team faces Binghamton at SEFCU Arena. Thursday 7 pm -- $12 and up

Mayor's Cup
The men's hockey teams from Union and RPI face off at the TU Center in the annual Mayor's Cup. Thursday 7 pm -- $15 / $10 students and kids