All Over Albany

Schumer vows fight on Trump cabinet picks, 1 Monument Square review committee public -- proposals still not, freedom of flamethrowers

Schumer on Trump nominations
Chuck Schumer speaking in Brooklyn Thursday night about upcoming votes on Trump cabinet picks: "We're going to do everything we can to not have [U.S. Sen. Jeff] Sessions, who's against voting rights and against immigrants, be AG. We're going to fight him and not let [U.S. Rep. Tom] Price, who wants to roll back Medicaid and Medicare, be the secretary of HHS ... We're going to fight them and make sure that they don't put a regressive person on the Supreme Court." [Politico NY]

Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand both said this week they'll be opposing President Trump's pick for Education secretary, Betsy DeVos. [HuffPo] [The Hill]

Earlier: How Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand are voting on the Trump cabinet nominations

Judge adjourns sentencing in Wilton hit and run that injured boy
Saratoga County Court judge James Murphy adjourned the sentencing of the woman who pleaded guilty to hitting a boy with her SUV in Wilton last June and then driving off without reporting the incident because he said the six-month sentence in the plea bargain was insufficient given the impact the injuries have had on the boy. [TU]

Goodbye, Albany Devils
Albany County exec Dan McCoy on the reportedly impending move of the Albany Devils to Binghamton: "They haven't committed to leaving yet, but the [Binghamton] offer is better than what we can give. I anticipate that they will be leaving." [Daily Gazette]

Refugees
An Albany woman who's worked to help resettle Syrian refugees in this area on the apparent impending Trump administration order to block refugees from the country: "The refugees who are coming are mostly children and they fear for their lives. The Syrian people are terrified. They gave up everything to keep their children alive and Trump has taken away their hope. It's un-American." [AP/NYT] [TU+]

Birth control
Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood says there was a big increase in demand for IUDs in 2016, and an upswing in appointments following the election. (A similar upswing has been reported nationally, too.) [TWCN] [Vox]

March for Life
Talking with Capital Region residents headed to DC for the anti-abortion demonstation March for Life on Friday. [TU+]

1 Monument Square
The Madden administration has released the list of people on the review committee for the two 1 Monument Square redevelopment proposals -- but has yet to release the actual proposals. [TU]

One of the companies that entered a proposal -- Redburn Development Companies -- officially opened its School One Lofts residential conversion on Fifth Ave in North Central this week. [Troy Record]

Troy authorities tagged by state oversight office
The state Authorities Budget Office says the Troy Local Development Corp. and Troy Community Land Bank have failed to file required annual and audit reports by their deadlines last year. [Troy Record]

Snag for Saratoga Springs land swap
The state Attorney General's office has flagged the proposed land swap deal involving the city of Saratoga Springs and a yeshiva that had been part of a plan for a new EMS building for the city. [WNYT]

What to do about Albany city courthouse
Looking at the question of whether the city of Albany should spend $2 million on repairs for its cramped Morton Ave courthouse -- or build something. [TU]

Grants to Troy theater project, Schenectady building demo/rehab
Among the "Restore New York Communities Initiative" grants announced this week by the Cuomo admin: $1 million for the planned demolition or rehab of homes in Schenectady and $778,205 for the American Theater rehab project on River Street in downtown Troy. [Cuomo admin] [Daily Gazette] [TU]

Polystyrene foam container ban
Since Albany County instituted its ban on foam cups and other to-go containers, it's cited just one establishment for violating the rule. [TU+]

Cricket
The Schenectady City Council is looking to sort a dispute between two local cricket groups over use of a park. [TU]

Underground
Traveling along the utility pipes that keep the ESP warm and cool. [TU+]

Flamethrowers
Matt Hamilton asks: "Can a state truly be free if you can't buy a new flamethrower?" [TU]