All Over Albany

Pedestrian killed in Washington Park hit and run, continued confusion and uncertainty over immigration order, building the paper pantry

Fatal Albany hit and run
Albany police say they're investigating the death of pedestrian in Washington Park after she was apparently hit by an SUV and the vehicle fled the scene. APD says the woman -- 21-year-old Rajine Martinez of Albany -- was struck around 4 am on Washington Park Road near New Scotland Ave. Police have not commented on what factors may have been involved in the crash, but nearby residents say drivers often speed through the park. [APD] [TU] [News10] [TWCN] [WNYT]

Schenectady casino
+ A look at the many touted economic benefits of the Rivers Casino and Resort, which opens Wednesday in Schenectady. [TU+]
+ A look at some of the concerns people in/near Schenectady have about the project. [Daily Gazette]

Trump immigrantion order
+ Albany Law professor Sarah Rogerson, director of the school's immigration clinic, on the flood of inquiries local immigration attorneys have been seeing following the recent drama over the Trump administration immigrant order: "What I've heard over and over again from people impacted is that they expected policies like this in the countries they fled from, but they never expected something like this from the United States." [TU+]
+ New York State ranks second in the US for international students, and and reps from universities and colleges say they're about the impact the current situation will have on interest and enrollment. [TU+]
+ Kamiar Alaei and Aarash Alaei -- doctors and UAlbany faculty members who have worked on HIV prevention programs and were once imprisoned in Iran -- say they're worried about their brother's ability to return to the United States (he's a visiting scholar at UAlbany) from Iran because of the uncertainty surrounding the immigration order. [WNYT] [TU]
+ On Friday GE said it was working to aid the return of Sirin Hamsho -- a native of Syria who's a French citizen and now an engineer at the company and a resident of Niskayuna -- after the original order blocked her from returning to the US with her two young children. [Daily Gazette]

SUNY campus police leaders
The Times Union's Brendan Lyons on the number of SUNY campus police leaders who are also collecting pensions from their time working for other law enforcement agencies: "There are strict rules for granting the waivers, but an examination of SUNY's hiring practices shows SUNY presidents routinely ignore the requirements of the law and issue the waivers to 'retired' candidates, many from outside police agencies, even when there have been dozens of other qualified applicants." [TU+]

Momentive strike
Talking with striking Momentive employees about their support of Donald Trump and their hopes he'll side with them over the private equity groups that own the company. [Politico NY]

Elise Stefanik
Elise Stefanik, "something of a rising star in the constellation of Republicans controlling Capitol Hill." [TU]

Albany mayoral race and the city's schools
Chris Churchill on the what role discussion of Albany's public schools should play in this year's mayoral race. (The mayor has no direct control over the school district.) [TU+]

Albany Common Council attendance
Only one of Albany Common Council member has been present at every regular council meeting over the last two years. [TU]

David Soares
Albany County DA David Soares on returning to work after a qunituple bypass: "Don't expect the same person walking through these doors. Expect a person who has been given a second chance to do something over again and I'm going to take full advantage of those opportunities." [TU+]

Bus getaway
Niskayuna police say a man who robbed a bank Friday fled the scene on foot and via a CDTA bus. CDTA spokesperson Jaime Watson: "As far as an alleged bank robber jumping on one our buses, I'm pretty sure that's the first time that's happened." [News10] [TU]

Saratoga Springs skate park
The first major rehab of the Saratoga Springs skate park in almost three decades is set for this spring. [Daily Gazette]

The "sunshine room"
A Schenectady school district elementary school has a room designed to help frequently stressed students find some calm. [Daily Gazette]

The paper pantry
A Troy woman working with the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York to develop a program for collecting overstocked or damaged packages of items such as toiletries and distribute them to people in need. [Troy Record]

Stuff going on today

Deconstructing the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper
The Spectrum is showing a film version of the Scott Freiman presentation Deconstructing the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper. Monday 7 pm -- $15

Music: Greg Cartwright at The Low Beat
Singer/songwriter, from The Reigning Sound. 7 pm -- $10