All Over Albany

Stefanik undecided on health care vote, crunch time for Albany state aid, ShopRite considering Clifton Park

American Health Care Act
+ A spokesman for Elise Stefanik said Thursday evening she's still undecided about how to vote on the American Health Care Act and was waiting to review the final text of the legislation. Earlier Thursday about a hundred people held a "die in" outside Stefanik's office in Glens Falls, urging her to vote no. [Post-Star] [News10]
+ Andrew Cuomo argued Thursday that a provision in the American Health Care Act that would shift Medicaid costs from New York counties outside NYC to the state -- and only do so in New York State -- is unconstitutional and said the state is considering a lawsuit if the provision becomes law. [TU]

Fatal Troy shooting
Troy police say the man shot Thursday morning near Prospect Park has died. TPD says it's looking for two men and the shooting does not appear to be random. [TWCN] [Troy Record] [News10]

State funding for Albany
With the state budget deadline approaching, Albany city officials say they're cautiously optimistic the city will get the additional $12.5 million in state aid on which the current city budget relies -- but are preparing for cuts if the money doesn't come through. [TU]

Charges against state Senator and former state Senator
+ State Senator Robert Ortt pleaded not guilty Thursday to the three felony charges against him for an alleged scheme involving a no-show job for his wife when he was mayor of North Tonawanda -- he called the allegations "ridiculous and baseless charges." Senate majority leader John Flanagan: "I believe in our system of jurisprudence and I have great faith in Rob Ortt. He's a great friend, a good colleague." [TU] [NYS AG] [Buffalo News] [Spectrum]
+ Ortt's predecessor, former state Senator George Maziarz also pleaded not guilty to charges alleging a scheme in which he funneled campaign money to a former state Senate staffer who had left after being accused of sexual harassment. Maziarz had been the only core member of the 2009 state Senate "coup" that had not been charged with a crime in the time since. [Buffalo News] [TU+]

Plea deal rejected in Albany baby death
The Troy man charged with murder in the death of 1 year old in an apartment on South Allen Street in Albany has rejected a deal in which he'd have pleaded guilty to manslaughter and been sentenced to 20 years in prison. And his attorney cast blame on the child's mother. There's also video [News10] [TU] [TWCN]

Washington County triple homicide retrial
Matthew Slocum is set for a new trial in the 2011 deaths of his mother, stepfather and stepbrother after the state Court of Appeals upheld the overturning of his conviction. In the new trial the jury will not be allowed to hear Slocum's statement to investigators in which he said he had "shotgunned my mother." [Post-Star] [TU]

Albany County corrections officer charged
An Albany County corrections officer has been suspended after being charged with misdemeanor forcible touching for an alleged incident involving another jail employee. [TU]

Different defendant, different reaction?
Rob Gavin speculates on whether public reaction would be different if a Greene County man accused of boasting about being able to attack federal facilities had been Muslim. [TU]

Democrats in Saratoga County
Democrats had some victories in Saratoga County village elections this week -- is that maybe a sign of a shift in the typically solidly Republican county? [TU+]

Troy water infrastructure
Troy is set to begin the replacement of a mile of century-old water main in Lansingburgh next week -- it's the line that burst last year, disrupting service in the city and to other municipalities. [TU] [WNYT]

Move to demolish problem convenience store
The Schenectady IDA is moving to demolish a Mont Pleasant convenience store that was shut after numerous public safety calls -- and could use eminent domain to do so. [Daily Gazette]

Supermarkets
+ The Mohawk Harbor developer says a grocery store is a possibility for the site. [Daily Gazette]
+ ShopRite says it's interested in opening a store in Clifton Park at the site of the Shen school district land that's the subject of an upcoming public referendum about its sale. [TU]