All Over Albany

Defendants testify in UAlbany bus incident trial, emotional testimony in Lake George boat crash trial, giving birth along the Thruway

UAlbany bus incident trial
Ariel Agudio and Asha Burwell took the stand in the trial Monday and continued to stick with their version of events during the incident. And the connotation of the word "ratchet" continued to be at issue, with Agudio asserting it had a racist tone as used: "In that situation, I feel like she only said it because we were black." And Burwell said she heard someone use the "n" word. [TU] [Spectrum] [WNYT]

Lake George boat crash trial
Courtney McCue -- the mother of Charlotte McCue, the 8-year-old who died in the crash -- testified Monday and broke down while answering questions about that night: "I looked to my left and Charlotte wasn't moving. She wasn't responding. She was really hurt." McCue also detailed the serious injuries she sustained, including a fractured spine. And when she was shown a picture of her injured leg: "That's where my daughter's head was when it was crushed." [Daily Gazette] [WNYT] [TU] [Spectrum] [Post-Star]

Fatal Schenectady fire
+ Fire investigators were working Monday night to determine what caused the fire that killed a man early Monday morning on Green Street. [TU]
+ Video captured by the Daily Gazette's Peter Barber gives a sense of the intensity of the fire. [Daily Gazette]

Body found in Hudson River
Police say the body found in the Hudson River in Rensselaer is that of Christian Rohr, who fell into the Poestenkill Gorge in February. [Troy Record]

New SUNY chancellor
Keshia Clukey on five things to watch under new SUNY chancellor Kristina Johnson. [Politico NY]

Hoosick Falls
The Hoosick Falls village board voted to break up with the law firm that had represented the village in the settlement negotiations with Honeywell and Saint-Gobain. The village's new mayor also vowed to make invoices related to the firm's relationship with the village available unredacted via FOIL. [WNYT] [News10]

Albany and immigration enforcement
Kathy Sheehan issued an executive order reaffirming the city police department's policy of not checking the immigration status of people seeking assistance. Press release clip: "The Albany Police Department's policy is, and with this executive order continues to be, that individuals, including a crime victim, witness, or person seeking assistance, will not be questioned by the Albany Police Department based on their immigration or citizenship status, except when necessary to investigate criminal activity by that individual." [TU] [Sheehan admin]

Opioids
Sara Foss reviews a new Rockefeller Institute report detailing the number of overdose deaths around New York State. [Daily Gazette]

Stefanik and health care

At a "Coffee with Your Congresswoman" event in Johnstown, Elise Stefanik said she continues to support the idea of a replacement for the Affordable Care Act and that talks are still going on in Congress. [WNYT] [TU]

Canada and milk
How a Canadian policy change is causing problems for dairy farms in New York. [Saratogian]

Thruway baby
Talking with the woman who gave birth on a patch of grass next to the Thruway near Exit 24 Saturday morning. [WNYT] [Daily Gazette]

Eggy
Chris Churchill delivers the second annual "Eggy's Place is Open Again" springtime column. [TU+]

Stuff going on today

Circus 1903
Tuesday-Wednesday: A touring show called Circus 1903 is at Proctors. "In a world premiere event, the producers of the world's biggest magic show, The Illusionists, have teamed up with the award-winning puppeteers from War Horse, to present a thrilling turn-of-the-century circus spectacular." Tuesday-Wednesday 7:30 pm -- $20 and up

Move - Beyond
Tuesday: The Julianne and Derek Hough dance show Move - Beyond will be at The Palace. "The Hough siblings are promising fans their biggest and best show yet, with brand-new stage production inspired by the elements - earth, wind, fire, and water - which the duo have infused into fresh, high impact choreography that only they can deliver." Tuesday 7:30 pm -- $49.50 and up

Science on Tap
Tuesday: The Science on Tap series will be at The Ruck in Troy for a discussion about conservation. "Panelists will include Susan Beatty (Provost, The Sage Colleges), Daniel Bogan (Professor of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Siena College), Maureen Cunningham (Director, Hudson River Watershed Alliance), and Meg Phillips (NY Department of Environmental Conservation). We will have the 2nd and 3rd floors of The Ruck for what will certainly be a lively and informative discussion!" Tuesday 6:30 pm -- free admission

The Return of La Argentina
Tuesday: Choreographer Trajal Harrell will be at EMPAC to present The Return of La Argentina, which draws on Harlem voguing, post-modern choreography, and Japanese theater. Tuesday 5 pm -- free

Music: Aimee Mann at The Egg
With: Jonathan Coulton. 7:30 pm -- $34.50

Music: Timothy B. Schmit at Cohoes Music Hall
From The Eagles. 7:30 pm -- $45.50 and up

Music: BUNCH at Parish Public House
Rock. With: Girl Blue. 8 pm