All Over Albany

Expert witness testifies in Lake George boat crash trial, differences in how restaurants are inspected, Lincoln Park pool to open this summer

Lake George boat crash trial
Friday included testimony from an expert witness for the prosecution who reconstructed the crash. The retired state trooper, who teaches marine law enforcement, testified that it appeared Alexander West's boat had been traveling 22-25 miles per hour just ahead of the crash, and the other boat was traveling 5-8 miles per hour. The defense tried to knock down the credibility of the witness and West's attorneys said they will put their own expert witness on the stand. [Daily Gazette] [News10] [Spectrum]

Crossgates gunfire trial
With the trial set to start Monday, the attorney for the man accused of firing the shots that prompted the evacuation of Crossgates last November says the DA's office offered a plea deal but he and his client aren't interested because the case is weak. [TU]

Restaurant inspections
There appears to be a divergence in how state and county health inspectors assess restaurant violations, according to an analysis by the Times Union. [TU]

Train safety
An Obama-era regulation that would have required at least two crew members on every train -- a response to the Lac Megantic oil train crash in Canada -- has been put on hold by the Trump admin. [TU]

Sentencing in Schenectady fatal shooting
The 19-year-old who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the 2016 shooting of Marquel Fallen in Hamilton Hill was sentenced to 20 years to life Friday after an attempt to retract his plea. [Daily Gazette]

Schenectady police excessive force settlement
Federal records indicate there's been a settlement of the lawsuit in which three people alleged Schenectady police punched and kicked them and used a police dog on a man in the fetal position -- though neither side of the suit is sharing details at this point. [Daily Gazette]

Schodack Island State Park party
There was a "heavy police presence" at college party with hundreds of people at Schodack Island State Park Saturday, though state park police haven't said why. [WNYT] [TU]

Lincoln Park pool
Albany's Lincoln Park pool will be open this summer as the city hires a consultant to figure out why the pool is leaking almost half a million gallons of water a day. [TU]

Albany Common Council races
Updates on who's apparently in -- and out -- of races for the 1st Ward and 13th Ward in Albany. [TU]

Albany schools
The Albany school district is partnering with a program at New York University in an attempt to diversify its teaching staff. [TU]

Saratoga Technology + Energy Park
NYSERD is planning to auction off the Saratoga Technology + Energy Park in Malta. [Biz Review]

Free tuition plan
Talking with students and parents about college choices with the SUNY free-tuition plan starting this fall. [NYT]

Cuomo 2020?
"Various Democratic officials and political operatives" tell Ken Lovett that Andrew Cuomo shouldn't run for re-election as governor if he's serious about running for president. [NYDN]

Chobani
Chris Churchill on Chobani's success in upstate New York (and Idaho) and how it's become the target of anti-immigrant rhetoric: "In a better world, Donald Trump and Hamdi Ulukaya would be natural and powerful allies, given that the president campaigned on bringing jobs to forgotten places and the founder of Chobani has succeeded at doing just that." [TU+]

Farms and climate
Farmers in New York are trying to figure out how to adjust to a climate that's becoming more variable. [TU+]

Historic preservation
The failures -- and successes -- of preserving historic buildings in downtown Schenectady. [TU+]

Albany Devils
It's the end of the season for the Albany Devils -- and the end of their run in Albany. [Daily Gazette]

Stuff going on today

Dael Orlandersmith
Monday: Award-winning playwright and actor Dael Orlandersmith will be at UAlbany as part of the NYS Writers Institute visiting writers series. "The latest work by Orlandersmith, Until the Flood (2016), was commissioned by the St. Louis Repertory Theatre in response to the police shooting death of Michael Brown Jr. in 2014. Rosalind Early, of Americantheatre.org, explains that Orlandersmith took a provocative approach in shifting focus away from 'the disputed details of the shooting,' instead focusing on 'how individuals from different walks of life responded to what happened" in hopes of sparking "much-needed conversations between people with differing views.'" Monday 8 pm, uptown campus, Performing Arts Center -- free