All Over Albany

McLaughlin sanctioned in Assembly, Albany request $2 million for Cap Rep project,Troy seeks new Leonard Hospital proposal

McLaughlin sanctioned
Assemblyman and executive-elect Steve McLaughlin was sanctioned by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie on Wednesday, for a June 2016 incident where he was alleged to have asked a female aide to give him nude photos. The sanction follows a 17-month ethics investigation into the incident. Chris Churchill makes the case that in this climate of famous and powerful men being called out for sexual harassment, McLaughlin, who won the race for executive before voters were told about the harassment allegations, is the luckiest politician around. [Spectrum][TU][TU]

Key theft leads to jail lockdown
The Schenectady County jail was locked down on Monday, after an inmate stole a set of keys in a sheriff's van. [TU]

Leonard Hospital
Troy is seeking proposals for the Leonard Hospital site -- after the city voted earlier this year against turning it into affordable housing. [News 10][TU]

Saratoga Charter battle headed to State Supreme Court
The State Supreme Court will hear arguments from members of a now defunct Charter review commission which is requesting a full recount of the charter vote, after the effort to reform the charter was lost by 10 votes. [TU]

Cohoes stabbings
Police say four stabbings in Cohoes on Wednesday were the re were the result of a parking lot brawl at the Cohoes Bowling Arena that allegedly erupted over money.[TU] [Spectrum]

Family to sues over death in police custody
The family of a man who died in the custody of Schenectady police has filed a notice of claim alleging police failed to respond properly to his complaints of medical distress. [Gazette]

$2 million ask for Cap Rep
Albany's entry for the $2 million Restore New York Communities Municipal Grant competition is Capital Rep's warehouse restoration project at 251 North Pearl Street.[TU]

Hinchey
Friends, family and dignitaries turned out on Wednesday to pay their respects to he late U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey, who died earlier this month. John Faso called Hinchey F "a fierce defender of the environment".[TU]

Opposition to Rensselaer County ICE application
About a dozen Rensselaer County residents showed up at this week's budget hearing to protest Sheriff Patrick Russo's application for to implement U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which would allow local law enforcement to partner with ICE. [TU]

Second fire station planned in Delmar
Voters will decide next month on a plan for a $1.4 million, 4,608 square foot fire station in Delmar. [TU]

Cuomo 2020?
Speculation on what his role in reuniting Democrats in the NYS Senate might say for Andrew Cuomo's decision to run for president. [TU]

"Big world, small town"
A look at diversity and tolerance in Niskayuna.[TU]

The Addy
Proctors unveiled its new $2.2 million Adeline Graham Theatrical Training and Innovation Center on Wednesday. [TU]

Cohoes students to get free college
Cohoes is part of a small group of New York State school districts to be part of a trial program offering some freshman an opportunity to graduate with an associate degree and guaranteed admission to a four year college. [TU]

Cuomo's new helicopter
Andrew Cuomo's new helicopter, billed as being able to be used in evacuations and search and rescue work, comes with the Deluxe VIP interior, but is missing equipment to hoist sick and injured people. [TU]

Power from Utica to NYC
A proposed $1.5 billion, 1,000 megawatt underground transmission line that would stretch from Utica to New York City has gotten permission from the Federal Energy Regulatory Agency to start selling rights on the line, and the owner is hoping to have it in service by 2022. [TU]

Man wins improper towing dispute in Albany
A man who had his car towed without warning has won an eight month court battle with the city of Albany that included multiple FOIL requests. [WNYT]

Fingerpaint house
Fingerpaint Marketing is expanding in Saratoga, purchasing a 5,200-square-foot, $1 million house near its Broadway headquarters. [Gazette]

Stuff going on today

She Loves Me

Today-Sunday: Capital Rep continues its production of She Loves Me. "This confection of a musical is based on the timeless story by Miklos Laszlo that also served as inspiration for the classic film The Shop Around the Corner and more recently You've Got Mail." Tuesday-Sunday various times -- $25 and up

Arts and sciences

Hisham Matar
Thursday: Hisham Matar -- who won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for his memoir The Return: Fathers, Sons and the Land In Between -- will be at UAlbany has part of the NYS Writers Institute visiting writers series. The book is "an account of the author's return to the Libya of his family's origin, and his search for his missing father, a political activist who disappeared during the regime of Muammar Gaddafi." Thursday 8 pm, uptown campus, Campus Center Assembly Hall -- free

Heavenly bodies
Thursday: The Siena College Physics Club will have a free public viewing, with an eye (and telescopes) toward the moon, Uranus, the Pleiades, Orion, the Andromeda Galaxy, Perseus Double Cluster, and M39. Park in Lot F near the baseball field -- if it's cloudy, the event is canceled. Thursday 7:30 pm -- free

Holiday

Albany tree lighting / holiday market
Thursday: The Albany tree lighting is at city hall, with a reception inside the rotunda following. That same evening, the Albany Holiday Market will be at locations around downtown. Thursday tree lighting 5:30 pm / holiday market 4-9 pm -- free

Victorian Streetwalk
Thursday: The annual Victorian Street Walk returns to downtown Saratoga Springs. Broadway will be closed to car traffic for all sorts of holiday whatnot. Thursday 5-10 pm -- free admission

Round Lake Artisans Holiday Market
Thursday: The Round Lake Artisans Holiday Market is at the village hall. "[P]ottery, paintings, fiber art, cards, knitting, jewelry, blacksmithing, honey, candles and more." Thursday 4-8 pm -- free admission

Music

Thursday: Alsarah and the Nubatones at Proctors
"East African retro-pop from Brooklyn." A Music Haven show. 7:30 pm -- $25

Thursday: Will Dailey at Caffe Lena
Singer/songwriter. 7 pm -- $18