Fights prompt closure of Albany High, waiting for word on GE cuts, Cuomo and the conference call, balancing the ballet at SPAC
Fights shut down Albany High
The Albany school district says there were several fights among Albany High School students during a fire drill toward the end of the school day Thursday and, as a result, the school will be closed Friday as staff review video. The district says 10 students were arrested and there could be additional arrests -- it also said there were no weapons involved. The incident prompted a large police response -- and many rumors about what did or did not happen. [Albany school district] [TU]
Double murder trial
The trial Thursday included testimony from a man who says he saw Edward Mero in the area where Shelby Countermine's body was found in Coeymans, and testimony from Countermine's father about exchanges he had with Mero around the time Countermine disappeared. [TU]
Sentencing in Rocks shooting
The man who pleaded guilty to the fatal shooting of Wendell Hill during a party at Rocks in Albany on Thanksgiving in 2016 was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Said Hill's mother at the sentencing: "Why did you take my baby from me?" [Spectrum] [TU]
Sentencing in heroin death
A man who pleaded guilty to selling the heroin that killed a Saratoga Springs woman was sentenced to 10 years in prison in federal court. The woman's parents are part of a push to create a New York State law that would allow similar prosecution of drug dealers on the state level. [Daily Gazette] [Spectrum]
Arrest for alleged rape at Guilderland hotel
Guilderland police say they arrested a Connecticut man on charges that include second-degree rape for an incident involving a local teen at the the Days Inn on Western Avenue. [News10]
Pharmacy held up for drugs
Albany police say a man wearing a surgical mask robbed the CVS on Western Ave of OxyContin by using a note implying he had a weapon. [News10]
GE Power job cuts
After announcing plans to cut 12,000 jobs, GE Power has yet to publicly detail where the cuts will come from. The division employs about 4,000 people in Schenectady. [Daily Gazette]
Albany and immigrants and the federal government
Here's the city of Albany's letter responding to the federal government inquiry about its policies regarding immigrants. A clip: "... the City of Albany is within its rights to limit Police Officers' inquiries to individuals about their immigration status to only those circumstances where an inquiry is necessary to investigate criminal activity committed by that individual, or is required by law." [Sheehan admin]
Cuomo and the conference call
Andrew Cuomo was in Albany Thursday, but talked with the press via conference call -- one for which his staff apparently tried to plant questions with reporters. [Politico NY]
Saint Rose
Saint Rose faculty and students say they haven't gotten much word about what's going on regarding the recent turmoil on the college's board of trustees. [Daily Gazette]
Schenectady casino
Rush Street Gaming has announced the new general manager for the Rivers Casino in Schenectady. [Daily Gazette]
Saratoga Springs affordable housing
A look at the design of the "Link@SoBro" affordable housing/mixed-use development planned for South Broadway in Saratoga Springs. [Daily Gazette]
Ballet at SPAC
SPAC's executive director explained the thinking behind cutting down the NYC Ballet residence next year to just one week. [TU]
... said KGB about Drawing: What's something that brought you joy this year?