All Over Albany

Flooding begins to recede along Mohawk, missed fax might have prevented Jay Street fire, Capital Region private college applications rising

Flooding
Floodwaters along the Mohawk River dropped by about six feet overnight. Before the drop, some Stockade residents were evacuated from their homes due to flooding. A section Route 5 in Rotterdam closed to vehicle traffic due to the flooding, and Schenectady County Community College is closed today. Andrew Cuomo visited flooded areas or the Capital Region on Wednesday but said right now, monitoring is the most the state can do. [Gazette][Spectrum][TU][Spectrum]

"If I would have received that letter the tragedy would never have occurred."
The former Schenectady city electrical inspector testified on Wednesday in the trial of former building inspector Kenneth Tyree, saying that he never received a fax, sent by Wolfe Security, stating that "All monitoring services for the fire alarm system at the property have been terminated." Thomas Middleton told the court that if he had received the fax, he would have moved to ensure that the building had a monitoring system. [Gazette]

Percoco trial
Wednesday in the trial of former Cuomo aide Joe Percoco, jurors heard testimony about Lisa Percoco's alleged "low show" job which prosecutors claim was a way to funnel bribes to her husband. [TU]

Hit and run victim
Police have identified the pedestrian who died after being struck by a car on Washington avenue Wednesday as 92-year-old Ludmilla Vink of Albany. [TU]

Teen pleads guilty
The 18-year-old driver charged with manslaughter and vehicular assault in connection with the death of his friend and passenger in Moreau last year, pleaded guilty on Wednesday in Saratoga County Court.[Post Star]

College applications up
Small private colleges in the Capital Region say applications are up in this last season, in spite of fears that New York's free tuition opportunities might cause a drop in enrollment. [TU]

Argus Press Building sells property back for former owner
The city of Albany Albany County has sold the Argus Press Building on back to its former owner, Mike O'Brien, in spite of the fact that he has a history of owing back taxes and concerns that the building has remained vacant for so long. [TU]

"So many of these people that commit the mass murders end up being Democrats"
A Republican Utica area congresswoman, interviewed on Talk 1300 on Wednesday, claimed that many of the people who commit mass murder turn out to be Democrats. [NYT]

"When are things going to change?"
Chris Churchill spoke with the former Columbia High School assistant principal who tackled a school shooter fourteen years ago. [TU]

Gun show
Glens Falls will host another gun show at the Cool Insuring Arena in March. [WNYT]

Albany police detective dies
Kevin Meehan, a 37-year-old Albany police detective, died this week after a battle with cancer. [TU]

New job for horse
A rescue horse gets a new job with the Albany Police Department. [TU]

Stuff going on today

Saratoga Beer Week
Today-Saturday: Saratoga Beer Week returns with tastings, dinners, and other events around Saratoga Springs. The cap to the week is the Saratoga Beer Summit at the Saratoga City Center on Saturday. There's also a Whiskey Night and Cider Night this year. Monday-Saturday various times -- various prices

Les Misérables
Today-Sunday: A touring production of Les Misérables is at Proctors. "With its glorious new staging and dazzlingly reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo, this breathtaking new production has left both audiences and critics awestruck ..." Tuesday-Sunday various times -- $30 and up

Alicia Ross
Thursday: Artist Alicia Ross will be at the Opalka Gallery on the Sage Albany campus or a talk about her work. "Most recently noted for her large-scale embroidery work, her work embodies a unique hybridization between hand and machine." Thursday 6:30 pm -- free

Screening of documentary Very Young Girls
Thursday: Albany Law is hosting a screening of the documentary Very Young Girls with a panel discussion headlined by Rachel Lloyd, the founder and president of Girls Educational & Mentoring Services. "The documentary uncovers the commercial sex industry in New York City and through direct interviews with adolescent victims provides an intimate perspective of the complexities of commercial sexual exploitation, street prostitution, and human trafficking that is happening in every community throughout New York State." Thursday 6 pm -- free (registration required)

Oscar-nominated shorts
+ The Spectrum is showing the Oscar-nominated shorts -- live action and animated -- this week.
+ Proctors is showing the Oscar-nominated short documentaries in the The Addy on Wednesday and Thursday (different slates).

National Theatre: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Thursday: Proctors is showing the National Theatre production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in the GE Theater. The production stars Sienna Miller, Jack O'Connell, and Colm Meaney.

Music: Tom Paxton & the DonJuans
Folk icon. 7 pm -- $55

Music: Big Galut(e) at UAlbany Performing Arts Center
Klezmer. 7:30 pm -- $15 / $10 students and seniors