All Over Albany

Rensselaer house fire kills three members of family, legal fight over video from police body cameras, criticism of PR campaign ahead of trial

Fatal fire in Rensselaer
Three members of a Rensselaer family -- a child, mother, and grandmother -- died in a house fire early Sunday morning. Two other children suffered injuries, one of them serious. Officials say it's not clear yet what caused the fire -- it gutted the entire home -- and it's under investigation. More than a hundred people gathered outside the house on Sunday for a vigil. [TU] [News10] [Troy Record] [TU]

Guns
+ The Saratoga Springs City Council has voted to ban gun sales at the Saratoga Springs City Center -- it looks like the recurring gun show scheduled for the venue in May will be the last there. [TU] [Daily Gazette]
+ Talking with Capital Region high school students about gun violence and walkouts planned for this Wednesday. [Daily Gazette]

Police body cameras
+ A look at NYC lawsuit that could have broad implications for how video from police body cameras is handled around the state -- it's focused on a state law that's been used to increase the scope of what's considered a police personnel record and shield that info from the public. (This law was a key consideration in the development of the Albany Police Department's policy for sharing body camera video. ) [TU]
+ The Schenectady Police Department's rollout of officer body cameras is now planned for June. [Daily Gazette]

Sexual harassment in the state legislature
Two state Assemblywomen have collected more than 100 signatures on a letter circulating at the Capitol that expresses solidarity for people who have spoken out against sexual harassment there and state they have also been subjected to harassment. [NYT]

Body of missing woman found in the Hudson
Rensselaer police say the body of the woman reported missing Friday was found Saturday morning in the Hudson River on toward the north end of the city. RPD said the cause of death hadn't been determined and investigation is in progress. [TU] [Troy Record]

Postal employees exposed to unknown powder
Three US Postal Service employees at the processing center on New Karner Road got medical treatment Sunday after being exposed to a unknown powder. An Albany County official said one of the employees reported a rash and itchiness. [TU] [News10]

Conviction in Schenectady arson case
A Scotia man was convicted in federal court of setting the fire that destroyed two buildings on/near Union Street in 2012. [Daily Gazette]

Man accused of burning down Berne home
A Berne man is facing an unlawful open burn charge after Albany County Sheriff's Office says he set fire to a home he wanted demolished. [Daily Gazette]

PR campaign ahead of trial
The local auto repair chain owned by the man currently on trial in Saratoga County for a car crash that resulted in a woman quadriplegic has been the subject of a PR and marketing campaign leading up to the trial that touted the company's philanthropy. [TU]

Albany land sale
The proposed sale of cit of Albany-owned land in Coeymans -- which was expected to bring in $620k -- has fallen through. [TU]

Albany County pork
A look at a series of grants distributed in recent years by the Albany County Legislature and calls to either provide more transparency about how they're awarded -- or end them altogether. [TU]

Grand Central
Amtrak trains from Albany-Rensselaer to NYC will again be routed into Grand Central this summer because of track work. [TU]

Big win for UAlbany lacrosse
The #1-ranked UAlbany men's lacrosse team beat #2 Maryland in College Park Saturday 11-10. [TU]

Syracuse surprise
The Syracuse men's basketball team was a surprise inclusion in the field for the NCAA tournament. The Orange play Arizona State in one of the "first four" games Wednesday night. [Syracuse.com]

Stuff going on today

Masta Killa
Monday: Matsa Killa from Wu Tang Clan will be at Siena to deliver the keynote for Hip-Hop Week. He'll be talking about the group's formation and history, their contributions to hip-hop culture, the music industry, and business. Monday 7 pm, Sarazen Student Union -- free

Women's History Month
Monday: The State Museum's Jennifer Lemak and Ashley Hopkins-Benton will be at Sage to "discuss the history of women's suffrage in New York State through the lens of the exhibition Votes for Women: Celebrating New York's Suffragette Centennial." Monday 7 pm, Bush Memorial -- free

Unforgiven
Monday: The Palace's movie series is showing Unforgiven, the 1992 western that won an Oscar for best picture. Monday 7 pm -- $5

The Shape of Water
Monday-Thursday: Proctors is showing The Shape of Water -- which won the best picture Oscar this year -- in its The Addy theater. Monday-Thursday various times -- $6