All Over Albany

Gubernatorial candidates debate without Cuomo, Albany middle school plan, report of needle in candy was a prank, color temperatures

Gubernatorial election debate
The candidates running for governor -- except for Andrew Cuomo -- gathered for a debate at Saint Rose Thursday evening and addressed topics such as the Regional Economic Development Council program, the Excelsior scholarship program, Medicaid, and Cuomo's absence. [TU] [Politico]

NY-20 debate
Among the topics that came up at the debate between incumbent Democrat Paul Tonko and Republican challenger Joe Vitollo for the NY-20 Congressional District: health care, gun violence, the federal deficit, and birthright citizenship. [WMHT] [TU] [NY Now]

Ellazar Williams shooting rally
A group called Justice for Ellazar rallied outside Albany police headquarters Thursday to call for the suspension of the Albany police detective who shot Williams. [Spectrum]

Campaign cash
A look at the pattern of state campaign contributions from a large real estate company and the hedging of bets over which party will end up controlling the state Senate. [TU]

Upstate/downstate
Democrats have been trying to get NYC residents with weekend homes in the Hudson Valley to register to vote at the second-home address, arguing their Democratic vote will have more of an impact in elections such as the matchup between John Faso and Antonio Delgado in the NY-19. [WSJ]

Albany middle school plan
The Albany school board approved a plan to use the North Albany Academy as a middle school to accommodate growing enrollment. [News10]

Report of needle in candy was a hoax
Hoosick Falls officials say the report this week that a family found a needle in a piece of Halloween candy was a prank. [WNYT]

Saratoga Springs charter questions
Explaining the two charter questions on the ballot in Saratoga Springs and what changes could result. [TU]

Conviction in Schenectady shooting
A Schenectady man was convicted of first-degree assault for a shooting that injured a 15-year-old bystander on Albany Street last year. [Daily Gazette]

Acquittals
The attorney for a man who was acquitted on a murder charge last year in Schenectady County, and acquitted this week of first-degree assault in a separate case: "He's a very fortunate young man." [Daily Gazette]

Albany student fights
Albany police say two fights last week involving large groups of students -- including one said to include 100 high school-age kids near Central and Quail -- resulted in one arrest and minor injuries for three officers. [TU]

Distraction burglary
Bethlehem police say there was a distraction burglary on Blessing Road during the day Thursday. Similar burglaries were recently reported in North Greenbush. [TU] [WNYT]

Troy woman's deportation fight
A Troy woman fighting deportation got an anonymous $1,225 donation from a Times Union reader to pay for her green card and work authorization application. [TU]

Schenectady Smart City Initiative
The city of Schenectady and National Grid are installing 20 LED streetlights as part of a test that will include seeing which color temperature residents prefer. [Daily Gazette]

Hudson River mink
A study by the state and feds concludes that PCB contamination of the Hudson River has cut down on the number of mink in the river. [TU]

Route 9W development in Albany
The retail/hotel development planned for the former Howard Johnson's on Route 9W in Albany is set to get started. (And apparently the fact that there's going to be a Sonic there is now official.) [Biz Review]

Stuff to do this weekend

Check out the big list of things to do this weekend around the Capital Region.