All Over Albany

Another story of an FBI informant, Troy police officer suspended, remembering student killed on bike path, South End study, Syrian delights

FBI informants
Brendan Lyons looks at the situation surrounding the Albany man who served as an FBI informant in the case against former Halfmoon supervisor Melinda Wormuth -- all while he allegedly was running a tax-fraud scheme. [TU]

Schoharie limo crash
A look at how a ruling by New York State's highest court regarding the Ethan Allen tour boat sinking could play a key role in whether the families of the victims in the Schoharie limo crash will be able to sue the state over inspections and regulations. [TU]

Troy police officer suspended
The Troy Police Department says the officer accused of elbowing a man in the face after Little League game in North Greenbush this past September has been suspended. [TU]

School threats
The number of bomb threats reported by Capital Region school districts is down compared to the previous decade -- but other types of threats that prompt lockdowns aren't required to be reported, and those appear to be on the rise. [Daily Gazette]

Arrest in Cohoes bike path shooting
A 22-year-old Watervliet man was charged last week with second-degree murder for the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Johni Dunia the night of November 16 on the Mohawk-Hudson bike path in Cohoes. Dunia was a junior at Albany High School and his family are refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo. [Spectrum] [TU]

Amtrak train disconnect
An RPI student is being credited with pulling the emergency brake on the Amtrak train car that separated shortly after leaving Albany-Rensselaer last week. How'd he know what to do? From watching movies. [CBS6] [WNYT]

Hate crimes
Law enforcement agencies reported 16 hate crimes in 2017, according to FBI data. [TU]

The Republican Party in New York State
After losing the majority in the New York Senate -- and no holding a statewide office since 2002 -- Jesse McKinley concludes the Republican Party has hit bottom in New York State. [NYT]

Dan Dwyer
Rensselaer City Hall is closed Monday for the funeral of mayor Dan Dwyer. [TU]

South End study
A group of non-profits is focusing on four-block section of Albany's South End with an eye toward greening the neighborhood and improving residents' health. [TU]

Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail
Albany County is now looking at the possibility of replacing the old railroad overpass that carries the Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail over New Scotland Road in Slingerlands. [TU]

Take this scarf
Following along as a family leaves winter clothing in Albany's Washington Park to be taken by people who need the clothing. [WNYT]

Frog and Toad
Chris Churchill floats the idea of using the Gateway Plaza in downtown Schenectady to honor the Frog and Toad stories by Schenectady native Arnold Lobel. [TU]

Syrian Delights
A profile of the Syrian refugees in Albany who have started a catering business out of a food pantry kitchen in Sheridan Hollow. [TU]

Stuff going on this week

Here's a big list of things to do during this week.