All Over Albany

Records indicate limo company circumvented proper inspection process, pedestrian killed in Scotia, services slated for state trooper killed in crash, NYRA may expand 2019 Saratoga season

Schoharie Limo crash
The Times Union reports that the owners of the limo in the Schoharie County crash that killed 20 people appear to have circumvented the proper New York State inspection process, by having the vehicle inspected every two years by regular auto shops rather than every six months in rigorous DOT inspections as required by law. [TU]

Services for Trooper
Flags are flying at half staff and funeral arrangements have been announced for Trooper Jeremy Van Nostrand, who was killed on Tuesday when his car was struck as he was headed to the barracks for work. [Spectrum]

Ellazar Williams
Activists are opposing a plan by Albany County prosecutors to review a detective's use of force Ellazar Williams, the 19-year-old Albany man paralyzed in a police involved shooting in the city, before dealing with the charges that face Williams. [TU]

Pedestrian killed
Police are investigating the death of a pedestrian in Scotia Wednesday night. They say the woman was hit by a car on Mohawk Avenue at around 6:40 pm. [WNYT]

Indictment in Cohoes death
An Albany County grand jury indicted Thomas Slivienski on Wednesday, on two felony counts, in connection with the murder of Johni Dunia in Cohoes earlier this month. [Record]

Trump/Cuomo meeting
Andrew Cuomo and Donald Trump met on Tuesday to discuss the fate of the Hudson Gateway tunnel.The lunch was described as productive but no promises of Federal aid for the project -- which could cost more than $13 billion, were made. [NYT][Spectrum]

Legislative pay raise
A panel of current and former elected officials are working to decide the fate of a potential legislative pay raise. [Spectrum]

Workplace bullying
Charges of workplace bullying and harassment in Schenectady made there way to a public forum on Monday, at a City Council meeting. [Gazette][TU]

Parole denial upheld in 1981 robbery
The State appellate court has overruled a Supreme Court judge who ordered a new parole hearing for a woman who drove the getaway car in a 1981 attempted Brinks heist that left three people dead. [TU]

Unsolved Saratoga homicide
Saratoga Springs police are taking a new look at a 38-year-old murder case.

Corruption
Chris Churchill's letter to the judge who will sentence Syracuse developer Steven Aiello, urging prison time for his role in the state bid rigging scheme.[TU]

Fantasy sports
New York has begun to appeal a state Supreme Court ruling from last month that said the operation of online sports gambling companies like DraftKings and FanDuel violates the prohibition of gambling in the state Constitution. [TU]

Expanded racing season
NYRA is expected to make an announcement that they'll extend the 2019 racing season to start on July 11, but keep it to 40 days with no racing on Mondays and Tuesdays. [WNYT]

Tie a yellow ribbon
"What this is really about is the troops. They're the ones who are important. We can't forget them, ever." -- Rexford's "yellow ribbon lady,"Carol Hotaling. [Gazette]

Stuff going on today

Film

What we left unfinished
Thursday: Mariam Ghani will be showing a work-in-progress version of her film What we left unfinished at EMPAC (she's working on the film there). Afterward Ghani and the film's composer, Qasim Naqvi, will be talking about sound and images. Thursday 7 pm -- free

Miss Bennett: Christmas at Pemberley

Today-Sunday: The Rep opens its production of Miss Bennett: Christmas at Pemberley, based on characters from Pride and Prejudice. "In this charmingly imagined sequel to Jane Austen's masterwork, the ever-dependable Mary Bennet is growing tired of her role as dutiful middle sister in the face of her siblings' romantic escapades. When the family visits for Christmas, an unexpected guest sparks Mary's hopes for independence, an intellectual match -- and possibly even love?" Tuesday-Sunday various times -- $22 and up

Arts and sciences

Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey
Thursday: The Museum of Political Corruption will be honoring Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey with this year's Nellie Bly Award at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany. The two New York Times journalists won the Pulitzer Prize this year in the public service category, along with Ronan Farrow, for "impactful journalism that exposed powerful and wealthy sexual predators, including allegations against one of Hollywood's most influential producers, bringing them to account for long-suppressed allegations of coercion, brutality and victim silencing, thus spurring a worldwide reckoning about sexual abuse of women." Kantor and Twohey will appear at the event via Skype and answer questions from the audience. The evening will also include a roundtable discussion about the #MeToo movement. Thursday 6 pm -- $40 / $15 students

Ali Stroker
Thursday: Actress Ali Stroker will be at Skidmore to talk about her career. Stroker has appeared on Glee and multiple other shows, and she was the first wheelchair-using actress to appear on Broadway. Thursday 6 pm, Filene Recital Hall -- free

Alvaro Enrigue
Thursday: Novelist Alvaro Enrigue will be at UAlbany for a talk about this work as part of the NYS Writers Institute visiting writers series. Thursday 4:15 pm, uptown campus, Science Library -- free

One Funny Mother

Thursday: Dena Blizzard -- AKA the Target mom -- will be at Proctors for two performances of her comedic one-woman show One Funny Mother in the GE Theater. Wednesday-Thursday 7:30 pm -- $42.50

Holiday

Victorian Streetwalk
Thursday: The annual Victorian Street Walk returns to downtown Saratoga Springs. Broadway will be closed to car traffic for all sorts of holiday whatnot. Thursday 5-10 pm -- free admission

Round Lake Artisans Holiday Market
Thursday: The Round Lake Artisans Holiday Market is at the village hall. "Shopping Local and Handmade is made easy with our eclectic collection of gifts including cookies, pottery, skincare, fiber art, cards, creative critters, jewelry, honey, candles and more" Thursday 4-8 pm -- free admission

Music

Thursday: Generation Axe at The Palace
Steve Vai, Zakk Wylde, Yngwie Malmsteen, Nuno Bettencourt, and Tosin Abasi. 8 pm -- $34.75 and up

Thursday: Brand X at Cohoes Music Hall
Jazz fusion. 8 pm -- $39 ahead / $45 day of

Thursday: The Wiyos at Caffe Lena
"Re-introducing the folk revival's old-timey style to today's folk audience, a Wiyos' show ranges from riotous rural novelty songs to Vaudeville, early swing, surf harmonies, and any other vintage sound that catches their fancy." (Also playing Helsinki Hudson Friday night.) 7 pm -- $20

Thursday: King Buffalo at The Low Beat
Psych rock. With: Front Business. 8 pm -- $10

Thursday: Gary Hoey at The Upper Room
Rock guitarist. 8:30 pm -- $15

Thursday: Marvel Years at The Hollow
Glitch-hop/electro-soul DJ. With: Evac and DJ Reddi. 8 pm -- $12

Thursday: Convictions at Lucky Strike Jupiter Hall
Christian metalcore. With: Roseview. 7 pm -- $12