All Over Albany

Vigil for victims of double murder-suicide, Morse claims he was threatened by teen, animal hoarding investigation in Troy, Luna gets a reprieve

Vigil for victims of Ballston Spa shooting
About 600 people turned out at a vigil on a cold Tuesday night, to remember 12-year-old Emma Jones, and her mother, Jennifer, victims of a double murder-suicide earlier this week. Emma Jones was remembered as a kind child and a "beautiful soul" who wanted to save animals, took pride in being a pescatarian and asked for donations to help others in lieu of birthday presents. [Spectrum][Saratogian][TU][Gazette]

Shawn Morse
The 18-year-old Troy man who has accused Cohoes mayor Shawn Morse of choking him during an incident at Morse's home has released photos of his injuries. Morse, meanwhile, says the teen threatened to kill him, and was the person who beat his daughter, breaking her collarbone.[TU][WNYT]

Legalizing marijuana
The New York State Association of County Health officials is calling on lawmakers to approach plans to legalize marijuana "with extreme caution," citing risk of addiction to other drugs, harmful cognitive and academic effects, adverse cardiac and respiratory events, unintentional exposure to children, and crashes resulting from drugged driving.[TU]

Sentencing in gun store robbery
An accomplice in a 2017 robbery at a Glenville gun shop was sentenced on Tuesday to ten years in prison. [Gazette]

Arming school monitors
In the wake of controversy over a decision to disarm school grounds monitors in the Saratoga Springs school district, the New York Schools Insurance Reciprocal is recommending that the district hire a school resource officer who would be allowed to be armed. [TU]

Parent of Schoharie limo crash victim speaks out
The mother of one of the women killed in the Schoharie limousine crash spoke out on Tuesday about why she is suing the limo company and may file suit against others. [News 10]

Smoke-free campuses
Beginning January 1 both Skidmore College and the University at Albany will be smoke-free campuses -- both indoors and out . [Gazette][TU]

Drinking water
New York's state Drinking Water Quality Council is recommending limits on three industrial pollutants that would be the strictest limits the nation. [TU]

Lawmaker makes violent tweet
Democratic State Senator Kevin Parker drew a rebuke from Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for tweeting "Go kill yourself!" in a heated exchange with a spokeswoman for the Republican conference. [NYT]

More than 90 animals rescued from Troy home
Troy police and officials from the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society rescued nearly 100 animals, including cats, dogs, birds and ferrets, living in poor conditions at a home on Campbell Avenue in the city. [Spectrum][TU]

Luna gets reprieve
Luna the dog is going home. A settlement has been reached between the City of Troy and Luna's owner and Luna will be returned. Luna's owner must pay a $1,500 fee and the dog must be spayed and microchipped, muzzled in public and will be on probation for two years. [Record][WNYT][Spectrum]

Stuff going on today

Albany Archives CANCELLED
Wednesday: Matt Malette -- Mr. Albany Archives -- will be at the Albany Public Library Washington Ave Branch for a talk about local historical connections to holiday traditions. Among the stories: The first Christmas card printed in the United States was printed in Albany. Wednesday 6:30 pm -- free

It's a Wonderful Life: Live from WVL Radio Theatre
Wednesday: An Immediate Theatre Project production called It's a Wonderful Life: Live from WVL Radio Theatre is at Proctors. It's the classic story with a twist. "It's Christmas Eve in 1945, and only a handful of WVL Radio's actors have braved the blizzard to perform that evening's broadcast of It's a Wonderful Life and keep the station afloat. This clever stage adaptation breathes new life into the poignant story of George Bailey and Bedford Falls." Wednesday 7:30 pm -- $35

Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley
Today-Sunday: The is the last week for The Rep's production of Miss Bennet: 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

Music: Hamell on Trial at The Low Beat
"Peace on Earth blah blah blah." 7 pm