All Over Albany

Two Troy politicos up on forgery charges, UAlbany students skip class over state cuts, it's "so long" for Channel 10's McLoughlin, fake ID's are a no-no

Councilman Michael LoPorto and Rensselaer County Democratic Elections Commissioner Edward McDonough were indicted Friday morning on charges they forged absentee ballots in the city Working Families Party 2009 primary. The indictments were handed down from a county grand jury, and were the result of an investigation launched in October 2009, alleging that Democrats were forging voters' signatures and casting fraudulent primary ballots. [TU] [Record]

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has picked the head of the state Business Council to lead the
Empire State Development Corp. The governor described his choice of Kenneth Adams as a step toward changing the state's business climate. The appointment requires approval by the state Senate. [TU] [Post Star] [YNN] A Marist poll shows Cuomo with a 71 percent approval rating. [WRGB]

UAlbany students staged a walkout Thursday to protest funding and program cuts at the university, including the elimination of five humanities programs. The students are planning a Capitol march next week. Gov. Cuomo's budget plan, to be released Feb. 1, is expected to contain further cuts. [TU] [YNN] [WRGB]

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Troy cited for not removing asbestos from former City Hall, UMass basketball players make emergency landing at ALB, NY may ban electronic cigarettes, Proctor's buys Muddy Cup

No mention of Schenectady in the president's State of the Union address, but lots of talk about innovation, similar to what we heard in the Electric City last week. Everyone is giving their post game today. Here's reaction to the speech from our legislators. [Record]

The State Labor Department issued three violations against the city of Troy for failing to remove asbestos from the former City Hall building before it began demolition. Mayor Tutunjian says the city has not violated any laws, since the demolition hasn't officially started yet, only "exploratory excavation." [Record] [YNN]

The UMass men's basketball team's plane made a emergency landing at Albany International yesterday after pilots noticed smoke in the cockpit. [TU]

New York may become the first state to ban electronic cigarettes. [WTEN}

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Cuomo names RFK Jr. to transition team, Jackson no longer highest paid president, money stolen for scholarship in honor of fallen soldier

Andrew Cuomo has named his former brother-in-law, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to his transition team. [State of Politics]

Chuck Schumer is calling for a federal investigation into the lead content in reusable grocery bags. [AP via WTEN]

New York won't be prosecuting Joe Bruno for allegedly using state employees for personal business, in spite of a proposal by the U.S. Attorney's office.[TU]

40 New York State security guards will lose their jobs as part of state worker layoffs. [The State Worker]

The absentee ballots have been counted in the race for the 109th Assembly seat and Bob Reilly held on to his job by 542 votes. [TU]

Newly elected Congressman Chris Gibson is preparing to represent the 20th congressional district. Among other moves, Gibson hired a former aide to Jerry Solomon -- who held the 20th Congressional District seat for 20 years. [TU]

Mario Cuomo won't go on CNN because of Elliot Spitzer. [NY Observer]

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Cuomo names transition team, Mark Ruffalo leads anti-fracking rally at UAlbany, Pastor Charlie gets $30 thousand from Sears, Two Saratoga Co. Soldiers honored, 109th Assembly results expected today, " Taps composer Union alum

Andrew Cuomo named his Lt. Governor elect to lead his transition team. Robert Duffy will lead a bi-[artisan team that includes former Comptroller Carl McCall and Republican Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney. Cuomo also named members of a new committee to advise him on the budget. That team includes Home Depot Founder Ken Langone -- a guy Elliot Spitzer allegedly told he wanted to "drive a stake" through his heart."
Cuomo also named all four leaders of the state legislature to a committee for personnel search committee. [CBS6, AP, NY Observer, ]

On a NYC radio program yesterday Andrew Cuomo said he would support hydrofracking if it was safe for the watersheds and created jobs. [Fox23]

Meanwhile here in Albany, vocal anti-fracker, and Western NY native, actor Mark Ruffalo held a Fracking Awareness rally at UAlbany.[YNN]

Kirstin Gillibrand was in Afghanistan yesterday, talking about women's rights with Hamid Karzai. [CBS6]

Crime may be up in Albany, but in some neighborhoods, violent crime is down.[TU]

Two fallen soldiers were honored yesterday in Saratoga County. The names of David Taylor Miller and Major John Paul Pryor were added to the Saratoga County Veterans monument at the Saratoga National Cemetary. [YNN]

Victory Church Pastor Charlie Muller got a $30 thousand check from Sears yesterday for the Albany Boys and Girls Club on Delaware Avenue. [CBS6]

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