Albany | featured news

ALBANY — A former business partner of Halfmoon-based developer Bruce Tanski pleaded guilty to federal bank fraud charges on Wednesday in a plea agreement that identified Tanski as an unnamed "co-conspirator" in the alleged fraud.Peter D. Amato of Albany, who was involved with several residential development projects built by Tanski in Brunswick and Stillwater, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a single felony count before U.S. District Senior Judge Lawrence E. Kahn. The guilty plea was not announced by the U.S. Attorney's office.

ALBANY — With little notice and no fanfare, New York State seven years ago agreed to a $45 million settlement with nearly 5,000 current and former African-American and Hispanic state workers who had alleged in a federal lawsuit that the civil service tests they needed for promotions were racially biased.While most members of the plaintiff class received their share of the payout, there are still about 1,000 people who have yet to collect.

The Bon-Ton Stores said Wednesday that its department store at the Aviation Mall in Queensbury will be among 42 stores that will close in the next 10 to 12 weeks. This is in addition to five other stores Bon-Ton earlier said it planned to close this year.

Elton John is scheduled to play in Albany March 1, 2019 during his final tour, dubbed "Farewell Yellow Brick Road."

AlbanyDespite a $1.7 billion PCB dredging project, the Hudson River remains damaged by excessive levels of the toxic chemical and will remain so for years to come, two federal agencies and the state reported on Wednesday.While showing a decline, PCB levels in the river consistently and as recently as 2014 remained well above federal safety guidelines, as well as above state standards meant to protect humans and animals that eat river fish, according to the report.

ALBANY - National Grid's plan to incrementally raise gas and electric rates by $300 million over a three year period - ultimately adding $16 to monthly gas and electric bills - will face a public comment and debate process that is underway.

ALBANY — The State Police Academy graduated 208 new state troopers Wednesday at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center. The graduates now move to a 10-week field training at stations throughout the state.

ALBANY -A report on potential locations for a new $600 million Wadsworth public health lab under consideration by the state Department of Health could be completed within the next couple of months, according to the state's top economic development official.

NEW YORK — A former employee at the energy company that paid Cuomo aide Joseph Percoco's wife nearly $287,000 to work on an educational program testified Wednesday he did not know the man who actually paid her was even involved in the firm's education efforts.Steven Remillard told jurors at Percoco's corruption trial in Manhattan federal court he believed Christopher Pitts, who signed the checks to Lisa Percoco, "would be responsible for web design" at Competitive Power Ventures."I didn't know Chris was involved with CPV Educates," Remillard testified.

FuzeHub is launching a new round of grants for manufacturing beginning Thursday.