Capital Region News

Education and business officials came together today in Saratoga County with the high tech future in mind.  GlobalFoundries and the Center for Economic Growth organized the meeting at the Saratoga Technology and Energy Park to develop a regional 13 county laboratory to promote the future of an educational system that must meet the needs of a growing technology sector. Michael Tucker is the CEO and executive director of the Center for Economic Growth. He spoke with WAMC’s Brian Shields.

The University At Albany is again facing questions about the extracurricular activities of some it its students after several were arrested last week in an alleged hazing incident resembling the torture technique known as 'waterboarding'.

For more on the incident, WAMC's Patrick Donges spoke with Albany Times Union education reporter Scott Waldman, who has been following the story.

WAMC's David Guistina gets the morning headlines from Mike Spain, associate editor of the Albany Times Union.

Republican Saratoga County Clerk Kathy Marchione was successful in her bid to represent the New York State Senate’s new 43rd District.

Marchione was flanked by supporters as she took to the podium at the Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs at around 11 p.m. Tuesday night to accept her election to the New York State Senate.  

Unofficial results show her winning with 47 percent of the vote over the 35 percent won by Democratic Claverack Town Supervisor Robin Andrews.

Marchione told those assembled the story of what she described as an unlikely path to victory…

Voters in Saratoga Springs will vote tomorrow on how the city government will be structured. A charter change is on the ballot. Voters can stay with the current commissioner form of government or decide to change to a council-manager form of government. For more on the charter question, WAMC’s Brian Shields spoke with Saratogian city desk reporter Lucian McCarty.

A poll released Friday by the Siena Research Institute showed some surprising numbers in one capital region New York State Senate race.

Incumbent 43rd District Senator Roy McDonald – who suspended his campaign after losing a close Republican primary to Saratoga County Clerk Kathy Marchione – received support from 29 percent of poll respondents. McDonald will appear on Tuesday’s ballot on the Independence Party line.

For analysis of the race WAMC’s Patrick Donges spoke with reporter David Lombardo who covers local politics for the Schenectady Daily Gazette.