Albany news stories on Newser

Distant Capitals = Corrupt States

Kevin Spak — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:30:05 CDT

James Madison once said that capital cities ought to be removed from the busiest parts of the country, so they'd be isolated from powerful interests. Well, guess again, Jim. A new study has found that states with distant capitals are much more likely to have rotten governments, the LA Times...

Saggy Pants Ban a Profitable Move for Georgia Town

Kate Schwartz — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 16:22:05 CDT

In Albany, Georgia, saggy pants are a sartorial faux pas—and quite the little moneymaker. On Nov. 23 of last year, the city instituted a ban on anyone wearing pants (or skirts!) more than three inches below the hips. Since then, 187 citations have been issued, raking in $3,...

In New York, Jubilant Gay Community Rejoices

Polly Davis Doig — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 05:58:41 CDT

After the showdown in Albany legalized gay marriage, euphoric crowds last night thronged the streets of New York City's West Village, where the gay rights movement was born some four decades ago. “It’s where it all began,” said one reveler outside the Stonewall Inn. The New York Times notes that...

New York Senate Approves Gay Marriage

John Johnson — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 21:36:35 CDT

The gay rights movement just scored a huge victory: Same-sex marriage will soon be legal in New York state. The state Senate approved the measure tonight after a Republican legislator came forward to support it as the crucial 32nd vote. “I know my vote is a vote of conscience,” Stephen...

NY's Gay Marriage Showdown Could Come Tomorrow

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 16:05:45 CDT

It's a familiar scene with a major twist: New York lawmakers meet behind closed doors in the frantic last days of a six-month legislative session with a big pile of seemingly unconnected issues on the table in front of them. This year, however, there is intense national focus on one...

NY Senate Stalls on Gay Marriage Bill

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:22:33 CDT

Old-time, backroom politics faced down hundreds of chanting protesters from each side of the highly charged gay marriage debate in New York today as the issue stalled again over whether religious groups could be protected from discrimination charges. After a three-hour conference behind closed doors, while groups from each side...

Pushy Customer Misses $319M Lottery Jackpot

Matt Cantor — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 17:05:15 CDT

How’s this for karma: A man in Albany pushed ahead in line for a Mega Millions lottery ticket—and the guy he shoved aside got the winning Quick Pick. The man “actually cut in front of me to buy a ticket,” said Mike Barth. “I thought about saying something but...

America's Top Stoner Cities

John Johnson — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 13:50:17 CDT

In honor of today's date, 4/20—and the pot-steeped lore of those numbers—the Daily Beast has ranked the nation's 40 "highest cities," where weed culture reigns supreme. To read the full list and see how it was compiled, click here . The top 10: Eureka, California Tallahassee, Florida Manhattan Boston...

Post Spots Paterson With Galpal

Polly Davis Doig — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 10:02:50 CST

He's no Client No. 9 as yet, but New York Gov. David Paterson was spotted yesterday canoodling with a "Latina lovely" at a Jersey steakhouse, reports the New York Post. And though the guv himself told Post operatives on the scene that "she works with me," fellow diners say "he...