Tyler A. McNeil

They Can’t Get Answers From the Oil Industry. North Dakota’s Oversight Program Hasn’t Helped. Frustrated by oil companies mysteriously withholding large amounts of royalties, North Dakota mineral owners lobbied for change. Instead, lawmakers provided an oversight program that, owners say, fail...

NEW: Frustrated by oil companies mysteriously withholding large amounts of royalties, North Dakota mineral owners lobbied for change.

Instead, lawmakers provided an oversight program that, owners say, fails to address the issue it was created to solve.

With @northdakotamonitor.com

Saratoga's inaugural Corgi Cup brings short legs, big drama From speedy champions to dogs chasing shade, the first-ever Corgi Cup at Saratoga Race Course had it all.

www.timesunion.com/saratogatrac...
And they're off.

Rensselaer budget defunds roles held by convicted ex-election commissioner, grandson of mayor Two clerical positions — including one held by a former GOP elections official convicted of ballot fraud in 2023 — have been axed from Rensselaer's budget.

lt's worth noting that budget squabbles have become a yearly expectation, but this round didn't end in a routinely overidden veto. www.timesunion.com/news/article...

My most consistent position to this day is that I'm not going to bring back the town of Watervliet. We don't need the town of Watervliet.

New York's weeks-long prison strike could have been avoided, union says NYSCOPBA responded to a state report on the weeks-long strike.

www.timesunion.com/state/articl...
“Like the state, we consistently called for the strike to end,” the union wrote in its response to the report. “Unlike the state's elected leaders, we understood that their unacceptable working conditions caused members to participate in an unsanctioned strike.”

GOP-controlled Troy council OKs plans to turn Proctor's into city hall The partisan vote marked the first legislative step undertaken since Mayor Carmella Mantello unveiled new city hall plans in June.

Featuring an Erie Canal reference.
www.timesunion.com/news/article...

In a positive development, the smoke — for now — has departed Rensselaer County. Our yellow is just old fashioned normal pollution.

Source: Accuweather

Cannabis shops too close to schools won't have to close or move, state says The recent disagreement over distance applies to 108 dispensaries that have already opened and another 44 who applied before the discrepancy was discovered.

Cannabis regulators in New York told nearly a quarter of the state’s licensed retail dispensaries this week that they won’t be forced to close or relocate after they were found to be operating too close to schools. From @danclarkreports.bsky.social

Mayor: Man died by suicide after standoff with police in Cohoes State Police are investigating an incident in which an officer allegedly returned gunfire on Remsen Street in Cohoes.

The situation was hours-long, according to Cohoes Mayor Bill Keeler.

Since wolves’ return, Yellowstone’s aspens are recovering, study finds The researchers found a 152-fold increase in sapling and young-tree density.

Aspen trees are growing taller in Yellowstone thanks to wolves that prey on elk, which graze on trees.

Sheriff: Burglary suspect tried drive-thru window escape at McDonald's A burglary suspect encountered law enforcement early Friday morning after allegedly scooting out of a drive-thru window at the Johnstown McDonald's.

When you thought you've seen it all. www.timesunion.com/news/article...

Ted Cruz pushes legislation to use RICO to target activist groups Cruz introduced a bill that adds "rioting" to the list of activities prohibited by the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

Ted Cruz wants to be able to charge protester organizers under RICO... www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/art...

Sullivan County undersheriff says long-running FBI probe is a ‘nothingburger’ The FBI has investigated allegations involving Eric Chaboty, including claims that he purchased ammunition tax-free.

www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley...

Small plane crashes in Hilltowns, pilot walks away unharmed A small plane reportedly crashed Tuesday night in the Hilltowns.

Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple confirmed a small plane appeared to have crashed Tuesday night in the area of Knox-Gallupville and Berne-Altamont roads. www.timesunion.com/news/article...

Orange County DA’s interactions with McDonald murder suspect at issue in Grievance Committee probe The discrepancy between David Hoovler’s public and private accounts raises new questions about the timing of his recusal from the Megan McDonald murder case.

Orange County DA David Hoovler’s past interactions with a murder suspect in the Megan McDonald case are at issue in Grievance Committee probe. Lana Bellamy reports. www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley...

I'm here at the "No Kings Day" rally here in Troy.

Rensselaer County Legislature candidate accused of theft at Market 32 Tom Abbott allegedly took an undisclosed item at Market 32 on Vandenburgh Avenue in Troy around 1:30 p.m. on May 25.

A Rensselaer County Legislature candidate has been put on paid leave from his job with the city of Troy following being charged with allegedly stealing at a local grocery store. (📝 @tyleramcneil.bsky.social )

I want to write a book in Castleton, Vermont about what the people of Castleton-on-Hudson think about the city of Hudson called "Castleton-on-Hudson on Hudson in Castleton."

Troy councilman votes against Pride Month support resolution Bill Keal told the Times Union that he doesn’t regard the matter as a consensus position in District 1 and, while maintaining that he doesn’t harbor hatred, disagrees with LGBTQ+ community’s...

Earlier that night, boos rang out from a crowd of LGBTQ+ community members and allies when, for the second year in a row, Republican councilman Bill Keal voted against a resolution supporting Pride month. He was the only councilor in the GOP majority to do so. (📝 @tyleramcneil.bsky.social )

How to see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial replica at LaSalle Institute The Wall That Heals and a mobile center arrived at the LaSalle Institute on Tuesday and is expected to stick around until Sunday.

A replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is now in Rensselaer County. The Wall That Heals and a mobile center arrived at the LaSalle Institute on Tuesday and is expected to stick around until Sunday. (📝 @tyleramcneil.bsky.social )

Private college president tapped as next HVCC leader After leading Hilbert College, which increased enrollment by 30%, Michael Brophy has been tapped to run Hudson Valley Community College.

Here he is.
www.timesunion.com/education/ar...

Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Cucumbers Sickens 45 People

A salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers has sickened at least 45 people across 18 states, health officials said Friday and they warned that the number of people infected was likely higher.

Federal judge rejects hoteliers' case over upstate migrant orders U.S. District Judge Nelson Román in early May issued a judgment against a group of hotels, which for two years have been in a legal battle.

Local officials in New York have the right to restrict businesses from sheltering migrants, according to a new federal court ruling. (📝 @tyleramcneil.bsky.social )

'Good-cause' eviction hearing shot down in Troy The measure was introduced by council Democrats after months of activists flooding council meetings and demanding the city to opt in to such regulations.

To the chagrin of local progressives, members of the Common Council’s Republican majority voted against holding a public hearing over proposed tenant protections exclusive to municipalities that opt in per state law. It was rejected along party lines in a 4-3 vote. (📝 @tyleramcneil.bsky.social )

Nonprofit Paws in Shelters seeks local support for Rensselaer County animal shelter With the backing of a 600-plus-member Facebook group and around 10 steady volunteers, the nonprofit's goal is to build or occupy a shelter.

Instead of trying to get the county government to operate a facility — a non-starter as proposed by animal welfare advocates two years ago — non-profit Paws in Shelters is hoping to get municipalities on board. (📝 @tyleramcneil.bsky.social )

Troy mayor replaces council president on housing authority board Carmella Mantello has opted to appoint former deputy police chief Richard “Buddy” McAvoy Jr. to fill Sue Steele's expired term.

City Council President Sue Steele wanted to continue serving as chairwoman of the city’s housing authority board. Mayor Carmella Mantello had other plans. (📝 @tyleramcneil.bsky.social )

Big, tiny plans are coming together in Troy.

Norlite mulls fueling kilns with natural gas instead of toxic materials Norlite has considered ditching its long-time incineration of hazardous waste in Cohoes and is exploring the use of natural gas to fuel its towering kilns.

Norlite shut down incineration operations in March of 2024 amid legal challenges over air quality violations. Dozens of employees were laid off. The only portion of the business to remain at this point is the mining operation stretching back to the Colonie border. (📝 @tyleramcneil.bsky.social )

Proposal to station Ambulnz vehicles in controversial Rensselaer building draws political firestorm Local Democrats claim the plans are murky and Republican Mayor Mike Stammel’s private involvement with Rensselaer Volunteer Ambulance is a conflict of interest.

Democratic leaders claim that Republican Mayor Mike Stammel’s private involvement with Rensselaer Volunteer Ambulance conflicts with the city’s existing Mohawk Ambulance contract, breaching city code of ethics. (📝 @tyleramcneil.bsky.social )