Capitol Confidential

1 day ago | timesunion.com | Julia Frankel |Sam Mednick |Samy Magdy |Lee Keath

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel is supporting armed groups of Palestinians in Gaza in what it says is a move to counter Hamas. But officials from the U.N. and aid organizations say the military is allowing them to loot food and other supplies from their trucks. One self-styled militia, which calls itself the Popular Forces, led by Yasser Abu Shabab, says it is guarding newly created, Israeli-backed food distribution centers in southern Gaza. Aid workers say it has a long history of looting U.N. trucks.

1 day ago | timesunion.com | Dorany Pineda

DIAMOND BAR, Calif. (AP) — Air quality regulators in Southern California heard impassioned public comments Friday before an anticipated vote on proposed rules that would curb harmful emissions from gas-powered furnaces and water heaters. The rules aim to reduce emissions of smog-contributing nitrogen oxides, also called NOx, a group of pollutants linked to respiratory issues, asthma attacks, worse allergies, decreased lung function in children, premature death and more.

2 days ago | timesunion.com | Brendan J. Lyons

ALBANY — Less than a month after eliminating the $229,000-a-year salary of Tremaine Wright, a former state assemblywoman who was appointed chair of the Cannabis Control Board in September 2021, Gov. Kathy Hochul has moved to replace her with Jessica Garcia, another board member.

2 days ago | timesunion.com | Patrick Tine

ALBANY — State Attorney General Letitia James has released the body camera footage of the shooting death of David Levine, the man who opened fire on state troopers outside their Malta barracks in April. The videos, which were captured by cameras worn by four troopers, show troopers both inside and outside the police station responding after Levine arrived at the barracks armed with what the State Police described as a “hunting-style rifle” and fired several rounds at the building on Route 9.

2 days ago | timesunion.com | Patrick Tine

ALBANY — The University at Albany must reinstate a student after a state appeals court found the university failed to follow its own procedures in an investigation into alleged sexual assaults that led to his suspension. In a unanimous ruling, the Appellate Division for the Third Judicial Department found that UAlbany’s Student Conduct Committee erred by not allowing an 18-year-old freshman to cross-examine his accuser after the allegations were raised against him.