NEW SCOTLAND — When Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy announced in January that he planned to appoint Darrell Duncan as commissioner of public works, the town of New Scotland had no deputy highway superintendent.

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NEW SCOTLAND — A bill that would regulate outdoor lighting in town drew sharp criticism from the planning board recently.

Similar to a law in the neighboring town of Bethlehem, the proposed law would, essentially, prohibit residents’ lights from bothering their neighbors.

NEW SCOTLAND — A cap on the size of retail development, glacial in its pace and proportion, is again before the town, having reshaped the political landscape over the last four years.

VOORHEESVILLE — Jacob Hooper, who killed David Concordia when he ran a red light in Albany last October, pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter on Tuesday.

ALBANY COUNTY — Randy Whitten is the second man to plead guilty to charges stemming from the theft of a dog in Guilderland.

In December, Robert Genovese pleaded to the same charge of second-degree burglary.

ALBANY COUNTY — Dozens of farmers pleaded for the Voorheesville Farm Service Agency office to stay open during a public hearing on Tuesday morning. The 40-year-old office is among 131 offices nationwide slated to be closed.

ALBANY COUNTY — The only public hearing before the federal Department of Agriculture makes a final determination on closing the Farm Service Agency office in Voorheesville will be held on Feb. 7 at 10 a.m. in the agency’s Martin Road office.

VOORHEESVILLE — The school district has extended property-tax relief to flood victims, although it doesn’t expect anyone to claim the benefit.

NEW SCOTLAND — A recent decision in a suit against the town may be appealed to the state’s highest court.

VOORHEESVILLE — In a split vote Monday, the school board doubled the length of the kindergarten day.  The full-day program will start next fall.