ALBANY COUNTY — Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy has proposed a 2014 budget with the lowest tax increase in half a decade, well under the 2 percent levy cap set by the state, but his plan depends on the legislature forming a local development corporation to take over the county’s nursing home by July.

New York’s estimated 823,000 hunters and trappers are officially returning afield for recreational hunting and trapping across upstate New York, according to Joe Martens, the state’s commissioner of environmental conservation. 

If Albany County ever became like a war zone, its sheriff wants to be ready. He's added an armored truck to the county's fleet of free Army surplus vehicles, and also has plans for a $20 million interoperable countywide radio system.

These local students received academic honors from Binghamton University by making the university's dean's list for the Spring 2013 semester:

— Casey A. Becerra of Altamont, at the at the Harpur College of Arts and Sciences;

Sergeant Major Jeffrey Nuding from Schenectady, has re-enlisted to continue service with the Intelligence and Sustainment Company, 42nd Infantry Division, of the New York Army National Guard.

The Army Corps had been testing water from monitoring wells on an old landfill for more than a decade, and finally received the funding for the cap-and-cover project through a grant from the Formerly Used Defense Site Program.

Peter Henner's column about contrasts — East versus West, young versus old — was named a winner by the Chess Journalists of America.

To the Editor:

What I have to say will embarrass the person I’m writing about, but it needs to be said, so, I’ll blurt it out.

Eric Monk from Schenectady, serving with the New York Army National Guard Headquarters and Support Company, 42nd Infantry Division is promoted to the rank of specialist.

Army National Guard promotions are based on overall performance, attitude, leadership ability, and development potential.

These local students have recently distinguished themselves: