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Friday Headlines: Road History Edition

Why all the avian street names? And more news.
Friday Headlines: Road History Edition
What makes a street name? Photo: Wally Gobetz/Flickr

Albany’s roads are named after animals, royalty and indigenous landmarks, but it takes a keen eye to pick up on the history of the capital city’s roadways. Eateries like Dove & Deer (the former name of State Street) provide some hints, but otherwise you may need the help of a historian to get the full scoop, a tactic that WAMC employed.

Elsewhere in the Empire State:

  • E-bike safety hawks in New York City want Lyft to report Citi Bike crash data. (amNY)
  • State Sen. Shelley Mayer (D-Westchester County) is stepping into the breach as her chamber’s reelection czar. (City & State)
  • Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Bronx) is mixing her reproductive healthcare with politics, with the buzz created from her egg freezing journey. (Gothamist)
  • New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration is planning to give for-hire drivers a break from disciplinary fees. (The City Reporter)
  • Troy officials are debating the future of Flock Safety cameras in the city now that the company is holding on to data for shorter periods. (WAMC)
  • New York is joining a lawsuit that blocks federal access to commercial driver licenses. (The Times Union)

Photo of Austin C. Jefferson
Before becoming Albany Bureau Chief in late 2025, Austin C. Jefferson was a state politics reporter for City & State NY, covering state government, elections and major legislative debates. His reporting has also appeared in the Daily Freeman, Chronogram Magazine and The Legislative Gazette. Having grown up in the Hudson Valley, he's always happy to argue about where Upstate New York truly begins.

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