Friday Headlines: They Tried To Blow Me Up Edition
Let’s start with a confession: yours truly spends more working hours than I’d like inside the New York State Capitol, which means yours truly almost got blown to smithereens this week, according to federal prosecutors.
On Thursday, the Justice Department unsealed charges against Jessica Bowie, 35, of Albany, accusing her of plotting to detonate an explosive device inside the Capitol while state senators were in session. Per the criminal complaint, Bowie told associates she wanted to “destroy as much of the building as possible” and kill lawmakers “while they are meeting” — and that she intended to flee to ISIS-controlled territory in Syria once the job was done. She was arrested Aug. 19 after taking possession of what she believed was a live explosive device, following months of alleged surveillance trips to the Capitol grounds where she photographed the building.
The FBI’s Albany Field Office, working with the U.S. Secret Service, New York State Police, and Albany PD, deserves real credit: this plot was stopped before it moved past the planning stage. First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III’s office is now prosecuting the case; Bowie made her initial federal court appearance this week on a charge of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Elsewhere in the Empire State:
- The MTA is encouraging U.S. Open attendees to take public transit as they attend matches. (Newsday)
- Rep. Pat Ryan (D-Gardiner) and state DOT officials showcased the free Newburgh-Beacon bus shuttle, which provides cross-over access to the Metro North’s Beacon Station.
- Brooklyn business owners are rallying against G train service disruptions. (NY1)
- A former NYPD sergeant pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide and second-degree manslaughter after killing a Peekskill man in a drunken wrong-way crash on the Taconic State Parkway. (The Journal News)
- A New York City program to let schools repurpose public roads for outdoor education and activities has seen low adoption. (amNY)
- In Albany, you can go on a Flock Safety camera safari for the controversial license plate readers. (WAMC)
- Albany lawmakers want to get to the bottom of the city’s financial woes. (The Times Union)
- Sidewalks reopened around Ithaca’s Seneca Street parking garage. (Finger Lakes Daily News)
- A new poll brings better news for Anthony Constantino’s Republican bid for office in the 21st Congressional District race. (WAMC)
- A Scotia man crashed a car in Schenectady shortly after stealing it from a taxi driver at knife point. (The Times Union)
- Kenmore and Tonawanda residents are being asked to weigh in on the planning process for future infrastructure. (BTPM)
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