Good morning! I hope everyone had a great weekend. If you haven't seen "Black Swan" yet (which I'd imagine is most of you since I had to go to Manhattan to catch a show), I highly recommend it. It opens in Albany Dec. 17.

Also, I hope you caught my stories on the City Council. The council will meet tonight starting at 6:45 p.m.

In other news; NYC OTB has one last chance today as the Senate sits to negotiate a bailout plan. [TU]

Rep.-elect Chris Gibson hired Clifton Park native (and longtime Congressional staffer) Stephanie Valle as his communications director. [Srtgn]

A Troy grand jury will begin to hear a voter fraud case against two city officials today. [Record]

Advocates and officials are worried new federal dredging guidelines could further contaminate the Hudson. [PstStr]

While he couldn't get legislators to close the budget gap; Gov. Paterson authorized $16.7 million in member items and pardoned six immigrants facing deportation. [TU, WXXI]

And, congrats to Margaret Kellett of Gansevoort, who got handed $1,000 cash money yesterday just for eating some ice cream.