All Over Albany

IG report: problems at state steam plant in Albany, earthquake near Glens Falls, no Sam the Bugler at the Travers, Albany Pro Music founder has passed away

A state Inspector General's report (not yet released?) paints a picture of a lax work environment at the state's Sheridan Avenue Steam Plant in Albany (which provides steam to the ESP) -- including an employee who was allegedly picked up by police after drinking on the job, and a "living room away from home" set up so an employee could watch Dancing With the Stars. [TU]

There was a small earthquake near Glens Falls Sunday morning -- magnitude 2.7. Shaking was felt in parts of Warren, Washington, and Saratoga counties. People in Fort Edward and Hudson Falls reported hearing a noise associated with the quake. [USGS] [TU] [Daily Gazette]

Saratoga Springs police say a bicyclist has died after being hit by a tractor trailer on Lake Ave Friday night (map). SSPD says neither speed nor alcohol appear to have been factors in the collision, and as of Saturday no tickets had been issued. [Daily Gazette] [Saratogian] [News10] [WNYT]

Saratoga Springs police say one person died and three others were injured as part of a collision between two motorcycles and an SUV near one of the Broadway entrances to Saratoga Spa State Park Sunday night (map. [Saratogian] [Daily Gazette]

A group of Schenectady landlords have banded together to write a strict, detailed lease that they could all use (example rule: no barbecues) -- a tenants group says it has multiple objections to the lease. [Daily Gazette]

A big issue as local Republican state Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin considers a run for governor: the enormous pile of campaign cash that would be necessary to mount a more-than-token campaign. (Andrew Cuomo reported having almost $28 million on hand in his July filing.) [TU] [NYS BOE]

Hanlon MacDonald -- an Albany High School graduate who was attending Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Penssylvania -- was found dead in her off-campus apartment Thursday. The school reported police have determined a cause of death, but don't suspect foul play (the Morning Call reports police are looking into whether there as a medical issue). MacDonald had been a competitive swimmer here in the Capital Region. [Allentown Morning Call] [Lehigh] [TU]

A Watervliet man says his arrest on drug charges -- since dismissed -- in Albany last year was the result of identity theft by a crack dealer, a claim Albany County DA David Soares disputes. [TU]

Saratoga Springs police say Samuel L. Grossman -- AKA, Sam The Bugler -- was arrested Saturday morning on a DWI charge. He was a scratch for the Travers. [Daily Gazette] [Saratogian]

State Police say a man robbed a CVS in Ballston Spa (map) Friday night at gunpoint, making off with cash and "a large amount of Ritalin." [NYSP]

Unlikely guest of honor at a gun show in Saratoga Springs this past weekend: state AG Eric Schneiderman. [Daily Gazette]

The arrival of GlobalFoundries has meant an upswing in tax revenue for nearby school districts -- and enrollment, and the expansion of programs like English as a second language. [Daily Gazette]

There's an apartment building boom in Saratoga County. [TU]

Six of the roaming buffalo in Schoharie County were shot because they were trampling crops. But prize bull Uncle Danny returned, with tranquilizer dart. [TU] [Daily Gazette]

The former St. Casimir church building in Albany has apparently fallen into significant disrepair amid a dispute between two pastors (including allegations of malarkey). [TU]

There was apparently much freedom to move around at the first Freedompalooza in Altamont -- because the crowd was sparse. [TU]

The popular Augie's Restaurant in Ballston Spa -- the location for which recently burned to the ground -- has found a new spot nearby in the village. [YNN]

Headline from farther afield: "A goat manure pile spontaneously combusting will ruin your day." [AP/Saratogian]

A 90-year-old woman who now lives in Schoharie County was part of a crew of women who helped build one of the early computers that the Allies uses to break German codes during WWII -- a project so secret (they weren't allowed to talk about it with anyone) that she didn't realize what she had worked on until just a few years ago. [Daily Gazette]

The founder of Albany Pro Musica -- David Griggs-Janower -- has passed away. [TU]