All Over Albany

Dannemora inmates claim abuse following escape, second Albany shooting in two weeks, Rensselaer County legislature chair charged with larceny, yearling sales top $46 million

Dannemora abuse allegations
A legal services group says inmates at Clinton Correctional Facility's honor block were beaten, stripped of privileges and confined to solitary following the escape of Richard Matt and David Sweat from the facility in June in an attempt to obtain information about the escape. In one case an inmate claims he was beaten by three guards without name badges who allegedly punched him, slammed his head against the wall , put a plastic bag over his head and threatened to water board him. [WNYT/AP][NYT]

Another Albany shooting
Albany police say a 24-year-old man who was shot on Orange street on Tuesday night is expected to survive . This is the second Albany shooting in as many weeks.[WNYT][TU]

Legislative chair arraigned on larceny charge
The Chairman of the Rensselaer County Legislature was arraigned Wednesday morning for allegedly stealing more than $15,000 in state unemployment benefits while also collecting a government salary. [TU]

Pipeline opponents rally
Constitution Pipeline opponents marched on the state DEC office in Albany on Tuesday to urge the agency to deny final water permits for the gas pipeline which would carry gas from the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania through four NY Counties and finally to Schoharie County to connect up with existing pipelines. [Gazette]

No smoking
The Albany Housing Authority has banned smoking in all of its apartments and homes as of January 1. [TU]

Body cameras for Saratoga County deputies
Saratoga County Public Safety Committee has voted to endorse equipping sheriff's deputies with body cameras.[TU]

Postal worker has TB
A part-time postal worker who worked in Albany Rensselaer, Schenectady and Saratoga Counties has been diagnosed with TB.[TU]

Two injured as driver flees police
Two people were injured when their car was struck by a driver trying to elude police near North Manning Blvd yesterday afternoon. [TU]

Albany schools and "Receivership" law
Two public hearings in Albany Tuesday focused on three "persistently struggling" city schools having their leadership turned over the th Superintendent of Schools under New York's new "receivership law."

New hanger, new jobs
A new maintenance and repair hanger at at Albany International Airport will create 100 new jobs.

Stewart's may replace church
Stewarts is planning to build a new store.

Schumer proposes development corp for rail overhaul
Chuck Schumer has proposed a new nonprofit development corporation to finance a massive overhaul of the crumbling passenger rail corridor between New Jersey and NYC.

Tonko on racing and drugs
Speaking to a racing and gambling industry group on Tuesday, Congressman Paul Tonko was in Saratoga on Tuesday, said stricter standards are needed on drugs in horse racing.

Yearling sales up over 2014
145 horses sold for $46.8 million in this year's Fasig -Tipton yearling sales in Saratoga.-- a total sales increase of 40 percent over last year when 114 yearlings were sold.

Justice water
A new bottled water company in a former church in Glens Falls is bottling water from Southern Adirondack springs in containers made mostly of recycled paper from certified forest.

Happening today

New York State Food Festival
The New York State Food Festival will be back at the Empire State Plaza, with approximately 100 vendors offering food at both lunch and dinner. And there's music starting at 5 pm. The headliner is Cracker (set for 7:45 pm).

Kurt Cobain Documentary
The Spectrum will be showing the documentary Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck. Blurbage: "Here, we take a journey through Cobain's life and his career with Nirvana through the lens of his home movies, recordings, artwork, photography, and journals." It's gotten strong reviews. Wednesday 6:30 pm - $10.25

1791 Club
The Albany Institute is hosting a behind-the-scenes tour with executive director Tammis Groft for the 1791 Club, an effort to "work closer with 21-40somethings who are looking to engage with local art + history." Wednesday 5:30 pm - $10 (pre-registration required)

Baseball
The ValleyCats are at The Joe through Friday, with two games against Lowell and then a three-game series against Auburn. Promotions this week. Tonight is "Superheroes" night at The Joe.

Altamont Fair
The Altamont Fair opens at the fairgrounds in (you guessed it) Altamont. The fair is the county fair for Albany, Schenectady, and Greene counties. Admission is $15 Tuesday and Wednesday. Friday, Saturday, Sunday it's $17. The one-price ticket includes "admission, parking, shows, concerts, Circus Hollywood and unlimited rides" Kids under 36-inches tall are free -- but they're not allowed to ride the Midway rides.

Philadelphia Orchestra
Wednesday-Saturday: The Philadelphia Orchestra continues its annual residency at SPAC. Wednesday is an all-Beethoven program with Emanuel Ax.

Cracker at the ESP
Part of the New York State Festival. Be my sweet potato, be my honey lamb. With: Gedion Luke and the People, Soul Sky. 5 pm - free

Zoso at Rockin' on the River (Riverfront Park)
Led Zep tribute. With: TwoGuys. 5 pm - free

Psychedelic Furs + The Church at Upstate Concert Hall
Like something from a John Hughes movie. 8 pm - $25 ahead / $28 day of