All Over Albany

"Death ray" tapes released, Albany is fiscally stressed, Capital Region unemployment drops again

"Death ray" tapes released
Tapes of conversations between Glendon Scott Crawford and FBI agents have been released in the "Death Ray" case. Crawford is heard saying things like "Look at us, we're killing people". Crawford was convicted by a jury last month after a deliberation of only three hours. [TWCN][WNYT][TU]

Albany fiscally stressed
The state comptroller's office is ready to declare that Albany in under "significant fiscal stress," a determination based largely on how much money a municipality has in its fund balance. [TU]

Albany Scofflaw
Lawmakers have unpaid parking tickets, too. [TU]

Unemployment drop
Unemployment in the Capital Region has dropped to 4.3 percent from 4.9 percent a year ago. [TU]

Pope Francis
Andrew Cuomo referred to Pope Francis as the purest pop of his lifetime. Cuomo said the Pontiff is the first church official "who has spoken to what I believe is the essence of the teachings of Jesus Christ. Without the complications, the bureaucracy, the rules, the sanctions. " [TU]

Capital Region Catholics on Pope Francis' visit to the United States.[TU]

Two Schenectady schools labeled struggling
Based on English and Math scores from tests taken in April, Schenectady's Hamilton and Lincoln Elementary Schools have been labeled struggling, meaning they are in performing in the bottom five percent of NYS schools and could be facing leadership changes. [WNYT]

Arrested. Again.
A Rensselaer was man arrested in connection with a February bank robbery in Colonie, was already in jail in connection with an unrelated crime. [Record]

Moving violations
A proposed law would up penalties for NY drivers convicted of moving violations that result in fatalities. [News 10]

Suit to block Clifton Park Market 32
The owner of a Clifton Park strip mall near the site of a soon to open Market 32 is suing the town in an effort to block the project. [Gazette]

Historic Rensselaer County buildings
Two Rensselaer County buildings - a former textile factory in Troy and a brick townhouse in Lansingburgh have been nominated to the State and National Registers of Historic Places. [Record]

21st century archeology in Saratoga
High tech archeology is helping uncover artifacts from the Battles of Saratoga, with minimal digging. [Saratogian]

MMA
Schenectady will host its first amateur MMA fight a the armory on Saturday, featuring Malinda Diffee, a mother of two and also runs a full-time day care. [TWCN]

Death wish ad
Saratoga's Death WishCoffee Company is a finalist in a competition for a Super Bowl ad.[Gazette]

Happening today

Autumn
It's the first day of fall. Celebrate with a cider donut.

Yom Kippur

The Jewish High Holy Days conclude with Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year on the Jewish calendar, which began at sunset on Tuesday and continues through nightfall today.

A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder

Today-Saturday: The touring production of A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder continues at Proctors. The show won the 2014 Tony for best musical. Monday-Saturday various times - $20 and up

The Architecture and Construction of the Empire State Plaza
Wednesday: The ESP at 50 series continues this week with a panel discussion at The Egg about architectural origins of the plaza's design featuring architects, a design critic, an engineer, and a historic preservationist. Wednesday 6 pm - free

We Rock Long Distance
Wednesday: Skidmore is hosting a screening of the documentary We Rock Long Distance, along with a discussion featuring its filmmaker and two featured artists. Blurbage: "We Rock Long Distance weaves together the sounds and stories of three Twin Cities hip-hop artists - M.anifest, Maria Isa, and Tou SaiKo Lee - as they journey home to Ghana, Puerto Rico, and Thailand to create unique and unexpected connections across generations and geography." Wednesday 5:30 pm, Palamountain Hall - free

On Screen/Sound
Wednesday: The On Screen/Sound series continues with a screening of Andrew Lampert's All Magic Sands (Chappaqua) and Cory Arcangel's Beach Boys/Geto Boys. Wednesday 7 pm - $6

Music

Wednesday: Yo La Tengo at Troy Music Hall
Revered indie band. 8 pm - $27 and up

Wednesday: Purity Ring at Upstate Concert Hall
Electronic pop. With: Hana. 8 pm - $20 ahead / $22 day of

Wednesday: The McLovins at The Hollow
Jam. With: Space Carnival. 9 pm - $10 ahead / $12 day of