All Over Albany

Cuomo to set aside developer contributions, Schumer's bid for NCAA in Albany, creepy clown or Halloween costume?

SUNY Poly/alleged bid rigging
Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that the state and federal complaints in the alleged bid rigging case were primarily about flaws in SUNY's purchasing and procurement systems, and were not due to unchecked corruption in his office. Meanwhile, Tom DiNapoli's office says the alleged bid rigging scandal shows the need for more state oversight of SUNY spending.[TU][TU]

SUNY Poly has removed photos of and links referencing Alain Kaloyeros from the school and its website. [TU]

Cuomo on alleged bid rigging
Chris Churchill on Andrew Cuomo's handling of the SUNY Poly scandal. [TU+]

Contributions
Andrew Cuomo says his re-election campaign will "set aside" the $350,000 in contributions it received from developers who are facing corruption charges in connection with the bid rigging scandal unveiled this week. Republican state Senate candidate George Amedore says he won't return the more than $30,000 in campaign contributions he has received from Albany developer Joe Nicolla , who is facing charges in the alleged bid rigging scandal. [WNYT/AP][TU]

NCAA
Chuck Schumer's effort to bring the NCAA men's basketball to Albany after the NCAA pulled the games from North Carolina over that state rolled back expanded legal protections for LGBT people . [WNYT]

Driver of National Grid truck identified
The man who led police on a chase early Wednesday before driving a National Grid truck into the Hudson, where he drowned, was identified as 21-year-old Joshua Evans. [TWCN]

Plea in Troy attempted abduction
The Troy man charged with attempting to kidnap one teen girl and kiss another earlier this month pleaded not guilty in Rensselaer County Court on Wednesday to four misdemeanor charges and an attempted kidnapping charge. [TU]

Gun/drug arrest
An Albany man is facing weapons and drug and weapons charges after a raid on his home turned up four guns and more than 8 pounds of marijuana. [TU]

Lead in Voorheesville school water
Nine more water outlets at Voorheesville Elementary school tested high for lead this week. [TU]

Northway Church
About 100 Clifton Park residents showed up to oppose a proposed expansion of Northway Church on Ushers Road. Opponents say the proposed 40,000-square-foot sanctuary would result in traffic and noise problems. [TU][Gazette]

Creepy clown?
People in Clifton Park are concerned about clown sightings in the town. But one man says at least one of the sightings was just him, showing his Halloween costume to his neighbors. [Gazette][TWCN]

Rivers Casino hiring
The Rivers Casino is planning a hiring fair on October 8.[Gazette]

Cuomo headed to Peres funeral
Andrew Cuomo will join a delegation of dignitaries including John Kerry and Bill Clinton at the funeral of former Israeli statesman Shimon Peres. [WNYT/AP]

Albany Med Prize winners
Three scientists received the Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine on Wednesday for their work in advancing research in "protein folding," which could lead to a better understanding of Alzheimer's disease, cancer and drug resistance. [TU]

40 years of Grog
After 40 years, Schenectady's Grog Shoppe restaurant and bar will close on Friday. [Gazette]

Breathing Lights
The long awaited Breathing Lights project will premiere this weekend. [Gazette]

Happening today

Outside Mullingar
Capital Rep opens its production of Outside Mullingar. Blurbage:

This charmer of a play by John Patrick Shanley, the Pulitzer Prize winning author of Doubt, whisks you away on a delightful journey to the farmlands of Ireland. Outside Mullingar is the story of an unlikely romance between two rural, middle-aged neighbors: Anthony, an introverted farmer and Rosemary, the woman who vows to have him - at all costs! Poetic, uplifting, dark and funny, Shanley lovingly spins a tale infused with a deep yearning for heart, homeland, faith and a sense of belonging.

The production runs through October 16.

Today-Sunday various times -- $20 and up

Governor Mario Cuomo: Poetry & Prose
The State Museum will be hosting a preview screening of the new WHMT documentary Governor Mario Cuomo: Poetry & Prose. (The doc premieres on TV October 3.) A discussion will follow the screening. Thursday 5:30 pm, Clark Auditorium -- free

Poetry
Poetry critic Stephen Burt will be at the State Museum as part of the NYS Writers Institute visting writers series. He'll be talking about his new book, The Poem is You: 60 Contemporary American Poems and How to Read Them. Thursday 8 pm, Huxley Theater -- free

Hamilton history happy hour
The Schuyler Mansion in Albany is hosting a Hamilton-themed history happy hour. (As you know, Alexander Hamilton married Elizabeth Schuyler there.) "Enjoy a selection of local beer, wine, and tempting hors d'oeuvres, while hobnobbing with friends and taking part in Hamilton-themed activities that can only be experienced at Schuyler Mansion!" Thursday 5 pm -- $20 ahead / $25 at door

Hannah RickardsArtist Hannah Rickards will be at EMPAC presenting a performance/video work designed for the environment of the venue's Studio 1. Thursday 7 pm and 8 pm -- $12

Cookbooks as family history
Ace food historian Peter G. Rose will be at the Mabee Farm Historic Site for a talk titled "A Taste of Change: Hand-written Cookbooks as Documents of Social and Family History." Also: "The audience is encouraged to bring old family cookbooks/recipe boxes and a discussion of the importance of saving such items is part of the program." Thursday 6:30 pm -- $5

Tech Valley Taste Makers
The first class in the Tech Valley Taste Makers series at the Tech Valley Center of Gravity is "Bring the Gastropub Home" with Rachael Mabb, executive chef at The Ruck. Thursday 6:30 pm -- $42

Music

R. Kelly at The Palace
One of the best-selling R&B acts of all time. 8 pm -- $68 and up

Blake Shelton at TU Center
Big country star. 7:30 pm -- $39.75 and up

Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen at Troy Music Hall
Playing together. 7:30 pm -- $29 and up

Richie Furay at The Egg
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member. 7:30 pm -- $36

Donna The Buffalo at Cohoes Music Hall
Roots rock. 8 pm -- $25 ahead / $30 day of