All Over Albany

KKK handbills found on cars in Saratoga, local reps on Comey firing, one step closer to driverless cars on NY roads

Hate speech in Saratoga
Handbills with hate messages seeking recruits for the KKK were left on car windshields in a Saratoga Springs neighborhood this week. Saratoga Springs Police Chief Greg Veitch describes the bills as amateurish, but says he is concerned that the sentiment is present in the community. [Saratogian][Gazette]

Child's death may bring new charges for imprisoned caregiver
The death of a 12-year-old child of complications from injuries sustained as a baby at the hands of a former caregiver, has Schenectady County prosecutors considering whether to bring stronger charges against the convicted assailant, who is currently serving an 18-year prison sentence for the assault. [TU[

Local reps on Comey firing
Representatives John Faso and Elise Stefanik expressed concern about the timing of the firing of former FBI Director James Comey. Kirsten Gillibrand, Chuck Schumer and Paul Tonko are among those insisting on the need for a special prosecutor in the investigation of potential Russian tampering in the 2016 presidential election.. [TU][Gazette]

Allegations of excessive force
A Niskayuna man arrested for DWI last year, says police used excessive force during his arrest, breaking his arm in three places. [Gazette]

Niskayuna grad charged in fatal Penn State hazing
A 2014 Niskayuna High School graduate is facing evidence tampering charges in connection with the February hazing death of a Penn State student, for allegedly directing fraternity members to delete evidence from phones and social media.[Gazette]

Hoosick Falls
Hoosick Falls has received a grant from the State Environmental Facilities Corp to help defray expenses related to PFOA in the village water system, but the money will need to be repaid if Honeywell and Saint Gobain reimburse the village for their costs -- which are now approaching $1 million.[TU]

Whooping cough
Seven cases of whooping cough have been reported in Bethlehem schools. [TU]

Driverless cars
New York State is now accepting applications from car companies interested in trying out driverless vehicles on state roadways. [TU]

21st century technology in 19th century cities
Mobile transmission poles that went up, and were forced to come down a short time later, have Troy reconsidering how to adapt rules and regulations for a 21st century world.[TU]

NY Gun laws
Democrats in the state Senate are working on measures to strengthen the state's gun laws, including bills that would rent people who have committed hate crimes or have histories of domestic violence from owning guns. [Spectrum]

SUNY Poly
Bob Megna, the leader of SUNY Poly's development arms, told government leaders this week that Fort Schuyler and Fuller Road Management have been sufficiently organized after last year's bid-rigging scandal, and says requiring government pre-audits of their economic development activities would only serve to slow things down. [Politico]

Merry Monk
The Albany and Saratoga locations of the Merry Monk have been seized for back taxes. [WNYT]

The search for Albany's Bloomberg
Chris Churchill on the chances of Albany ever having a Republican mayor. [TU+]

Concord replica
The Empire State Aerosciences Museum has acquired a 100-foot replica of the Concord. [Gazette]

The mailbox of the future
A local man's smart mailbox design could help ensure the safety of packages. [news 10]

Stuff going on today

Champagne on the Park
The annual Champagne on the Park party is in Washington Park near the tulip beds. The evening includes live music, food from Lark Street-area businesses, drinks, and of course, champagne. It's a fundraiser for the Lark Street BID. Thursday 6 pm -- $80

Science Cafe
The State Museum's Science Cafe series is at The Hollow with a talk by geologist Chuck Ver Straeten. "Grab a drink and join a rousing conversation about ancient New York - a land of tropical seas, Earth's first forests, and volcanic ash from nearby explosive eruptions." Thursday 6 pm -- free admission

Uncovering the Albany Wampum Factory
Artist Renée Ridgway and archaeologist Paul Huey will be at the Albany Institute to talk about the "wampum factory" that once operated in what's now downtown Albany, "where the occupants of the almshouse were kept busy with the painstaking process of making the tiny beads from shells that were used as legal tender." Ridgway's Wampum World exhibit is currently on display a the institute. Thursday 6 pm

Sign Painters
The Opalka Gallery on the Sage Campus is hosting a screening of the documentary Sign Painters. Thursday 6:30 pm -- free

Kedi
The Madison is screening Kedi, a documentary about the stray cats of Istanbul. It's gotten very good reviews. Thursday 7 pm -- $5

Cabaret
Today-Sunday: A national touring production of Cabaret is at Proctors. Its a revival of the Kander and Ebb classic with direction from Rob Marshall and Sam Mendes. Tuesday-Sunday various times -- $20 and up

Some People Hear Thunder
Today-Sunday: The musical Some People Hear Thunder continues at Capital Rep. "Some People Hear Thunder is a powerful musical love story - an uplifting tale of a young reporter, his true love in America, and Armenians fighting for dignity and survival in the face of brutality." It runs through May 21. Tuesday-Sunday various times -- $20 and up

Go see the tulips
The Washington Park tulips are already in bloom -- so don't wait, go see 'em now.

Music
Say Anything + Bayside at Upstate Concert Hall
Rock. With: Reggie and The Full Effect. 7:30 pm -- $22 ahead / $26 day of

Sarah Lee Guthrie at Caffe Lena
Folk. 7 pm -- $18

Bella's Bartok at Putnam Den
"[T]his 6-piece powerhouse melds Bohemian Klezmer Punk with pop sensibilities into an eminently danceable party..." 9:30 pm -- pay what you will