All Over Albany

Explosion at asphalt plant, NY to send troopers to Puerto Rico, deer that attacked Troy man was rabid, CDTA plan for regional taxi system

Explosion at asphalt plant
Schenectady police blocked Freemans Bridge Road this morning after an explosion at an asphalt plant . Two men died last year in another explosion at the plant, and the company was fined by OSHA for safety violations in connection with that incident. [Gazette][WNYT][TU]

Puerto Rico
Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday that one hundred New York state troopers will be sent to Puerto Rico and will be deputized to carry out law enforcement activities there. [WNYT][TU]

Cuomo on tax reform plan
Andrew Cuomo on Donald Trump's proposed tax reform: "It is the height of hypocrisy. You have an administration saying I want to cut taxes and now literally they want to tax you on the taxes that you pay." [Daily News]

Cuomo mum on border issues
Chris Churchill asks why Andrew Cuomo has been silent on immigrants fleeing the United States for Canada via a border crossing in New York. [TU+]

Albany under financial stress
A review by the NYS Comptroller's office shows that the cities of Albany and Watervliet were among the most financially trouble municipalities in New York. [TU]

Schenectady budget includes 1% tax break
Schenectady County's proposed budget includes a 1 percent drop in property taxes due in part to Rivers Casino, but the casino is still bringing in significantly less than anticipated.[Gazette][TU]

Rabid deer
The deer that attacked a Troy man earlier this week was later found dead, and tested positive for rabies. [WNYT]

Saratoga GOP paid investigators
The Saratoga County Republican Committee hired a private investigator to do what it calls "research" on opposing candidates. [TU]

Car in the Mohawk
The car found in the Mohawk River this week is believed to have been stolen from a Niskayuna couple in 1994.
[Gazette]

Ruling halts Adirondack Rail Trail
An acting Franklin County Supreme Court Justice ruled against a NYS effort to replace 34 miles of railroad with a multi use recreational trail, saying the state was "arbitrary and capricious" when it adopted the plan last year. [Gazette][TU]

Regional taxi system
CDTA will ask six area municipalities to approve the authorization of a new regional taxi system that would standardize fares, and bring meters, credit card readers and mobil payments to taxis. [TU]

Turkish Cultural Center
How a crackdown in Turkey resulted in the shutdown of a Turkish Cultural Center in the Capital Region. [TU]

Worms
A fast-moving Asian worm is devouring yards and gardens in and around the Hudson Valley. [TU]

Tax call center moves to Viaport
New York State has moved a tax call center to the former Macy's space in ViaPort mall in Rotterdam. [Gazette]

Heat
The recent unseasonably hot weather may be putting a damper on fall colors and the apple crop. [Gazette][Spectrum]

Stuff going on today

Sex With Strangers

Today-Sunday: Capital Rep opens its new production, Sex With Strangers (it was in previews this past weekend). Blurbage:

When Ethan, a strapping twenty-something blogger ends up snowbound at a Bed and Breakfast with his literary idol, forty-ish novelist Olivia, sparks fly! One thing leads to another, as these two savvy writers give in to their mutual attraction -- but oh, in the morning....things are not quite what they seemed to be the night before. Soon it becomes clear that this passionate weekend will turn into a life-altering experience - all just a click or a tweet away.

The production runs through October 15. Tuesday-Sunday various times -- $20 and up

Arts and sciences

Eames: The Architect and The Painter
Thursday: The Opalka Gallery on the Sage Albany campus is hosting a screening of Eames: The Architect and The Painter, a documentary about the famous design duo. Thursday 6:30 pm -- free

"Stories that Speak to Us"
Thursday: Piper Anderson, founder of the Mass Story Lab, and documentarian Sylvia Ryerson will be at Skidmore to talk about "the power of storytelling as an instrument of justice." Thursday 7 pm, Palamountain Hall -- free

Telepathic Improvisation
Thursday: EMPAC will be showing a film produced this past spring at the venue by Pauline Boudry and Renate Lorenz. "Telepathic Improvisation, takes as its starting point the late Rensselaer Professor Pauline Oliveros' 1974 score of the same name. However, the audience for this filmed performance is not only called upon to telepathically communicate with the performers (as is the case with Oliveros' original score), but also to communicate with the other elements on stage, from the theatrical lights to a group of autonomous white boxes that glide across the stage." Thursday 7 pm -- $6

Downtown Albany open house

Thursday: The Downtown Albany Residential Open House returns with tours of recently-converted residential properties around the neighborhood. Check-in for the self-guided tour is at the Pearl Street Pub (59 North Pearl Street). There's also a guided tour of the properties and historic downtown spots starting at 6 pm. Thursday 5-8 pm -- free

Autumn Evening in the Garden

Thursday: The annual Autumn Evening in the Garden event to benefit Capital Roots is at the Hilton Garden Inn Troy. More than 20 prominent local chefs will be preparing food from more than 40 local producers. Thursday 6-9 pm -- $150 for individuals / $250 for couples / $75 for people age 35 and younger

Music

Thursday: Cowboy Junkies at Helsinki Hudson
Still kickin'. 8 pm -- $50 and up

Thursday: Liquid Stranger + Manic Focus at Upstate Concert Hall
Electronic. With: Luzoid. 8 pm -- $17 / $20 day of

Thursday: Robbie Fulks at Caffe Lena
Alt-country. 7 pm -- $22