All Over Albany

Lake George HoJo's operator charged with sexually harassing employees, Schenectady County approves budget with 1% tax cut, RPI students to protest for Union control at Homecoming alumni event

Howard Johnson's operator charged with sexually harassing employees
The operator of the Howard Johnson's in Lake George is accused of sexually harassing female employees over the past year. Jonathan LaRock is accused of sexually harassing approximately 15 current and former female employees, some as young as 17-years-old. [Spectrum][TU][Gazette]

Schenectady County budget
The Schenectady County Legislature voted on Wednesday to adopt a $319.83 million 2018 budget that, due to casino revenue, includes a 1 percent tax cut[TU]

Special session
Andrew Cuomo continues to threaten a special session of the legislature, and some legislators say they are good with that, as long as there is a clear agenda. [TU][Spectrum]

Churchill: Cuomo and Weinstein money
Chris Churchill on Andrew Cuomo's decision to turn over to charity only $50,000 of the $114,400 his campaigns have received from Harvey Weinstein over the years. [TU]

Price Chopper lawsuit
According to the terms of a preliminary settlement in a battle over overtime pay between Price Chopper and a group of its employees, the company would pay $6.5 million but would not be charged with any wrongdoing. [TU]

Limiting carcinogen
Weighing a Rensselaer County law to curtail the discharge of a suspected carcinogen. [TU]

Green Island heroin forum
Sheriff Craig Apple held a town hall meeting on Green Island Wednesday to discuss the opioid epidemic that has made its way to the
village. [WNYT]

Bear
Guilderland police say the black bear seen in multiple locations over the last few days, may have made its way to Altamont, and they're warning residents to bring in garbage and take down bird feeders and other food sources that may attract the animal.
[WNYT]

Teacher standards
In a move that has angered teachers and advocacy groups SUNY's charter schools committee approved a plan to make it easier to become a teacher by allowing high performing charter schools to certify their own teachers. [TU]

Peter Young Center
A judge is ordering New York State to provide written details explaining why it cut funding the the Peter Young addiction treatment facility. [TU]

SUNY Poly film hub
According to a lawsuit filed by a property owner, the SUNY Poly film hub outside of Syracuse has never paid rent on its $15 million building and now ows about $934,849 in back rents and other payments. [TU]

Homeless students
Sara Foss on the plight of hundreds of homeless students in the Capital Region[Gazette]

RPI Protest
RPI students are planning to protest over the Institutes plans to take control of the Union away from student leadership. The protest will take place over the upcoming homecoming weekend, while the president entertains alumni at a black tie event. [Record]

Eminent domain
Saratoga Springs property owners have filed a lawsuit over the city's use of eminent domain to claim land for a trail.[Saratogian]

Plastic bag fee?
A task force created by Andrew Cuomo is considering the question of a 5 cent fee for plastic bags at checkout counters. [TU]

Adelphi
After years of renovation, the Adelphi Hotel has reopened in Saratoga Springs. [Saratogian]

Ice cream
Adirondack Creamery is raising money to help with the Syrian refugee crisis, with a Syrian Date and Walnut ice cream. [TU]

Stuff going on today

Stage

The Color Purple
Today-Saturday: The touring production of the Tony-winning Broadway musical version of The Color Purple continues at Proctors. Tuesday-Saturday various times -- $20 and up

Sex With Strangers
Today-Sunday: Capital Rep continues its production, Sex With Strangers. The production runs through October 15. Tuesday-Sunday various times -- $20 and up

Tape Face
Thursday: The mime/clowning/prop comedy entertainer Tape Face is at Troy Music Hall. "So what does he do exactly? Well, simply mentioning any aspect of this diverse show would be a disservice - the less you know the more you will enjoy this show." Thursday 7:30 pm -- $27

Arts and sciences

Kurt Andersen
Thursday: Author/journalist/radio host Kurt Andersen will be at UAlbany to talk about his book Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire: A 500-Year History. It's the kickoff for the NYS Writers Institute "Telling the Truth in a Post-truth World" symposium this Friday and Saturday. Thursday 7 pm -- $30 (includes a copy of the book)

Iris
Thursday: The Opalka Gallery on the Sage Albany campus is showing Iris, the documentary about fashion and design icon Iris Apfel. There will be a panel discussion following the film. Thursday 6:30 pm -- free

Music

Wednesday: Atlas Genius at Lucky Strike
Alt rock. With: Magic Giant, Half The Animal. 7 pm -- $20 ahead / $25 day of

Wednesday: Joan Shelley at The Linda
Folk, live broadcast. With: James Elkington. 8 pm -- $15

Wednesday: Wesley Stace's Cabinet of Wonders at Helsinki Hudson
Charles Bock, Tracy Bonham, Juliana Hatfield, Dave Hill, Daniel Mendelsohn, Stephin Merritt, Suzzy Roche. 8 pm -- $50 and up

Wednesday: Tommy Castro & the Painkillers at The Upper Room
Blues rock guitarist. 7 pm -- $25 and up

Thursday: Charly Bliss at The Linda
Power pop. With: Noods, Yucky Duster, Poppies. 8 pm -- $10

Thursday: Brand X at The Egg
Jazz fusion. 7:30 pm -- $36

Thursday: Eli McFly at The Low Beat
Hip hop. With: Peshy Kruger, Mahadi Walker, Luca Sand. 8 pm -- $5