All Over Albany

More than $500,000 seized in NXIVM raid, Schenectady man shot in head, Nixon focused on legalizing marijuana, Pastor sees Easter thefts as opportunity for forgiveness

NXIVM
More than half a million dollars in cash was seized from the home of NXIVM president Nancy Salzman during a federal raid last month, including $390,000 being held in a shoe box. NXIVM founder Keith Raniere is scheduled to appear in federal court in Brooklyn this week on charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit forced labor. [TU][Spectrum]

Schenectady shooting
A man was shot in the head Wednesday night outside Schenectady's Saw Mill Tavern. [Gazette]

Suspicious device removed from Ballston Spa railroad track
State, local and federal authorities safely removed what appeared to be a pipe bomb from railroad tracks in Ballston Spa on Wednesday.[TU]

St. Peter's Surgery & Endoscopy Center hacked
Hackers may have gained access to complete Social Security numbers in the records of more than 100,000 patients at St. Peters Surgery & Endoscopy Center in February.[TU]

Easter thefts at Guilderland church
A Guilderland man has been arrested for allegedly stealing wallets and keys from the coats and cars of parishioners at Lynwood Reformed Church in Guilderland while they attended Easter services. The Pastor says the church is using the incident as an opportunity for forgiveness. [TU][Spectrum]

Legalizing recreational marijuana
Cynthia Nixon is making legalization of recreational marijuana a central part of her campaign for governor, saying that it would generate income and citing racial inequity in the criminal justice system. Andrew Cuomo has been reluctant to put support behind such a measure due in part to concerns about marijuana as a gateway drug. [TU]

Cocaine ring
Police arrested fourteen people in a cocaine trafficking ring in Schenectady. [News 10]

1,000 Xanax
Two men were arrested in Bethlehem on Wednesday when police pulled them over and found 1,000 Xanax in their car. [TU]

Prescription for progress
A Capital Region-wide consortium formed to fight opioid addition begins its work this week.[TU]

Colonie landfill to proceed with expansion
The Colonie landfill is receiving all of the permits it needs to expand. [Spectrum]

Saratoga Charter recount bid
A State Supreme Court justice ruled against a bid to recount votes in the Saratoga charter referendum. [TU]

Economic confidence
A new Siena poll shows economic confidence among New Yorkers has dropped by five points since November of 2016. [TU]

Ryan's departure
Capital Region GOP representatives share their thoughts on the coming departure of Paul Ryan.[TU]

Faulty technology fails tests
Faulty technology including internet connection problems, crashes and blank screens caused problems for public elementary and middle school students taking computer-based English Language Arts tests around the state. [TU]

Amtrak temporary reroute to Grand Central
Amtrak has confirmed that trains coming from the Capital Region will be rerouted to Grand Central Terminal over the summer due to work on a bridge, tracks and tunnel into Penn Station. [TU]

Schenectady school budget
Schenectady's proposed school budget would cut taxes by 1 percent, increase spending by 4.3 percent and add 10 staff positions.[Gazette]

Niskayuna Holocaust memorial
Chris Churchill makes a case for the proposed Holocaust memorial in Niskayuna.[TU]

Peter F. Baltimore portrait
The Rensselaer County Historical Society has purchased an 1840s watercolor portrait of Capital Region abolitionist Peter F. Baltimore, thanks to more than $15,000 in donations. [TU]

Playdium auction
Fans of the former Playdium bowling alley can bid on memorabilia from the alley this weekend. [TU]

Stuff going on today

Blithe Spirit
Thursday-Sunday: Capital Repertory Theatre opens its new production of Noël Coward's Blithe Spirit. (It was in previews this past weekend.) "One highly spirited wife is fun - but two is fertile ground for this smash comedy hit of the London and Broadway stages from the witty pen of Noël Coward. Meet cantankerous novelist Charles Condomine, re-married to Ruth but haunted (literally) by the ghost of his late first wife, the clever and insistent Elvira who has been conjured up by a visiting 'happy medium,' one Madame Arcati." The production runs through May 6. Tuesday-Sunday various times -- $20 and up

Little Shop of Horrors
Thursday-Sunday: The Park Playhouse production of Little Shop of Horrors continues at the Cohoes Music Hall. Thursday-Sunday various times -- $25 / $15 kids 12 and under

Paul Harding
Thursday: Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Paul Harding will be at RPI to talk about his work of the NYS Writers Institute visiting writers series. Thursday 8 pm, Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies Building -- free

Who the F**K Is That Guy: The Fabulous Life of Michael Alago
Thursday: HVCC is hosting a screening of the documentary Who the F**k Is That Guy: The Fabulous Life of Michael Alago, with an appearance by Alago afterward to answer questions. "Alago's passion was music, all types, and he worked with Cyndi Lauper, John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten), Tracy Chapman and the late jazz great, Nina Simone. Always outspoken, energetic and openly gay, Alago (barely) survived the rock 'n roll lifestyle and left the record industry in 2004." Thursday 7 pm, Bulmer Telecommunications Center Auditorium -- free

Nate Larson and Marni Shindelman
Thursday: Artists Nate Larson and Marni Shindelman will be at the Opalka Gallery for a talk about their work. "Nate Larson and Marni Shindelman's collaborative practice investigates the data tracks we amass through networked communication. Their work ties the invisible to actual sites, anchoring the ephemeral in photographs and immersive video installations." Thursday 6:30 pm -- free (registration required)

Music

Thursday: Chris Tomlin at TU Center "Worship Night In America Tour." 7 pm -- $28.75 and up

Thursday: Classic Albums Live: Pink Floyd The Wall
"Classic Albums Live performs the legendary 1979 concept album Pink Floyd The Wall in its entirety." 8 pm -- $20 and up

Thursday: Moondance: The Ultimate Van Morrison Tribute Concert at The Linda
As it says on the label. 8 pm -- $20

Thursday: Jason Eady at The Hangar
Country. 8 pm -- $10

Thursday: Dan Navarro at Caffe Lena
Singer/songwriter/guitarist. With: Jacob Johnson. 7 pm -- $22

Thursday: The Magic Beans at The Hollow
Jam. With: Let's Be Leonard. 8 pm -- $12 ahead / $15 at door

Thursday: BREA & The Baskets at The Low Beat
Indie rock. With: Bendt, Katie Louise, Embe Esti. 8 pm