All Over Albany

Four more NXIVM arrests, conviction upheld in deadly Troy fire, Capital Region unemployment drops again, Marry Me Mint

NXIVM
Four more members of NXIVM were arrested on Tuesday. Segram's heiress Clare Bronfman, NXIVM's president Nancy Salzman, her daughter Lauren and NXIVM bookkeeper Kathy Russell have been indicted for allegedly recruiting and grooming sexual partners for Raniere and of using "harassment, coercion and abusive litigation to intimidate and attack perceived enemies and critics of Raniere."Bronfman pled not guilty and was released on $100 million bond. [Spectrum][TU][NYT]

2nd conviction in Troy fire
Fifty-year-old Richard J. Wright who served three decades in prison for the fire that killed two teenage girls in Troy, was convicted a second time on Tuesday by State Supreme Court Justice Andrew Ceresia. [TU]

1970s murderer free
The man convicted of the murder of a 17-year-old girl in 1970 has been released from prison. [TU]

IDC ordered to give back money
Two months before the primary elections, members of the now defunct Senate Independent Democratic Committee have been ordered to return hundreds of thousands of dollars in political donations. The state's top election enforcement office says the money, raised by a campaign fund-raising committee set up by the state's Independence Party on behalf of I.D.C. members, was raised illegally because the group was not a political party. [NYT][TU]

Guardian angels
The Guardian Angels are back in Albany this week, training new recruits. [Spectrum]

Teacher allegedly hit students
A Troy Middle School teacher is facing charges for allegedly hitting two students earlier this year. [Spectrum]

Police Data Portal
In an effort to be more transparent, the APD has established a new website that openly shares police data on things like arrests, reported crimes, traffic citations and officer's use of force. [TU]

Peace project
A group in Schenectady is trying to reduce crime through meditation. [Gazette]

Storm runoff
Storms earlier this week washed considerable amounts of sewage and debris into Capital Region Rivers. [Gazette]

Housing market
Fewer houses were sold in the Capital Region in June, but in less time and at higher prices. [Gazette]

Capital Region jobless rate
Unemployment in the Capital Region dropped to 3.9 percent in June from 4.3 percent a year earlier.
[TU]

Gillibrand's push left
The NYT looks at Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's push toward the left in the era of Trump. [NYT]

Weekly
The Times Union is starting a new weekly paper.[TU]

Gift from George Washington returned
The return of a stolen tomahawk that was once given as a gift by George Washington, and a look at the underworld of unscrupulous stolen artifact dealers. [TU]

Khaos found in Thacher Park
A German Shepherd named Khaos was rescued on Tuesday after being lost for a week in Thacher Park. [Gazette]

Mary Me Mint
A cool proposal in a Price Chopper frozen food aisle with a little help from Ben & Jerry. [TU]

Stuff going on today

Saratoga Race Course

Racing continues at the Saratoga Race Course. Today is Military Appreciation Day -- all veterans and active-duty military members get free grandstand admission with military ID.

ValleyCats

The ValleyCats continue their a six-game home stand at The Joe with a series against Auburn. Tonight is Christmas in July night with fireworks following. Today-Sunday various times -- $6.50 and up

Saratoga County Fair

Today-Sunday: County fair season starts off in the region with the Saratoga County Fair at the fairgrounds in Ballston Spa. Tuesday-Sunday various times -- admission $12 / season ticket $30 / kids 52 inches and smaller free / unlimited ride wristband $20

Summer Writers Institute

+ Wednesday: Novelist Joyce Carol Oates (Zombie, Blonde, Carthage) -- in Gannett Auditorium

The events are in Palamountain Hall at Skidmore. Monday-Friday 8 pm -- free

Stage

Ring of Fire
Today-Sunday: Capital Repertory Theatre continues its production of the Johnny Cash musical Ring of Fire. (It was in previews this past weekend.) Tuesday-Sunday various times -- $25 and up

WTF
Today-Sunday: The Williamstown Theatre Festival continues this week with the musical Lempicka, starring Carmen Cusack and Eden Espinosa. And on Wednesday a production starts of Seared, a new comedy by Theresa Rebeck. Tuesday-Sunday various times -- various prices

Park Playhouse
Today-Saturday: This is the last week for The Park Playhouse's production of Damn Yankees in Washington Park. Tuesday-Saturday 8 pm -- lawn seats free / reserved seats $14 and up

Arts and sciences

Science on Tap
Today: The Saratoga chapter of the Science on Tap series will be at Artisanal Brew Works for a talk by Kyle Nichols of Skidmore's Department of Geosciences about the "Origin and Evolution of The Grand Canyon." Tuesday 6 pm -- free, but registration required because of space limitations

Art for Lunch
Wednesday: There's another "Art for Lunch" midday tour of the Empire State Plaza's art collection. Wednesday 12-12:30 pm -- free

South End: Past and Future - The Journey to Rapp Road and Beyond
Wednesday: Members of the Rapp Road Historical Association will be at the Albany Public Library's Howe Branch for talk about the Great Migration, and the path people followed from Mississippi to the South End and then to the Pine Bush. And there will be a display photos using augmented reality. "They will also share new opportunities for studying and sharing your own family histories." Wednesday 6 pm -- free, registration requested

Historic brew tour of Center Square
Wednesday: Local beer historian Craig Gravina of the Albany Ale Project leads a walking tour of the brewing history of Albany's Center Square neighborhood. Wednesday 6 pm -- $10

Swimming

Here's a big list of public pools and spray pads around the Capital Region now open for the season.

Free summer concert series

Free summer concert season continues...

Rockin' on the River
The Rockin' on the River series in Troy's Riverfront Park has Almost Queen, with The Troy Music Academy All-Stars. Wednesday 5 pm -- free admission

Lunchtime at the Plaza
Wednesday: The Lunchtime at the Plaza series of lunchtime shows (thus the name) at the ESP has Olde Time Dance Band. Wednesday at noon -- free

Freedom Park
+ Wednesday: The concert series in Scotia's Freedom Park has Swamp Drivers. Wednesday 7 pm -- free

Music

Wednesday: Wiz Khalifa + Rae Sremmurd at SPAC
The "Dazed and Blazed Summer Tour." With: Lil Skies and O.T. Genasis. 6 pm -- $25 and up

Wednesday: Amanda Shires at The Egg
Singer/songwriter/violinist. With: Sean Rowe. 8 pm -- $29.50 and up

Wednesday: Terrapin Flyer featuring Scott Guberman at Parish Public House
"Terrapin Flyer is a premier nationally touring Grateful Dead band featuring the best musicians in the Grateful Dead extended family." 9 pm -- $12 ahead / $15 at door