All Over Albany

First witnesses in Bruno trial, doctors flooded with requests for flu shot, public info meetings on post office closures, Thriller dance cancelled for lack of space

Here's a rundown of notable election results from yesterday. In some of the highest profile races: Jerry Jennings cruised to victory in the Albany mayoral election, Paula Mahan beat Mike Hoblock for Colonie supervisor, Republicans swept the contested seats on the Saratoga Springs city council, Republicans Bob Mirch and Neil Kelleher were both bounced from the Rensselaer County legislature. [AOA] [TU] [TU] [Saratogian] [Troy Record]

The new optical scan voting machines seemed to work out OK yesterday. [TU]

The first witnesses in the Joe Bruno trial took the stand yesterday. The head of an Albany investment firm testified that his consulting payments to Bruno increased after the senator became majority leader -- and that Bruno was responsible for bringing in $400,000 in revenue from labor unions. A former Bruno staff attorney testified that he "was not involved" in Bruno's business ventures, but did say he provided legal advice about agreements between Bruno and clients. [CapNews9] [Fox23] [TU]

Local doctors' offices say they've been deluged with patients calling for the H1N1 vaccine. [TU]

Price Chopper said yesterday that it will continue to sell meat from the company that produced the recent batch of beef contaminated with E. coli. [TU]

The USPS is holding public information sessions about the local post offices slated for consolidation. The Pine Hills Neighborhood Association is urging supporters of the Pine Hills station in Albany (on South Allen) to show up for the the info session from 4-8 pm at the Elks Lodge in Albany. [TU] [email info via Rachael]

Colonie police say they arrested a woman yesterday who they allege has been trying to scam local churches. They've accused her of stealing a check from a Loudonville church in September. [TU] [CBS6]

Albany police say an 81-year-old man was mugged -- and his rent money stolen -- at North First Street and North Pearl Street. [WNYT]

A witness says a pedestrian struck by a car while crossing Broadway in Saratoga was sent flying eight feet into the air and 10 feet from the site of impact. [Saratogian]

A state task force is aiming to make New York the #1 maple syrup producer in the country. [AP/CBS6]

The organizer of the planned mass Thriller dance this past Saturday in Saratoga says the event was cancelled because there wasn't enough room for all the potential dancers. [Saratogian]

Ted Barnes, Steve Barnes' father and a well-known Schenectady restaurateur, has passed away. He was 67.