All Over Albany

Pension system for new state workers adjusted, NYRA aims to stop horse slaughter, another bank robbery, Albany Institute scraping financially, dog rescued with help of plumbing camera

David Paterson signed legislation that creates a new tier -- "Tier V" -- for the state employee pension system raises the retirement age and requires workers to contribute more. It's being touted as the biggest change to the pension system in 25 years. Paterson says the change will save New York State $35 billion over the next 30 years. [TU] [Fox23] [Paterson op-ed in TU]

The federal officials who handled the investigation and prosecution of Joe Bruno say they will continue to focus on ethics violations at the state capitol. [TU]

The state is no longer limiting distribution of the H1N1 flu vaccine to people in priority groups. Albany County has scheduled times next week for residents to get the jab. [AP/TU] [Albany County]

According to court documents obtained by the TU, the three teens accused of murdering Richard Bailey allegedly gave police detailed -- and different -- accounts of the night of the murder. [TU]

NYRA announced yesterday that any horse owner who sells their horses to slaughter -- "either knowingly or for lack of due diligence" -- will have their stalls revoked at Saratoga and the other NYRA tracks. [Saratogian] [CapNews9] [Post-Star]

Troy police say M&T Bank on Monument Square was robbed yesterday afternoon. Police are still looking for the suspect. It's the third bank robbery in Rensselaer County over the last month -- and fourth in the Capital Region (a bank in Albany was robbed recently). [Troy Record] [Fox23] [TU]

A string of recent large fights at schools in Troy has prompted some to call the situation "out of control." [Troy Record]

GE Energy, which is based in Schenectady, has signed a deal to provide wind turbines for an Oregon wind farm that expected to the be the nation's largest. The turbines will be built in Florida, though. [Daily Gazette $] [TU]

Joseph Dalton, the longtime head of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, has announced that he'll be retiring next year. [Saratogian]

Plans for a mixed-use, "new urbanist" development have been approved for a site on Western in Guilderland (map). [TU]

Albany High is hoping the public will donate money to help it buy "SMART Boards." [Fox23]

The exec director of the Albany Institute of History and Art says the museum is scraping financially and might not make it another 10 years. [WNYT]

Plumbers and firefighters used a hose camera to help free a dog from a hole in Troy's Oakwood Cemetery yesterday evening. [Fox23]