All Over Albany

State worker layoffs reportedly "on the radar," Thacher and other parks now closed, man gets almost six years for trying to buy a child for use as slave, car on airplane hit-and-run

With state worker furloughs off the table (for now), the New York Post reports that state worker layoffs are now "on the radar screen" for the Paterson administration. State budget director Robert Megna says the four percent raises for state workers are included in the next budget extender -- but only for the most recent pay period. (The temporary restraining order blocking the furloughs also ordered the Paterson administration to stop withholding the raises.) Megna also says the administration could hold back another $1.5 billion in school aid next month in order to keep the state solvent. [NY Post] [TU] [NYDN]

Forty-one state parks -- including Thacher Park -- are now closed because of budget cuts (though it sounds like maybe Jack McEneny is organizing a picnic). The closings are saving $11 million. [TU] [YNN] [WTEN] [CBS6]

NYSTI producing director Patricia Snyder has retired. She sent her letter in last week on the same day David Paterson called for the theater org's board to quit. [TU] [CBS6]

The death of a Rensselaer County baby is being investigated as a homicide. [Troy Record]

An Albany man has been charged with breaking his toddler son's legs. [TU]

Albany police say a man was shot in the leg in Albany Swinburne Park on Sunday (map). Police say it may have been a stray bullet. [CBS6] [TU]

The Averill Park man who pleaded guilty for trying to buy a child sex slave has been sentenced to almost six years in prison and lifetime supervised release. [US Attorney press release]

Averill Park school board member Steve Valente says he's "grown up a lot" since the photos of him allegedly drinking underage were posted on Facebook. Valente is part of a group of board members that's been critical the district's budget process this year. [TU] [Troy Record]

The woman who died in the Saratoga Springs lockup this past March had called 911 to report a burglary and was taken in after an outstanding warrant was found for her. [Saratogian]

The Saratoga County sheriff's office says a car rammed through a fence at the Saratoga County airport, hit a parked airplane and then drove off. [WNYT] [Saratogian] [Fox23]

Albany police say they arrested a man for DWI after a short chase down Madison Ave Friday night. [Fox23]

Albany police say a woman was mugged by a group of four men on Quail Street near Madison early Saturday morning (map). [Fox23]

State police say the former head of the Saratoga-Wilton Elks lodge stole more than $3000 from the lodge. They allege he opened credit cards in the name of the lodge and lodge officials. The man is a former Saratoga Springs cop. [Saratogian] [TU] [Daily Gazette $]

Schenectady city councilman Mark Blanchfield has been appointed Schenectady City Court judge. [Daily Gazette $]

Sue Savage, the chair of the Schenectady County legislature, is proposing legislation that would require domestic abuse offenders to wear GPS anklets while on parole. [Fox23]

Schenectady officials explained how they assessed a Stockade house at twice the amount as a seemingly similar one on the same street. [Daily Gazette $]

Todd Shimkus will be the next head of the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce. He succeeds founding president Joseph Dalton, who's headed up the org for 40 years. [Daily Gazette $] [TU] [Saratogian]

Stay classy, Hiram Monserrate. [NY Post]

The Mangione locksmith business in Troy has been open for 125 years. [Troy Record]

Tylar Zielinski went to the prom. [TU]