All Over Albany

Schenectady pension reforms proposed, GloFo pushing for more tax breaks, Corning Tower observation deck to close Saturdays, Don Weeks signs off

Brian Stratton says overtime payments for Schenectady city managers have been frozen and he's proposed a plan to reform the city's pension system. Stratton also says fire chief Robert Farstad will retire with the pension he was originally scheduled to receive (it was a plan to pad Farstad's pension that set off this whole episode). [YNN] [TU] [Daily Gazette]

Jerry Jennings said today on TALK 1300 that he would probably veto some of the amendments to the budget approved this week by the common council. [TU Local Politics]

GlobalFoundries is trying to get more substantial breaks on sales tax for machinery at the Luther Forest chip fab. This week a GloFo rep said: "We're constantly looking at our global options and taxes are a huge issue when it comes to cost competitiveness." [Saratogian] [Post-Star]

Mary Jane Vautrin, the Ballston Spa woman convicted of stabbing her husband while he slept last year, was sentenced to nine years in prison. During his statement in court before the sentencing yesterday, her husband said he still loved her and asked: "Why would you want me dead?" The attack was allegedly part of a plot to cash in on a life insurance plan. [Saratogian] [TU] [Post-Star]

Said John Pikus, who's retiring from heading-up the local FBI field office, of the sting against Yassin Aref and Mohammed Hossain: "We had to do whatever we can to identify if this individual was a threat to the United States." He said the number one issue in the area his office covers is public corruption. [YNN] [CBS6]

Both Paul Tonko and Scott Murphy voted in favor of the House censuring Charlie Rangel. [State of Politics] [NYT]

The observation deck at the Corning Tower will now be closed on Saturdays because of budget cuts. The deck will now only be open weekdays and during special events. [WNYT] [TU]

Albany's board of zoning appeals rejected a plan to build a new building for the Albany Preparatory Charter School on a dead-street in the upper Washington Neighborhood (map). [TU]

Albany police say there's been rash of burglaries in the section of the Pine Hills neighborhood where many college students live. The APD says that in many of the cases, the the burglars got in through unlocked doors and windows. [TU] [CBS6] [YNN]

SPAC finished with a surplus this year, for the sixth straight year. [Saratogian]

Complaints from a man in Greenfield appear to have in part prompted the recall of a Rachael Ray tea kettle. [TU]

After her story appeared in the Times Union, more than $8000 has been donated to the Mongolian college student who was seriously injured after she was hit by a car in Queensbury. [TU]

The spouting geyser at Spa State Park is spouting once again after repairs to its well. [Post-Star]

The average first snowfall of three or more inches in the Capital Region is December 17. [Daily Gazette]

This morning was Don Weeks' last day on the air at WGY. He's retiring after 30 years there. [Troy Record] [WNYT]