All Over Albany

New state pension tier would reportedly raise retirement age, new teacher evals place greater emphasis on test scores, body found in Mohawk, Guilderland post office could close

Voting on school budgets is today. Don't know where to vote? Check your school district's website.

Word is leaking out that Andrew Cuomo will propose a new pension tier for new state employees that would include a defined contribution option (like a 401(k)) and attempt to end pension padding. It would also raise the retirement age to 65. The two big public employee unions are irked. [TU] [YNN] [State of Politics]

The state Board of Regents has approved a new teacher evaluation system which includes a greater emphasis on the use of standardized test scores. Andrew Cuomo had been pushing for the greater use of test scores. NYSUT -- the big teachers' union -- is reportedly "furious" about the testing provision. [TU] [AP/Troy Record] [NYT]

The new state education commissioner is John B. King Jr, who's been serving as a deputy commissioner. Before joining NYSED, he had been involved with the creation of charter schools. He's also a graduate of Harvard, Yale, and Columbia. [TU] [NYT] [Troy Record]

John O'Connor, the SUNY vice chancellor who also heads up the SUNY Research Foundation, is taking a leave of absence following the allegation that he gave Joe Bruno's daughter, Susan, a no-show job at the foundation. Top SUNY officials say they're cooperating with an investigation into the matter. O'Connor said in a statement that he's "extraordinarily distressed" that his integrity is being questioned and said he's filed a complaint with the state Inspector General over the Public Integrity Commission's handling of the situation. [TU] [Daily Politics] [State of Politics]

A movie starring Ryan Gosling -- and Bradley Cooper, perhaps -- will reportedly be shooting in Schenectady this summer. [Daily Gazette] [TU]

Troy police say the body pulled from the Hudson River near Saugerties over the weekend was that of a Troy man who's been missing since November. His brother also went missing in November and yet has to be found. [Troy Record] [Fox23]

Schenectady police say two kayakers found a body in the Mohawk River yesterday near the Lighthouse Restaurant. They say the man was wearing shorts and a t-shirt from a local club soccer team. [Daily Gazette] [YNN]

Rensselaer County's medical examiner testified yesterday at the Michael Mosley trial that one person could have inflicted the wounds on Samuel Holley and Arica Lynn Schneider (and on cross examine said it could have been more than one person). The medical examiner also said some of the wounds were consistent with torture. [Troy Record] [TU]

The Saratoga County sheriff's office says a deputy has been suspended after he was arrested in Washington County this past weekend for alleged menacing and child endangerment. [Saratogian]

The pastor accused of stealing $400k from the Saratoga County credit union at which he worked has pleaded guilty. He faces 3-9 years in prison. [Post-Star] [Saratogian]

Guilderland police say they've nabbed a 20-year-old for the Easter spray-paint vandalism of a Catholic church. They say they were led to the man after seeing some of the graffiti posted on social networking site. [Fox23] [YNN]

The US Postal Service is considering closing the Guilderland Center post office. [TU]

Albany County judge Thomas Breslin says he's running for state Supreme Court. [TU]

All but one the five new townhouses being constructed on Jay Street in Albany's Center Square neighborhood are already under contract. [TU]

Union Street in Schenectady from Wendell to Union Ave will be closed during the day for the next two weeks for repaving. [YNN]

The Albany Common Council voted to repeal a ban on the celebration of Pinkster. [TU]