All Over Albany

Cuomo 2012 budget won't raise taxes-- ties education money to teacher evaluations, Teen charged in hit and run death of St. Rose student, jury selection begins in Troy ballot fraud case, Voorheesville teacher charged with biting student pleads not guilty

Governor Cuomo issued his $132.5 billion 2012 yesterday. The plan closes a $3.5 billion budget gap and includes no new fees or taxes. Cuomo called the proposal a "budget and reform plan." It includes a 4% education increase that requires schools to come up with a new teacher evaluation system within 30 days or Cuomo says he'll devise his own. Cuomo's spending plan also proposes a new pension tier --a portable defined-contribution option a la TIAA-CREF-- for new state employees. [AOA] [TU]

The spending plan does not include any money for hydrofracking. [CBS6]

The budget also includes plans to speed up a $7.8 million payment in lieu of taxes to the city of Albany for the Empire State Plaza. [TU]

Tuesday was day one of jury selection in the election fraud trial of Michael LoPorto and Edward McDonough, but no jurors have been selected yet. McDonough's lawyer has suggested that his client can't get a fair trial in Rennsselaer County because of the high profile nature of the case. [Record] [YNN]

19 year old Alfred Zwack Jr. was indicted by a grand jury in the hit and run death of 29 year old Saint Rose student James Oki. Charges include manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.[TU]

A Ravena man is facing one to three years in prison after pleading guilty to driving drunk through Albany in a stolen car.[TU]

A DNA expert testified Tuesday that George Mott's DNA was not found at the scene of the murder of Rosemary Crosier back in 1994. DNA samples from the crime scene have matched co-defendant Scott Chaplin, who is awaiting trial in the case. [TU] [Record]

A Malta man was found not guilty of rape in Saratoga County. Diaz was released from prison in October after serving six years on a prior rape charge. [Saratogian]

The Voorheesville teacher charged with biting a student while arm wrestling pleaded not guilty last night. [YNN]

Chuck Schumer keeps pushing for high speed rail from Buffalo to Albany.[YNN]

Rents are up in the Capital Region

The village of Corinth won't go all Brigadoon.[News 10]

The lack of ice and snow has Lake George Winter Carnival organizers scrambling for contingency plans for the annual month long festival. [Post Star]

The Salvation Army has opened a gym. [WNYT]