All Over Albany

Deal to avoid state worker layoffs "expected" today, Albany landfill expansion approval could come soon, Rensselaer County computers being de-wormed, UAlbany getting new building

The announcement of a deal between the state worker unions and the Paterson administration to avoid layoffs is "expected" to come today. The deal will reportedly include $20k buyouts for employees eligible for retirement -- which has some observers asking where the money is going to come from. The deal also apparently includes a new, less generous tier in the state pension system. [NYDN] [TU]

It's looking like the state DEC could approve the expansion of the Albany landfill soon. The dump is projected to be full before the end of this year -- six years sooner than originally planned. [TU]

The search has been called off for the man who went missing in the Mohawk on Sunday. A friend who accompanied the man that day said strong currents tipped their canoe. Rains earlier that week had increased the Mohawk's flow that weekend. [Troy Record] [TU] [USGS]

Among Scott Murphy's first slate of requested Congressional earmarks (pork): $2 million for a new Saratoga Springs public safety building. Murphy has posted his full list of requested earmarks online. [Saratogian] [Post-Star]

Another potential 2010 primary challenger to Kirsten Gillibrand has announced she won't be running against KG. [NYDN]

David Paterson's new top advisor described himself as being "like the 300-pound offensive tackle blocking for the quarterback called Governor David Paterson." [NYT]

The man accused of stabbing an RPI student back in November pleaded guilty to felony first-degree attempted assault -- he'll get six years in prison. The man says he stabbed the student during a pot deal that went bad. [Troy Record] [TU]

Apparently there's some question about whether the Schenectady School District can impose a contingency budget that's bigger than its proposed budget. The district says its contingency budget will include an almost 16 percent increase in the tax levy if voters don't approve an almost 6 percent increase. [Daily Gazette]

Negotiations between Saratoga Springs and its public employee unions are still stuck. [Saratogian]

The City of Troy will withhold rent payments at for the soon-to-be city hall until the landlord finishes installing an elevator. [Troy Record]

Two "worms" -- a type of computer virus -- infected about a quarter of the machines on Rensselaer County's network yesterday. The county's IT director blamed a power outage that brought down the county's firewall. [TU] [Troy Record]

The head of the Downtown Albany BID is resigning. It came out earlier this year that she racked up almost 200 ghost tickets while on a VIP list. [TU]

Feldman Mall Properties -- the trust that redevelopment Colonie Center -- has sold off its last stake in the mall. [TU]

The New York State Department of Health reports that the number of smokers in the state was down 12 percent in 2008. The attribute at least some of the decline to higher cigarette taxes. [NYS DoH] [TU]

UAlbany's business school is getting a new $64 million building on the uptown campus' Collins Circle. The architecture firm designing the building done design work for a handful of prestigious business schools. [TU] [Biz Review]

A retiring Shaker High music teacher got the Mr. Holland treatment at his retirement concert last night. [TU]