It's Friday, and your treat for making it to the weekend is a round-up of this week's best work from the Innovation Trail.
The week started off with a bang (ok, maybe more like a thud) when the state legislature returned to Albany for a special session. We were interested in what the Assembly would do about legislation (that the Senate had already passed) to halt the issuance of new permits for hydraulic fracturing in the Marcellus shale. After a long day of will-they-or-won't-they, they took a vote and it passed. WMHT's Dan Bazile reported that environmentalists were pleased with the result, but some legislators thought a moratorium would be economic suicide. Whether or not the moratorium becomes law is up to the governor - the bill is headed to his desk for a signature. He's given mixed signals on whether he will or won't sign the bill.
WNED's Daniel Robison and WXXI's Zack Seward both took a look at public dollars going to private firms to create jobs. Daniel reports that 18 companies in western New York are getting cash from the University at Buffalo's to help commercialize their research - but there aren't any strings attached related to job creation. And Zack brings us the details on $481,410 from the state going to the Rochester area for green initiatives.
WRVO's Ryan Morden was your grand opening beat reporter this week, attending the unveiling of two new buildings. On Monday he gave us the rundown on a new workspace for nonprofits in Syracuse to convene, host events, and collaborate. And today he's got details on Syracuse University's new Biomaterials Institute lab, which gives a home to an organization which was once spread across three campuses.
And finally, WSKG's Emma Jacobs brought us stories about the past and the future. Thursday she pointed us to NPR's story about George F. Johnson, an early "welfare capitalist" who was the toast of Endicott, N.Y. in the early 20th century. And earlier in the week she brought us the tale (tail?) of Lila the dog, whose "mom" is part of an initiative to repurpose vacant land in Binghamton into - what else? - a dog park.
Coming up on the Innovation Trail, be on the look-out for details about a new "Innovation Center" being built by Kodak in Rochester, a look at the potential economic impact of hydrofracking in New York, and a return to the nuclear clean-up at West Valley.
Not a good enough treat? Picky! How about a video of a little girl going from infant to 10-years-old in 90 seconds instead?
And as always, don't forget to follow us on Twitter @innovationtrail, to friend us on Facebook, and subscribe to our RSS feeds (you can get everything, our morning Trail Mix, our "Ask a Trail Guide" series, or just the best of the week).
