Today in your Trail Mix:
It's a fight! (Over who gets to run the state's still-hypothetical casinos).
Buffalo thinks it's so awesome it wants ANOTHER Center of Excellence.
The EPA weighs in on Dimock's water.
Plus, New York's improving graduation rates.
Casino gambling
The fight over who will get to open seven casinos in New York is shaping up - even though there's still much to be decided, including whether or not the casinos we be approved by voters (James M. Odato, Times Union).
And as measures are moving forward to legalize casino gambling at the state level, county legislatures in western New York are passing laws that would do the same locally (Buffalo News).
Centers of Excellence
Buffalo already has a state-funded Center of Excellence, in bioinformatics - but now the city is asking for a second one to study materials informatics (Jay Rey, Buffalo News).
Syracuse's Center of Excellence meanwhile is celebrating its 10-year anniversary, as it works to recruit tenants for its high-tech facility (Ryan Delaney, WRVO/Innovation Trail).
Energy
Dunkirk's coal-fired power plant is in limbo as regulators conduct studies about the future of the facility (David Robinson, Buffalo News).
A Buffalo-area firm says it can convert plastic BACK to oil, to fuel vehicles (Daniel Robison, WBFO/Innovation Trail).
Environment
The EPA says the water at homes in Dimock, Pennsyvlania (of flaming tapwater fame) does not have harmful arsenic levels (Susan Phillips, State Impact PA).
A Buffalo-area state senator is introducing "right to know" legislation about sewage in public waterways (Chris Jamele, WBFO).
Government
Buffalo could be graduating out of its financial control board status (Aaron Besecker, Buffalo News).
New York's graduate rate improvements are some of the best in the nation (AP).
Buffalo's tourism industry is pushing the city as a cultural destination (Mark Sommer, Buffalo News).
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