Daniel Robison, WBFO

In recent years, donut shops, car dealerships and doctor’s offices have received tax breaks from industrial development agencies in western New York.

Now, first-term Assemblyman Sean Ryan (D-Buffalo) has crafted a bill to halt such deals. He joins a growing chorus of critics who argue IDAs have lost their way since being created in the 1960s to generate high-paying manufacturing jobs.

Ryan hopes the legislation becomes a model for the rest of the state. But it’s far from being put to a vote.

Research into multiple sclerosis has accelerated rapidly in the last few years - and doctors in Buffalo are at the forefront.

Information about how MS progresses in patients has long been out there, but it wasn’t being synthesized or analyzed effectively.

Now, SUNY Buffalo is using a new supercomputer from IBM that can help researchers make connections between environmental and hereditary factors and how MS affects its victims.

Hello, Wednesday. Happy hump day, hikers. Here's your Trail Mix:

President Obama stops by Albany for the third time. 

Five is I-81's magic number in downtown Syracuse. 

And, coming soon to a school district near you: N.Y. teachers getting the ax.

SUNY has stepped up its self-promotional efforts.

In an attempt to paint the university system in a better light - and perhaps to justify its $10.8 billion budget in tight economic times - SUNY staged a regional “showcase” in Buffalo Tuesday. It was one of ten similar events thrown over the past year.

The science fair-like atmosphere - with dozens of booths and cardboard displays - provided a chance for nine western New York SUNY campuses to toot their own horns - be it in scientific research, new degree programs or job creation.

Good morning Innovation Trail hikers!

A date for Nik Wallenda's tightrope walk over Niagara Falls has been set.

Why is SUNY Binghamton asking for $70 million from Albany?

And: Will Governor Cuomo run for president in 2016?

There are no oil refineries in upstate New York, but the Niagara River still carries millions of gallons of petroleum to storage facilities each week.

Crews from the U.S. Coast Guard and fuel supplier NOCO Energy, which has locations along the Niagara River, practiced skimming oil from water Tuesday.

But don’t worry, it was only a test.

New solar panels at the University at Buffalo double as an art installation. 

The $7.5 million project, funded by the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and SUNY, will power student apartments while sprucing up the landscape.

When viewed from the sky, the strand of solar panels resembles DNA - a tip of the hat to UB's strengths in research and science.

Good morning, Trail hikers. It's the morning, so naturally, here's some Morning Trail Mix. 

New York receives some attention from GOP presidential candidates.

Fracking wells won't have to "go green" until 2015.

Kodak cuts more jobs.

Good morning! Time for some Trail Mix. 

Kodak will shed workers this summer. 

Brothels could be on their way to Canadian towns bordering Western New York.

And: Is this the year for medical marijuana in New York? 

Hello, Innovation Trail hikers! Here's your morning trail mix. Onward!

Bad news for Rick Santorum, at least in New York. 

Does Cuomo have a transparency problem?

And finally: Something to alleviate those long lines at the U.S.-Canada border in Buffalo?