Here’s your snapshot of what’s going on across the state today:
Governor Cuomo is moving to the second phase of his quest to completely rejigger New York’s image in the world.
Fracking opponents say the DEC’s proposed rules have 10 crucial flaws.
Industrial development agencies are coming in for more criticism for how they fund economic development.
Plus, the return of the fast ferry!
Politics
New York is about to launch a big campaign to market the state to businesses - and the governor is making more noise about details of his regional councils being announced soon (Jon Campbell, Gannett)
One way the regional councils will come into play is in applying for "mega" grants from Empire State Development's $130 million pot for regional economic development strategies (Jimmy Vielkind, Times Union).
That campaign includes being "out on the road more" for the governor (Thomas Kaplan, New York Times).
Here's video of the governor announcing the tour (Nick Reisman, State of Politics/Capital Tonight):
Business
The fast ferry returns! An entrepreneur with Rochester roots is again pitching the idea of a ferry between Rochester and Toronto - but this time "we have to do it right" (Brian Sharp, Democrat and Chronicle).
The governor wants to charge businesses $21.25 per employee to meet a $95 million payment on the state unemployment insurance bill (Rick Karlin, Times Union).
FarmieMarket.com expands the farmer's market model - all the way to Albany-area doorsteps (Leah Buletti, Times Union).
Assembly insurance committee chair Joe Morelle won't be leaving his office to take the top job with the Business Council of New York State, which was last held on a permanent basis by the new head of Empire State Development (Jill Terreri, Democrat and Chronicle).
Fracking
Environmental Advocates of New York have released a list of 10 items that they take issue with in the Department of Environmental Conservation's proposed regulations on hydrofracking (Nick Reisman, State of Politics/Capital Tonight).
There's a temporary freeze on withdrawing water from the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania for natural gas drilling operations, due to low water levels (AP, Press & Sun-Bulletin).
That decision was "based on science," according to the executive director of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (Laura Legere, The Citizen's Voice).
The EPA is still a least a few years away from a review of how hydrofracking affects water quality (David Robinson, Buffalo News).
Economic development
Work on Buffalo's Canal Side project is "full steam ahead," despite losing big box store Bass Pro Shops (Mark Sommer and Jonathan D. Epstein, Buffalo News).
The industrial development agency (IDA) strategy for economic development is coming under further fire (after the state comptroller added his two cents last week) for emphasizing a high volume of big deals, rather than small projects that might benefit urban cores (Maryellen Tighe, Buffalo News).
Meanwhile, Empire State Development and Monroe County's IDA have come through in a big way for a deal to keep Monro Muffler in upstate New York (Thomas Adams, Rochester Business Journal).
And the Post-Standard's editorial board is going on the record to argue that IDAs should stick to their original mission of funding "industry" (Post-Standard).
Higher ed
SUNY schools have found a new market to help make ends meet: summer school (Jay Rey, Buffalo News).
Bidding begins today on New York's applied sciences campus project (Colby Hamilton, The Empire).
Tell us what you think
While the governor rejiggers the state, we're rejiggering the format of our morning round-up feature - also known as "trail mix." Leave a comment, or tell us what you think of the new format on Twitter, Facebook. You can also email us.
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