Today in Trail Mix:
Debriefing the governor's "regional council" economic development announcement.
Controversy over the disposal and use of fracking wastewater in the Southern Tier and Pittsburgh.
Kodak looking to make a quick buck on its digital photography patents.
Plus: Rust Belt fashion show.
Cuomo jobs initiative
Governor Cuomo has finally launched his regional councils economic development initiative, complete with a billion dollar pot of grants and tax incentives from nine different state agencies, up for grabs by 10 regional councils (Marie Cusick, Innovation Trail).
The plans that regions are submitting to get some of that cash are due November 14 (Jon Campbell, Gannett).
The governor says that no one industry will be given an advantage in the selection of who gets a piece of the billion dollars (Casey Seilor, Capitol Confidential).
The goal is to end a "Balkanized approach" to economic development (Tom Precious, Buffalo News).
Capital Tonight has video of the governor discussing the "consolidated framework" for doling out economic development dollars (Nick Reisman, State of Politics/Capital Tonight).
Earlier in the day the governor's office announced that he'd signed a bill to issue more credit to small businesses through a federal program (Nick Reisman, State of Politics).
Fracking
Anti-fracking activist Walter Hang says that several Southern Tier communities are using fracking wastewater on their roads, potentially exposing the region to heavy metals and radioactivity (G. Jeffrey Aaron, Gannett).
The Broome County Legislature votes today on how to treat the mineral rights - the right to lease and drill for gas - on land seized by the county (Steve Reilly, Press & Sun-Bulletin).
A Pittsburgh sewage plant is being sued, for what environmental advocates charge was unpermitted intake of fracking wastewater (AP, BusinessWeek).
A researcher who says that "we simply don't know enough about what's happening" related to the health effects of hydrofracking was in Rochester last night in advance of the "Proactive Approaches to Mitigating Impacts of Marcellus Shale Development" conference, today and tomorrow (Zack Seward, Innovation Trail).
New York's proposed drilling rules are A-OK with the American Chemical Council, which says they are "balanced" (Brian Nearing, Times Union).
Politics
Strikers at Syracuse's Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station met with a state senator and assemblyman yesterday to talk about ending their strike (Post-Standard).
Senator Schumer wants a $1.5 million grant for the Albany airport to nab a low-cost carrier for the region (Chris Churchill, The Buzz)
Despite strong tax receipts, New York's "fiscal health is tenuous" according to the state comptroller (Colby Hamilton, The Empire).
New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg has coughed up $50 million for the Sierra Club to help it shut down coal power plants (Elizabeth Shogren, NPR).
Business
Kodak is looking into the idea of selling off its digital technology patents - about 10 percent of its portfolio - because "the time is right" (Mike Dickinson, Rochester Business Journal).
The EPA says Tonawanda Coke has to cut benzene emissions by two-thirds (Janice L. Habuda, Buffalo News).
Verizon was under fire at a Buffalo City Council meeting last night, for not extending its high-speed FiOS service to more homes in the city's limits (Harold McNeil, Buffalo News).
Harris Interactive is shutting down operations in three Asian countries and trimming jobs in the UK (Mary Stone, Rochester Business Journal).
Where we live
Bank of America is tidying up a home that was targeted by a neighborhood "shame campaign," when the bank refused to take care of the foreclosure (Brian Meyer, Buffalo News).
The Rust Belt can't dress according to GQ Magazine - naturally the Rust Belt booster blog Rust Wire takes exception (Rust Wire).
All Over Albany is looking for help fielding a reader inquiry about when you say "Capital District," and when you say "Capital Region" (All Over Albany).
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