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?
Politics
After six years of political wrangling, Rep. Louise Slaughter's (D-NY) STOCK Act was signed into law by President Obama Wednesday (Jerry Zremski, Buffalo News). Unfortunately, Slaughter, who broke her leg recently, was unable to attend the White House ceremony.
Mitt Romney could coast to an easy victory in New York's April 24 primary, according to a new Quinnipiac poll of likely Republican primary voters (Tom Precious, Buffalo News).
Gov. Andrew Cuomo stopped by Buffalo Wednesday to pat himself and the legislature on the back for passing the new $135.2 billion state budget (WGRZ).
Transportation
The expansion of the Peace Bridge plaza in Buffalo received some lip service Wednesday. During Cuomo's visit to the Nickel City, he reiterated that the long-delayed project will likely begin this summer (Robert McCarthy, Buffalo News).
State government
New York State workers racked up 12.2 million hours of overtime in 2012. That's $469 million dollars in taxpayer-funded OT (Tom Precious, Buffalo News). Just go home, people!
The new state budget includes nearly $25 million for Niagara Falls State Park (Richard Baldwin, Buffalo News). Wonder if the fixes will be ready in time for Nik Wallenda's highwire walk over the thundering waterfall?
Rochester was graced by the presence of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Wednesday. During a rare upstate swing, Silver delivered a "progress report" on high-tech ventures first announced two years back (Zack Seward, WXXI/Innovation Trail).
Cuomo faces concerns about transparency after a Quinnipiac University poll found 76 percent of state voters are wary about recent major policy deals struck behind closed doors (Jimmy Vielkind, Albany Times Union).
Business
Kodak will try to avoid cutting retiree benefits, according to a motion filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court this week (Matthew Daneman, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle).
The Brookings Institution released a plan to help Syracuse boost exports (Ryan Delaney WRVO/ Innovation Trail).
Sports
Play ball! The minor league Rochester Red Wings kick off a new season today. With two straight 90-loss seasons, will the boys turn things around this year at Frontier Field? (Jim Mandelero, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle)
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