Good morning! Here's your Wednesday Trail Mix:
Backlash from lawmakers over the governor's plan to let companies wiggle back into Empire Zones.
An upstate Greek yogurt giant gets big honors.
And we continue our Track Tech series.
Horse Racing
In our latest report for our Track Tech series, WEKU's Matt Laslo looks at the debate over synthetic tracks versus natural ones. You can check out the earlier reports in the series here.
A report by the Cuomo administration has accused the New York Racing Association of pocketing profits from bets and then trying to cover it up. NYRA's CEO has since been suspended (Ryan Delaney, WRVO/Innovation Trail).
James M. Odato of the Times-Union reports that the comptroller wants to see charges filed against scandal-plagued NYRA.
Politics
New York State Public Radio's Karen Dewitt reports that Democrats and Republicans are squabbling over campaign finance reform during an election year.
At least one state senator is asking Gov. Andrew Cuomo to think twice before letting certain companies back into the state's Empire Zone tax break program (Michelle Breidenbach, Post-Standard).
Erie County's five industrial development agencies have decided to team up to fight legislation that would limit their power (Stephen T. Watson, Buffalo News). Wondering what an IDA is? The Innovation Trail has you covered.
Speaking of IDAs, a report from the comptroller's office sees little linkage between job creation and the tax breaks given out to entice it (Associated Press).
Sen. Chuck Schumer says he's optimistic about the fate of 3,000 HSBC employees in downtown Buffalo after talking to the bank's CEO (Jonathan D. Epstein, Buffalo News).
Small Business
The Small Business Association has honored upstate New York Greek yogurt-maker Chobani with a national entrepreneurial award (Charles McChesney, Post-Standard).
The trendy 'cash mob' movement is coming to Syracuse this weekend - with a twist (Charles McChesney, Post-Standard). Our own Daniel Robison recently reported on cash mobs for NPR.
Manufacturing
A GlobalFoundries executive says he's doing his part to help the Capital Region's economy - he bought a $600,000 home near the Saratoga County chip plant (Michael DeMasi, The Business Review).
Xerox has inked a six-year deal with plane-maker Boeing. Andrea Deckert of the Rochester Business Journal reports that Xerox will help Boeing better manage its documents.
Still, despite the new contract, Xerox has announced layoffs (Matthew Daneman, Democrat and Chronicle).
U.S. manufacturing grew at its fastest pace since June (Associated Press).
Higher ed
Binghamton University's downtown complex is set to open in time for the fall semester (Nancy Dooling, Press & Sun-Bulletin).
SUNY brought its science-fair like showcase to Buffalo yesterday. The Innovation Trail's Daniel Robison reports SUNY has turned up its self-promotion efforts.
Odds and ends
Yesterday was May Day, an international event marking worker's rights. A march was held in downtown Syracuse (Charles Ellis, Post-Standard) and the Occupy movement returned to Albany (Times-Union).
A gas lease deal in Tioga County has hit a snag (Steve Reilly, Press & Sun-Bulletin).
Remember Knut, the lovable German polar bear cub? Well, a polar bear at the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester could be expecting, so get ready to be "aaawwed" (Alex Crichton, WXXI).
