Good morning. Here's your Wednesday Trail Mix:
The lieutenant governor won big on the ponies last year, tax returns show.
America seems to have too much natural gas on its hands, but the fight continues over fracking in New York.
A Rochester brewery gets county help for a planned upgrade.
And: What could the trend toward urban living mean for the suburbs?
Energy
There's been a major increase in natural gas production in America, and now the markets are having trouble figuring out what to do with it all (John Ydstie, NPR).
An historic preservation group has weighed in on fracking (Karen Dewitt, New York State Public Radio).
Gannett Albany reporter Jon Campbell has this story about how an Ithaca-based organization is fueling the fight against fracking.
Central New Yorkers argued Tuesday for the shutdown of the Fitzpatrick nuclear power plant in Scriba (Mark Weiner, Post-Standard).
Taxes
The lieutenant governor knows how to pick 'em. Bob Duffy's tax return shows a big day at Saratoga Race Course last year: $2,628 in winnings! Plus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been investing down in Texas (Joseph Spector, Gannett/Vote Up!).
Business
General Electric is on pace to meet its goal of hiring 1,000 veterans. Much of the thanks goes to one man, according to the Times-Union's Larry Rulison.
The latest survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows growth in manufacturing is slowing down, but the sector is still adding jobs (Ryan Delaney, Innovation Trail/WRVO).
Consumer confidence among New Yorkers is rising (Aaron Scholder, Ithaca Journal).
Small businesses seem to be getting a lot of attention from politicians recently. NPR's Tamara Keith looks into the reason for all the love.
Incentives
Tom Tobin of the Democrat and Chronicle reports Genesee Brewing Company has been given a tax break for its plan to add a museum and tap room at its Rochester brewery.
Empire State Development has given grants to six venture capital funds in the state. Traci DeLore of the CNY Business Journal reports the money will be used to seed investment.
Cities
The clergy seems to be taking the redevelopment of Buffalo's East Side into their own hands (Emma Sapong, Buffalo News).
The Empire State Future blog has this post about the future of suburbia. Young people renting in urban cores as opposed to buying in the 'burbs could mean big changes.
