Reporter Matthew Hamilton reports that a coalition has recently formed to help key environmental issues get to the floor of the state legislature. Assembly Member Brian Kavanagh of Manhattan is the chairman of the New York State Caucus of Environmental Legislators.

Reporter Scott Waldman reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo has not included any money to regulate hydrofracking in his proposed budget, and DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said the state isn’t planning to issue permits during the coming fiscal year, which ends in March 2015.

Reporter Brian Nearing reports that New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli praised Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to revamp the Brownfield Tax Credit program to curb abuses and target hard-hit areas where projects might not otherwise be built. 

Reporter Scott Waldman reports that state DEC Commissioner Joe Martens says that in the face of state budget cuts, his agency will shift people and resources in order to ensure the priorities are covered. However, two former D.E.C. commissioners worry that the agency will not be able to police the state’s environmental beat

The Press-Republican editorial board writes that Congressman Bill Owens has proven to be dedicated to the North Country and committed to finding bi-partisan solutions and thoughtful in his decisions. 

Reporter Chris Knight reports that plans for redevelopment and expansion of the only commercial marina on Lower Saranac Lake have been submitted to the Harrietstown Planning Board.
 

Reporter David Sommerstein reports that while the people who run New York’s department of agriculture and markets tend to have close ties with the state’s huge dairy industry, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has broken that mold in his nomination of Richard Ball, a Schoharie county vegetable farmer, to the post of agriculture commissioner. 

Reporter Bill Chappell reports that members of the House and Senate have reached a bipartisan agreement on a five-year farm bill that will end months of uncertainty for farmers and agriculture workers 

Reporter Andy Flynn reports that state Department of Transportation officials will hold a public information meeting on Thursday about the replacement of the Route 86 bridge over the West Branch of the AuSable River. 

Reporter Michael Anich reports that newly proposed state Department of Environmental Conservation regulations that aim to prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species at DEC boat launches would affect local waterways.
 

A staff report notes that the state has released a recreation management plan to increase public access to nearly 19,000 acres of conservation easement land in the Adirondacks formerly owned by International Paper. 

Reporter Amanda Purcell reports that local control of proceeds from the sale of 20 megawatts of hydropower could be included in the review of a 2003 relicensing settlement between St. Lawrence County municipalities and the New York Power Authority to operate the St. Lawrence-FDR power dam in Massena. 

Reporter Ben Rowe reports  that a lack of transparency about the materials riding the rails through North Country neighborhoods is a concern for Essex County Emergency Services Battalion Coordinator Dan Benoit. 

The Times Union editorial board writes that the  federal government, with the involvement of entities like the Adirondack Council, must keep the wireless industry in check while clearing a path to a nationwide broadband public safety network.
 

Reporter David Sommerstein reports that U.S. and Canadian agencies have made an unprecedented joint call for tough new safety rules for train cars carrying crude oil.  The tankers in question travel through North Country towns where speed limits have recently been increased. 

Reporter Ted Booker reports that the Adirondack Council is dissatisfied that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed budget has largely withheld funding increases from environmental agencies during a time when the state is working toward a $2 billion surplus.
 

Reporter Kim Smith Dedam reports that the plan for NYCO Minerals to test mine on state land has been called into question by environmental groups.
 

A staff report notes that the Lake George Association has announced it has received $10,000 from the Helen and Ritter Shumway Foundation. The funding will help support the LGA’s floating classroom program as well as asian clam management efforts. 

A staff report notes that the state has released a recreation management plan to increase public access to nearly 19,000 acres of conservation easement land in the Adirondacks formerly owned by International Paper. 

Reporter Keith Lobdell reports that four Adirondack environmental advocacy groups have joined Earthjustice to state a belief that any mining operations by NYCO Minerals on the Lewis property known as Lot 8 would still be illegal under several state laws.

The Associated Press is running a set of stories on potential presidential candidates, which includes Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The reporter reviews the potential candidate’s "checklist" and finds that Cuomo is a little behind. 

Reporter TJ Pignataro reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo has proposed extending the Brownfields Cleanup Program by 10 years , with an emphasis on redeveloping upstate sites and will also include “important reforms to protect taxpayers.”

Reporter Jon Campbell reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s budget proposal is expected to propose a revamp of the state’s Brownfield Cleanup Program meant to crack down on abuse and target truly needy sites. Also, the budget will add $4 million to the state Environmental Protection Fund. Of note: The Poughkeepsie Journal also ran a version of this story. 

Reporter Jesse McKinley reports that a Siena College poll has shown that a solid majority of New Yorkers — 57 percent — were ready to re-elect Gov. Andrew Cuomo. 

Reporter Rick Karlin reports that environmentalists are launching a fight against a plan by New York state Senators to roll back or eliminate 2,000 "needless" rules and regulations on state businesses. 

A staff report notes that the League is calling on the state to renew the Brownfield Cleanup Program that is scheduled to sunset next year, as well as increase the staffing of the state DEC and increase the state’s contribution to the Environmental Protection Fund. 

Reporter Susanne Craig reports that the working relationship between Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Gov. Andrew Cuomo has gone from difficult to impossible, according to sources in the Capitol, and is beginning to seep into the operation of state government.

Writer Philip Terrie reviews the changes to "forever wild" land since the founding of the Adirondack Park that made certain areas anything but wild, adding that the NYCO land swap is the latest wrinkle in a "forever" that doesn’t really mean forever.

Reporter Mike Lynch reports that the state Department of Environmental Conservation has decided to remove Marcy Dam, which was severely damaged by Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011. 

Reporter Scott Waldman reports that a new Federal Communications Commission rule that could strip local and state governments of their ability to regulate cell towers is being met with opposition from a coalition of environmental and historic preservation organizations.
 

A staff report notes that U.S. Rep. Bill Owens announced today that he will not seek re-election this fall. 

Reporter Rick Karlin reports that lawmakers are calling for an overhaul of business regulations that echo Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s State of the State speech last week. 

Reporter Don Lehman reports that the state Department of Environmental Conservation has resumed sales of fishing, hunting and trapping licenses after a computer system upgrade. 

Reporter David Sommerstein reports that North Country Congressman Bill Owens is joining a bipartisan effort to require rail companies to retrofit tanker cars the federal government deemed unsafe years ago.  

A staff report notes that the state Department of Environmental Conservation is opening a historic Adirondack camp to the public for three weekends this winter.
 

A staff report notes that Congressman Bill Owens has announced that he will not be seeking re-election for the 21st congressional district in November. 

The Times Union editorial board writes that a more narrowly focused brownfield redevelopment plan would better achieve environmental and economic goals. 

Reporter Scott Waldman reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed education bond act, if it makes it to state ballots, would effectively kill off a legislative-proposed $5 billion environmental bond act this year. 

Reporter Jacob Tierney reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo in his State of the State address announced that the state would undertake a feasability study to determine if a major highway in northern New York could become reality. 

Reporter Brian Nearing reports that an unlikely alliance has formed to push Gov. Andrew Cuomo to reform the Brownfield Tax Credit Program, which is criticized as a cash cow for high-end developers rather than a helpful brownfield cleanup program. 

Reporters Thomas Kaplan and Jesse McKinley report that two days before his State of the State address, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a sweeping tax relief proposal that has something for property owners, businesses and upstate manufacturers. The proposal included a call for local governments to consider consolidating. 

Reporter Liz Benjamin reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s State of the State address on Wednesday showcases him at the peak of his power in the most important speech of his life. He’ll have to balance socially liberal-fiscally conservative profile he’s maintained since taking office in January 2011 while figuring out a way to keep varied key constituencies happy. 

Reporter Larry Rulison reports that the state Public Service Commission has approved seed money for a "Green Bank" to provide financing sources for renewable energy projects in the state.

A staff report notes that the New York State DEC has announced that proposal of new regulations that would prohibit hunting or trapping of free-ranging Eurasian boars in New York. 

Reporter Thomas Kaplan reports that a federal judge ruled on Tuesday that New York’s strict new gun laws, including an expanded ban on assault weapons, were constitutional, but struck down a provision forbidding gun owners to load more than seven rounds into a magazine. 

The Leader-Herald editorial board writes that the APA forged a delicate and hard-earned balance in the classification of the former Finch timberlands.

Reporter Pat Bradley reports that Adirondack Recreational Trail Advocates are facing opposition from the rail company in their quest to convert rail tracks in the central Adirondacks into a recreational trail. 

Reporter Daniel Flatley reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a major state-sponsored ad campaign promoting the regions winter sports on Monday.

Reporter Phil Brown reports that three green groups are questioning the APA’s failure to provide an analysis of the environmental impacts and legal ramifications of its classification of forty-two thousand acres of state land. 

Reporter Shaun Kittle reports that a resolution requesting that Franklin County help pay to print recreational guides for the Tupper Lake Chamber of Commerce was tabled at the last county board meeting.