Good cold morning. Temperatures across New York are quite low this morning, with the wind chill sending them well below zero. Stay warm!

On tap today:

At 11 a.m., Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and other elected officials will appear along side CWA to release a report on Cablevision at City Hall.

At 11:15, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and other lawmakers will attend a roundtable the Senate Bipartisan Task Force on Hurricane Sandy Recovery in Freeport.

Speaking of hurricane recovery, Gov. Andrew Cuomo at noon in Albany will hear recommendations from the NYS Respond and NYS Ready commissions in the Red Room.

The headlines:

The New York Times has obtained an early copy of the fracking health impact study from a source who felt it shouldn’t be kept private. The Times writes that it’s unclear how much original research the state did.

Gannett’s Albany bureau also obtained the document, which was dismissed by a DEC spokeswoman for being more than a year old.

The Wall Street Journal editorial board, which is very much in favor of hydrofracking, took Cuomo to task for not moving quickly enough on approving the process and holding the upstate economy “hostage.”

Unshackle Upstate’s Brian Sampson writes in The New York Post that the state needs to allow more design-build, streamline the environmental review process, and yes, expand natural gas development, in order to create jobs.

The fiscal cliff deal will raise taxes $579 a year on average for families making $50,000 and higher.

Cuomo at yesterday’s cabinet meeting described the fiscal cliff as “ugly ball.”

Just because Congress averted the fiscal cliff deal now, don’t celebrate just yet as more fights loom.

While the governor’s education commission recommended the consolidation of some of the state’s 700 school districts, such moves are very rare.

The Post’s editorial board likes some of the recommendations even while acknowledging their costs.

Cuomo told reporters yesterday that blame lies with local officials in the very few school districts that are yet to agree on the local criteria for teacher evaluations.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie “exploded” at a news conference after the House initially balked at holding a vote on sending aid to New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

That vote will now be held on Jan. 15 after wilting Republican criticism, with some aid being considered by Friday.

The Times’ Michael Powell takes a look at the changing tone from GOP officials over what was once considered a basic function of the federal government.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been released from the hospital after being treated for a blood clot.

Newsday’s Dan Janison writes that it’s “useless” for pundits-turned-armchair-doctors to link Hillary’s 2016 prospects to her health.

Even as some local officials cancel gun shows, Gov. Andrew Cuomo says a gun show should be allowed to go forward at the Empire State Plaza in Albany later this year.

It’s more or less official for Republican leaders that Joe Lhota is running for mayor of New York City, shocking exactly no one.

Bill de Blasio blasted likely mayoral rival Christine Quinn for saying she would keep Ray Kelly as NYPD commissioner.

Despite the approval — finally — of the latest farm bill, there’s still little certainty out there for farmers and those who depend on the rural economy.

The Poughkeepsie area is losing veteran lawmakers at both the state and federal level, along with their years of clout.

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