Good morning!

Don’t expect much by way of the schedule today considering it’s President’s Day and government offices for the most part are closed today.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is splitting his day between Albany and New York City today, with no public events scheduled.

Your headlines:

Gov. Cuomo is throwing his weight behind the “rape is rape” bill that would expand the state’s legal definition of the crime, a senior administration official tells The Daily News.

Not surprisingly, it looks like Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner is on the way out as Democratic Party co-chairwoman after sharply criticizing Cuomo’s pension smoothing plan.

Republican Sen. Mark Grisanti is considering switching parties in order to survive his heavily Democratic district.

Democrats are worried that 2014 could be a layup for Cuomo, leading some in the national press to dismiss his 2016 presidential chances.

In yet another confrontation with The New York Post, a photographer says actor Alec Baldwin called him a racial slur and threatened another one when trying to reach him for comment.

Cuomo last night conceded that the federal effort to hike the minimum wage to $9 has added new complexity to the debate and said he may revise his $8.75 minimum wage proposal.

The Post’s editorial board scoffs at Assembly Democrats backing the $9 minimum wage, saying that President Obama’s plan doesn’t stand much of a chance at passing.

With no deal in sight, a senior administration official says the state will impose its own teacher evaluation system on New York City, making good on an earlier threat from Cuomo to do just that.

The Washington-based firm that hired former Seneca President Robert Porter received millions from the Seneca Nation of Indians.

Mayor Bloomberg’s PAC has spent more than $1.4 million in the Illinois special election to replace Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr.

The Niagara County Legislature may be the latest local government to cast a vote urging the repeal of the gun control law known as the SAFE Act.

The effort to pass the $60 billion in federal aid to cleanup after Hurricane Sandy took significant political muscle from New York, Newsday writes.

As the state delays making a decision, groups for and against the controversial natural gas drilling method known as high-volume hydrofracking are preparing legal challenges.

A Post-Standard columnist urges us to look beyond the political dispute between Cuomo and Mayor Stephanie Miner and consider the difficult financial woes of upstate cities.

The state is trying to develop a variety of ways to limit congestion on the Tappan Zee Bridge while its replacement is being built, including cashless tolls.

In gearing up for the 2014, Rep. Steve Israel, the DCCC chairman, says Democrats can win the House.

Western New Yorkers may soon get their moment on the silver screen thanks to the film tax credit, officials there hope.

SUNY Downstate is turning to two familiar Albany PR men to help with the college’s image.

 

 

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