All Over Albany

Obama names Schneiderman to head mortage crisis investigation, Bloomberg praises Cuomo in Albany visit, Comptroller blasts NYRA, New York ranks 13 in teacher quality,judge rejects two mistrial motions in Mott murder case,movie to be filmed at T.U. Center

Andrew Cuomo called President Obama's SOTU message "a bold vision to strengthen the national economy, grow America's middle class, and protect consumers." [Record]

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman will chair a Mortgage Crisis Unit, announced in President Obama's SOTU last night, which will investigate risky lending and mortgages that led to the housing crisis. [Fox 23]

Michael Bloomberg came to Albany yesterday and had all kinds of good things to say about Andrew Cuomo -- especially about his budget. [NYT]

A legislative redistricting proposal to create a 63rd district would divide Albany County.[News 10]

A report report from the National Council on Teacher Quality ranks New York 13th in the nation in teacher quality. [TU]

New York State DEC wants to fine Buffalo Based U.S. Energy for allegedly polluting a brook in Alleghany State Park as a result of hydrofracking efforts in Pennsylvania [TU]

Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli blasted NYRA yesterday saying the organization says has failed to implement 9 recommendations from two previous audits and would squander casino gaming revenue. [Saratogian]

Cheating on the SAT would be a felonly under a new law proposed by a downstate legislator. [Fox 23]

Authorities have dropped charges against the man alleged to have started the massive gasoline leak that led to fires and explosions in Fort Edoward last month. [CBS 6]

Opening statements were delivered yesterday in the Troy voter fraud trial of Michael LoPorto and Ed McDonough. The Trial continues today. [YNN]

The judge in the George Mott murder trial denied two appeals for a mistrial on Tuesday -- one claimed that a dictionary was brought into the jury room and the other claimed one of the jurors went to middle school with Mott -- both of which were denied. Deliberations continue today. [TU]

A Saratoga County grand jury has indicted two men in connection with the kidnaping and assault of a teenage boy last summer.[TU]

He was out of prison only a couple of days but after a police chase that ended in a car crash he may be headed back. [TU]

A new amendment to Albany's proposed cabaret law would give residents some input. [TU]

New York State is giving out $30 million dollars to help small businesses, farms, homes, and not-for-profits that sustained flood-related damage. [TU]

Sheldon Silver says NYS lawmakers deserve a raise. Their last one was in 1999. [WNYT]

Representative Chris Gibson has raised 50 times the amount of campaign cash that his anticipated democratic challenger has raised. [Post Star]

E. Stewart Jones has joined Joe Bruno's legal team. [TU]

Former New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino will be a Gingrich delegate. And he's apparently speaking to Jimmy Vielkind again.[Capitol Confidential]

Scenes for a feature film about boxing will be filmed at the T.U. Center. [TU]

A Siena College professor has invented a product to keep basketball players from slipping on the courts. [YNN]