Kate O'Connell

Kodak is set to sell its coal-fired power plant at Eastman Business Park to a company that will convert it to a cleaner, natural gas facility.

The department of Health and Human Services awarded more than $5 million to school-based health centers in New York state this week. The funding is part of an $80 million dollar pot distributed to 197 centers around the nation.

The sale of the Hickey Freeman parent company was approved by the U.S Bankruptcy Court Wednesday. Authentic Brands Groups (ABG) and W-Diamond Corporation have been given the go ahead to purchase the intellectual and physical property of the company.

Fifteen teams of students from the Rochester Institute of Technology, led by faculty, will develop technologies for assisting people with disabilities in the region.

Kodak has reached an agreement for the sale of their digital patent portfolio. Under the agreement, the company will receive $525 million for the imaging patents from Intellectual Ventures, a major holder of US patents, and a group of 12 licensees.

A new facility in upstate New York is being touted as the ‘bridge’ from research to stem cell therapies that could potentially cure conditions like cancer, Alzheimer’s, and spinal damage.

The Northeast rail corridor will see shorter travel times and be more reliable. Through a new 25-year lease, Amtrak has taken control of a busy stretch of track leading to the capital region.

The number of women graduating from computer science degrees has more than halved since the 1980s. One computer scientists recently spoke to students at the Rochester Institute of Technology and told them that women have to be included in the field to boost the economy, and to encourage equality.

The industry around the scientific fields of optics and photonics has a strong presence in upstate New York. Monroe County alone is home to around 50 companies working in the field that is behind things like lasers, smart phones, and the Internet.

Closing the gap between innovation and commercialization is the key to boosting the national economy. That is one of the messages at a manufacturing summit being held in Rochester this week.  Industry leaders say economic growth triggered by American ideas needs to be kept within the United States' borders.

New legislation would allow 55,000 thousand green cards to be earmarked for foreign graduates of U.S. universities with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering and math has made it through the House of Representatives. But the bill still has an uphill battle ahead.

A General Motors facility in western New York has announced they are going green. The site in Lockport makes heating and air conditioning components for GM radiators and is the 103rd facility for the company to become landfill-free.

Using a now-familiar travel routine, Governor Andrew Cuomo made his sixth tour of New York's regions to monitor the progress of projects funded through the Regional Economic Development Councils (REDC).

Personal income growth in New York state remained below the national average in 2011, a new report shows. Figures from the Bureau of Economic Analysis show growth in some areas of New York were almost 2 percentage points below the national average of 5.2 percent.

An upstate school is adding a structure that generates its own energy, heating and cooling using renewable energy sources for its teaching spaces. The Harley School in Rochester broke ground on the $3 million project Monday.

An upstate company has developed a system for motorcycle helmets that could have applications for both defensive driving and sports. A system of sensors alerts riders when the helmet has damage that might not be visible, but could compromise safety.

The success of the burgeoning yogurt industry has helped the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) be named the Industrial Development Agency of the year in upstate New York, for their work in developing the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park in Batavia.

Upstate communities are reaching out to women working in the sustainable economy. This week, community group Greenworks Buffalo Niagara hosted the first in a series of events for  "green" women, and many are still bumping their heads against the glass ceiling.

Cybersecurity and technology companies have converged on upstate New York for the HackerFest technology trade show this week. And new technologies are emerging to step up security and pre-empt the strategies of cyber criminals.

Business leaders and IT professionals from across the Northeast will come together to learn about the latest developments in cybersecurity at the HackerFest trade show in upstate New York.

Upstate social work programs are aiming to provide better rural services for veterans and their families. Universities from across upstate New York, including in Rochester, Buffalo, Albany and Syracuse, are taking part in a program funded by the Department of Health and Human Services to train students in remote areas.

Kodak has launched a free iPhone app to help photography enthusiasts in the U.S and Europe work with their film stock.

The Rochester Institute of Technology has launched a venture fund to help boost economic development in the region. Businesses with ties to the university will be eligible for funding through the fund.

Mercy Flight Central, an upstate medical air service, shut down operations while hurricane Sandy blew over. Due to high wind warnings, they were not able to fly patients.

Cornell University and IBM have announced the winner of a competition involving the Watson computer, made famous by a recent win on the TV show Jeopardy. Students involved in the 48-hour competition put forward ideas for new ways to use the computer.

Senator Charles Schumer says a new center to open in Rochester will be a model for cities all over the state and the nation. He made the statement at the launch of the new center for urban entrepreneurship in the city.

A return to normal winter weather means New Yorkers can expect to see a rise in their heating bills. Those using natural gas to heat their homes will see higher bills despite a 12 percent drop in pricing.

Student debt levels rose by five percent last year according to a study by the Institute for College Access and Success.

Eight companies will share in $4.2 million to help streamline patient care coordination and medical record sharing in New York state. The early-to-middle stage health IT companies will receive up to $300,000 each.

A western New York photonics manufacturing company has received a $973,000 grant from the National Institute of Health. The two year grant awarded to Lumetrics, is for the development of a clinically tested retinal imaging tool prototype.