Gov. expected to push assault rifle ban

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Governor Andrew Cuomo will take his sky-high popularity into his third year with an agenda to ban assault rifles, raise the minimum wage, revive the still-slow economic recovery, and far more.

Cuomo's State of the State address Wednesday afternoon in Albany will set the stage for much of this year's legislative agenda, although the Senate and Assembly majorities are deeply divided on issues.

Cuomo's other priorities will include his effort to legalize casinos off Indian land to boost jobs and tax revenues and another to restrict the New York City Police Department's stop-and-frisk procedures that critics say impinge on civil rights.

Governors also traditionally use the State of State to launch a big surprise proposal, which the Democrat is closely guarding.

Cuomo will speak to the legislature at 1:30 Wednesday afternoon. It will stream live on www.wivb.com .