NEW THIS MORNING

NEW THIS MORNING: * The state's legislative ethics panel found in its final investigation that ex-state Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. Put his uncle on the state payroll, which could result in another criminal charge, the Times Union reports: http://bit.ly/u37SQ0 * Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said his Democratic caucus may not support an expansion of Vegas-style gambling, particularly within the borders of New York City, the Daily News says: http://nydn.us/vTz6CV * City Comptroller John Liu has told supporters that he is not worried about a federal investigation into his campaign fundraising and assures them that he will not be implicated, the New York Times reports: http://nyti.ms/u5E8gK * NYPD police officers probed in the ticket-fixing scandal are being culled by the Bronx D.A.'s office, which could drop or alter cases since the cops' credibility could be called into question if they testify, the Post says: http://nyp.st/sZ7hv7 * A New York City lawyer behind the 2006 court case that boosted school spending is gathering evidence that the state is still failing poor students but he may avoid further litigation, Wall Street Journal reports: http://on.wsj.com/vW50t5 * Passengers stuck in a subway for eight hours during last year's Christmas blizzard are suing the MTA, with an attorney taking the case pro bono to spur the MTA to prevent such problems in the future, the Post writes: http://nyp.st/t128T7