UPDATED 8:30PM: For Viriginia State Senate update and Ukraine story update.

…And the World:

We begin today in Syria, where a plan to allow aid to reach the beleaguered city of Homs appears to be on the rocks.  Media outlets report that the government is not allowing aid workers to reach the city where hundreds of people have been trapped.  The US is demanding Syria honor the agreement.  Some say the entire plan, developed during talks in Geneva between the country’s warring factions, is a ploy by the Assad regime.

In Israel could Bibi be getting on John Kerry’s train?  Haaretz reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may be on the verge of accepting a framework for peace proposed by Kerry.  However, Netanyahu’s governing coalition is dependent on several parties opposed the plan.  The conundrum comes as a gambit by Bibi blew up in his face.

In Israeli potpourri, a veteran Israeli legislator is remembered by The Washington Post and apparently who Netanyahu’s son dates is a matter of public debate in Israel.

In the Ukraine, protesters reject a proposal by the Presidents to let the Opposition into his cabinet prompting a possible move to emergency powers.  Protesters have objected to the actions of President Viktor Yanukovych, which many perceive as too pro-Russia.  In any event, the ball is clearly in the President’s court.  Word has come that the President will scrap the law barring protests that started the uprising to begin with.

Tunisia approves its new constitution as Egypt General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi gets a promotion ahead of an expected presidential run.

The Feds:

President Barack Obama, who will deliver the state of the union tomorrow, wants to make 2014 better than 2013.  The Post reports that Obama will rely more heavily on executive action, something to which public does not object.  Another poll also has less than flattering news for Republicans, which oppose Obama’s executive plans.

Even as Republicans, particularly those hoping to pick up Democratic seats (and some who are not), soft opposition to expanding Medicaid, Republicans in Virginia, who only control part of the legislature, still say no.  A recount will decide control of the Virginia Senate while the GOP dominates the House of Delegates.  Now The Post’s Laura Vozzella says the GOP has conceded and Dems will control the state Senate.  Republicans lost all of the statewide races on the ballot last year.

Florida Rep Trey Radel, who was caught buying cocaine, resigned from Congress.  Seems a bit much…could he have just not run again?

Clay Pell, the grandson of Rhode Island’s Claiborne Pell and wife o Michelle Kwan, will enter the Ocean State’s open governor’s race based on invites going out. Rhode Island Public Radio assesses his chances.

Time is running out for New Jersey Republicans to find an opponent, even a sacrificial lamb to face Cory Booker’s bid for a full term this year.

And more cyber-snooping revelations that include the NSA, but appear more focused on its British counterpart.

The State of Things:

In Pittsfield yesterday party activists came face to face with the five people seeking to win the Democratic party’s nomination for governor and succeed Deval Patrick.  The event was sponsored by the Berkshire Brigade, a Democratic organization.

Meanwhile, Patrick discussed the embattled Department of Children and Families, which highlighted the agency’s failures.  But he said the high-profile Oliver case was a chance to reinvent the agency.  Patrick’s postponed State of the Commonwealth address has been moved to Tuesday, just before the State of the Union.

The Reminder has a rundown on the game of musical chairs triggered by Senator Gale Candaras’ announcement last week.  We would add Ludlow’s Chip Harrington jumped into the race Thursday night.

Present Mayor Richard Kos and former Mayor Mike Bissonnette remain at loggerheads over whether or not the latter’s files are backed up anywhere.

It’s true.  Springfield pols are joining twitter and it follows a statewide trend!

The Fourth Estatements:

A clear-eyed view on Ezra Klein’s departure from The Washington Post.

City Slickers:       

A transportation bond bill could include some cash for the inching-forward Union Station plan in downtown.  This comes on the heels of last Thursday’s hearing about rail service connection Springfield north, south, east, but not west.

MGM made its case the Massachusetts Gaming Commission last week.  In a related vein, as Business Improvement Districts face scrutiny, many are wondering about economic development (or last thereof) in downtown Springfield.

Council President Mike Fenton to announce his citizen committees today.

Twitter Chatter:

The State of the Union this year may be the last chance Obama has such an audience ahead of his presidency getting lost in the din of the race to succeed him. However, it also takes place after a year that was incredibly rocky, for the Bay State in particular. That was somewhat expressed in news that among First Lady Michelle Obama would invite Jeff Bauman, who lost his legs in the Boston bombing and one of the people who helped save his life, Carlos Arredondo. The latter is most recognizable for his cowboy hat he was wearing as he helped emergency personnel get the gravely injured Bauman to safety. The news was already widespread, but as they are guests of the First Lady, it seems fitting to award the tweet prize to her tweet that linked the announcement.

The First Lady invited some amazing guests to join her for the State of the Union. Read their stories: http://t.co/yfWB9A1wkN #InsideSOTU

— FLOTUS (@FLOTUS) January 27, 2014