Buffalo news

• Despite unusual warmth, Christmas tree sales doing well

  11-12-2015 23:55 via wivb.com
  
  It isn’t beginning to look a lot like Christmas, but those shopping for Christmas Trees don’t seem to mind. Despite the warm and often sunny weather we’ve been having so far in December, tree sales are going great.
  “We’ve actually been a little better than normal, believe it or not.” explains Jeff Domin, the General Manager at Northtown Garden Center. ‘You know, the weather has been bringing people out, they’re really liking the idea of picking a t
  
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• DraftKings granted a stay to continue operating in New York

  11-12-2015 23:54 via wivb.com
  
  NEW YORK (WIVB) — An appeals court has granted fantasy sports company DraftKings a stay to continue operations in New York.
  The court ruled that the company may continue operations in the state less than half a day after a judge blocked the company from operating in New York.
  FanDuel remains barred from doing business in New York as per the judge’s decision.
  The companies argue their games are based on skill and are therefore lawful.
  
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• Report shows construction jobs booming in Queen City

  11-12-2015 23:41 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)- Recent employment numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics point to a massive upswing in construction jobs in the Queen City.
  “Momentum breeds momentum, and I think that’s why Buffalo is booming,” said Frank Ciminelli, Senior Executive Vice President at LP Ciminelli.
  But that boom didn’t happened overnight, he said.
  Ciminelli told News 4 the seeds to rejuvenate Buffalo were planted years ago. Now, we’re seeing the growth.
  “We
  
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• GOP unites against Trump, Carson threatens third party run

  11-12-2015 23:06 via wivb.com
  
  WASHINGTON (MEDIA GENERAL) – The remaining Republican presidential candidates will gather on Tuesday for their final debate of 2015 and are expected to sharpen their attacks against front-runner Donald Trump.
  The CNN debate, hosted in Las Vegas, will be the first time the GOP hopefuls have gathered together since the Dec. 2 terror attack in San Bernardino, California.
  Since the attack, several candidates have shifted their focus to security issues and have gone on the record abou
  
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• Honey’s reopens after brief shutdown

  11-12-2015 22:41 via wivb.com
  
  AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Honey’s Restaurant on Maple Road in Amherst reopened Friday afternoon after briefly being shut down by the State Department of Taxation and Finance.
  The State shut the restaurant down on Thursday, saying it owed them $43,000 in back sales taxes. The State reached an agreement with the owner Friday.
  During this time, the Honey’s on Niagara Falls Boulevard in Niagara Falls remained open.
  
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• DuPont, Dow Chemical seek merger, then 3-way split

  11-12-2015 22:33 via wivb.com
  
  DOVER, Del. (AP) — Dow Chemical and the DuPont Co. announced Friday that they are merging in a $130 billion chemical industry megadeal.
  The merger would combine two companies that sell agricultural products to millions of farmers around the world, and make a variety of chemicals for consumer and industrial products ranging from electronics, automobiles, and household goods to building materials and safety equipment.
  The all-stock merger calls for the two companies to combine as DowDuPont,
  
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• Police accuse man of four Niagara Falls robberies

  11-12-2015 22:21 via wivb.com
  
  NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) — A man accused of committing a string of November armed robberies has been charged.
  Niagara Falls Police say Devonte C. Faultersack, 19, robbed Chu’s Dining Lounge, Indian General Store and two 7-Eleven locations throughout the month.
  He faces four counts of 2nd degree robbery.
  
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• Another man arrested during Jamestown drug investigation

  11-12-2015 22:07 via wivb.com
  
  JAMESTOWN, N.Y. (WIVB) — As the investigation into narcotics sales and trafficking in the Jamestown area continues, police have made another arrest.
  The Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force along with New York State Police say they searched a home on Thursday and found drugs and a loaded gun.
  Specifically, officers say they found a .22 caliber pistol, heroin, methadone and other paraphernalia. The investigation revealed that heroin had been trafficked from the Stowe Street apartm
  
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• Cambria crash hospitalizes four people

  11-12-2015 21:48 via wivb.com
  
  TOWN OF CAMBRIA, N.Y. (WIVB) — A three vehicle accident in the Town of Cambria sent four people to the hospital on Thursday.
  The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office says a westbound vehicle driven by Ryan Kinder, 36, on Saunders Settlement Road struck a tractor and knocked it into a ditch before his vehicle struck an eastbound vehicle head-on.
  The tractor operator was not injured but the other two drivers were taken to ECMC. Two passengers in the eastbound vehicle were also hos
  
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• Crimestoppers offering up to $1,000 for information on armed robbery suspects

  11-12-2015 20:51 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Crimestoppers is looking for help finding information on two suspects involved in an armed robbery from November 21.
  Authorities say the suspects asked a victim for a ride in front of Mulligan’s Brick Bar on Allen Street before robbing the victim and forcing them to drive to a Bank of America ATM on Delaware Avenue.
  Anyone with information on the suspects is asked to call Crimestoppers at (716) 867-6161. The organization is offering up to $1,000
  
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• Police investigating Niagara Falls slapping, intimidation incident

  11-12-2015 20:31 via wivb.com
  
  NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) — Niagara Falls Police are investigating an incident where a mentally and physically disabled man was intimidated and slapped on video.
  The incident, which police have taken many calls for, took place at a Tops store on Portage Road.
  The male suspect’s name has not been released by police, but law enforcement officers refer to the victim as, “Billy.” Police are working on identifying the female suspect.
  “The victim is not homeles
  
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• Ex-NY Senate leader, son guilty of extortion charges

  11-12-2015 20:11 via wivb.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — Former New York Senate leader Dean Skelos and his adult son have been convicted of charges that the once-powerful Republican used his office to extort about $300,000 in salary and other benefits for the son.
  A federal jury in Manhattan reached the verdict Friday after a public corruption trial that featured wiretap recordings of unvarnished conversations between Skelos and his only child, Adam.
  Prosecutors said the tapes were proof the pair schemed behind the scen
  
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• Police: Prostitute arrested after bringing baby to meeting

  11-12-2015 19:35 via wivb.com
  
  AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) — Officers with Amherst Police and New York State Police charged a Tonawanda mother during a prostitution sting.
  Authorities say Ciara Steffen, 25, advertised escort services on Backpage. After negotiating a fee to perform a sex act with an undercover officer, the two, along with Steffen’s baby, went to a hotel in Amherst, according to police.
  Police say Steffen told the officer she would leave her 14-month-old child in the bathroom while engaging in the sex act.
  
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• Gowanda teacher no longer employed after student sees inappropriate images on device

  11-12-2015 19:30 via wivb.com
  
  GOWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) — A teacher at Gowanda Central School District is no longer employed after the school says a student was exposed to inappropriate pictures of the teacher on an electronic device.
  The school released a statement addressing the matter on Friday:
  “The Gowanda Central School District received a concern yesterday regarding a student who was exposed to inappropriate images of one of the District’s teachers on an electronic device. The District immediately address
  
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• Cuba and the US agree to re-establish direct mail service

  11-12-2015 18:59 via wivb.com
  
  HAVANA (AP) — Cuban and the United States say they have struck a deal to re-establish direct mail service, which was cut in 1963 at the height of Cold War tensions.Both countries announced Friday that they would launch a pilot program to test direct service. They gave no date for the permanent reestablishment of service but indicated that it would not be imminent, saying that technical, operational and safety aspects remained under discussion.
  The announcement came six days before the anni
  
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• UB studying new way to treat concussions

  11-12-2015 18:50 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – If you suffer from a concussion, it’s recommend that patients rest for a prolonged period of time and limit their physical exertion.
  A doctor at the University at Buffalo says you should rest, but patients need to get active as well.
  Dr. John Leddy, the medical director of UB’s Concussion Management Clinic is conducting a clinical trial to see if there’s a new way to treat the traumatic brain injury.
  “Initially everybody should rest right afte
  
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• Buffalo Springsteen tickets sell out in hours

  11-12-2015 18:34 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Tickets to see “The Boss” Bruce Springsteen in Buffalo have sold out, according to LiveNation.
  Tickets for the February 25 show at First Niagara Center went on sale December 11 at 10 a.m. and were gone within hours.
  Ticket prices ranged from $58.50 to $138.50 and were available online, at the First Niagara Center Box Office, and by phone.
  Each performance in the nine-week U.S. tour will be mixed for online release. This will be the group&rs
  
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• Weather Reversal: Enjoying the sunshine one year after the snow

  11-12-2015 18:26 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – While some people are missing the snow this winter, many people were out and about on Friday taking advantage of the warmer weather while it lasts.
  Enjoying the mild temps this week, it’s hard to remember that on this date last year, Western New Yorkers were digging out from yet another heavy snow.
  On December 11, 2014, several inches of snow fell very quickly during the morning commute after a night of heavy snow, bringing traffic to a crawl across the area.
  T
  
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• Accused Attica husband killer to be evaluated by third doctor

  11-12-2015 18:15 via wivb.com
  
  ATTICA, N.Y. (WIVB) — An Attica woman indicted on a charge of killing her husband will be mentally evaluated by a third doctor, as per a Wyoming County Court order.
  Charlene Mess was originally set to appear in court for a hearing on the morning of December 14, but the hearing has been cancelled.
  During a previous court appearance, two doctors said the Mess was not competent to stand trial — a decision that was disputed by Wyoming County District Attorney Donald O’Gee
  
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• “30 for 30” producer has the Bills in her blood

  11-12-2015 17:34 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) –   The 90’s Bills will be in the national spotlight on Saturday night. That’s when ESPN will premiere its “30 for 30” documentary about the team that went to four consecutive Super Bowls, but never won the Lombardi trophy.
  One of the producers on The Four Falls of Buffalo is a lifelong Bills fan and grew up in Buffalo during that era. Michelle Giradri Zumwalt, currently of Pegula Sports Entertainment and formerly of NFL Films, directed par
  
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• East Aurora woman killed in accident

  11-12-2015 17:28 via wivb.com
  
  CLARENCE, N.Y. (WIVB) — An East Aurora woman was killed after New York State Police say she was struck by a vehicle while in the middle of the road.
  Clarence resident Anna Maxwell, 22, was traveling east on Lapp Road before she struck Krista Hillman, 22, with her vehicle, according to State Police.
  Hillman was taken to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital and later transferred to ECMC where she died from her injuries.
  The accident is under investigation.
  
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• Schumer pushing for funding for new veterans’ cemetery in Pembroke

  11-12-2015 17:00 via wivb.com
  
  PEMBROKE, N.Y. (AP) — Sen. Charles Schumer says he’ll start pushing Veterans Affairs officials to make sure funding for the construction phase of a new national veterans’ cemetery planned for western New York is given a priority.
  Schumer says the cemetery planned for Pembroke is now in the planning and design stages, which are set to wrap up by the end of 2016. Schumer says the VA has yet to determine the funding for construction, scheduled to start in 2017.
  The senator is
  
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• Judge blocks DraftKings, FanDuel from operating in New York

  11-12-2015 16:37 via wivb.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — A state judge has barred daily fantasy sports sites DraftKings and FanDuel from doing business in New York.
  The order issued Friday by state Supreme Court Justice Manuel Mendez also denied attempts from the country’s two biggest daily fantasy sports to block the state’s attorney general enforcement action.
  Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has called the games illegal gambling based on chance, not skill. His office sued the companies in state court to force the
  
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• Bills vs. Eagles: 4 Things to Watch for

  11-12-2015 16:35 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – Four games to go in this Bills season, and the playoffs are on the line. Here are four things to watch for in the game:
  Every game is the playoffs: Not only do the Bills have to win to keep their name in the wildcard conversation. A lot has to go their way in other games around the league. Fans will be rooting for fellow AFC contenders the Chiefs, the Jets, and the Steelers all to lose this week.
  Shady throwing shade: It’s Running Back LeSean McCoy first time f
  
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• Two people escape a house fire on Buffalo’s west side

  11-12-2015 12:05 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – Two people are safe Friday morning, after a fire ripped through their home on Buffalo’s west side.
  Firefighters were called to a house on Normal Avenue around 3:15 a.m.
  No one was hurt.
  The fire caused $170,000 in damages.
  The Red Cross is assisting the two home owners.
  The cause of the fire is under investigation.
   
   
   
   
  
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• Syrian refugees arrive in Canada

  11-12-2015 09:26 via wivb.com
  
  TORONTO, ONTARIO (WIVB) — The first wave of Syrian refugees have now arrived in Canada, landing at Pearson Airport in Toronto.
  The Toronto Mayor, Canadian Prime Minister, other officials and Ontario residents have been preparing for this moment for months. Hundreds of Ontario residents are stepping up as sponsors for the refugees – helping financially to support travel costs, any expenses, find housing and schools.
  The Canadian government plans to welcome 10,000 Syrian refugees
  
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• Oklahoma ex-cop guilty of 18 counts in sex assaults trial

  11-12-2015 05:04 via wivb.com
  
  OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A former Oklahoma City police officer was convicted Thursday of raping and sexually victimizing eight women on his police beat in a minority, low-income neighborhood.
  Daniel Holtzclaw, who turned 29 Thursday, sobbed as the verdict was read aloud. Jurors convicted him on 18 counts involving eight of the 13 women who had accused him; the jury acquitted him on another 18 counts.
  He could spend the rest of his life in prison based on the jury’s recommendation th
  
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• Pedestrian struck across from UB South campus

  11-12-2015 02:44 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Police say a man crossing Niagara Falls Boulevard was struck by a vehicle Thursday night.
  According to police, a 20-year-old man was struck by a North Tonawanda woman who was turning from Main Street onto Niagara Falls Boulevard across from the UB South campus.
  A witness near the scene says the man was crossing between cars and ran into the path of the vehicle that hit him.
  He was transported to ECMC where he is listed in critical condition.
  No names have b
  
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• Digging for answers to a neighborhood mystery

  11-12-2015 02:28 via wivb.com
  
  TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) – The digging started Thursday morning on Carney Street in the City of Tonawanda, digging which could confirm what folks there have suspected for years: coal tar from an old gasification plant has seeped into their neighborhood.Officially the state Department of Environmental Management is digging under Carney Street to repair a damaged sewer line, but there are strong indications the excavation crew is going to hit coal tar that leaked into the ground from the old G
  
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• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle 2 movie trailer released

  11-12-2015 01:27
  
  The trailer for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle 2 movie has been released with scenes shot right here in Buffalo.        
  
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• Buffalo Teen Sentenced in Murder of 13-Year-Old

  11-12-2015 01:24
  
  Jean Sanchez will be sentenced today for the murder of a Buffalo teen in May 2014.        
  
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• Exclusive 1-on-1 with LeSean McCoy

  11-12-2015 00:20 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, NY(WIVB)–  When LeSean McCoy was traded from Philadelphia to Buffalo this offseason one of the first things he checked was the Bills 2015 opponents.
  He was happy to see the Eagles scheduled for a game in December. McCoy spent six seasons in the city of brotherly love but felt anything but love when he was traded by ex-head coach Chip Kelly.
  Early this week McCoy said he won’t shake Kelly’s hand prior to the game. Despite that he is looking forward to playing in fr
  
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• Lancaster man charged in fatal crash in Elma

  11-12-2015 00:02
  
  One person was killed in a crash on Girdle Road in the Town of Elma Wednesday night.        
  
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• Police investigate shooting & attempted burglary

  11-12-2015 00:01
  
  Cheektowaga Police are investigating a reported shooting overnight.        
  
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