Buffalo news

• PHOTOS: Winter weather strikes WNY

  18-12-2015 23:26 via interactives.wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — For the first time all winter, Buffalo and the rest of western New York will see some measurable snow.
  APP USERS | Click here to see the winter weather gallery here. 
  
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• Gallery: Winter weather strikes WNY

  18-12-2015 23:26 via interactives.wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — For the first time all winter, Buffalo and the rest of western New York will see some measurable snow.
  APP USERS | Click here to see the winter weather gallery here. 
  
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• Lewiston man accused of sex abuse pleads guilty in court

  18-12-2015 22:30 via wivb.com
  
  NIAGARA COUNTY, N.Y. (WIVB) — A local man accused of luring women back to his house to torture them with ropes and other devices pleaded guilty in court after the more than year-long case.
  Officials with the Niagara County Court system say Iver Phallen, who was charged with over 122 counts of sexual abuse, pleaded guilty to two counts of first degree assault and one count of second degree assault.
  The plea came just weeks after Phallen attempted to take his own life amid the tria
  
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• NYS commits to funding addiction hotline

  18-12-2015 22:07
  
  The Office ofAlcoholism and Substance Abuse Services agreed to provide fundingfor an emergency response team in Western New York, that would respond to calls from a proposed 24-hour hotline set up for people suffering from drug addiction.        
  
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• Sanders campaign: DNC is “attempting to undermine” campaign

  18-12-2015 21:42 via wivb.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The presidential campaign of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders angrily accused the Democratic National Committee of trying to “undermine our campaign” by barring it from a voter database Friday after a breach enabled his staff to improperly access information compiled by rival Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
  “Clearly, in this case, they are trying to help the Clinton campaign,” Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver said.
  DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman
  
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• Senate unanimously passes federal ban on microbeads; bill heads to Obama’s desk

  18-12-2015 20:28 via wivb.com
  
  WASHINGTON, D.C. (WIVB) — Local lawmakers helped lead the way for what could become a major environmental victory if President Barack Obama signs a recently passed bill into law.
  The U.S. Senate on Friday passed unanimously the Microbeads-Free Waters Act of 2015, following the lead of the U.S. House of Representatives, which passed the bill on Dec. 7, just over a week earlier.
  The bill, if signed into law by President Obama, will follow suit with laws already passed in a number o
  
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• Rollover accident in downtown Buffalo

  18-12-2015 19:53
  
  Two vehicles were involved in the accident on Oak Street near Clinton.The SUV rolled over.        
  
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• Obama says he won’t fade away in final year

  18-12-2015 19:53 via wivb.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Closing out a tumultuous year, President Barack Obama sought to lay the groundwork Friday for his last year in office by vowing not to fade in the background but instead use his remaining months to push longstanding goals to fruition.
  “In 2016, I’m going to leave it all out on the field,” he said. “Wherever there’s an opportunity, I’m going to take it.”
  In his annual year-end news conference, Obama portrayed 2015 as one of signifi
  
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• LIVE STREAM: Pres. Obama delivers a special report

  18-12-2015 19:53 via wivb.com
  
  WASHINGTON (WIVB) — President Obama delivers a special report.
  APP USERS | Tap here to watch live.
  
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• Niagara County Sheriff's deputy resigns following fatal accident

  18-12-2015 19:51
  
  A Niagara County Sheriff's deputy that was involved in a deadly crash in October, has resigned from the force.        
  
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• Shkreli resigns as Turing CEO after securities fraud arrest

  18-12-2015 19:17 via wivb.com
  
  TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Martin Shkreli, the pharmaceutical executive arrested Thursday on charges of securities fraud related to a company he previously ran, has resigned as the head of one of the companies he now runs, Turing Pharmaceuticals.
  He’s being replaced on an interim basis by Ron Tilles, who has been chairman of Turing’s board of directors since the company was founded late last year. In a statement Friday, Turing said that Tilles will continue to hold the board chairman
  
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• Car rolls over on Oak Street

  18-12-2015 19:01 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Two drivers had a real scare in Buffalo Friday morning near downtown.
  An SUV ended up on it’s roof in a rollover accident on Oak Street near Clinton Street.
  The accident happened around 9 a.m. Friday morning.
   
  
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• Program gives the gift of education and guidance

  18-12-2015 18:48 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – Volunteers gather at St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy in Buffalo to help local students with their academics and so much more.
  “To have someone be upset about your bad grades. To have someone to check your bad grades. To have someone that even cares that you’re getting grades is important,” Sydnie Perkins said. Perkins was part of the program for 7 years. She is now a senior at Canisius College.
  Perkins is just one of the many students who’ve
  
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• Holiday Valley hopes to open this weekend

  18-12-2015 18:34
  
  Holiday Valley hopes to open this weekend        
  
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• Erie County Highway Division ready for the snow

  18-12-2015 18:30 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – Winter weather is expected to arrive in parts of Western New York Friday afternoon ending this winter’s snow-free streak, and Erie County’s highway division workers are ready for it.
  “We have everything ready to roll. We have full salt barns, we have about 15,000 tons on hand right now,” said Erie County’s commissioner of highways Bill Geary. “Roughly about 40 plow trucks, ten high lifts, everything is in the winter operation.&rdqu
  
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• ‘Force Awakens’ pulls in record $57M on opening night

  18-12-2015 18:14 via wivb.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” has sent a box office record with an estimated $57 million from Thursday night shows.
  The Walt Disney Co.’s estimate on Friday easily surpassed the previous Thursday night record of $43.5 million by 2011’s “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.”
  The movie’s international rollout, which began Wednesday, has brought in a total of $72.7 million. That includes the biggest single day ever in the Uni
  
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• Congress OKs year-end budget deal, sends to Obama

  18-12-2015 18:05 via wivb.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has given sweeping approval to a year-end budget package that boosts federal agency spending and awards tax cuts to both families and an array of business interests.
  The 65-33 vote sent President Barack Obama a package combining $1.14 trillion in new spending in 2016 and $680 billion in tax cuts over the coming decade, a peaceful end to a yearlong struggle over the budget, taxes, and Republican efforts to derail his regulatory agenda.
  Obama will sign the measur
  
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• Medical examiner: Scott Weiland died from toxic mix of drugs

  18-12-2015 17:58 via wivb.com
  
  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Authorities say former Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland died of a toxic mix of drugs, which included cocaine.
  The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office released the cause of death Friday. The medical examiner also noted a history of cardiovascular disease, asthma and addiction.
  The 48-year-old Weiland was found dead on his tour bus in the Minneapolis suburb of Bloomington on Dec. 3.
  Weiland’s three-decade career included solo albums and a s
  
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• Santa to arrive by aircraft at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station

  18-12-2015 17:31 via wivb.com
  
  NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) — Coming out of a C-130 aircraft, Santa Claus will arrive at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station on Saturday morning.
  Santa will be at Hanger 707 with treats for kids at 9:30 a.m. Any military members, civilians working on base, retirees and their guests are allowed to come to the event. Anyone visiting will be able to follow Santa on a fire truck as he heads to the Falcon Club Café for breakfast. Refreshments, games and pictures with Santa will be
  
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• Nutrisystem buys South Beach Diet for $15M, plans relaunch

  18-12-2015 17:14 via wivb.com
  
  FORT WASHINGTON, Pa. (AP) — The weight-loss company Nutrisystem is buying the South Beach Diet brand for $15 million.
  Arthur Agatston, the Florida cardiologist who created the South Beach Diet and wrote the best-selling book by the same name in 2003, will join Nutrisystem’s science advisory board after its acquisition from SBD Holdings Group Corp.
  More than 23 million copies of the South Beach brand’s books are in print. Nutrisystem says it will expand that reach further t
  
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• Sabres’ Kane to host dinner for 50 children, take them on shopping spree

  18-12-2015 17:02 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Buffalo Sabres forward Evander Kane will be giving 50 children a tremendous treat by hosting them for dinner and then taking them on a shopping spree.
  Kane will host the dinner at Chef’s Restaurant on Friday before taking the kids shopping at Target.
  The children are from the Boys and Girls Club of Buffalo.
  
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• FDA proposes ban on indoor tanning for minors

  18-12-2015 16:35 via wivb.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal health officials are proposing a ban on the use of tanning beds for anyone under the age of 18, part of an ongoing effort to reduce skin cancers caused by the devices.
  The Food and Drug Administration proposal would also require tanning bed users to sign consent forms acknowledging the risks of the radiation-emitting devices.
  Last year the FDA required tanning beds and sun lamps to carry new warnings that they should not be used by anyone under age
  
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• Massive spill creates miles-long traffic jam in San Francisco

  18-12-2015 16:17 via wivb.com
  
  SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — Thousands of motorists were stuck in major gridlock after a massive spill shut down all lanes of the Bay Bridge into San Francisco.
  Breaking news-you can see the paint on westbound bay bridge past Fremont st exit @kron4news pic.twitter.com/s83qsbirUy
  — Will Tran (@KRON4WTran) December 18, 2015California Highway Patrol officers responded at about 4 a.m. to calls about the spill near the Fremont Street exit.
  Motorists were forced to exit the bridge at Fremon
  
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• House OKs year-end budget deal, sends legislation to Senate

  18-12-2015 16:00 via wivb.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has passed a $1.14 trillion spending bill to fund the government through next September.
  It’s a peaceful end in the House to a yearlong struggle over the budget, taxes, and Republican demands of President Barack Obama.
  The 316-113 vote sends the bill to the Senate.
  Senators are expected vote on the budget measure in combination with a year-end tax plan that gives breaks to working families and a wide variety of business interests.
  Friday’s action pro
  
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• Fiat Chrysler recalling nearly 56K Jeeps to fix water leak

  18-12-2015 15:43 via wivb.com
  
  DETROIT (AP) — Fiat Chrysler is recalling nearly 56,000 Jeep Cherokee SUVs worldwide to fix a water leak that can cause an electrical short in the power tailgates.
  The recall covers Cherokees from the 2015 and 2016 model years. Water can get into the tailgate control module, increasing the risk of a fire. The company says no fires or injuries have been reported.
  Fiat Chrysler says two customer complaints led to the recall.
  The Jeeps were manufactured from Feb. 18 to Sept. 10. Dealers will
  
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• Vehicle snaps utility pole in Chautauqua County

  18-12-2015 15:34 via wivb.com
  
  TOWN OF POMFRET, N.Y. (WIVB) — A driver struck and snapped a utility pole, bringing wires down across the roadway in the Town of Pomfret late Monday night.
  Dunkirk resident Samuel Spera, 53, was driving on North Road when he failed to negotiate a curve and struck the pole. The vehicle he was driving suffered extensive front end damage and was towed away.
  Spera was taken to Brooks Hospital and treated for minor injuries.
  
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• EU leaders vow to fight against terror

  18-12-2015 15:18 via wivb.com
  
  BRUSSELS (AP) — EU leaders have vowed to engage in an “uncompromising fight against terrorism,” and are calling for wide-ranging countermeasures.
  EU heads of state and government agreed Friday it is “crucial” to implement systematic and coordinated border checks to know who is coming and going, and said they would rapidly review proposals by the EU executive to clamp down on the illicit sale of firearms, especially high-powered semiautomatic weapons.
  Leaders of the
  
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• Ohio Coroner’s Office faces overcrowding due to rise in drug overdoses

  18-12-2015 15:13 via wivb.com
  
  DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – Montgomery County Coroner’s Office says it’s always been busy and that’s because it covers the autopsy exams for areas outside the county.
  But in recent months, it’s been filled to capacity because of the high number of killer drug overdoses.
  The coroner’s office currently has extra equipment to store bodies. Examiners are using outdoor trailers to meet the increased number of overdose (OD) cases, but they’d prefer to
  
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• Ex-3 Doors Down member to be sentenced for vehicular homicide

  18-12-2015 14:51 via wivb.com
  
  NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – Former 3 Doors Down bassist Robert “Todd” Harrell will be sentenced for vehicular homicide and other drug-related charges on Friday.
  Harrell pleaded guilty Dec. 11 to charges connected to a deadly crash in 2013.
  He could face up to 15 years in jail for the crash that killed Paul Shoulders Jr.
  The accident happened on Interstate 40 West in April 2013. At the time, authorities said Harrell was traveling at a high rate of speed when his 2011 Cadillac
  
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• Sa’fyre Terry’s wish goes worldwide, plans made to donate gifts

  18-12-2015 14:39 via wivb.com
  
  SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – The surprises keep coming for Sa’fyre Terry, receiving holiday cheer from all around the globe.
  On Thursday there was a parade escort by Santa Claus, police officers, postal inspectors, and crowds of other well-wishers all setting off from the post office, walking to her house with the latest shipment of holiday greetings.
  So far, the post office estimates Sa’fyre has received more than 400,000 cards and 10,000 packages.
  Sources close to her family
  
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• Fogle transferred to facility in Colorado

  18-12-2015 14:26 via wivb.com
  
  LITTLETON, Colo. (WISH) — Former Subway pitchman Jared Fogle has been transferred to a facility in Colorado, online jail records show.
  Just this week, Fogle was moved from the Henderson County Detention Center in Kentucky into the Oklahoma City FTC.
  According to the Federal Buerau of Prisons, Fogle was moved from there to FCI Englewood in Littleton, Colorado. It’s a low security federal prison with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp and detention cen
  
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• Horsefeathers and Hollywood Hanks Closing

  18-12-2015 14:23
  
  After more than 30 years in business, owner Hank Sontag has decided to close Horsefeathers and Hollywood Hanks.        
  
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• Hundreds of stores participating in Free Shipping Day

  18-12-2015 14:08 via wivb.com
  
  (WOOD) — Last-minute shoppers might want to get online to take advantage of Free Shipping Day on Friday.
  More than 900 retailers are taking part this year including Wal-Mart and Target. Many of them are also offering free shipping with guaranteed Christmas delivery.
  No minimum purchase is required to receive the free shipping.
  Some stores are also offering additional discounts on top of no charge for shipping.
  Find the entire list of participating retailers by clicking here.
  
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• Teenage hockey player dies suddenly in his sleep

  18-12-2015 13:40 via wivb.com
  
  WESTERVILLE, OHIO (WCMH) — An Ohio family is in mourning after their teenage son died in his sleep Saturday night.
  Lisa and Jim Knox are waiting to learn what caused the death of their son Thomas, a 14-year-old freshman at St. Charles Preparatory School in Bexley, Ohio.
  Thomas played for the high school’s junior varsity hockey team and had just played in a game Saturday evening. The Knox family says there is no indication at this point that playing in the game had anything to do
  
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• LeBron James’ courtside crash raises concerns for NBA fan safety

  18-12-2015 13:33 via wivb.com
  
  CLEVELAND (AP) — For years, NBA fans have been willing to pay thousands to sit courtside and watch some of the world’s most powerful athletes run and jump.
  Up close, there is nothing quite like the experience.
  On Thursday night, that thrill came with a heavy price.
  Chasing after a loose ball, Cavaliers superstar LeBron James crashed into the wife of PGA golf champion Jason Day, sending her tumbling violently backward from her seat in an incident that could push the league to consider
  
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• Police: Three accused of making meth in Cattaraugus County

  18-12-2015 13:23 via wivb.com
  
  YORKSHIRE, N.Y. (WIVB) — An investigation by the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, along with the Wyoming County Drug Task Force resulted in three people being charged in the Cattaraugus County town of Yorkshire.
  Alexander Toepfer, 25, Rachelle Fancher, 19, and Richard Fancher, 21, were charged with felony unlawful manufacturing of methamphetamine after Task Force members say they discovered the precursors to a meth lab on West Yorkshire Road.
  The three charged were arraigned and com
  
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• Knoxville super fans watch 817 minute marathon in preparation for Star Wars premiere

  18-12-2015 12:54 via wivb.com
  
  KNOXVILLE (WATE) – The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi and the long awaited the Force Awakens are all playing back-to-back at the Regal Pinnacle Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.
  The theater is one of 22 theaters that played a marathon for Star Wars fans as they prepare for the release in the next installment of the franchise. Star Wars: The Force Awakens did not open in theaters until 7:30 p.m. Thursday, but har
  
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• Security was ramped up for Star Wars premiere

  18-12-2015 12:31 via wivb.com
  
  WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The first showing of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” started at 7:00 p.m. Thursday. Movie theaters across the country ramped up security Thursday night for the Star Wars movie premiere.
  West Springfield, Massachusetts Cinemark Cinemas’ manager Gabriel Rodriguez told Media General Contributors that they would have security Thursday night for the Star Wars premiere. Media General Contributors saw lots of staff and police monito
  
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• Driver strikes double tractor trailer in Chautauqua County

  18-12-2015 12:12 via wivb.com
  
  TOWN OF POMFRET, N.Y. (WIVB) — A driver was hospitalized after striking a double tractor trailer truck late Thursday night.
  The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office says that just before 11 p.m., Jeffrey Camp, 41, was driving on Route 60 in the Town of Pomfret when he crossed into the northbound lane and collided with the truck.
  The accident closed Route 60 for several hours.
  Camp was flown to UPMC Hamot in Erie, Pennsylvania to be treated for his injuries. The driv
  
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• Pope approves miracle for Mother Teresa’s canonization

  18-12-2015 10:50 via wivb.com
  
  VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has signed off on the miracle needed to make Mother Teresa a saint, giving the nun who cared for the poorest of the poor one of the Catholic Church’s highest honors just two decades after her death.
  The Vatican said Friday that Francis approved a decree attributing a miracle to Mother Teresa’s intercession during an audience Thursday, his 79th birthday.
  No date was set for the canonization, but Italian media have speculated that the ceremony wil
  
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• Three-car accident closes Millersport Highway

  18-12-2015 05:28
  
  Three-car accident closes Millersport Highway        
  
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• Father of Lockport quadruplets suddenly dies

  18-12-2015 05:23
  
  John Mistalski, 42, father of quadruplets died on Monday in Lockport        
  
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• Is Tyrod Taylor the long-term answer?

  18-12-2015 05:13 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y.(WIVB)-  TYROD TAYLOR STARTED THE PRESEASON LOCKED UP IN A QUARTERBACK BATTLE WITH EJ MANUEL AND MATT CASSEL. HE WON THE STARTING JOB AND HAS PUT TOGETHER A PRETTY IMPRESSIVE 1ST SEASON AS A STARTER, BUT HAS HE DONE ENOUGH TO CONVINCE THE ORGANIZATION THAT HE IS THE LONG-TERM SOLUTION AT QUARTERBACK. TAYLOR WAS ASKED ABOUT HIS FUTURE IN BUFFALO, “THAT’S NOT REALLY MY CONCERN RIGHT NOW. I JUST GO OUT THERE AND PLAY, AND MY FOCUS IS ON TRYING TO WIN GAMES, AND LET MAN
  
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• Family ready for Christmas, displays illuminated house

  18-12-2015 04:57 via wivb.com
  
  LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WIVB) — One family in western New York is very ready for the holiday season — they’ve got thousands of LED lights to prove it.
  Santa won’t have a hard time on Christmas spotting the home, which is illuminated by decorations and lights. Each corner of the house has something to look at, including a tiny Santa in the window and a Grinch hiding out, ready to thwart the holiday fun.
  The family says they’ve been putting up the lights in the elaborate
  
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• Buffalo fan named first Fan of the Year for SI’s FanSided site

  18-12-2015 04:48 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — One of the largest supporters of sports in western New York received the honor of being named the Fan of the Year by a popular sports media organization.
  FanSided, a division of Sports Illustrated, announced on Tuesday that Dennis Gleason, a Niagara Falls, New York native, won the honor in the program’s inaugural year.
  Gleason, who has worked as a substance abuse prevention coordinator and as a youth pastor, is a die-hard fan of the Buffalo Bills and Buffa
  
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• Crash on Millersport Highway injures local woman, damages 3 cars

  18-12-2015 04:23 via wivb.com
  
  AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) — A local woman is recovering in the hospital after a serious crash on the Millersport Highway on Thursday evening.
  Police say three cars were involved in a crash after a 26-year-old’s vehicle collided with another vehicle heading in the same direction in a southbound lane. The crash collided into a northbound vehicle.
  First responders rushed the 26-year-old to the Erie County Medical Center to be treated.
  The highway was shut down for over two hours after t
  
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• Chad Johnson stops 44 shots in Sabres’ 3-0 win over Ducks

  18-12-2015 04:06 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Chad Johnson made 44 saves for his first shutout in nearly 21 months, leading the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night.
  Evander Kane, Jack McCabe and Jamie McGinn scored for the Sabres, who rebounded from Tuesday’s shutout loss to New Jersey.
  Johnson finished with the Sabres’ franchise record for saves in a regulation shutout. It was his fourth career shutout, and first since since March 21, 2014, while playing for Boston
  
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• PHOTOS: Fans dress up for Star Wars: Episode VII opening night

  18-12-2015 03:54 via interactives.wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)- Star wars fans in WNY dressed up to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens Thursday night.
  Smartphone and tablet users, click here to see the photo gallery 
  
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• 2015 Recap: In January, readers focused on rough winter conditions

  18-12-2015 03:53 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — During one of the harshest winters in recent memory, hundreds of thousands of western New Yorkers forced to travel through feet of snow relied on the news to get them home safe.
  In January of 2015, the most popular stories of the year focused on road closures and road conditions, along with weather updates. Although January didn’t hold anywhere near the punishing conditions that the Snowvember storm held, storms still had the ability to close the Thruway.&
  
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• Fans ready for The Force Awakens

  18-12-2015 03:50 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Hundreds of Star Wars fans are heading to theaters for the long awaited premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
  “Definitely more excited about the sequels to the films we loved as kids,” said Adam English, a long-time fan who watched all the original movies multiple times leading up to seeing the latest installment.
  English, his friend Joanne Pera and many others came in costume; dressed as their favorite characters.
  “There’s a resurgen
  
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