Buffalo news

• Targeting Teens: A new form synthetic marijuana is being used in WNY

  18-02-2016 23:15 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)- There’s a new wave of synthetic drugs hitting New York State. State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says it’s targeted at teenagers.
  The state has launched a television campaign warning parents and teenagers about the risks of synthetic marijuana.
  Western New York young adults are using the drug. News 4 surveyed 322 high school students and about 6.5 percent admitted to using synthetic marijuana.
  “I would’ve thought closer to 2
  
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• Qdoba’s first WNY location to open in Niagara Falls

  18-02-2016 23:13 via wivb.com
  
  NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) — The first of at least two Qdoba Mexican Eats restaurants now has a timetable for its launch in western New York.
  Corporate officials say the new 1520 Military Rd. restaurant will be owned on a corporate level, and will open with much fanfare on Feb. 25. Its grand opening will benefit the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, with 20% of net sales on that day benefiting the city’s only medical center.
  Attractions for those in the area will
  
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• Crews respond to downed helicopter in waters near Hawaii Arizona Memorial

  18-02-2016 22:28 via wivb.com
  
  HONOLULU, HI (KHON) — Emergency crews responded Thursday to a downed helicopter in waters near Hawaii’s Arizona Memorial.
  The Navy says that five passengers were safely recovered after the civilian helicopter went down in the waters of Pearl Harbor at about 10:30 a.m. today in the area near the Ford Island bridge and the National Park Service Pearl Harbor Visitor Center.
  Honolulu Emergency Medical Services treated a total of three patients. A 16-year-old boy was treate
  
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• Winner chosen in public art contest at HARBORCenter

  18-02-2016 22:09 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Western New York has voted, choosing the design that will be painted on the the loading dock doors of the northern end of HARBORCenter.
  The public art contest spanned multiple months from submission, to the selection of finalists and a one-month voting period. In the end, voters decided on a colorful depiction of Buffalo’s history.
  The yellow and purple project is set to showcase the city’s history with an optimistic view of the city’s future,
  
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• Local woman charged with physically abusing foster child

  18-02-2016 20:59 via wivb.com
  
  AMITY, N.Y. (WIVB) — A western New York woman is facing physical abuse charges for alleged crimes against children younger than 7-years-old.
  Police say they investigated Meagan B. Stadelmaier, 26, with Allegany County Child Protective Services after learning she may have abused foster children under her care.
  Following investigation, police say they learned one child sustained several bruises while under her care, as evidence of abuse. Police arrested Stadelmaier and charged her with
  
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• Meth, Ketamine and more seized as 4 alleged drug dealers arrested

  18-02-2016 20:29 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A collaborative effort between police in Erie County led to the arrest of four alleged drug dealers and the seizure of drugs and cash.
  Officers with the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, Buffalo Police and Amherst Police Departments worked together, acting on information to raid homes on Tyler Street in Buffalo and Sweethome Road in Amherst.
  Police say they located roughly $69,000 in cash, 25 pounds of marijuana, Ketamine and a large quantity of methamphetamin
  
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• Erie Co. DA continues to investigate possible sexual offense by Sabres’ Kane

  18-02-2016 19:57 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Buffalo Sabres forward Evander Kane has been making headlines in the last few months, but not for things occurring on the ice.
  The team suspended him for one game after missing practice on Monday, and Thursday, the Erie County District Attorney touched on an investigation into a possible sexual offense.
  Erie County Acting DA Michael Flaherty did not say much. He was not in charge when the investigation began in December, but says the investigation is ongoin
  
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• Niagara Falls boy battling terminal illness will meet his idol

  18-02-2016 19:51 via wivb.com
  
  NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) – A Niagara Falls boy has been fighting for his life since last summer. Shawn Kennedy, affectionately known as Baby Shawn has a terminal brain tumor. It’s called DIPG, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma.
  Baby Shawn’s mother was heartbroken when she heard the diagnosis, “It was devastating. It really was,” Nicole Vathy said.
  According to medical statistics, on average children with DIPG survive less than a year after diagnosis.
  Baby Shawn has
  
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• Amherst PD looking for missing man

  18-02-2016 19:20 via wivb.com
  
  AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) — Police in Amherst are looking for help finding a person who has been missing since Sunday, February 14.
  Melvin George, 26, is described as 5’10” and 180 lbs.
  Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call police at (716) 689-1311 or call 911.
  
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• Diocese of Buffalo launches $100 million Upon This Rock campaign

  18-02-2016 19:11 via wivb.com
  
  TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) – The Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo is calling on the Catholic faithful of Western New York to help move the Church into the future.
  The Most Rev. Richard Malone, Bishop of Buffalo, took to the stage at Cardinal O’Hara High School Thursday morning to publicly launch a $100 million capital and endowment campaign, called Upon This Rock. The campaign is unprecedented in its size and scope.
  “This endeavor will transform the way we support our missions and
  
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• Pope suggests contraception can be condoned in Zika crisis

  18-02-2016 18:46 via wivb.com
  
  ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) — Pope Francis has suggested that women threatened with the Zika virus could use artificial contraception but not abort their fetus, saying there’s a clear moral difference between aborting a fetus and preventing a pregnancy.
  Francis was asked Wednesday en route home from Mexico if abortion or birth control could be considered a “lesser evil,” when faced with the Zika-linked cases of rare birth defects such those faced in Brazil, where babies h
  
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• Pope on Trump: Anyone who wants border walls isn’t Christian

  18-02-2016 18:24 via wivb.com
  
  ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) — Asked about Donald Trump’s views on immigration, Pope Francis says anyone who wants to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border isn’t Christian.
  Trump has promised to build a wall along the Mexican border from Texas to California and expel 11 million people who are in the country illegally if elected president. The Pope’s comments en route home from Mexico came hours after he prayed at the Mexico-U.S. border for migrants who died trying to
  
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• Williamsville Dunkin’ Donuts closes due to rat infestation

  18-02-2016 18:16 via wivb.com
  
  WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Dunkin’ Donuts location in Williamsville has been temporarily shut down after a rat infestation.
  The store, located on Main St., was found to have rat droppings throughout it, according to findings by health inspectors.
  After the Feb. 5 findings, the Erie County Department of Health allowed the store to stay open, but store owners decided to remain closed on Wednesday to address the issue.
  The Health Department ordered the store’s owner
  
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• Buffalo Biodiesel to withdraw, vacate hundreds of judgment applications against local businesses

  18-02-2016 17:18 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — An agreement with Buffalo Biodiesel has been reached after claims that the company filed more than 600 lawsuits against small businesses in western New York and numerous bordering states, according to Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
  “Our legal system rightfully allows for parties to sue when a breach of contract occurs, but that right should not be used as a license to unjustly bully and intimidate small businesses,” said Schneiderman. &ldqu
  
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• Obama says Cuba visit will boost efforts to restore US ties

  18-02-2016 15:34 via wivb.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says his upcoming visit to Cuba will advance U.S. efforts to restore ties with the communist nation and improve the lives of Cubans.
  Obama will be making the first trip to Cuba by a sitting president in more than half a century. He says on Twitter there’s already been significant progress.
  White House deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes says the U.S. still has “serious differences” with Cuban President Raul Castro’s g
  
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• Wood stove causes residential fire in Youngstown

  18-02-2016 15:04 via wivb.com
  
  YOUNGSTOWN, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Niagara County fire is being blamed on a basement wood stove after officials responded to the scene early Thursday morning.
  Officials were at the scene on Lake Road in Youngstown shortly before 3 a.m. They say every occupant of the residence was able to make it out safely.
  It is not yet clear how much damage the fire caused.
  
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• Dealing with overcrowding on San Quentin’s Death Row

  18-02-2016 14:53 via wivb.com
  
  MARIN COUNTY, Calif. (KRON) — San Quentin sits in Marin County, California, on the banks of the San Francisco Bay.
  Behind the 22-foot high walls are hundreds of the state’s worst offenders.
  The prison is filling up fast. And the Department of Corrections is running out of room to house these inmates.
  So, KRON’s Alecia Reid took a look at the future of the prison, and what is being done to keep these criminals locked up.
  San Quentin is home to the largest death row populati
  
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• Canadian island welcomes Americans who wish to move if Trump wins

  18-02-2016 14:26 via wivb.com
  
  NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – A website inviting people to move to a small island in Nova Scotia, Canada, went viral Wednesday.
  CBIfTrumpWins.com aimed to appeal to Americans who might wish to move away from the United States if Donald Trump wins the presidency.
  “Hi Americans! Donald Trump may become the President of your country! If that happens, and you decide to get the hell out of there, might I suggest moving to Cape Breton Island!” the website states.
  Alongside scenic photos
  
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• Astronaut Scott Kelly shares pictures of Earth

  18-02-2016 14:18 via wivb.com
  
  INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Astronaut Scott Kelly is almost done with his yearlong stay aboard the International Space Station.
  Throughout his mission, he has shared some amazing views of Earth.
  Kelly tweeted several pictures this week, showing a snow-covered region, green and blue seas and even orange sands and a yellow desert.
  #ColorsofEarth Blue waters. #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/4yWGdFLRKE
  — Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) February 16, 2016#ColorsOfEarth Yellow desert. #YearInSpa
  
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• VIDEO: Road spikes stop man’s backhoe joyride on famed Florida bridge

  18-02-2016 14:11 via wivb.com
  
  MARATHON, Fla. (AP) — Officials say a 59-year-old man took a backhoe on a joyride across the famous Seven Mile Bridge in the Florida Keys, dumping boulders onto the road along the way.
  Monroe County (Florida) Sheriff’s spokeswoman Becky Herrin says in a news release that Carl Blahnik damaged the road and the sides of the bridge early Tuesday while recklessly driving along it for 90 minutes.
  She says deputies following him reversed direction several times to keep from being hit by the
  
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• Mother’s search for a kidney for her daughter goes viral

  18-02-2016 14:02 via wivb.com
  
  A North Carolina mother is on a desperate mission to help her daughter.
  Portia Devine’s daughter, Joanie, was born with a rare condition called cystinosis.
  “It forms like little sand spurs on the brain, liver, eyes, spleen, and kidneys, primarily the kidneys,” Joanie explained.
  Joanie had her first kidney transplant at age 16. That failed a year later. Her next transplant was at age 20.
  “I’ve never had a living donor,” said Joanie, &ld
  
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• ATF busts homemade hand grenade ring in Alabama

  18-02-2016 13:56 via wivb.com
  
  BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives recovered homemade hand grenades in the city of Birmingham, Alabama.
  Wednesday, ATF agents showcased some of the weapons and components used to make the destructive devices. Special Agent David Hyche says the ATF is doing everything possible to keep the dangerous weapons off the streets.
  “For us, we want to get the grenades of the street and make people safe and we want to get the manufacturer,” H
  
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• Paramedics attacked: What can be done to keep first responders safe?

  18-02-2016 13:54 via wivb.com
  
  BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — They were on their way to the hospital the day after Christmas.
  Two EMS workers arrived at Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport in Alabama to assist a woman who they were told was dizzy and exhibiting flu-like symptoms. No one had any clue that this patient would be so dangerous.
  They say what she ended up exhibiting was a gun, which she fired at least twice inside the ambulance.
  We tracked down that EMS worker. Paramedic Stuart Haywood was inside that a
  
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• ‘Mob Wives’ reality star Angela ‘Big Ang’ Raiola has died

  18-02-2016 13:46 via wivb.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — Angela “Big Ang” Raiola, the raspy-voiced bar owner who gained fame on the reality TV series “Mob Wives,” died early Thursday, nearly a year after being diagnosed with throat cancer. She was 55.
  Raiola died at a New York City hospital while surrounded by friends and family, said series producer Jennifer Graziano.
  A statement posted from Raiola’s Twitter account said she had “peacefully ended her battle with cancer.”
  “YOU
  
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• Toyota recalls 2.9M SUVs for possible seat belt failure

  18-02-2016 13:25 via wivb.com
  
  TOKYO (AP) — Toyota said Thursday it is recalling nearly 2.9 million sports utility vehicles, including more than 1.1 million in the U.S., because of seat belts that might fail in a crash.
  The recall covers RAV4 SUVS from the 2005 through 2014 model years, the RAV4 electric vehicle from 2012 through 2014, sold in North America, and the Vanguard sold in Japan from 2005-2016, the Japanese automaker said.
  Toyota says it’s possible the belts in both second-row window seats could come in
  
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• Researchers say potential to lose money is a more powerful motivator than potential to gain

  18-02-2016 13:12 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Some companies offer incentives to live a healthier lifestyle. Some even offer cash to keep off the pounds and researchers decided to see how well that works.
  In one scenario, a company awarded employees at the start of the month.
  Those who failed to meet daily fitness goals had their “reward” taken away. The other group of workers received daily rewards when they met their goals. The first group of employees did better.
  The researchers at the University
  
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• Bisons to offer ‘peanut-reduced seating’ for fans with allergies

  18-02-2016 12:23 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Buffalo Bisons are offering a chance for fans with peanut allergies to have “a worry-free ballpark experience.”
  For the second year in a row, the team will offer ‘peanut reduced seating’ for five home games at Coca-Cola Field. Certain sections of the ballpark’s club level will have a “peanut reduced” section once a month during the season.
  This is an increase from last year’s three ‘peanut-
  
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• Convicted former NY Senate leader files paperwork to collect pension

  18-02-2016 11:52 via wivb.com
  
  ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The convicted former leader of the New York state Senate has filed the paperwork to begin collecting a state pension of up to $95,000 per year.
  The office of the state comptroller confirmed on Tuesday that Long Island Republican Dean Skelos put in for his retirement benefits last week.
  Earlier this month a jury found Skelos guilty of charges that he used his influence to arrange payments and jobs for his son Adam. Adam Skelos was also convicted.
  The conviction automatic
  
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• Sen. Schumer to call for action on heroin epidemic

  18-02-2016 11:23 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – U.S. Senator Charles Schumer says heroin and talk are both far too cheap, and he’s calling on Congress to take real action to curb the growing heroin, opiate, and prescription drug problem here in Western New York.
  He is scheduled to be in Buffalo Thursday afternoon as he urges Congress to approve emergency federal funding for prevention, treatment, and emergency responders.
  This call for action follows an alarming period in Erie County, in which as many as 23
  
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• Sen. Schumer calls for action on heroin epidemic

  18-02-2016 11:23 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – U.S. Senator Charles Schumer says heroin and talk are both far too cheap, and he’s calling on Congress to take real action to curb the growing heroin, opiate, and prescription drug problem here in Western New York.
  He was in Buffalo Thursday afternoon as he urged Congress to approve emergency federal funding for prevention, treatment, and emergency responders.
  This call for action follows an alarming period in Erie County, in which as many as 23 people die
  
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• Apple standing firm against federal government order

  18-02-2016 06:26 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — From contact information, text messages to bank statements, our smartphones store countless pieces of personal information.
  “Apple, and this applies to Google and Androids, have been selling these phones with the feature that they’d be encrypted,” said Steven MacMartin, who is the director for Medaille’s Homeland Security degree program. “No one would be able to gain access.”
  That’s for personal privacy. Now, the issue i
  
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• One Seneca Tower up for “first bids”

  18-02-2016 04:18 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – Buffalo’s tallest building is back up for sale.
  Four months after, Pyramid Brokerage paid $28 million for it at auction, the owners of One Seneca Tower have issued a “first call for offers” on the building, and the offers are due next week.
  Red Door Real Estate owner, Renee Moran says it’s a strategy we haven’t seen here in Buffalo, but she understands why the owners are taking that approach. “The possibilities are endless, if you
  
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• Ingram Micro to be purchased for about $6 billion

  18-02-2016 03:15 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Chinese shipping company is buying a U.S. company based in California, but has an office in Amherst.
  Tianjin Tianhai says it will buy Ingram Micro, an information technology products and services distribution company, for $38.90 per share.
  It’s not yet known if the deal would influence job positions in western New York yet, but officials say U.S. operations in California would be largely left alone.
  The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2016
  
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• Woman sues US for $666 billion over ‘works of devil’

  18-02-2016 02:53 via wivb.com
  
  PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Shawna Cox, one of the original occupiers at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge who is now facing federal charges, has sued the US government for $666 billion.
  The counter suit seeks “damages from the works of the devil in excess of $666,666,666,666.66 Six hundred sixty six billion, six hundred sixty six million, six hundred sixty six thousand, six hundred sixty six dollars and sixty six cents.”Shawna Cox in an appearance in US Federal Court in downtow
  
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• Photos: Pope Francis visits Mexico, streams mass in Texas

  18-02-2016 02:48 via interactives.wivb.com
  
  TEXAS — Massive crowds congregated at the Sun Bowl for a televised Papal Mass.
  GALLERY | See the photo gallery here. 
  
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• Police officer uses sign language to talk deaf teen off bridge

  18-02-2016 00:45 via wivb.com
  
  RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – A Raleigh police officer used sign language to talk a deaf 16-year-old off the Rock Quarry Bridge over I-40 on Tuesday, according to the officer’s father.
  Raleigh police blocked all lanes near Rock Quarry Road starting around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.
  Police said the teen was on the bridge over the interstate, but would not provide any more details.
  The girl came off the bridge around 4:45 p.m. She was unharmed, police said, and was being evaluated.
  The officer, who i
  
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• Florida’s $1.5 billion jackpot winners come forward, say they played same numbers for years

  18-02-2016 00:42 via wivb.com
  
  TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — The mystery is over. We now know the names of the lucky Florida winners who purchased a ticket worth $528.6 million in the historic $1.5 billion Powerball drawing on Jan. 13.
  Melbourne residents Maureen Smith, 70, and David Kaltschmindt, 55, revealed on Wednesday that they are Florida’s mystery Powerball winners. The couple spoke at a news conference held at Florida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee.
  Smith said she picked the lottery numbers herself
  
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• Bhutanese families leave city after repeated break-ins

  18-02-2016 00:28 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)- He’s still getting used to the snow but for Dhan Kafley, Western New York almost feels like home; except for the break-ins.
  “They broke the door downstairs, down there,” his friend and translator, Kaji Sunwar told News 4 while pointing out the cracked door in Kafley’s basement.
  Kafley isn’t alone, several homes on Buffalo’s west side have been hit.
  “This has made us really insecure and it’s like stressful to everybod
  
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• Officer revived after alleged heroin overdose

  18-02-2016 00:18 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Buffalo police officer who had to be given multiple doses of a life-saving drug after allegedly overdosing on heroin last week, should have been drug tested twice since he joined the force nearly two years ago.
  News 4 has independently confirmed 26-year-old Michael Moffett, who was off-duty at the time, was given doses of Narcan by an on-duty officer.
  Now, he’s off the streets and recovering after his life had to be saved when he allegedly overdosed on hero
  
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