Buffalo news

• Murder Revisited: A look back at the killing of 8-year-old Jesse Powers

  03-03-2016 23:27 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The family of 8-year-old Jesse Powers is celebrating what would have been his 37th birthday. Its been almost 29 years since he was beaten and sexually abused in an abandoned boxcar in Buffalo’s Riverside neighborhood. Now the fight to keep his killer behind bars continues.
  David Hinchy, 51, was sentenced to 25 years to life in 1988 for killing Jesse Powers. Now he’s up for parole. For the first time in almost 30 years, family members a
  
  Read more

• Unusual winter temperatures keep insects active

  03-03-2016 23:24 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – The winter months are usually a quiet time for insect exterminators, but this season has been different.
  “There hasn’t been enough of a consistent deep freeze to suppress the population like it normally would.” explains Sean Magierski, Service Manager at Empire State Exterminating. “We’ve already had plenty of customers with ant problems, flying insect problems, etc. So my hypothesis is it’s going to be a very busy year in the
  
  Read more

• Man accused of shooting two girls with BB gun appears in court

  03-03-2016 23:17 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — After police say a local man fired a BB gun on 4- and 6-year-old girls as punishment, he’s facing serious charges in court.
  Steven Scroger was arrested earlier this week when an urgent care worker treating the girls told police about their injuries. Officials soon learned the girls are his soon to be step-daughters and filed felony charges against the Concord man.
  A judge read Scroger his felony charges, and brought his bail down from $75,000 to $50,000 du
  
  Read more

• Lackawanna fire victim identified

  03-03-2016 21:26 via wivb.com
  
  LACKAWANNA, N.Y. (WIVB) — A fire in a mobile home park claimed the life of a man in Lackawanna Thursday.
  Firefighters rushed to Van Wyck Street off South Park Avenue to see a trailer at Shamrock Mobile Home Park on fire at 11:20 a.m.
  Officials say they learned Angelo Rentas, 65, died in the flames, and have yet to release more details about how he died.
  An autopsy was scheduled to take place Friday. The fire’s cause is under investigation by officials.
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Fire claims life of man in Lackawanna

  03-03-2016 21:26 via wivb.com
  
  LACKAWANNA, N.Y. (WIVB) — A fire in a mobile home park claimed the life of a man in Lackawanna Thursday.
  Firefighters rushed to Van Wyck Street off South Park Avenue to see a trailer at Shamrock Mobile Home Park on fire at 11:20 a.m.
  Officials say they learned a man died in the flames, and have yet to release more details about how he died, or his identity.
  News 4 will update this story when more details become available.
  
  Read more

• Former Lancaster school employee accused of stealing $3,400 from district

  03-03-2016 18:37 via wivb.com
  
  LANCASTER, N.Y. (WIVB) — A former employee of Lancaster Central School District is accused of stealing more than $3,400 from the district.
  Lancaster resident Rhonda Greco, 47, was indicted on charges of grand larceny and ten counts of falsifying business records.
  She worked in the school’s Accounts Payable Department from 2009 until September of 2015.
  Greco is accused of using school money to pay for her personal NYSEG, National Fuel and Verizon Wireless bills ten
  
  Read more

• Buffalo man sentenced after May hit-and-run

  03-03-2016 18:11 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Buffalo resident, who in October admitted to a May incident where he hit a Louisiana man with a car and sped off, was sentenced Thursday in court.
  Carl Nye III, 30, will spend six months in jail for leaving the scene of the Elmwood Ave. accident.
  Adam Brown, 52, was crossing the street when he was struck by Nye’s vehicle. After Nye attempted to hide his vehicle, it was found an hour later in South Buffalo.
  Brown spent many months in a rehabilit
  
  Read more

• Romney calls Trump ‘phony,’ urges Republicans to shun him

  03-03-2016 17:42 via wivb.com
  
  SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney is charging into the increasingly divisive White House race with a verbal lashing of Donald Trump and a plea for fellow Republicans to shun the front-runner for the good of country and party.
  Romney will brand the billionaire businessman as “a phony, a fraud” whose “promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University” in a speech Thursday morning at the University of Utah on Thursday morn
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Woman accused of driving with homemade cardboard license plate

  03-03-2016 17:20 via wivb.com
  
  SPRINGVILLE, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Sardinia woman is facing a felony charge after Erie County Sheriff’s deputies say she was caught driving with a fake, homemade license plate.
  Deputies noticed the vehicle while on patrol on Springville. They say the vehicle driven by Amanda Schweickert, 28, had no front license plate and an imitation of a New York plate on the back.
  The license plate was made out of cardboard and painted to look like a real plate, according to deputies.
  Schweickert w
  
  Read more

• Bad Company, Joe Walsh coming to Darien Lake

  03-03-2016 16:58 via wivb.com
  
  DARIEN CENTER, N.Y. (WIVB) — Bad Company and Eagles veteran Joe Walsh are coming to Darien Lake this June.
  The rock superstars will perform along with special guest Steve Rodgers on June 7 at 7 p.m.
  Ticket prices range from $25.25 to $96.50 and go on sale Saturday March 12 at 10 a.m.
  Lawn four-packs will also be available for $76 and those interested can buy a concert ticket with theme park access for $16.75 in advance.
  Tickets will be available online at LiveNation.com and Ticketmast
  
  Read more

• Cheektowaga PD seeking man accused of burglary, grand larceny

  03-03-2016 16:42 via wivb.com
  
  CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) — Cheektowaga Police are looking for a man wanted for burglary and felony grand larceny.
  Crimestoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of Marquel Mack.
  Anyone with information on the suspect can call the Crimestoppers tip line at 867-6161.
  
  Read more

• Wegmans ranks 4th on Fortune list of Best Companies to Work For

  03-03-2016 16:07 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Fortune Magazine has released it’s annual 100 Best Companies to Work For list, and high up on the list is a Buffalo company.
  Supermarket chain Wegmans was ranked 4th on the list and highest among retailers.
  The 100-year-old company has appeared on the list for 19 consecutive years. It is one of just 12 companies that have been on the list each year.
  “When our people feel cared about and respected, they turn around and make our customers feel tha
  
  Read more

• Orchard Park woman nearly 4 times over legal alcohol limit during crash

  03-03-2016 15:47 via wivb.com
  
  ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WIVB) — A women has been arrested and charged with DWI after registering a .29 BAC overnight, according to Orchard Park Police.
  Authorities report that Corrine Gallagher, a 51 year old Orchard Park resident, struck another vehicle and fled the scene of the accident before being caught by Town of Hamburg Police. Authorities then returned Gallagher to the scene and she was positively identified by a witness and the victim of the crash.
  Gallagher submitted to field sobriet
  
  Read more

• Ex-priest who worked in Lockport pleads guilty to more child sex crimes after conviction

  03-03-2016 15:00 via wivb.com
  
  LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WIVB) — Fr. James Francis Rapp, a former priest who worked in Lockport, has pleaded guilty to additional child sex crimes after he was convicted in Oklahoma.
  Rapp worked in Lockport from 1979 to 1980, and also worked in Michigan, Oklahoma, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Utah. He was ordained in 1959 and taught in classrooms for 40 years across the country.
  In January 2015, he was charged with 13 felonies for 1st and 2nd degree criminal sexual condu
  
  Read more

• Buffalo State student chef comes to Wake Up! after Food Network appearance

  03-03-2016 14:39 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Buffalo State College senior and chef Lazarus Lynch served up some food on News 4 Wake Up! Thursday.
  He recently appeared on Food Network show “The Kitchen” last Saturday.
  See him show off his culinary skills with News 4’s Brittni Smallwood in the video above and see the finished result below:
  Check out Lynch’s recipe for Johnny’s Salmon Croquettes below. The recipe serves six people.
  Ingredients1 (14.75 ounce) can Al
  
  Read more

• Donuts spread message to end ‘R-word’

  03-03-2016 14:10 via wivb.com
  
  ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) – A local business is using donuts to “spread the word to end the word.”
  They want people to know the word, “retarded,” can be offensive.
  Rebel Donut is making “No R-Word” donuts as part of a national awareness campaign.
  For every donut sold, 50 cents will go to Special Olympics New Mexico.
  Media General contributors spoke with Special Olympian Ryan Hanson about it.
  “It’s not a joke. It offends other people,” he
  
  Read more

• Dogs brought in to sniff out bed bugs in California

  03-03-2016 14:04 via wivb.com
  
  (KRON) — There has been a major increase in bedbug infestations in the Bay Area of California, and the problem appears to be getting worse.
  However, one pest control company is bringing in four-legged helpers to help sniff out the problem.
  They are nasty little creatures, said Robert Gallo of Round-the-Clock Pest Control.
  “They’re like vampires,” Gallo said. “They hide out at night, they come out and feed at you, feed on you, and then go back out to their hidin
  
  Read more

• Scientists may be able to delay gray hair with gene discovery

  03-03-2016 12:38 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Researchers say they have uncovered the first gene responsible for gray hair in humans.
  The research came out this week.
  Hair graying is associated with aging. Scientists believe it happens when the body stops producing melanin, the pigment that gives hair, skin and eyes their color.
  They looked at thousands of men and women from different countries with different skin tones.
  The presence of this particular gene correlated with hair graying, especially for peopl
  
  Read more

• Police: ID of dismembered body confirmed as missing CA woman; dead husband named suspect

  03-03-2016 12:19 via wivb.com
  
  BRISBANE (KRON) — Authorities have confirmed that the human remains found in the Fremont marshlands at the eastern foot of the Dumbarton Bridge on Feb. 21 are those of missing Brisbane, California resident Shelly Titchener.
  The Brisbane Police Department also said in a release they have enough information and evidence to establish her husband, Paul Titchener, as a suspect in her murder. They said they are continuing to investigate whether or not he acted alone.
  On Feb.
  
  Read more

• Icy road may be to blame for sending car into Batavia home

  03-03-2016 11:37 via wivb.com
  
  TOWN OF BATAVIA, N.Y. (WIVB) — Authorities say icy roads may be to blame when a car crashed into a home in the Town of Batavia around 3:30 a.m. Thursday.
  The accident happened on Route 98 near Elba-Townline Road and closed Route 98 for a short time.
  Authorities say a gas meter was hit, causing a leak. The meter was since shut off.
  Homeowner Ron Robbins says he was sleeping when he heard a “loud bang.” He got up to check out what happened and saw that someone
  
  Read more

• Albion man accused of driving drunk before crashing into Batavia home

  03-03-2016 11:37 via wivb.com
  
  TOWN OF BATAVIA, N.Y. (WIVB) — Early Thursday morning, authorities said icy roads may have been to blame when a car crashed into a home in the Town of Batavia around 3:30 a.m. Thursday.
  Later in the day, Batavia Police revealed that they think alcohol was a factor as well.
  The accident happened on Route 98 near Elba-Townline Road and closed Route 98 for a short time.
  Homeowner Ron Robbins says he was sleeping when he heard a “loud bang.” He got up to ch
  
  Read more

• Highlights: Girls HS Hoops

  03-03-2016 05:50 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO N.Y. (WIVB)- The Lake Shore girls overcame a double-digit deficit to beat Williamsville South 58-54 and claim the Class A section title. The Williamsville North girls beat Orchard Park to take home the AA section title.
   
  
  Read more

• Mom charged with endangering kids when house catches fire appears in court

  03-03-2016 05:32 via wivb.com
  
  EAST AURORA, N.Y. (WIVB) — Kirsten Kelly, 28, appeared in front of a judge Wednesday night. Kelly is facing charges including third degree assault, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child.
  She was in East Aurora Town Court asking the Honorable Jeffrey Markello to postpone moving forward with the charges she is facing while Kelly and the father of her children are going through county court hearings and dealing with Child Protective Services.
  The agency took away K
  
  Read more

• Neighborhood gets spillover traffic from 198

  03-03-2016 04:37 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)- Buffalo’s Parkside and Hamlin Park neighborhoods are seeing different traffic patterns ever since the Scajaquada got slower.
  Humboldt Parkway resident Larry Williams says ever since the Scajaquada speed limit was dropped to thirty miles and hour more cars coming from the 33 are bailing out and exiting off the198, clogging up Humboldt Parkway, Kensington and Main Street. “We are part of the constituency. There is a problem here, within it, we need them to come to
  
  Read more

• FBI arrests Florida man in heist of $4.8M in gold from truck

  03-03-2016 04:34 via wivb.com
  
  MIAMI (AP) — The FBI has arrested a South Florida man in the heist last year of $4.8 million in gold bars from a truck along Interstate 95 in North Carolina.
  Miami FBI spokesman Mike Leverock says 46-year-old Adalberto Perez was taken into custody Wednesday at his home in Opa-Locka. Details about the charges and Perez’s alleged role in the robbery were expected to be released later.
  Court records didn’t list an attorney for him.
  The truck shipment of 275 pounds of gold bars was
  
  Read more

• Woman admits role in former boyfriend’s death

  03-03-2016 04:30 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Prosecutors say a 23-year-old Buffalo woman lured an ex-boyfriend into a reunion so that a gang member could kill him.
  Federal prosecutors say 23-year-old Alexis Mills pleaded guilty Wednesday to a conspiracy charge.
  U.S. Attorney William Hochul says that in 2011, Mills arranged to meet Amir Chambers at a Buffalo home. When Chambers opened the door, a person who was with Mills shot him in the head and killed him.
  Prosecutors say all those involved were members of
  
  Read more

• Obama to attend Rays-Cuba game in Havana on March 22

  03-03-2016 04:26 via wivb.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — President Barack Obama plans to attend the Tampa Bay Rays’ exhibition game in Cuba on March 22.
  Ben Rhodes, deputy national security adviser for strategic communications and speechwriting, tweeted the news Tuesday after Major League Baseball and the players’ association announced arrangements had been finalized for the game against the Cuban National Team in Havana.
  “It adds a great dimension to the trip, and it’s going to shine an even greater spotl
  
  Read more

• Alabama officer charged with murder in fatal shooting

  03-03-2016 04:20 via wivb.com
  
  MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama police officer has been charged with murder in the shooting death of a black man outside a neighbor’s home.
  Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey said Wednesday that state investigators have obtained a warrant for the arrest of Montgomery police officer Aaron Smith.
  “I will do everything in my power to protect a police officer who is operating within the law,” Bailey said Wednesday. “I will also use every ounce of my pow
  
  Read more

• Ben Carson drops out of debate, says there’s ‘no path forward’

  03-03-2016 04:04 via wivb.com
  
  MIAMI (AP/WLNS) – Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson is effectively ending his campaign after a poor finish across the Super Tuesday primaries.
  Carson says in a statement Wednesday that he sees “no path forward” to the nomination and says he will not attend Thursday’s Republican debate in Michigan.
  Carson’s full statement:
  I have decided not to attend the Fox News GOP Presidential Debate tomorrow night in Detroit. Even though I will not be in my hometown o
  
  Read more

• Report: Jared Fogle gained 30 pounds during 3 months in jail

  03-03-2016 04:01 via wivb.com
  
  INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Jared Fogle is spending almost 16 years in prison and he has already gained 30 pounds three months in, inTouch says.
  According to a story posted on inTouch, the former Subway spokesperson is not taking to prison life very well.
  A prisoner insider told the magazine that Fogle “really started packing on the pounds again, probably from depression.”
  The added pounds might be due to Fogle’s diet of cake, sugary cereal and other pastries, the source says.
  
  Read more

• UB basketball player finds a rhythm on and off the court.

  03-03-2016 03:35 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)- On February 12th, CJ Massinberg’s freshman season at UB hit a high note.
  The Dallas, Texas native torched Ohio University for 36 points. In 8 games during February CJ found his rhythm averaging 17.5 points.
  His sweet stroke isn’t restricted to the basketball court. Perched at the top floor of the UB Student Union CJ puts on a different kind of show for his fellow students.
  “Basically everyone in my family sings so we’re like a musical family and I wa
  
  Read more

• Bills break season ticket sales records already

  03-03-2016 02:38 via wivb.com
  
  ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WIVB) — Just a few months removed from regular season play, the Buffalo Bills are already making records.
  Topping last year’s incredible record-breaking ticket sales, Bills fans have already snatched up 52,000 tickets, marking the second straight season of 50,000 season ticket-holding fans.
  This is the fastest the Bills have ever sold season tickets, and a wait list is currently filling up for fans looking to purchase outdoor non-club seats.
  The Bills organiz
  
  Read more

• School cafeteria reopens, but rodents have not gone away

  03-03-2016 02:03 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – When the Erie County Health Department closed the kitchen at Buffalo’s Makowski Early Childhood Center, last week, due to rodent feces and 26 other health violations, the teachers say they had already made an issue of health conditions months earlier.
  “For months our teachers have been complaining about the unsanitary conditions at the school,” said an agitated Philip Rumore, president of the Buffalo Federation of Teachers.Rumore said the teachers
  
  Read more

• Relief at the pump meets increases in the aisle

  03-03-2016 00:46 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — While WNY residents are likely happy with what they’re seeing at the pump, the opposite could be true at their local grocery, well beyond double-digit increases thanks to events in 2015 and beyond.
  But while people are getting a break at gas stations, food staples at the grocery are what’s making up the difference.
  That’s a big change say experts with the Food Systems Planning and Health Communities Lab at the University at Buffalo.
  “Historica
  
  Read more

• Outrage over Evans Veteran Committee appointments

  03-03-2016 00:00 via wivb.com
  
  EVANS, N.Y. (WIVB)- Joe Gajdosz said he’s a victim of small-town politics, after being the only member of the Veteran’s Committee in the Town of Evans not to be reappointed.
  Gajdosz held the volunteer position for the last six years, and told News 4 the reason he was given the boot is because he supported the current town supervisor’s opponent in the last local election.
  Town Supervisor Mary Hosler told News 4 politics had nothing to do with it; when she took over in Janua
  
  Read more

• Caught on Camera: ECMC’s psychiatric patient’s rampage

  03-03-2016 00:00 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) —A psychiatric patient under care at the Erie County Medical Center went on a rampage injuring three mental health employees, and it was all caught on camera.
  News 4 Investigates first reported on this case a year ago. But now the shocking video footage was recently obtained by WIVB-TV through a freedom of information request.
  The incident happened June 15, 2014, about two years ago. But the reverberations are still being felt following inspections conducted last year
  
  Read more

Follow @Buffalo_News_US on Twitter!