Buffalo news

• Convicted murderer, rapist granted parole

  27-05-2016 23:51 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)- Convicted murderer Thomas Kennedy has been granted parole from Clinton Correctional.
  He served 27 years of a 25-years to life sentence for raping, sodomizing, and killing a 9-year-old girl.
  In 1988, Erie County Court Judge Joseph McCarthy gave him the maximum time behind bars.
  “The only she did was cry out for help when the defendant forcibly imposed himself upon her. The defendant responded by stabbing her six times and cutting her throat,” Judge McCarthy
  
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• Suspended BMHA commissioner Mascia speaks out after being removed over racial comments

  27-05-2016 22:24 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Nearly a year after a racially charged conversation between Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority Commissioner Joe Mascia and a second person, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown announced he’s been officially removed.
  Immediately following the publishing of the racially charged comments on WIVB.com in July, the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority suspended Mascia, who served as the tenant commissioner. With the suspension and after a public hearing, Mayor Byron Brown
  
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• Suspended BMHA commissioner Mascia officially removed over racial comments

  27-05-2016 22:24 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Nearly a year after a racially charged conversation between Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority Commissioner Joe Mascia and a second person, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown announced he’s been officially removed.
  Immediately following the publishing of the racially charged comments on WIVB.com in July, the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority suspended Mascia, who served as the tenant commissioner. With the suspension and after a public hearing, Mayor Byron Brown
  
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• Cases taken away from State Supreme Court Justice amid investigation

  27-05-2016 21:40 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Amid an investigation into Steve Pigeon, one of the most powerful Democratic operatives in western New York, Supreme Court Justice John Michalek has had his cases taken away from him.
  Court officials confirmed Michalek, a Supreme Court Justice in Erie County, will not receive any new cases, in addition to having all his current cases reassigned. In the beginning of may, sources confirmed to News 4 an investigation into Pigeon expanded to encompass communications
  
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• BPD patrol stumbles upon underage drinking at Founding Fathers Pub

  27-05-2016 20:48 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Just one day after Founding Fathers Pub received new acclaim, making a list of the top bars to visit in America, Buffalo Police announced a full investigation into underage drinking at the establishment.
  Buffalo Police Department officers on patrol say they stumbled across what they described as a “disturbance” outside of the beloved Buffalo watering hole, leading police to enter. Inside, police described an underage drinking event, with about 30 und
  
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• Verizon, unions reach deal in principle for 4-year contract

  27-05-2016 20:03 via wivb.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — Striking Verizon employees may be back to work next week after the company and its unions reached an agreement in principle for a four-year contract.
  About 39,000 Verizon Communications Inc. landline and cable employees in nine eastern states and Washington, D.C., have been on strike since April. They had been working without a contract since last August.
  Labor Secretary Thomas Perez says the agreement is being written now and will be submitted for approval from union membe
  
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• Police: Drunk motorcyclist found with stolen plate, homemade registration

  27-05-2016 17:36 via wivb.com
  
  TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) — Police in Tonawanda pressed charges against a man who they say drove drunk on his motorcycle, but that’s not all.
  When police pulled over Town of Tonawanda resident Adam Nice, 42, for allegedly running through a stop sign, they allegedly found some things out of order with his vehicle.
  Nice’s motorcycle had a stolen license plate and a homemade registration sticker on it, according to police. Authorities say the plate was stolen from Kenmore.
  Police say
  
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• Mayborn USA recalls spill-proof sippy cups due to risk of mold

  27-05-2016 17:15 via wivb.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 3 million spill-proof cups for children between 4 and 12 months old are being recalled by Mayborn USA because of the risk of mold that could cause sickness.
  Ingestion of the mold can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and infections in those with compromised immune systems. Mayborn has received more than 3,000 reports of mold in the removable, one-piece, opaque valve of the cups, including 68 reports of children experiencing diarrhea, vomiting or other symptoms ass
  
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• State Troopers to crack down on drunk drivers this weekend

  27-05-2016 17:00 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — As they do with most holidays, New York State Police will be putting extra patrols on the road during Memorial Day weekend.
  Starting Friday and running through Monday, Troopers will try to keep roads safe during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. In addition to extra patrols, officials will also have sobriety checkpoints at various locations.
  State Police Superintendent Joseph A. D’Amico said, “On Memorial Day, we tak
  
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• Confident 9-day Jeopardy! champion causes divide among viewers

  27-05-2016 16:17 via wivb.com
  
  BURBANK, Calif. (WIVB) — A 9-day Jeopardy! champion is causing quite a stir among viewers for everything ranging from his snarky finishing answers to his clean-cut, suited appearance.
  Some Jeopardy! watchers love Buzzy Cohen, while others can’t stand him.
  The reigning champion has so-far amassed $164,603 in winnings as of Friday morning.
  A music executive from Los Angeles, Cohen has displayed a certain confidence in his abilities on the popular game show, leaving wager-less fina
  
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• Buffalo teen missing since Tuesday

  27-05-2016 15:08 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A teenager has been missing since Tuesday and Buffalo Police are looking for help finding her.
  Yiraida Sanchez, 17, is a student at Health Science Charter School. She is described by police as 5’1, 110 pounds, and having brown hair and eyes.
  Anyone who has seen Yiraida or knows of her whereabouts is asked to call 911.
  
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• Schedule of weekend events for Buffalo Marathon

  27-05-2016 14:06 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Thousands of runners are gearing up for the 16th annual Buffalo Marathon to be held this Sunday.
  Officials with the event expect to see more than 8,000 people from across the world take part in the event. Runners will come from 45 different states and 18 countries.
  This is the second year both the marathon and half-marathon races have sold out. Last year, more than $60,000 in race proceeds was donated to non-profits in the region.
  The Buffalo Marathon has one of the
  
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• Doctors use phones to monitor blood samples in hospitals

  27-05-2016 13:34 via wivb.com
  
  CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WIVB) — Doctors in Virginia came up with their own solution to a blood sample problem.
  Hospitals have tubing systems. That is how they send blood samples through the building for testing.
  A few samples at a hospital in the University of Virginia health system came back altered. The doctors proceeded to get their old phones out and put them to work.
  Now, hospitals around the world are using their technique. They’ve used the pneumatic tube system for years an
  
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• How to keep valuables after natural disasters

  27-05-2016 12:49 via wivb.com
  
  TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) — With all the tornadoes today and this we, now would be a good time for homeowners and renters to make sure they’re insured, before the unthinkable happens.
  With tornado season in full effect, no one is looking to have any of their valuables destroyed…let alone, not replaced.
  Homeowners and renters should invest in insurance to protect their valuables. Make a list of the items of value in your home and items with serial numbers.
  “Take photos,”
  
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• Rapper arrested in T.I. concert shooting that killed 1

  27-05-2016 12:38 via wivb.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — Police investigating a deadly shooting at a packed hip-hop concert arrested a rap artist Thursday, saying surveillance footage showed him stalking through the venue firing a gun.
  Roland Collins, who’s from Brooklyn and goes by the stage name Troy Ave, will face attempted murder and weapons charges, a police spokesman said.
  Four people were shot, one fatally, when a fight started Wednesday night in a performers’ lounge at a Manhattan concert hall where the star r
  
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• ‘Affluenza’ mom indicted on charges she helped son flee

  27-05-2016 12:32 via wivb.com
  
  FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — The mother of a Texas teenager who used an “affluenza” defense in a fatal drunken-driving wreck has been indicted on charges accusing her of helping her son flee to Mexico.
  The Tarrant County district attorney’s office said Thursday that Tonya Couch was indicted on charges of hindering apprehension of a felon and money laundering.
  Attorney Don Carter said he had no comment on the indictments because he’d just started representing Couch.
  Auth
  
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• Official: Beacon from EgyptAir crash detected, search narrows

  27-05-2016 12:28 via wivb.com
  
  CAIRO (AP) — A French vessel that joined the search for the EgyptAir plane which crashed last week killing all 66 people on board arrived Friday in the crash area, as Egyptian officials said search teams in the Mediterranean have picked up a beacon believed to be from the doomed aircraft.
  According to Egyptian security officials, the French ship is carrying equipment that can find flight data and cockpit voice recorders — the so-called “black boxes.” French officials coul
  
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• Memorial Day weekend events in WNY

  27-05-2016 11:00 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Parades and other events will be happening throughout western New York this weekend in honor of Memorial Day. Find a list of them below:
  PARADES
  Town of Marilla Memorial Day Celebration Parade — May 29th
  Time: 1 p.m.
  Parade line up begins at Cemetery on Two Rod Road and ends at Veteran’s Memorial.
  Clarence Memorial Day Parade — May 30th
  Time: 11 a.m.
  Begins at Clarence High School and ends at Clarence Town Park.
  Ceremonies in the Town Park
  
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• Women’s halfway house in Cheektowaga closing

  27-05-2016 05:53 via wivb.com
  
   
  CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) — For many years, the Canaan House served as a place for women to overcome their drug or alcohol addictions. But due to the lack of funding, the house will soon close it’s doors. The small halfway house in Cheektowaga will close on Tuesday after more than 20 years of service to the community.
  Merle Showers, the President of the Board of Directors for Canaan Ministries, says, “This facility is the beginning stage of once they dried out so to
  
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• Local concussion legislation sees little opposition from community

  27-05-2016 04:21 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A proposed law in Erie County meant to protect young athletes from head injuries is seeing very little opposition. In fact, it’s seeing very little attention at all.
  Thursday, members of the legislature hosted a public meeting to get input from the community about this bill, but the community didn’t show up.
  The bill would require coaches and referees to complete concussion safety courses- or face a fine of up to $200.
  The Erie County Health Department wo
  
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• Victim’s family: Suspected Anchor Bar gunman in police custody

  27-05-2016 03:32 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Buffalo man who has been behind bars since Saturday is allegedly the man police will link to the fatal shooting at Buffalo’s downtown Anchor Bar location, family members of 32-year-old victim Freddie Dizon said.
  The Friday shooting, which rattled many who frequent the Main Street restaurant, left Dizon dead, and another person wounded. Police immediately described the shooting as targeted, but didn’t immediately name a suspect.
  Officers appare
  
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• NCCC Thunderwolves chase first NJCAA World Series ring

  27-05-2016 02:52 via wivb.com
  
  SANBORN, N.Y. — Entering this season, under head coach Matt Clingersmith, Niagara County Community College baseball had made the NJCAA Division III World Series three times.
  This year, the Thunderwolves will make the trip to the World Series for a fourth time. It may be their best chance yet to bring home a ring for the first time in program history.
  With a 43-5 record (most wins in school history) and a 28-game win streak during the season (longest in school history) on the resu
  
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• DDDay 2016—celebrating advocates for those with developmental disabilities

  27-05-2016 01:58 via wivb.com
  
  NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) – Megan Bomgaars is one of the stars of the popular A&E Network series “Born This Way”, which is about how 7 young people with Down Syndrome cope with everyday life experiences.The show celebrates diversity, and Megan shared her life story with Western New York advocates for those with developmental disabilities for “DDDay 2016” at the Niagara Falls Conference and Event Center, Thursday.
  The 28th AnnualDevelopmental Disabilities Aware
  
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• Chautauqua County residents could soon be able to buy and use sparklers

  27-05-2016 01:30 via wivb.com
  
   
  MAYVILLE, N.Y. (WIVB) — Sparklers could soon legally be part of your next celebration if you live in Chautauqua County. The legislature gave the thumbs up to the measure, but it’s not a done deal just yet
  If this law goes through, you will be able to buy and use sparklers in Chautauqua county between June 1st and July 5.
  The law was passed with full support from the county legislature on Wednesday, but it still needs a final signature from the county executive.
  You would
  
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• Buffalo’s Founding Fathers cracks new list of top 18 bars in the U.S.

  27-05-2016 00:42 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — In a recent list of the top bars to drink at in all 50 states, watering holes from New York City to Washington D.C. were right at home, but one beloved Buffalo bar found its way onto the list.
  Regarded as one of the top places to visit in the Queen City for those of drinking age, Founding Father’s Pub is an all-American bar focused on the nation’s history. The barkeep is a witty and adept man who might issue a random piece of trivia to those sitting
  
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• Were players having sex on Catholic high school campus?

  27-05-2016 00:30 via wivb.com
  
  LANCASTER, N.Y. (WIVB) — In early May, a promotional company sent out a news release detailing a lawsuit set to be filed on behalf of two star players at St. Mary’s High School. The claim was the players were expelled for no reason, and the Buffalo Diocese refused to tell them why they were being punished.
  It turns out there’s a lot more to the story.
  Takal Molson and Cameron Dunning, both 17, were standout players for St. Mary’s, leading the local Catholic school to the
  
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• Two brothers admit to stealing $1.2M+ in sales tax

  27-05-2016 00:30 via wivb.com
  
   
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Two brothers admitted to stealing more than $1 million in sales taxes Thursday, prosecutors said. The two are from Texas, but owned more than half a dozen gas stations in Erie County
  The Erie County District Attorney’s Office officials say 52-year-old Ilias Maredia, and 50-year-old Latif Maredia of Stafford Texas, have admitted to stealing sales tax between 2008 and 2012.
  The brothers pleaded guilty to first degree grand larceny in Erie County Court. The
  
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• Discover Niagara Shuttle service provides free transportation for locals and tourists

  27-05-2016 00:30 via wivb.com
  
  NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) — Starting today locals and tourists now have a new way to get around the Niagara region for free.
  The Discover Niagara Shuttle is a hop on hop off shuttle that begins in Niagara Falls and goes all the way down to Youngstown. It will stop at 14 different destinations including the Niagara Falls Aquarium, the New York Power Authority, and Old Fort Niagara. It will operate from 9 am to 7 pm daily all the way through October 19th.
  The shuttle service includes 2 trol
  
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• Mercy EMS finds permanent home in Concord

  27-05-2016 00:12 via wivb.com
  
  CONCORD, N.Y. (WIVB)- An ambulance battle in the Town of Concord and the Village of Springville that started almost a year ago is finally over.
  Mercy EMS, the ground ambulance portion of Mercy Flight of Western New York, was trying to get a permanent operating agreement in the town, upon the request of town officials.
  Town Supervisor Gary Eppolito wanted Mercy EMS to replace Rural Metro. He said the company’s financial situation was affecting service.
  “We were at a poi
  
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