Buffalo news

• Pro skateboarder Donnelly returns to WNY

  29-06-2016 23:52 via wivb.com
  
  ANGOLA, N.Y. (WIVB) – Like many kids, skateboarding caught the eye of Angola’s Jake Donnelly at a young age.
  “Kids were doing it in school and on my street and stuff,” Donnelly said. “My dad would drop me off down there with my piece of crap skateboard.”
  A hobby transitioned into a passion and Jake quickly determined that skateboarding is what he was meant to do.
  “I’d take the bus all the way into Buffalo to skate because a lot of guys around here
  
  Read more

• Niagara Falls ranked worst city for retirees

  29-06-2016 23:50 via wivb.com
  
  NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) — A new study ranks a major tourist attraction right here at home at the bottom of the list for retirees.
  Bankrate’s study ranked Niagara Falls as the number one worst city to retire.
  The study looks at nine categories:
  cost of living
  weather
  healthcare costs
  healthcare quality
  taxes
  crime
  well-being
  walkability
  cultural vitality
  According to the study, Niagara Falls was dragged down by high taxes; cold, snowy weather and an above average crime rate.
  The ci
  
  Read more

• Number of homeless veterans in WNY drops to all-time low

  29-06-2016 23:39 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Western New York has seen a significant decline in the number of veterans living on the streets.
  “Many veterans are one pay check, one incident, one accident, one unplanned expense away from having their housing situation become a risk,” said Alex Lauer, one of the co-chairs for Stand Down.
  While the struggle exists for the more than 100,000 vets living in the region, the number of those who have actually wound up on the streets is down. According to
  
  Read more

• Updated Zika virus numbers in NY state, Health officials say stay away from places with local transmission

  29-06-2016 23:33 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) —  Year to date as of yesterday, there have been 334 reported cases of zika in New York according to the New York State Department of Health. Though the mosquito strain that transmits Zika is not in Western New York so far at least two people here have tested positive. (One in Erie County and one in Niagara County.)“So far in Erie County we have tested 98 people for Zika virus not all the test results are back because Zika virus can be complicated to diagnos
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Niagara Falls man accused of sexually assaulting child

  29-06-2016 23:32 via wivb.com
  
  TOWN OF NIAGARA, N.Y.  (WIVB) — A Niagara Falls man has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a child in the Town of Niagara, according to the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office.
  45-year-old Christopher P. Gordon was arrested on Friday in the Town of Lockport at 6 p.m. Gordon was charged with sexual abuse, criminal sex act on a victim under the age of 13 and two counts of criminal sex act by forcible compulsion.
  Gordon was committed to jail with bail set at $25,000. His n
  
  Read more

• Support grows for central ambulance dispatch in Erie County

  29-06-2016 23:30 via wivb.com
  
  There’s no central dispatch for ambulances in Erie County.
  Some towns do it on their own while others like the city of Buffalo rely on the county.
  But does it make sense to centralize such a critical function? And what would take to make that happen?
  Erie County has a very complicated system of answering emergency medical calls.
  There are 25 public safety answering points — all dispatch centers.
  Some emergency medical agencies are asking whether there’s a better way.
  “If
  
  Read more

• Stamkos spurns free agency, elects to re-sign with Lightning

  29-06-2016 23:03 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Two people familiar with the decision have confirmed to The Associated Press that Lightning captain Steven Stamkos is staying put in Tampa Bay.
  The people spoke on the condition of anonymity on Wednesday because the Lightning have not announced the decision. Details of the contract weren’t immediately available.
  The agreement was reached two days before the 26-year-old Stamkos had the opportunity to test free agency, where he was expected to command luc
  
  Read more

• North America leaders defend free trade, resist isolationism

  29-06-2016 23:03 via wivb.com
  
  OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — The leaders of the United States, Canada and Mexico pushed back Wednesday on calls for walling off their nations from free trade, arguing that more commerce with the outside world is inevitable and will deliver measurable benefits for their citizens.
  President Barack Obama’s meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto come at a time of growing isolationist sentiments, not only in North America. Britain’s d
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• NY-based explorers find 1868 schooner wreck in Lake Ontario

  29-06-2016 22:59 via wivb.com
  
  ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The shipwreck of a Canadian schooner that sank off Lake Ontario’s central New York shore nearly 150 years ago has been discovered, a team of underwater explorers announced Wednesday.
  Jim Kennard, Roger Pawlowski and Roland Stevens said they recently found the wreck of the Royal Albert in deep water off Fair Haven, 35 miles northwest of Syracuse. The western New York-based team said the 104-foot vessel was carrying 285 tons of railroad iron that shifted in rough co
  
  Read more

• TV personalities charged after baby’s positive cocaine test

  29-06-2016 22:55 via wivb.com
  
  ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (AP) — Two Tucson, Arizona, TV personalities pleaded not guilty to drug and child abuse charges after tests revealed there was cocaine in their baby’s system.
  The couple, 26-year-old Krystin Lisaius and husband Somchai Lisaius were in court on Monday.
  Oro Valley police said they were indicted on charges of possession of a dangerous drug, drug paraphernalia and child abuse on June 9.
  Krystin Lisaius worked at KGUN-TV, but her employment status now is unclear. Somchai
  
  Read more

• Disabled boy drowns in bathtub; stepfather charged

  29-06-2016 22:50 via wivb.com
  
  MORROW, Ga. (AP) — An Atlanta-area man has been charged with murder after his 11-year-old disabled stepson drowned in a bathtub.
  Clayton County police spokeswoman Sgt. Ashanti Marbury tells news outlets that Michael D. Smith of Morrow placed the autistic and physically disabled boy in the bathtub Tuesday afternoon and left the bathroom to check on three other children in the home. When he came back, the boy was submerged in the water and dead.
  Smith, who is a Clayton County public school t
  
  Read more

• Fire chief: Man saved from blaze by son’s cackling chickens

  29-06-2016 22:45 via wivb.com
  
  CREEKSIDE, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania fire chief says some cackling chickens turned out to be cock-a-doodle-do-gooders.
  Creekside Fire Chief Pete Yacovone says David Wells escaped from his burning Indiana County home at around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday after his son was awakened by his chickens. The chief says the chickens might have been startled by the fire.
  The son lives across the street and quickly ran to his dad’s house to wake him up.
  Yacovone says the chickens made “good smoke
  
  Read more

• British chaos means interest rates will stay low for longer

  29-06-2016 22:38 via wivb.com
  
  FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Savers will suffer longer with zero returns on their accounts. Home buyers, companies and governments will keep on borrowing cheaply. And questions will grow further about whether central banks are creating bubbles in financial markets by keeping interest rates near or below zero.
  The British vote to leave the European Union shook up markets and lowered growth forecasts for Britain and, to a lesser degree, the other 27 members of the European Union. Economists say
  
  Read more

• Miss Teen USA pageant replaces swimsuits with athletic wear

  29-06-2016 22:36 via wivb.com
  
  LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Miss Teen USA pageant is dropping the swimsuit portion of its competition.
  The Miss Universe organization announced Wednesday that the pageant will replace the bathing suit section with an athletic wear competition. The 2016 Miss Teen USA pageant will be held in Las Vegas on July 30.
  “This decision reflects an important cultural shift we’re all celebrating that empowers women who lead active, purposeful lives and encourage those in their communities to do t
  
  Read more

• McConnell bids to shelter GOP senators from Trump upheaval

  29-06-2016 22:35 via wivb.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is wrestling with an unenviable, arguably impossible task this election year: protecting Senate Republicans from the political upheaval caused by Donald Trump’s presidential candidacy.
  If he fails it won’t be for lack of preparation, hard work and cold-blooded political calculation.
  In many ways Trump’s polar opposite, the close-mouthed, deliberate, uncharismatic McConnell maneuvered into his dream job as majority l
  
  Read more

• Police: Man barricades himself in home with apparent paintball guns, later surrenders

  29-06-2016 22:24 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Buffalo Police were called to the first block of Schiller St. around 12:40 p.m., later sending in SWAT and Crisis Management teams around 2 p.m.
  At the scene, police said a man made threats and barricaded himself inside of his home. The man appeared to have armed himself with paintball guns.
  Around two hours after teams arrived, the man surrendered without any further issues.
  Schiller St. was closed during this time.
  
  Read more

• Erie Co. Supreme Court Justice Michalek resigns after admitting to bribe receiving

  29-06-2016 21:32 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Erie County Supreme Court Justice John Michalek has pleaded guilty to felony counts of offering a false instrument and bribe receiving.
  Michalek had his cases taken away from him and reassigned after investigators tried to figure out if he sought the help of Steve Pigeon to secure a job for two relatives. Michalek later confirmed that he did this during his guilty plea.
  Steve Pigeon is one of western New York’s most powerful Democratic operatives.
  Mic
  
  Read more

• Erie Co. Supreme Court Justice Michalek resigns after admitting receiving bribe

  29-06-2016 21:32 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Erie County Supreme Court Justice John Michalek has pleaded guilty to felony counts of offering a false instrument and bribe receiving.
  Michalek had his cases taken away from him and reassigned after investigators tried to figure out if he sought the help of Steve Pigeon to secure a job for two relatives. Michalek later confirmed that he did this during his guilty plea.
  Steve Pigeon is one of western New York’s most powerful Democratic operatives.
  Mic
  
  Read more

• Caller tackles wanted criminal, then calls officers

  29-06-2016 20:46 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Members of Crimestoppers are calling one person “not the normal tipster” for their unorthodox way of catching a wanted criminal.
  Steven Colella, 26, was wanted by law enforcement officers after they say he violated his parole. Colella, who authorities say has a “history of violence,” allegedly punched a woman in the face in front of a child.
  Colella, whose last known address was on E. Tupper St., was eventually spotted by someone who
  
  Read more

• Ramp from Porter Ave. to I-190 to close for several weeks

  29-06-2016 20:20 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A traffic detour in the area of the Peace Bridge is expected to last six to eight weeks.
  Starting at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, July 5, The ramp from Porter Ave. to I-190 northbound will be closed to traffic.
  A detour from Niagara St. to Ontario St., taking drivers to I-190 will be posted.
  The ramp closure will not affect drivers’ access to the U.S. Plaza of the Peace Bridge.
  
  Read more

• Harlem Road, Route 400 to close for days in West Seneca

  29-06-2016 20:08 via wivb.com
  
  WEST SENECA, N.Y. (WIVB) — Two major road closures will take place during the first full week of July as workers continue a project to replace the Route 400 Expressway bridges in West Seneca.
  On Wednesday, July 6, Harlem Road between Indian Church Rd. and Seneca St. will close around 9 a.m.
  On Thursday, July 7, the northbound lane of the Route 400 Expressway will close between Seneca St. and I-90, starting at 9 a.m.
  Traffic will be redirected with detours. Both routes are&nb
  
  Read more

• Local family desperately searching for daycare for their son

  29-06-2016 19:46 via wivb.com
  
  TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) – A Tonawanda family says their child was kicked out of daycare because he needs one-on-one attention.
  Lisa’s 4-year-old son Aiden has cerebral palsy.
  He’s been going to Ripen with Us Child Care Center in Buffalo for two years. Then last month, Lisa says a manager told her she needed to find an aide to help Aiden. However, they didn’t give her a deadline.
  The Tonawanda mother was working to find one, but before she could, they called and told her Ai
  
  Read more

• Lackawanna murder suspect found guilty of killing wife

  29-06-2016 18:59 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – The jurors hearing the case against Daniel Whiting have found him guilty of 2nd degree murder.
  Whiting was accused of stabbing his wife, Ashley, about 30 times last July while their two young children were in the room. Daniel and Ashley Whiting were both found with stab wounds, but police say they believe Daniel Whiting stabbing himself to make it look like another person was responsible.
  Jurors listened to closing arguments from the prosecution and the defense
  
  Read more

• Jury set to decide fate of Lackawanna murder suspect

  29-06-2016 18:59 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – The jurors hearing the case against Daniel Whiting are ready to discuss whether they believe he’s guilty of 2nd degree murder.
  Whiting is accused of stabbing his wife, Ashley, about 30 times last July while their two young children were in the room. Daniel and Ashley Whiting were both found with stab wounds, but police say they believe Daniel Whiting stabbing himself to make it look like another person was responsible.
  Jurors listened to closing arguments from
  
  Read more

• Man found guilty of 17 crimes after home invasion, drunken high-speed chase

  29-06-2016 18:46 via wivb.com
  
  WARSAW, N.Y. (WIVB) — A man was convicted of a plethora of felonies and other crimes after a home invasion and drunken high-speed chase in Wyoming County.
  In August of last year, Melvin Miller, 56, invaded his ex-girlfriend’s Town of Bennington home. After receiving calls about a burglary, local authorities began to look for a car mentioned by callers.
  Officers eventually found the car, which was being driven by Miller. When they tried to pull him over, he refused, leading
  
  Read more

• Man shot multiple times in Lockport

  29-06-2016 18:15 via wivb.com
  
  LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WIVB) — A man was taken to ECMC after being shot multiple times in Lockport Wednesday morning.
  Lockport Police went to the scene of John St. and La Grange Ave. around 10 a.m. after receiving a report of shots fired.
  There, police found a man with multiple gunshot wounds.
  Police have not named any suspects in the matter as they continue their investigation.
  
  Read more

• 3 new lion cubs born at Buffalo Zoo

  29-06-2016 18:05 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Buffalo Zoo has announced the birth of three new African lions.
  The two females and one male are the cubs of six-year-old Lusaka and three-year-old Tiberius.
  The litter was born on May 12 and is the first set of cubs for Lusaka.
  Tiberius is now a father four times over. He is also the father of Tobias, the zoo’s first lion cub born there in 25 years.
  “We were so excited to share the news at the end of April about Tobias, our first lion cub in twe
  
  Read more

• Toyota announces recalls for defective air bags, canisters

  29-06-2016 17:40 via wivb.com
  
  TOKYO (AP) — Toyota announced Wednesday it is recalling 1.43 million vehicles for defective air bags and another 2.87 million vehicles for faulty fuel emissions controls.
  Toyota Motor Corp. said it has not received any reports of injuries or fatalities related to either recall. Some 932,000 vehicles are involved in both recalls, so the total number of affected vehicles is 3.37 million.
  The first recall for defective air bags affects Prius hybrids, Prius plug-ins and Lexus CT200h vehicles p
  
  Read more

• 2 men facing federal charges for alleged involvement in PA gun shop burglaries

  29-06-2016 17:10 via wivb.com
  
  JAMESTOWN, N.Y. (WIVB) — Authorities in Jamestown discovered new information on three Pennsylvania gun shop burglaries after searching a wanted man on S. Main St.
  Jason Thorn, 36, was seen walking near the intersection of Axtel St. when he was stopped by Jamestown Police. During this time, Thorn was found to have an active bench warrant and was subsequently taken into police custody.
  While in custody, police say they found Thorn to be in possession of a pistol that was stole
  
  Read more

• Vacant home goes up in flames early Wednesday morning

  29-06-2016 16:45 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A large fire at a vacant home on Buffalo’s east side caused an estimated $100,000 in damage Wednesday morning.
  The cause of the blaze is not clear, but firefighters are trying to figure it out. They had easy access to the building since it backed up to the driveway of an NFTA station.
  No one was hurt in the fire.
  
  Read more

• 10-year-old plays with fireworks, burns down 3 homes

  29-06-2016 16:01 via wivb.com
  
  AMSTERDAM, N.Y. (AP) — Police say a 10-year-old boy playing with fireworks started a fire that destroyed three homes in a Mohawk Valley city.
  Fire department officials in Amsterdam say the blaze started around 7 p.m. Monday behind a vacant house on West Main Street. The fast-moving flames destroyed that house along with two nearby occupied homes.
  No injuries were reported.
  
  Read more

• Sabres announce preseason schedule featuring 2 home games

  29-06-2016 15:53 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Buffalo Sabres have announced their 2016 preseason schedule.
  The schedule consists of seven games, two of which will be played at First Niagara Center. Ticket prices will be announced at a later date.
  The team’s first preseason game at Pegula Ice Arena, located at Pennsylvania State University, will be the first time the Sabres play a preseason game in a non-NHL arena since 2011.
  Sept. 26 – Buffalo vs. Minnesota at 7 p.m. – Pegula Ice Arena (Pen
  
  Read more

• Niagara County inmate accused of trying to arrange two murders

  29-06-2016 15:34 via wivb.com
  
  LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WIVB) — An inmate at the Niagara County Jail was indicted on multiple felonies after authorities say he tried to arrange the murders of two people.
  Deputies say Benito Gonzalez, 33, tried to get a victim and a witness from a previous case that led to his arrest killed.
  A Niagara County Grand Jury indicted Gonzalez on two counts of first-degree attempted murder, two counts of second-degree attempted murder, two counts of attempted murder associated with a contract killi
  
  Read more

• Olean teacher fired after sex crime accusations

  29-06-2016 15:19 via wivb.com
  
  OLEAN, N.Y. (WIVB) — A teacher at Olean City Schools has been fired after he was accused of sex crimes, the district confirmed Wednesday morning.
  Robert Washington was terminated by the school board on Tuesday night, according to the school’s Superintendent.
  News 4 is working to gather more details about what exactly Washington was accused of.
  
  Read more

• UB gives a sneak peek of new field and uniforms

  29-06-2016 06:19 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – The UB athletics program has undergone a face lift since announcing a new logo earlier this spring.
  After a new basketball court was installed, it was the football program’s turn for a fresh new look. On Tuesday afternoon the athletics department unveiled their new jerseys for the upcoming season, including a new black alternate option. They also gave the media a glimpse of the new turf being installed at the football stadium.
  Head coach Lance Leipold know
  
  Read more

• Plan your Independence Day at Canalside

  29-06-2016 05:36 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – Thousands of people will soon see red, white and blue at Canalside.
  Buffalo is getting ready to celebrate Independence Day.
  City leaders announced the schedule for 4th of July celebrations Tuesday.
  Organizers say there will be food and drinks from local food trucks; and live entertainment from local performers.
  The fun kicks off at 2 p.m. with activities for kids. Live music also begins at 2 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m.
  There will be a flag folding ceremony and Honor G
  
  Read more

• What Americans need to know if traveling abroad after Istanbul attack

  29-06-2016 05:28 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)- Homeland security experts say Americans traveling abroad are at risk following the attack at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul.
  “It came as no surprise with the last attack, the Paris attacks, clearly ISIS had stepped up, assuming this was ISIS and it seems like it was, ISIS has stepped up its agenda over there,” says Steven MacMartin, who spent 31 years with the Department of Homeland Security.
  MacMartin is also the program director for Medaille’s Hom
  
  Read more

• One dead in Ontario house explosion

  29-06-2016 05:17 via wivb.com
  
  MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO (WIVB) – One person died and nine others were injured in a house explosion in Ontario.
  The blast sent debris everywhere and damaged 24 other homes.
  The nine people injured have minor injuries, according to CBC.
  A neighbor said a middle-aged couple lived at the home where the explosion happened.
  Investigators are working to learn what caused it.
  The CBC reports 15 homes were evacuated and the occupants were not allowed to return Tuesday night.
   
  
  Read more

• Boutique fitness studios popping up around the city

  29-06-2016 00:29 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Pulsating lights and beats welcome fitness enthusiasts into the studio at Bike or Bar on Elmwood Avenue. This boutique fitness club is just one of many now around the city.
  “It’s great!” said Alexandra Leo, the founder of Bike or Bar. “It’s nice to see other boutique fitness places because Buffalo is definitely up and coming.”
  After Bike or Bar opened four and a half years ago and it found success around the city, other boutiq
  
  Read more

• Doctors say local baby’s rare brain tumor has shrunk

  29-06-2016 00:16 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A local baby with a rare brain tumor and her family received some positive news Tuesday on the eve of a critical surgery.
  Ella Suhr was diagnosed at 4 months old with a stage four primitive neural ectodermal tumor.
  News 4 interviewed the Suhrs last month, after the community of Lyndonville had banded together to help out Ella’s parents, Maegan and Joe, when they first learned of the diagnosis.
  The teachers at Lyndonville Central School, where Joe works, donated
  
  Read more

• Chippewa bar, The Lodge, reopens with city restrictions

  29-06-2016 00:16 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – The Lodge Bar and Restaurant on Chippewa Street is back open Tuesday. The City of Buffalo shutdown the bar last week, after a party took a violent turn on the street. Customers can return to The Lodge, but with some new rules. City leaders say the late-night parties there will have to change. A large fight broke out on the street earlier this month. At one point, gun shots were fired.
  Mayor Byron Brown says The Lodge will
  
  Read more

Follow @Buffalo_News_US on Twitter!