Buffalo news

• After a year of planning, designer is setting up for downtown fireworks display

  04-07-2016 23:49 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) —Thousands of people are expected to head to Canalside and the Outer Harbor for the Fourth of July fireworks show.
  “I just love the colors and symbolism,” said Cindy Karkomberger.
  “I’m looking forward to it,” said Rick Karkomberger. “It’s a beautiful night and it should be clear so the fireworks should be good.”
  “With all of the development here on the waterfront, it’s the perfect spot for them,” said Ma
  
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• Veteran shares memories of WWII battles

  04-07-2016 23:37 via wivb.com
  
   
  GETTSVILLE, N.Y. (WIVB) – A veteran who fought in some of the most famous battles during World War II shares his story. In the 19-0’s many young men across Western New York joined the service. A local man reflects on what giving to his country means to him.
  For Joe Kasprzak, 95,  he says he considers himself lucky to celebrate the July Fourth holiday. He survived some of the most dangerous battles in WWII.
  Kasprzak said, “(I was wi
  
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• Is WNY beach oasis on the auction block?

  04-07-2016 23:17 via wivb.com
  
  ANGOLA, N.Y. (WIVB) — If it’s July 4th and you’re in the south towns, the place to be is Mickey Rats. But rumors are circulating yet again the iconic beach club will be bought out and potentially razed for condominiums or other developments.
  “All of us appreciate being out here, and everybody comes out here to enjoy this scenery that you have everyday of your life, which I enjoy,” said Kenny Brown of Angola.Brown has been coming to Mickey Rats for years. He says it&
  
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• 2 men shot in Buffalo Monday afternoon

  04-07-2016 23:08 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Two Buffalo men were shot in the city around 1 p.m. Monday afternoon.
  The men, only identified by Buffalo Police as a 34-year-old and a 39-year-old, went to ECMC in a private vehicle after the shooting near Dodge St. and Roehrer Ave.
  Police say they were shot in the leg and that their injuries appeared to be non-life threatening in nature.
  Anyone with information on the shooting can call the confidential police tip line at 847-2255.
  
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• GALLERY: WNY on the Fourth of July

  04-07-2016 22:43 via interactives.wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — People everywhere celebrated the anniversary of our nation’s birth with food, parades and other festivities before fireworks at night.
  APP USERS | See how western New Yorkers celebrated by tapping here.
  
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• Joey Chestnut downs record 70 hot dogs in eating contest

  04-07-2016 22:02 via wivb.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — Joey “Jaws” Chestnut beat his own record in regaining the Mustard Yellow International Belt on Monday, downing a stomach-churning 70 hot dogs and buns to top Matt “The Megatoad” Stonie at the annual July Fourth eating contest.
  Chestnut, 32, easily secured victory by polishing off 17 more hot dogs than Stonie, who last year ended Chestnut’s streak of eight straight wins in a major upset to take the championship title at Nathan’s Famous on
  
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• Oklahoma weather software coming to New York State

  04-07-2016 20:33 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)- 125 stations, recording weather data every 5 minutes. Sounds pretty good right? MESONET is coming to New York State and has the potential to aid forecasters and meteorologists alike.
  Nick Bassill, Postdoctoral Researcher for New York State MESONET says, “The network is here to save lives and property.”
  And it will do just that. But what is it exactly?
  Bassill told News 4, “The MESONET in general is a network of observing sites designed to get as much
  
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• Comedian posts fake animal facts in Los Angeles Zoo

  04-07-2016 20:24 via wivb.com
  
  LOS ANGELES (MEDIA GENERAL) – In an effort to make the Los Angeles Zoo “a little more interesting,” comedian and known prankster Jeff Wysaski decided to inform the viewing public of some interesting animal “facts.”
  Wysaski, known by his web pseudonym Obvious Plant, created signs with silly jokes that mirrored the zoo’s informative placards.
  Some commenters aren’t amused, stating Wysaski’s actions are vandalism and a public nuisance for misleading p
  
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• Iowa woman killed when homemade cannon explodes

  04-07-2016 20:18 via wivb.com
  
  GREELEY, Iowa (KWQC) – An Edgewood, Iowa woman was killed when a homemade cannon exploded Saturday night.
  Lori L. Heims, 55, was flown to Iowa City where she was pronounced dead.
  The Delaware County Sheriff’s Department says Heims was injured while with friends at a backyard gathering in Greeley around 11:40 p.m. on Saturday, July 2, 2016.
  Investigators say a homemade cannon was loaded and fired, and when it went off “the rear portion of the barrel blew out sending fragments wh
  
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• Shoplifter had $52 worth of meat in his shorts, deputies say

  04-07-2016 20:15 via wivb.com
  
  SPARTANBURG, SC (WSPA) – A man from South Carolina is charged with shoplifting after deputies say he hid three packages of meat in his shorts at a grocery store.
  Spartanburg County Sheriff’s deputies say James Anthony Prosser, 25, of Conestee tried to take the steaks from the deli section of an Ingles store on Warren H. Abernathy Highway just before 6:00 p.m Sunday.
  Deputies say Prosser was held by Ingles employees after he tried to leave the store without paying for the items.
  
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• Trump blames media for star tweet uproar

  04-07-2016 20:05 via wivb.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump is blaming the press for the fuss over an anti-Hillary Clinton tweet that appeared to depict the Star of David atop a pile of cash.
  It was his first response to the matter since his official account tweeted— then deleted — the image Saturday in the face of an uproar over its potentially anti-Semitic connotations. Trump’s account later posted a new version with a circle in place of the six-point star.
  “Dishonest media is trying their ab
  
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• NATO chief: Surveillance planes to aid anti-IS operations

  04-07-2016 18:49 via wivb.com
  
  BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO leaders will approve the use of AWACS surveillance aircraft to assist the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State extremist group, the alliance’s secretary-general said Monday.
  Jens Stoltenberg said he expects the alliance summit in Warsaw also to agree on a new role for NATO in the Central Mediterranean, where the European Union has deployed ships to halt human trafficking.
  At a news conference at NATO headquarters, Stoltenberg outlined the ambitious agend
  
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• Body of missing Wisconsin student found in river in Rome

  04-07-2016 18:45 via wivb.com
  
  ROME (AP) — John Cabot University in Rome says the body of missing Wisconsin student Beau Solomon has been found in the Tiber River.
  The 19-year-old from Spring Green, Wisconsin, went missing in the early hours of Friday after being with some friends in a pub shortly after he arrived for an exchange program.
  “We express our most heartfelt condolences to the Solomon family and to all those who loved Beau,” said a statement from the Rome-based English-language university.
  So
  
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• NFL star Jason Pierre-Paul hosts PSA 1 year after losing fingers in fireworks accident

  04-07-2016 18:36 via wivb.com
  
  (MEDIA GENERAL) – As we head into another holiday weekend prepared to celebrate our country’s independence, New York Giants star Jason Pierre-Paul is set to remind others of a nasty accident that could have killed him.
  Pierre-Paul lost parts of three fingers and severely injured his right hand after a firecracker went off prematurely during a Fourth of July celebration last year. He now is using his celebrity to warn others about fireworks safety by starring in a public service annou
  
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• 5 of the most un-American things that Americans love

  04-07-2016 18:29 via wivb.com
  
  UNITED STATES (MEDIA GENERAL) — The United States commonly refers to itself as a melting pot; a blend of people, history and cultures. American culture is unique in how it draws from the past of others but stands on its own. To celebrate Independence Day here is a quick breakdown of five un-American things that Americans love.
  1. Anti-open container laws
  Courtesy: Jacquelyne WalshYou can walk around carrying an assault rifle in some states, but a beer can? That’ll land
  
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• Kevin Durant announces he will join Golden State Warriors

  04-07-2016 18:11 via wivb.com
  
  OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Kevin Durant is joining All-Stars Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson with the Golden State Warriors.
  Durant announced his decision Monday morning on The Players’ Tribune Monday morning. He can’t officially sign until July 7.
  His decision has been the most highly anticipated move of the summer. The 2014 MVP and four-time scoring champion led the Oklahoma City Thunder to the NBA Finals in 2012, and to the Western Conference finals in four of the past six ye
  
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• Fresh air? No, I’m good: 6 TV shows to binge watch this summer

  04-07-2016 18:00 via wivb.com
  
  THE COUCH (MEDIA GENERAL) – Dear readers, it is summer. And you know what that means — time to enjoy the great outdoors!
  What’s that? It is 95 and humid today? And tomorrow? And then it’s supposed to rain all weekend?
  OK, here’s another idea: let’s catch up on some awesome TV shows! Here are six binge-watching suggestions for when the summer heat needs to be beaten. 
  When you need a laugh: ‘Parks and Recreation’
  Always wondering why you keep s
  
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• Big crowds celebrate Independence Day at Grand Island parade

  04-07-2016 17:52 via wivb.com
  
  GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. (WIVB) – Across Western New York, we’re marking Independence Day with fireworks, food, family and friends, and in Grand Island, large crowds turned out to the annual parade for their traditional celebration.
  One big tradition in that community is to plan ahead for the parade, with community members lining the street with their lawn chairs sometimes days in advance, to make sure they get the best spot.
  Every year, the parade down Grand Island Boulevard draws big num
  
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• A patriotic playlist perfect for your Fourth of July plans

  04-07-2016 17:41 via wivb.com
  
  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (MEDIA GENERAL) — June 21 may be the “official” first day of summer, but it never feels real until it’s time to celebrate the Fourth of July. We created a patriotic Spotify playlist that’s perfect for any and all of your party needs.
  So after you’ve made sure there’s enough ice in the cooler and a bun for every dog, the only thing left to do is hit play.If you feel inspired to create a patriotic playlist of your own, make su
  
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• A not-so-objective ranking of ‘driveway fireworks’

  04-07-2016 17:34 via wivb.com
  
  UNITED STATES (MEDIA GENERAL) — My fellow Americans: As we prepare to celebrate another Independence Day, I think it’s time we have a discussion about what I refer to as “driveway fireworks.” Not the big display downtown over the river or whatever your hometown does to celebrate. I’m talking about the giant paper bag your uncle has tucked under his arm while he’s rocking an American flag tank top and a twelve-pack of Bud in each hand.
  Driveway fireworks are th
  
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• What’s the best US city for beer lovers? The answer may surprise you

  04-07-2016 17:21 via wivb.com
  
  PITTSBURGH, Pa. (MEDIA GENERAL) – Real estate company Redfin teamed up with the Beer Institute to analyze the best cities in the United States for beers lovers and the city that claimed the top spot may surprise you.
  Pittsburgh, known for its steel and iron roots, came in at No. 1.
  “Pittsburgh has always been what I’d call ‘a beer and a shot town,’ with our blue collar roots,” Pittsburgh Redfin real estate agent Keith Jimenez said of the Steel City. “Bac
  
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• New trail near the Outer Harbor is in the works

  04-07-2016 16:46 via wivb.com
  
  LACKAWANNA, N.Y. (WIVB) – Next year, when you go for a walk near the Outer Harbor, you won’t have to stop at the Buffalo, Lackawanna line.
  After construction, you’ll be able to continue your stroll along the new Bethlehem Steel Shoreline Trail. It will start where the Outer Harbor Trail ends at the Buffalo, Lackawanna city line and end at Dona Street.
  “This will provide safe access for residents in Lackawanna, to actually get on a pathway, whether it’s walking or by
  
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• Man shot several times in fatal Cheektowaga incident

  04-07-2016 16:39 via wivb.com
  
  CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) — A shooting in Cheektowaga took the life of a 46-year-old man Sunday evening.
  Cheektowaga Police say the shooting happened at 9:45 p.m. on Marne Rd.
  The victim was shot several times before he was taken to ECMC, where he died Monday morning.
  Police are currently interviewing witnesses, and believe that the victim and shooter knew each other.
  The victim’s name will not be released until his family is notified.
  
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• Man killed in Sunday Cheektowaga shooting

  04-07-2016 16:39 via wivb.com
  
  CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) — A shooting in Cheektowaga took the life of a 46-year-old man Sunday evening.
  Cheektowaga Police say the shooting happened at 9:45 p.m. on Marne Rd.
  The victim was shot several times before he was taken to ECMC, where he died Monday morning.
  Police are currently interviewing witnesses, and believe that the victim and shooter knew each other.
  The victim’s name will not be released until his family is notified.
  
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• Iraq: Death toll from IS-claimed bombing climbs to 149

  04-07-2016 16:01 via wivb.com
  
  BAGHDAD (AP) — The death toll from the truck bombing at a bustling Baghdad commercial street rose to 149 on Monday, Iraqi authorities said, as Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered new security measures in the capital.
  The bombing early Sunday, claimed by the Islamic State group, was the deadliest terror attack in Iraq in a year and one of the worst single bombings in more than a decade of war and insurgency. It underscored the IS group’s ability to strike the Iraqi capital despite
  
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• Small plane crashes in South Florida swampland

  04-07-2016 15:58 via wivb.com
  
  MIAMI (AP) — Authorities in South Florida are trying to reach the location of a small plane that crashed in Broward County.
  The plane and its pilot were reported missing at 12:19 a.m. Monday. The pilot’s name was not released. The aircraft was described as a RV-7 experimental airplane.
  In a statement, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office says the plane was spotted in a “swampland” outside Coral Springs. Rescue crews could not get to the area due to the terrain. The F
  
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• Police looking for elderly man with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease

  04-07-2016 15:51 via wivb.com
  
  TOWN OF TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) — An elderly man who authorities say was last seen in the Town of Tonawanda’s Lincoln Park area has gone missing.
  Town of Tonawanda Police say Harold Roberts, 79, suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
  Roberts is described as a black man standing at 6’1 and weighing 150 lbs. His hair color is gray and black and he has hazel eyes.
  Police say Roberts was last seen wearing blue jeans and a blue jean jacket.
  Anyone with information
  
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• One-car crash closes roads in Evans

  04-07-2016 15:32 via wivb.com
  
  EVANS, N.Y. (WIVB) — Around 3 a.m. Monday morning, a car was found crashed against a tree at Sturgeon Point and Lakeshore Roads in Evans.
  The roads were closed in that area for a short amount of time.
  The driver, identified as Rolando Colon, 33, was taken away by Mercy Flight after being extricated from the vehicle. He is in critical condition.
  Colon, a Dunkirk resident, appeared to be drunk at the time, according to sources who spoke with News 4.
  Town of Evans Police charged him with
  
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• Driver crashes in West Seneca during morning police chase

  04-07-2016 15:22 via wivb.com
  
  WEST SENECA, N.Y. (WIVB) — A driver crashed at the conclusion of a police chase in West Seneca Monday morning.
  West Seneca Police were seen at the corner of Union and Orchard Park Roads cleaning up debris from the scene around 6 a.m.
  Police began to chase a white SUV around an hour-and-a-half earlier. The chase ended when the driver struck a light pole and knocked a pharmacy sign across a parking lot.
  The SUV, police say, was stolen in Buffalo. Authorities also think the accused vehic
  
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• Driver crashes allegedly stolen car in West Seneca during morning police chase

  04-07-2016 15:22 via wivb.com
  
  WEST SENECA, N.Y. (WIVB) — A driver crashed at the conclusion of a police chase in West Seneca Monday morning.
  West Seneca Police were seen at the corner of Union and Orchard Park Roads cleaning up debris from the scene around 6 a.m.
  Police began to chase a white SUV around an hour-and-a-half earlier. The chase ended when the driver struck a light pole and knocked a pharmacy sign across a parking lot.
  The SUV, police say, was stolen in Buffalo. Authorities also think the accused vehic
  
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• Coca-Cola field celebrates America

  04-07-2016 05:52 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) –– Thousands piled into the Coca-Cola field Sunday to celebrate on the eve of Independence Day. It’s the Bisons’ 22nd annual celebration.
  It combined America’s favorite past time with fireworks, a concert from the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and America’s birthday.
  The BPO paid tribute to all of our nations veterans and those that are currently serving. Each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces were recognized here tonight.
  “I think it
  
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• St. Bonaventure’s Nicholson signs with Wizards

  04-07-2016 02:20 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – St. Bonaventure alum Andrew Nicholson has signed a four-year, $26 million deal with the Washington Wizards. This comes after the 26-year old power forward played four seasons with the Orlando Magic, but eventually fell out of favor with the club. This move was one of a few moves by them in order to reshape their young team. Nicholson was drafted nineteenth overall in the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft by the team.
  Nicholson spent his college career with the St. Bo
  
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