Buffalo news

• Cheektowaga man wants answers after being denied wheelchair ramp

  06-12-2016 23:37 via wivb.com
  
  CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB)- Nick Heilig of Cheektowaga has been in a wheelchair since he was a child, he has Spina Bifida.
  Three years ago his health took a turn for the worse and his mobility became an even bigger challenge. Up until then, he was working regularly and getting around pretty well.
  Now though, he’s hitting road blocks with the Office for People with Development Disabilities.
  He requested a ramp for the front entrance of his home. He has an electric lift in his garage, but he&r
  
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• Resources for those needing help this holiday season

  06-12-2016 23:32 via wivb.com
  
  Salvation Army Christmas Program960 Main Street Buffalo, 14202(716) 883-9800They are part of the Western New York holiday partnership of non-profits. Free food, meals, and toys are available for children under the age of 12. Families applying need to be on food stamps.This can help the elderly, but other holiday programs include Adopt a Family and more. Toys, vouchers, and more are provided by the non-profit, including Christmas Day Dinners.
  Other Salvation Army Locations187 Grant Street, Buffal
  
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• Local teens win Sectional Figure Skating competition, headed to national competition next month

  06-12-2016 23:29 via wivb.com
  
  LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WIVB) — Eighteen year old Jimmy Koszuta of Angola and 14-year-old Jocelyn Haines of Marietta spend more than 20 hours a week on the ice.
  They divide their practice time between the Northtown Center in Amherst and the Cornerstone Ice Arena in Lockport. They recently won a regional competition and now they’re just a month away from competing nationally.
  Jimmy Koszuta and Jocelyn Haines have both been ice skating for 10 years, but together, only about 4 months.
  “It
  
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• SPCA performs massive raid in Wilson

  06-12-2016 23:18 via wivb.com
  
  WILSON, N.Y. (WIVB) — A large SPCA raid involving up to 200 animals began in Niagara County on Tuesday.
  According to the Niagara County SPCA, snakes and birds were found at a home on Beebe Rd. in Wilson. Half of the snakes were found dead, the SPCA says.
  Other animals were found too, but it is unclear what they are.
  The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is also involved in the raid.
  News 4 is headed to the scene and will provide more details as they become avail
  
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• School bus, semi-truck collide in Cheektowaga

  06-12-2016 22:59 via wivb.com
  
  CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) — A school bus and a semi-truck collided in Cheektowaga Tuesday afternoon.
  The accident happened around 4 p.m. at French Rd. and Yvette Dr. It is not clear what led to the crash.
  There were no injuries reported.
  The incident is under investigation.
  
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• National Influenza Vaccination Week a reminder to get flu shot if you haven’t already

  06-12-2016 22:52 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — It’s “National Influenza Vaccination week.” The CDC is reminding people to get a flu shot if you have not already.
  So far the number of flu cases in Western New York is low, but numbers are expected to rise during the upcoming winter months when the flu is typically at it’s peak.
  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the most important step in protecting against the flu. Doctors recommend people at l
  
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• Body found in Riverside field

  06-12-2016 22:50 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Officials say a body was found on the 600 block of Tonawanda St. Tuesday.
  The body was located just before 3 p.m. in a field behind a gas station.
  An autopsy is being done to determine the person’s cause of death.
  
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• National Fuel offers gas safety tips for winter

  06-12-2016 22:27 via wivb.com
  
  WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. (WIVB) — National Fuel has some tips for locals as the cold months arrive. The company encourages residents to pay attention to their gas meters, vents and furnaces throughout Winter.
  To ensure gas meter safety and service, National Fuel says to do the following:
  • Keeping the gas meter and area around the meter free of snow;• Clearing paths to the meter;• Informing those working, shoveling, plowing or snow blowing around a meter of its location;&bul
  
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• Cheektowaga man accused of fatal bare-handed beating pleads guilty

  06-12-2016 21:51 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The man who fatally beat Justin Vanderwalker, 19, in a parking lot admitted to manslaughter on Tuesday.
  According to authorities, Cheektowaga resident Cody Jeffords, 21, came home and found Vanderwalker with his girlfriend in May.
  At this time, Vanderwalker fled the apartment, but Jeffords came after him and started hitting him with his bare hands, officials say. Vanderwalker died from his injuries three days later.
  Jeffords was originally charged with murd
  
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• Next stop: Niagara Falls — the new Amtrak station opens

  06-12-2016 20:42 via wivb.com
  
  NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) — It’s a new day for Amtrak. As the sun rises, the final train from the old station departs.
  “This old station, uh… It’s a bit challenging,” said Ann Landers who took the train from Quincy, Massachusetts.
  And in with the new – a station on Main Street around Niagara Fall’s Northend.
  “It’s a lot better,” said Denise Coburn, from Toronto who has traveled to the U.S. several times via the Amtrak train
  
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• 18-year-olds charged with armed robbery in Elma

  06-12-2016 19:39 via wivb.com
  
  ELMA, N.Y. (WIVB) — Two 18-year-olds are facing charges for an armed robbery at Elma Centennial Park.
  On Sunday, Erie County Sheriff’s deputies pulled over a car on Caroline Rd. and arrested Justin Geisler, of Elma, and Luke Brennan, of Arcade.
  Investigators say the men used a BB gun to hold up a man at the park.
  They allegedly stole his wallet and some money.
  
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• Man who shot ex-NFL player charged with manslaughter

  06-12-2016 19:31 via wivb.com
  
  HARVEY, La. (AP) — The Louisiana man who fatally shot ex-NFL player Joe McKnight during a road rage dispute was jailed on a manslaughter charge as a sheriff angrily defended the investigation Tuesday, saying authorities “strategically” waited for days to make the arrest because they needed to find independent witnesses.
  Ronald Gasser, 54, was initially taken into custody after the shooting last Thursday but he was released without being charged, drawing heated criticism from pr
  
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• Mother convicted of killing 1-year-old daughter

  06-12-2016 19:28 via wivb.com
  
  SALAMANCA, N.Y. (WIVB) — A woman accused of killing her 1-year-old daughter has been convicted of the crime.
  Mila Whipple died at Women and Children’s Hospital in 2015. As authorities began to investigate the Salamanca girl’s death, they called it suspicious.
  In May of that year, her mother, Leslie Finch, was charged in her death.
  Finch was later found guilty of first and second-degree manslaughter, reckless assault of a child causing brain injury, assault and endange
  
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• Buffalo man sentenced to 22 years-to-life for brutal sexual assault

  06-12-2016 18:51 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Buffalo man could spend the rest of his life in prison for a brutal sexual assault.
  On Tuesday, Willie Sanders, 58, was sentenced to 22 years-to-life in prison.
  His victim was attacked on Adams St. in 2014. Prosecutors say she was punched in the face and dragged, and her nose was broken.
  A jury convicted Sanders in October.
  
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• ‘Cancel It!’ Trump says new Air Force One cost ridiculous

  06-12-2016 18:26 via wivb.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — The government should cancel its multibillion-dollar order for new Air Force One presidential planes, Donald Trump declared Tuesday, serving notice he’s ready to jump in and start making decisions six weeks before his inauguration.
  Costs for the two Boeing 747s are “totally out of control,” Trump told reporters in the lobby of his New York skyscraper.
  The government has contracted with Boeing to build the planes, which would go into service around 2024. Th
  
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• County legislature commits $100,000 to help bring ridesharing to WNY

  06-12-2016 17:49 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Erie County Legislature will commit $100,000 to Visit Buffalo Niagara (VBN) to help bring ridesharing services to upstate New York.
  “It is absurd that Upstate New York doesn’t have ridesharing. Whenever there is a major event in Erie County, we are inundated with comments from visitors who are shocked that we don’t have this basic service that is available all across the world,” Majority Leader Joseph Lorigo said. “We
  
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• Canisius High School celebrates second state football title in three years

  06-12-2016 17:36 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – There was a lot of cheering Tuesday morning in the Kennedy Field House at Canisius High School as the students celebrated a major win for their football team.
  On Sunday, the Crusaders won the New York State Catholic High Schools Athletic Association championship at Fordham University in the Bronx in a nail-biter of a game against Cardinal Hayes High School.
  “I have the jitters thinking about it now. I still can’t believe it,” said Canisius High Scho
  
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• Singer signed to Pegula-founded company nominated for Grammy

  06-12-2016 17:22 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A country singer signed to a Terry Pegula-founded company has been nominated for a Grammy.
  Kelsea Ballerini was listed among the Grammy-nominated artists this week. She was nominated for Best New Artist, alongside The Chainsmokers, Chance the Rapper, Maren Morris and Anderson Paak.
  Ballerini is signed to Black River Entertainment, which was founded by Terry Pegula. The company’s current CEO is Kim Pegula’s brother, Gordon Kerr.
  MORE | See t
  
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• 2017 Grammy Awards: A list of the nominees in top categories

  06-12-2016 16:28 via wivb.com
  
  (AP) — A list of nominees in the top categories at the 59th annual Grammy Awards, announced Tuesday by The Recording Academy.
  — Album of the year: “25,” Adele; “Lemonade,” Beyonce; “Purpose,” Justin Bieber; “Views,” Drake; “A Sailor’s Guide to Earth,” Sturgill Simpson.
  — Record of the year: “Hello,” Adele; “Formation,” Beyonce; “7 Years,” Lukas Graham; “Work,” Rihan
  
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• Cereal maker General Mills to cut as many as 600 jobs

  06-12-2016 15:58 via wivb.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — General Mills, which has been struggling with weaker sales for its cereal and yogurt, plans to cut between 400 and 600 jobs around the world as it restructures its business.
  Like other processed food companies, General Mills has been hurt by American’s changing tastes. The Minneapolis-based company has been tinkering with its recipes, adding more cinnamon to Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, switching to antibiotic-free chicken in Progresso soups and increasing
  
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• Grammy noms: 9 for Beyonce, 8 each for Drake, Rihanna, Kanye

  06-12-2016 15:39 via wivb.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — The Grammy Awards are sipping all of Beyonce’s lemonade.
  The pop star is the leader of the 2017 Grammys with nine nominations, including bids for album of the year with “Lemonade,” and song and record of the year with “Formation.” The singer, who already has 20 Grammys, is also the first artist to earn nominations in the pop, rock, R&B and rap categories in the same year.
  Behind Beyonce are Drake, Rihanna and Kanye West, who scored eight no
  
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• Recovery of fire victims winds down; investigation looms

  06-12-2016 15:35 via wivb.com
  
  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Some people managed to text loved ones goodbye and “I love you” before they died in an Oakland warehouse fire that claimed three dozen lives, officials said, as heart-rending reports of victims’ last moments emerged from the most lethal building fire in the U.S. in more than a decade.
  Also Monday, the painful and exhaustive search for those killed in the fire appeared to be coming to a close. Alameda County Sheriff Gregory Ahern told The Associated
  
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• Owner no longer wants to sell club targeted by mass shooting

  06-12-2016 15:30 via wivb.com
  
  ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The owner of the Florida nightclub where the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history took place says she’s no longer interested in selling the property to the city of Orlando.
  Pulse nightclub owner Barbara Poma said in a statement Monday that she can’t walk away from the property.
  Last month, the city of Orlando announced plans to purchase Pulse and eventually convert it into a memorial.The city had planned to pay $2.25 million for the gay nightclub prop
  
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• Data shows mothers are not breast feeding long enough, more education and support needed

  06-12-2016 15:27 via wivb.com
  
  INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A recent study shows too many moms are stopping breast feeding too soon and a task force of experts say doctors need to be the ones to change it.
  Breast feeding has long been recommended by doctors. The health benefits are staggering. Not just fewer ear infections, colds, and hospital visits with breast-fed babies, but it also reduces the chances of SIDS by up to 50-percent and even reduces the chance of leukemia in older children. Still many mothers who start off bre
  
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• Minor hospital stay could cause “sticker shock” for Medicare patients

  06-12-2016 01:23 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – It is a loophole in Medicare regulations that affects patients going from the hospital to a skilled nursing facility, or rehabilitation center:the difference between that patient being formally admitted to the hospital, or held “for observation” can amount to thousands of dollars Medicare will not cover.
  This discrepancy in coverage has happened so many times to senior citizens, Congress passed a law to do something about it, just short of fixing it.
  Med
  
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• Financial fraud targeted at the elderly

  06-12-2016 00:10 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – Scammers use deceit and intimidation, and are increasingly targeting the elderly.When all the smoke clears the end result is just a bunch of empty promises.“It’s despicable that people would do this for their own benefit, especially preying on the most vulnerable in our society,” said James P. Kennedy, Jr., acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York.Sadly, scams against seniors happen more than we think.As the over-65 population incre
  
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