Buffalo news

• Wheatfield officials hope proposed developments will revamp Summit Park Mall

  02-03-2017 23:04 via wivb.com
  
  WHEATFIELD, N.Y. (WIVB) —  “This mall was such a hoppin’ spot at its time that 43 hundred parking spaces, it was hard to find a parking space. That’s a far cry from where it is today,” said Cynthia Potts, Summit Outlet, LP Director of Operations.
  Town officials hope that proposed plans for development will bring new life to the Summit Park Mall in Wheatfield. Plans for two sports domes behind the mall are in the final engineering phase now.
  “We’re h
  
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• Niagara Falls uses grant money to open The Craft Kitchen and Bar

  02-03-2017 23:00 via wivb.com
  
  NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) —There’s no denying that Niagara Falls State Park is beautiful, but the city surrounding the natural wonder is sometimes lacking.The Cataract City has plans to try and bring the city back to life.
  Niagara Falls State Park brings an estimated 30 million people to the Western New York region every single year. That’s a huge opportunity to make money in the surrounding city, but that doesn’t seem to be happening. To try and bring the visiting touri
  
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• AG Jeff Sessions recuses himself from Russia probe

  02-03-2017 22:26 via wivb.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Under growing pressure from Democrats and Republicans alike, Attorney General Jeff Sessions agreed Thursday to recuse himself from an investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. His action followed revelations he twice met with the Russian ambassador and didn’t say so when pressed by Congress.
  Sessions rejected any suggestion that he tried to mislead anyone about his contacts with the Russian, saying, “That is not my intent. Tha
  
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• 1 hospitalized after Tonawanda crash

  02-03-2017 21:30 via wivb.com
  
  TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) — One person was hospitalized after a vehicle crashed into another vehicle, causing it to flip on its side in Tonawanda.
  Tonawanda police say Ronald Clark, 79, ran a red light while heading north on Delaware St. After allegedly doing this, police say he struck a westbound vehicle on Fletcher St.
  That vehicle flipped on its side, but it is not clear if the driver was hurt.
  Clark’s passenger was taken to Kenmore Mercy Hospital for back and side pain. Cl
  
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• Medina man faces drug possession, sale charges

  02-03-2017 21:14 via wivb.com
  
  MEDINA, N.Y. (WIVB) — Following an investigation into the sale and distribution of prescription pills, authorities arrested a Medina man.
  Members of the Orleans County Major Felony Task Force worked with Medina police to arrest 48-year-old Charles Knapp.
  Knapp, a resident of E. Center St., was charged with three counts each of criminal sale of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a controlled substance.
  He may face Medicaid fraud and welfare fraud charges as the investiga
  
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• Brocton man faces drug charges after traffic stop in Dunkirk

  02-03-2017 20:54 via wivb.com
  
  DUNKIRK, N.Y. (WIVB) — Shortly after midnight on Wednesday, Dunkirk police pulled over a vehicle they say failed to signal when pulling into traffic from a curb.
  Brocton resident Michael Borst, 31, was identified as the driver.
  Police began to investigate, and they say they found methamphetamine and several items of drug paraphernalia in the vehicle.
  An officer thought that they saw a handgun on the floor next to Borst, but it turned out to be a replica airgun, according to polic
  
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• Citizens, politicians push to remove Grand Island tolls

  02-03-2017 20:27 via wivb.com
  
   
  GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. (WIVB) — Cars idle, waiting at the toll plazas, before paying their dollar to drive across the Grand Island bridges.
  “It’s a log jam at the toll barriers,” Brian Michel, a Lewiston resident who works in Buffalo.  “You have to wait 15, 20, sometimes even 30 minutes just to dutifully pay your tolls to cross over the bridge.”
  Driving over that bridge each day can add up.  Island residents and frequent traveler with EZPass
  
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• Darien Lake announces free in-park concerts

  02-03-2017 19:09 via wivb.com
  
  DARIEN, N.Y. (WIVB) — Darien Lake has announced the performers for their in-park concerts this year.
  These three shows are free with park admission.
  Sofia Carson with Jacob Whitesides – May 27
  Forever in Your Mind – June 24
  R5 – July 1
  Each show starts at 6 p.m.
  “We are always looking to present meaningful experiences for our season pass holders and are excited to continue our free concert series in 2017,” Darien Lake General Manager Chris Thorpe said. &l
  
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• Buffalo Prep to hold informational session for students and families

  02-03-2017 18:38 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Buffalo Prep will be accepting applications for its Middle School Prep and High School Prep programs.
  The organization has worked with thousands of students who face economic challenges, giving them academic and social support.
  In 2016, more than $2.5 million in financial aid was given to Buffalo Prep scholars. This allowed them to attend local high schools and colleges across the country.
  Anyone interested in learning more can attend an informati
  
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• Project to upgrade Lewiston power plant reaches halfway mark

  02-03-2017 18:17 via wivb.com
  
  LEWISTON, N.Y. (WIVB) — On Thursday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that a $460 million project to upgrade the New York Power Authority’s Lewiston Pump Generating Plant was halfway finished.
  The project seeks to modernize hydropower turbines that service businesses in the state.
  Gov Cuomo’s Clean Energy Standard requires that half of New York’s electricity come from renewable energy sources by 2030.
  “Investing in New York’s clean energy infrastructu
  
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• Man accused of driving while 9 times over legal limit for commercial truck drivers

  02-03-2017 17:53 via wivb.com
  
  WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. (WIVB) — Members of the Erie County Sheriff’s office arrested a man they say was nine times the legal limit for commercial truck drivers.
  During a Wednesday Department of Transportation (DOT) inspection in the Eastern Hills Mall parking lot, North Tonawanda resident Richard Phillips, 48, was suspected of being impaired.
  Deputies gave Phillips standard field sobriety tests, which they say he failed. A breath test indicated that Phillips was nine times over the
  
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• Police: Woman found with crack pipes, needles, cocaine after fight

  02-03-2017 17:31 via wivb.com
  
  TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) — Tonawanda police say a woman had crack pipes and needles in her possession when she was arrested following a fight.
  Buffalo resident Rebecca Nugent, 22, was charged with assault, harassment and criminal possession of a controlled substance. Police say she punched a 36-year-old woman outside an apartment on Grove St., resulting in cuts to the woman’s face.
  In all, police say Nugent had four crack pipes, some needles and two plastic containers of cocaine i
  
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• Multiple vehicles piled up on I-90 near Syracuse

  02-03-2017 17:01 via wivb.com
  
  Video courtesy of @TaraEwiiing on Twitter.
  SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WIVB) — Blowing snow may have been a factor in a massive pile-up crash on the I-90 just west of Syracuse.
  News 4 has received photos and a video of the multi-vehicle crash.
  Traffic is being directed off the Thruway near Syracuse and Weedsport. Multi-vehicle crash on I-90 (Viewer-submitted photo)(Viewer-submitted photo)(Viewer-submitted photo)(Viewer-submitted photo)(Viewer-submitted photo)(Viewer-submitted photo)(Viewer-s
  
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• Multiple vehicles pile up on I-90 near Syracuse

  02-03-2017 17:01 via wivb.com
  
  Video courtesy of @TaraEwiiing on Twitter.
  SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WIVB) — Blowing snow may have been a factor in a massive pile-up on the I-90 just west of Syracuse.
  News 4 received photos and a video of the multi-vehicle crash.
  Traffic was being directed off the Thruway near Syracuse and Weedsport. Multi-vehicle crash on I-90 (Viewer-submitted photo)(Viewer-submitted photo)(Viewer-submitted photo)(Viewer-submitted photo)(Viewer-submitted photo)(Viewer-submitted photo)(Viewer-submitted
  
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• One-on-one with Buffalo Bills Head Coach Sean McDermott

  02-03-2017 16:27 via wivb.com
  
  INDIANAPOLIS (WIVB) — News 4 Sports Director Josh Reed is in Indianapolis for the NFL Combine.
  Watch his interview with Buffalo Bills Head Coach Sean McDermott in the video above as the two discuss the future of the team.
  
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• Snapchat parent rockets higher in Wall Street debut

  02-03-2017 15:57 via wivb.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — The company behind Snapchat is trading sharply higher in its Wall Street debut.
  Snap Inc. jumped $7, or 41 percent, to $24 a share.
  It had priced its initial public offering of 200 million non-voting shares at $17 each on Wednesday. That’s above the expected range of $14 to $16.
  Snap’s IPO is one of the most anticipated for a technology company since Twitter’s in 2013. That, in turn, had created the biggest stir since Facebook took its first bow on Wall St
  
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• Snap stock to debut Thursday after better-than-expected IPO

  02-03-2017 15:57 via wivb.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — The company behind the popular messaging app Snapchat is expected to start trading Thursday after a better-than-expected stock offering.
  Snap Inc. passed its first major test on Wall Street on Wednesday as it priced its initial public offering of 200 million shares at $17 each. That is above the expected range of $14 to $16 and values the Los Angeles company at $24 billion.
  Snap’s IPO is one of the most anticipated for a technology company since Twitter’s stock
  
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• Wind-whipped fire presents problems for firefighters

  02-03-2017 14:18 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The gusty winds forced Buffalo firefighters to sound a second alarm during an early morning house fire in the University Heights neighborhood. They feared the fire on Winspear Avenue would spread to adjacent homes.
  Investigators don’t know the cause yet, but they tell News 4 the fire started in the back of the home around 1 a.m.
  Neighbors showed News 4 video of flames shooting high into the dark sky. Ivory Bankston explained, “First we saw smoke coming ou
  
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• Widespread power outages across WNY due to high winds

  02-03-2017 05:52 via wivb.com
  
  HAMBURG, N.Y. (WIVB) — High winds caused widespread power outages across western New York Wednesday evening.
  As of 11:30 pm Wednesday, more than 3,650 customers were without power. In Erie County, more than 2,223 customers were without power.
  NYSEG estimates restoration time will be between 1:00 am and 2:30 am.
  Several people in the Hamburg area watched the waves from Lake Erie crash onto Hamburg land right next to Hoak’s restaurant. Crews are keeping a close eye on Route 5 to make s
  
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• MMA boys hoops title games, section VI semifinals continue

  02-03-2017 05:29 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – 
  MMA CLASS A FINAL: Canisius 57 St. Francis 53
  The Crusaders took down the favorites to win the MMA title on Wednesday night. It’s their 7th title in 9 seasons.
  MMA CLASS B FINAL: St. Mary’s 64 Nichols 61
  With 1:40 remaining, Nichols Will Johnson hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 59. But, St. Mary’s had the answer in Matt Ciezki who’s trifecta with 30 seconds remaining sealed the win for the Lancers. The win marks the first Manh
  
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• Winds topple gas station canopy in Batavia

  02-03-2017 03:43 via wivb.com
  
  BATAVIA, N.Y. (WIVB) — Strong winds are causing damage across parts of Western New York Wednesday night.
  Winds knocked over a gas station canopy on West Main Street in Batavia. Police say no one was hurt.
  Power lines were also knocked over on State Street Road.
  National Grid reports roughly 2,000 customers are without power in the Batavia area. Power is expected to be restored around 10 p.m.
  
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• What is going on at Niagara Falls Urgent Care?

  02-03-2017 02:31 via wivb.com
  
  NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) – An urgent care medical clinic in Niagara Falls suddenly shut its doors, leaving many patients in the dark, and one of those patients contacted Call 4 Action after unsuccessfully trying to recover his medical records.
  Niagara Falls Urgent Care had only been open at its location on Military Road for less than a year when it suddenly closed its doors on February 10. An attorney for one of the investors chalked up the sudden closure to a dispute between partners.O
  
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• If it looks like a service dog and acts like a service dog, is it?

  02-03-2017 01:57 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – When is a “service dog” not a service dog?When it wears the iconic “service dog” vest, backed up by service dog certification, to look the part, but does not fill the role as proscribed by federal law.
  The Americans with Disabilities Act specifically provides certain rights and privileges to service animals, such as riding on a train or bus for free, but there is no specific government-issued license or documentation to certify service animal
  
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• Mother still looks for answers one year after her son is shot and killed

  02-03-2017 01:20 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)- This weekend marks one year since 22 year old James Mitchell was killed walking to a store on the East Side. His mother is still looking for answers about who shot her son.
  Saprina Wilkins told News 4 her son was enrolled at Bryant and Stratton College, seeking a career in criminal justice, when he died.
  “He was full of life and ambition, and love and forgiveness, and just joy, he was always smiling,” said Wilkins. “He really wanted a bright future an
  
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• Buffalo non-profit receives $500,000 to help low income homeowners with repairs

  02-03-2017 01:05 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)- Some homeowners on Buffalo’s East Side are getting much needed help to fix up their properties.
  The non-profit in the Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood just received half a million dollars through a state grant to help with home repairs.
  Broadway Fillmore Neighborhood Housing Services secured the grant and told News 4 the money is essential for these homeowners.
  Low-income homeowners apply for help with the non-profit by pitching the home repairs that need to be don
  
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• Cheektowaga police detectives warn about ‘cloned’ credit cards

  02-03-2017 00:11 via wivb.com
  
  CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) – Thieves don’t need to physically possess a credit card to launch an illegal shopping spree at your expense.
  They just need the card’s information.Some use a method known as “cloning.”“The information that’s contained on the magnetic strip has been taken from a victim, unknowing person and replanted onto a different card,” said Chris Chojnacki, a detective with the Cheektowaga Police Department.“It’ll look lik
  
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