Buffalo news

• Lockport man accused of lewd act on airplane headed to Buffalo

  16-03-2017 22:55 via wivb.com
  
  LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Lockport man was accused of a lewd act on an airplane that was headed from Florida to Buffalo.
  According to officials, Gerald McErlean, 46, exposed himself and masturbated while on the flight last week.
  Prosecutors say two women saw him doing this and tried to block his act from a toddler’s view.
  At one point, prosecutors say one of the women “called [him] out on what he was doing” and then he stopped.
  McErlean was moved to the bac
  
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• Police: Officer sees road rage incident, arrests 1 man

  16-03-2017 22:17 via wivb.com
  
  TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) — A road rage incident that started in North Tonawanda, and ended in the City of Tonawanda, resulted in an arrest.
  Wednesday night, a City of Tonawanda police officer says he witnessed an altercation between two drivers while they were stopped at a red light at Seymour and Fletcher streets.
  According to police, Douglas Everett, 40, followed a 22-year-old from North Tonawanda to the the City of Tonawanda, got out of his car and started choking the man. Both men a
  
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• NCAA tournament draws attention to lack of ridesharing in Buffalo

  16-03-2017 21:57 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — “We had to walk 20 minutes in the cold last night just to find a bar. It’s terrible. Tried to hail a cab, they hung up on us,” said James Morse, Boston.
  “For people who don’t have a car from out of town it’s a big negative not to have it,” said Mike Greenhill of Maryland.
  Thousands of college basketball fans plan to check out restaurants and other spots in the city while they’re here. But many are surprised they won&rsq
  
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• Person arrested in connection with Sherman St. homicide from August

  16-03-2017 21:49 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Buffalo police announced on Thursday afternoon that an arrest has been made in connection with an August homicide.
  On Aug. 4 around 2 a.m., police were called to Sherman St. after three people were shot. One of them, a 21-year-old Buffalo man, died at the scene.
  The name of the person arrested has not been released by police.
  News 4 will provide updates as soon as they become available.
  
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• Community mourns Pendleton fourth grader who died after being trapped in snow

  16-03-2017 21:42 via wivb.com
  
  PENDLETON, N.Y. (WIVB)- It’s a tragedy Sheriff Jim Voutour said was impossible to predict.
  “No one wants to see a kid die. No one should have to bury their children.”
  Wednesday afternoon, 10-year-old Benjamin Wasik was at his grandfather’s farm on Aiken Road in Pendleton, enjoying a snow day.
  Despite being told not to, the fourth grader began playing on a 15-foot snow bank not far from his parents.
  “They were plowing snow and pushing it up against a barn to get
  
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• Teen pleads ‘not guilty’ after being charged with toddler’s murder

  16-03-2017 21:30 via wivb.com
  
  MARILLA, N.Y. (WIVB) — After previously being accused of assault, a teenager was charged with murdering a toddler.
  Devon VanDerWege, 17, was accused of killing Marilla 2-year-old Ethan Bigham.
  On Friday night, the teen was babysitting Bigham when authorities say he beat him.
  First responders had gone to the scene at a mobile home park off Hemstreet Rd. after receiving a report of a toddler that fell out of a crib.
  After being hospitalized, the child was put on life support,
  
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• Perry man charged with raping teen

  16-03-2017 20:58 via wivb.com
  
  PERRY, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Wyoming County man has been accused of raping a teenager.
  Charles Bozzette, 34, allegedly had sex with a 16-year-old girl at a home in the Village of Perry.
  The Perry man was charged with third-degree rape, arraigned and committed to the Wyoming County Jail on $20,000 bail.
  
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• $265 million in unclaimed funds owed to WNY residents

  16-03-2017 20:21 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — More than $265 million in unclaimed funds is owed to residents of western New York.
  In Buffalo, residents are owed $88 million.
  “My office is trying to return more than $88 million in lost money to people who live in Buffalo. It only takes five minutes to see if we have any of your money,” New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said. “And we’ve made it easier than ever for New Yorkers to search for and claim what is rightfully theirs.
  
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• Friendliness and food among NCAA fans top reasons they’re enjoying Buffalo

  16-03-2017 18:55 via wivb.com
  
   
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Thousands of college basketball fans are rolling into Key Bank Center for the NCAA tournament.
  “It’s just kids having fun,” said Charlie Woodruff who doesn’t support a singular team but just loves college basketball. He’s from upstate New York and made the trip to Buffalo for the tournament. “I’m glad they have some this good revenue coming into the area.”
  “This is what my husband and I do,” said
  
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• Vehicle crashes into house, causing gas explosion

  16-03-2017 18:42 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A vehicle crashed into a house at Sycamore St. and Ruhland Ave. in Buffalo, causing a gas explosion.
  News 4 was at the scene around 1:30 p.m.
  It is not clear what caused the driver to crash into the house, or if anyone was hurt.
  We will have more details as soon as they become available.
  
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• Plea deal reached in trial of teen related to fatal Lockport fire

  16-03-2017 17:42 via wivb.com
  
  LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WIVB) — A plea deal was reached in the trial of a 14-year-old related to the deadly August tire plant fire in Lockport.
  Joseph Phillips, 14, was killed in the fire at High Tread International on Ohio St.
  Attorneys say that Phillips and the other teen on trial snuck into the building and lit pieces of paper on fire in at least two places. One one the fires grew quickly, attorneys say.
  During this time, Phillips could not escape, but the teen on trial, who has not been n
  
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• Plea deal expected in trial of teen related to fatal Lockport fire

  16-03-2017 17:42 via wivb.com
  
  LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WIVB) — A plea deal is expected in the trial of a 14-year-old related to the deadly August tire plant fire in Lockport.
  Joseph Phillips, 14, was killed in the fire at High Tread International on Ohio St.
  Attorneys say that Phillips and the teen on trial snuck into the building and lit pieces of paper on fire in at least two places. One one the fires grew quickly, attorneys say.
  During this time, Phillips could not escape, but the teen on trial, who has not been na
  
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• State officials stand by declaring State of Emergency

  16-03-2017 17:15 via wivb.com
  
  CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) — Clean up from a snow storm which dropped feet of snow continues around New York.
  “We were very proactive about this,” said Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul. “We’ve been through this many times.”
  The State of Emergency allows state equipment and crew members to be deployed to areas hit the hardest, like Genessee and Niagara Counties.
  “We’re not the center of attention, happily,” said Rich Tobe, a state employee who ove
  
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• Getting ready for Live at O’Larkin

  16-03-2017 16:46 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – Crews are working hard Thursday to clear all the snow out of Larkin Square, making room for the sea of green that will be there Friday evening.
  The fifth annual Live at O’Larkin celebration will be from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Friday, March 17, on the heated boardwalk at Larkin Square.
  “We usually have a couple thousand people. It’s a real kick off to spring,” said Leslie Zemsky, the Larkin Square Director of Fun.
  MORE | Click here for full detail
  
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• Town of Tonawanda police looking for missing man

  16-03-2017 16:17 via wivb.com
  
  TOWN OF TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) — Police in the Town of Tonawanda are looking for a missing man they describe as “despondent.”
  James Daniel, 55, has been missing since Saturday, March 11. The last place he was known to be was Allegany, and before that, he was seen in Batavia.
  Daniel is described as white, 6’9″ and roughly 300 pounds. He has short, gray, receding hair, green eyes and a goatee.
  Police say Daniel was last known to be driving a navy blue 2005 B
  
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• Sheriff’s office looking for Town of Niagara robbery suspect

  16-03-2017 15:57 via wivb.com
  
  TOWN OF NIAGARA, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Niagara County Sheriff’s office is looking for a woman suspected of a strong arm robbery.
  Authorities say the robbery occurred Wednesday at People’s Casino Gold Mine on Military Rd. in the Town of Niagara.
  The suspect is a white female with long, dark hair who appears to be in her 20s. She stands at 5’6″ and weighs between 140 and 150 lbs.
  Officials say she was last seen wearing a black jacket and a pink and black checkered ha
  
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• Barack Obama shares his March Madness bracket

  16-03-2017 15:20 via wivb.com
  
  PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — For years, former President Barack Obama has been sharing his picks for the NCAA basketball tournament on air with ESPN, and once again shared his bracket online.
  Obama picked the women’s teams from UConn and Notre Dame to face off and predicted 2016 champs UConn would win.
  Obama has North Carolina beating Duke in the men’s tournament.
  For the Oregon fans — Obama predicts the Oregon Men’s Basketball team falling to Michigan. The Ore
  
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• Trump budget would cut Great Lakes’ cleanup funding by 97 percent

  16-03-2017 15:14 via wivb.com
  
  YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – As President Donald Trump’s proposed budget would reduce funding towards cleanup of Lake Erie and other Great Lakes by 97 percent, lawmakers in Washington are concerned for the lakes.
  The $300 million budget would be cut down to $10 million.
  The funding would be cut from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative — a program under the EPA. It focuses on combating pollution, fighting invasive species dangerous to the area and forming new areas on
  
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• If you get a call from these area codes, don’t respond

  16-03-2017 14:57 via wivb.com
  
  ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – If you receive a phone call from the following area codes, don’t answer or return the call because it may be a scam.
  According to Inc., scammers may try to call an unsuspecting victim numerous times, several times in succession or hang up before anyone answers hoping to arise curiosity and suspicion.
  Other variations include playing a recording of someone calling for help or needing medical attention. Inc. says scammers may also use similar tactics through tex
  
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• Sports isn’t all about winning, survey finds

  16-03-2017 03:30 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – As March Madness heats up this week, a new survey shows that attitudes toward sports is more mild than mad.Nashville-based Lifeway Research found that 52 percent of Americans describe their philosophy of sports by saying, “It’s not whether you win or lose — it’s how you play the game.”“Adults even that are not parents say no, that really is what sports is about. There’s more to life than just winning, and there’s more t
  
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• LIVE STREAM: Officials provide update following death of child who was trapped in snow pile

  16-03-2017 00:44 via wivb.com
  
  PENDLETON, N.Y. (WIVB) — A 10-year-old boy has died after being trapped in a pile of snow.
  APP USERS | Tap here to watch a live conference with officials.
  The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office says it appears as though the boy was digging a tunnel into a snow pile when it collapsed on him around 4 p.m. Wednesday on Aiken Road in the Town of Pendleton.
  The child was taken by ambulance to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
  The Niagara County Sheriff’s
  
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• Child who died after being trapped in pile of snow identified

  16-03-2017 00:44 via wivb.com
  
  PENDLETON, N.Y. (WIVB) — A 10-year-old boy has died after being trapped in a pile of snow.
  Benjamin Wasik died of asphyxiation.
  (Photo courtesy of Ben’s family)(Photo courtesy of Ben’s family)The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office says it appears as though the boy was digging a tunnel into a snow pile when it collapsed on him around 4 p.m. Wednesday on Aiken Road in the Town of Pendleton.
  Wasik was taken by ambulance to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital where he was pr
  
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• Child dies after being trapped in a pile of snow

  16-03-2017 00:44 via wivb.com
  
  PENDLETON, N.Y. (WIVB) — A 10-year-old boy has died after being trapped in a pile of snow.
  The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office says it appears as though the boy was digging a tunnel into a snow pile when it collapsed on him around 4 p.m. Wednesday on Aiken Road in the Town of Pendleton.
  The child was taken by ambulance to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
  The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident, which they say appears to
  
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• Heavy snow can be deadly on streets, sidewalks and vents

  16-03-2017 00:10 via wivb.com
  
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – As snowplow drivers try to catch up on clearing the roads, safety officials say it is critical that residents keep the snow from piling up around their furnace and hot water tank vents because a buildup of exhaust fumes can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning that lead to serious illness, or worse.
  A clogged or blocked fresh air intake vent can choke a furnace or hot water heater, causing that appliance to shut off.If you fail get those exhausts out of your home or bu
  
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• University at Buffalo students not happy school did not close today

  16-03-2017 00:02 via wivb.com
  
  AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) — “I think today would’ve been the better day to cancel it because it’s a lot worse today, but I mean the UB officials wanted to keep everyone safe yesterday but not sure what’s going on today,” said Matthew Smolenski, University at Buffalo student.
  “This morning I was hoping for delays I was hoping for classes from 11 to 8 canceled and then after that resumed,” said Timothy Burkart, University at Buffalo student.
  School carrie
  
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