Buffalo news

• Facebook is rolling out AI-based suicide prevention effort

  27-11-2017 23:53 via wivb.com
  (CNN) – Facebook is expanding its automated efforts to prevent suicide.
  The company said on Monday it is now using artificial intelligence to identify posts, videos, and Facebook Live streams containing suicidal thoughts. It will also use the technology to prioritize the order its team reviews posts.
   In March, Facebook (FB, Tech30) began a limited test of AI-based suicide prevention efforts on text-only posts in the U.S.
  Its latest effort will bring the
  
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• First woman with Down syndrome competes in Miss Minnesota USA pageant

  27-11-2017 23:39 via wivb.com
  MINNEAPOLIS — A Minnesota woman with Down syndrome won awards and received national attention after competing in the Miss Minnesota USA Pageant over the weekend, CBS Minnesota reports.
  Mikayla Holmgren, a 22-year-old Bethel University student, became the first woman with Down syndrome to compete in the pageant.
  She competed at the Ames Center in Burnsville on Sunday and won the Spirit of Miss USA Award and Director’s Award. The audience gave Holmgren a standi
  
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• New Cristiano Ronaldo bust revealed that actually looks like him

  27-11-2017 23:30 via wivb.com
  (CNN) – Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo‘s good looks are finally immortalized with a bust that actually looks like him.The new bust was revealed Saturday at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, Spain. Ronaldo and his fans can rest easy knowing that this handsome bronze figure, made by famous Spanish sculptor Jose Antonio Navarro Arteaga, will forever uphold Ronaldo’s beauty.It shows a more striking likeness of Ronaldo with naturalistic eyes dreamily looking
  
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• Hertel Avenue tree lighting ceremony to be held Thursday

  27-11-2017 21:55 via wivb.com
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – A forty-foot tree is coming to Hertel Avenue for the holiday season.
  A tree lighting ceremony will be held Thursday at 5:45 p.m. at St. Margaret’s Church, 1395 Hertel Avenue, featuring festive music by the Buffalo Seminary Semachords.
  Honorary lighters for the ceremony will be Janne Siren, director of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and Mary Roberts, executive director of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin Martin House.  They will be joined by Santa and Mrs.
  
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• 17-year-old pleads guilty in double shooting of two 16-year-olds

  27-11-2017 21:47 via wivb.com
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – A Buffalo teen has pleaded guilty in the shooting of two fellow teenagers, one fatal.
  Lawren Goins, 17, of Buffalo, pleaded guilty in State Supreme Court to one count of first degree manslaughter and one count of second degree attempted murder in the double shooting of two teens, both aged 16, in October.
  Goins was 16 years old on Oct. 13, 2016 when he shot and killed 16-year-old Kristian Piazza and shot and injured 16-year-old Terrell Lockett of Buffalo.
  Goins faces
  
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• Kelvin Benjamin has a torn meniscus

  27-11-2017 20:53 via wivb.com
  ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WIVB) — Buffalo Bills wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin has a torn meniscus.
  Head Coach Sean McDermott misheard a question during a Monday afternoon conference, saying at the time that Benjamin was day-to-day.
  Benjamin suffered an injury in the team’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers, and did not play in the subsequent game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
  During the conference, McDermott spoke of another player too — defensive end Shaq Lawson, who did not s
  
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• Jury selection starts in case against accused Anchor Bar shooter

  27-11-2017 20:38 via wivb.com
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The jury selection in the case of a man accused of a fatal shooting at Buffalo’s Anchor Bar has begun.
  Prosecutors say that in May of 2016, Jorge Suarez confronted Freddie Dizon, 32, at Buffalo’s Anchor Bar after Dizon accused Suarez of being a child molester on Facebook.
  During the confrontation, officials say Suarez walked into the restaurant’s kitchen area and fatally shot Dizon — an event witnessed by a busy building filled with custo
  
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• A ‘cozy night,’ roasting chicken and a royal proposal

  27-11-2017 19:56 via wivb.com
  (CNN) — Meghan Markle barely let Prince Harry finish proposing.
  It was a “cozy night” earlier this month at the couple’s Nottingham Cottage, at Kensington Palace, and the pair were roasting a chicken, the American actor said. Or trying to roast a chicken, Harry said, correcting her.
  “It was so sweet and natural and very romantic. He got down on one knee,” she said. “As a matter of fact, I could barely let you finish proposing. I said, ‘Can I say ye
  
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• SPCA Monday: Kitten

  27-11-2017 19:18 via wivb.com
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The SPCA Serving Erie County brought a kitten to News 4 on Monday.
  The unnamed feline is five months old and looking for a home.
  If you’re interested in adopting her, or another pet, call the SPCA at (716) 875-7360.
  
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• RPD officer suspended following missing child incident

  27-11-2017 18:47 via wivb.com
  ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC-TV) — A Rochester police officer has been suspended with pay following an incident that occurred while he was off-duty.
  The Greece Police Department confirmed it is investigating a missing child report late Thursday into early Friday morning involving the son of Jeff McEntee. Several police agencies were called to help look for the child, including State Troopers and a K-9 unit.
  Chief Patrick Phelan told Rochester Nexstar contributors WROC his officers
  
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• Man indicted for fatal Allentown shooting

  27-11-2017 18:32 via wivb.com
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP modified) — A 30-year-old man has been indicted on murder charges for a slaying along a popular stretch of bars in Buffalo that has neighborhood residents calling for a reduction in the number of nightspots.
  The Erie County District Attorney’s Office says Jeremy Wright, of Buffalo, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon charges at his arraignment Monday. He’s being held in jail without bail.
  Authorities say Wright fatall
  
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• Vehicle windows smashed in Clarence, property stolen

  27-11-2017 18:18 via wivb.com
  CLARENCE, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Erie County Sheriff’s office is looking for whoever smashed the windows out of vehicles in Clarence this past weekend.
  Authorities say this happened in three locations along Connemara Lane and Wexford Manor sometime in the overnight hours between Friday and Saturday.
  One of the victims on Connemara said their driver’s license, $500 cash and $470 in property was stolen.
  Nothing was reported stolen in the other two incidents.
  Anyone with informati
  
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• Former city worker accused of stabbing dog indicted on 3 charges

  27-11-2017 17:53 via wivb.com
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A former City of Buffalo worker has been indicted on three charges, including Aggravated Cruelty to Animals.
  Prosecutors say James Craddock, 47, confronted a Buffalo woman and her dog, Audi, on the morning of September 23. This happened at Mineral Springs Rd. and Frank Ave., according to officials.
  After a brief exchange, prosecutors say Craddock pulled out a large knife and stabbed the dog.
  The indictment says Craddock then advanced on the victim, but took off
  
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• Buffalo man charged with DWI after vehicle flips onto railroad tracks

  27-11-2017 16:55 via wivb.com
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Buffalo police charged a man with DWI after an accident occurred this past Saturday.
  According to police, Buffalo resident Charles Gasiecki, 27, was driving south on New Babcock St. when he failed to make a turn, resulting in his vehicle flipping and landing on the railroad tracks near Fleming St.
  Police say this happened just after 6 p.m.
  Gasiecki’s arrest was announced on Monday morning.
  
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• More volunteers needed for Food Bank’s Backpack Program

  27-11-2017 16:41 via wivb.com
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – This is the season when many of us dig deep into our pockets to help our neighbors in need, but hunger is a real problem in our community year round, and the Food Bank of WNY always needs more help making sure children don’t go hungry over the weekends when they are out of school.
  This is the first year the Food Bank has volunteers at its warehouse packing bags for its backpack program. In years past, counselors and other staff members at the partner schools we
  
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• Sen. Franken back to work amid sexual misconduct allegations

  27-11-2017 16:24 via wivb.com
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Minnesota Sen. Al Franken said he doesn’t remember whether he touched women inappropriately while having his picture taken with them at campaign events.
  The Democrat’s comments were the latest indication that he had no plans to step down amid allegations of sexual misconduct. One woman alleges Franken forcibly kissed her on a USO tour and took a sexually suggestive photo while she was sleeping; three other women allege Franken&nbs
  
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• Man charged with driving while more than 3 times over legal alcohol limit

  27-11-2017 15:24 via wivb.com
  TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) — Early Monday morning, police in the City of Tonawanda say a man drove while more than three times over the legal limit for alcohol.
  North Tonawanda resident James Taft, 27, was seen swerving and making wide turns in the area of Delaware St., police say.
  Taft was stopped and given sobriety tests, which police say he failed. According to them, his blood-alcohol content was 0.25 percent.
  Taft was held on $250 bail after being charged with DWI, Aggravated DWI and two o
  
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• Police: Drunk driver strikes 2 parked vehicles in Tonawanda

  27-11-2017 14:58 via wivb.com
  TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) — An Amherst man, who police say struck two parked vehicles, was charged with Aggravated DWI on Sunday afternoon.
  According to City of Tonawanda Police, Levi Saladino, 21, turned from Mosher Drive and struck the two vehicles on Murray Terrace.
  Police say Saladino showed signs of intoxication, and that when they asked if he was drinking, he replied “Yeah, I had two beers, but they were small ones.”
  An open 24 oz. beer can was found in his vehicle, pol
  
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• Police say NY mall evacuated after gun discharges into floor

  27-11-2017 14:22 via wivb.com
  MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. (AP) — A crowded mall in New York’s Hudson Valley was evacuated Sunday after a man shot a gun into the floor, causing minor injuries to two bystanders, police said.
  It wasn’t clear whether the gunfire shortly after 3 p.m. at the Galleria at Crystal Run in Middletown was accidental. Police were seeking the man with the gun.
  “At this time it appears that a male wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and gray pants discharged one round from a h
  
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• Niagara Falls Water Board expected to vote on 2018 budget

  27-11-2017 14:12 via wivb.com
  NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Niagara Falls Water Board is expected to vote on its 2018 budget on Monday.
  The budget calls for a two-and-a-half percent rate hike for sewer and water customers.
  That adds up to an extra two or three dollars per bill.
  The board plans to more than double its investment in infrastructure next year. One big spending item will be improving the Wastewater Treatment Plant to prevent the black discharges seen this Summer and Fall.
  
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• Train carrying molten sulfur derails in Florida, neighbors asked to stay inside

  27-11-2017 13:48 via wivb.com
  POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – A train carrying molten sulfur derailed in Polk County, Florida early Monday morning, deputies say.
  The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is at the scene of the derailment near Lakeland, near the intersection of Galloway Road and Kathleen Road.
  Deputies have issued a precautionary shelter in place order for people nearby, according to Florida Nexstar contributors WFLA. People are being asked to close their windows and turn off the air conditioning.
  Polk County
  
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• Tyrod Taylor says lack of haircut was the reason for his hat

  27-11-2017 13:35 via wivb.com
  ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WIVB) — After Sunday’s Buffalo Bills game against the Kansas City Chiefs, quarterback Tyrod Taylor was seen donning a wide-brimmed fedora.
  Along with that, Taylor was dressed in a sleek, charcoal suit. The hat decision seems to have been more out of necessity than a stylistic choice though.
  When asked if he had been saving the hat for a special occasion, Taylor said he simply had not had time for a haircut Friday, so Sunday became a hat day.
  
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• Stores hoping people keep shopping offer Cyber Monday deals

  27-11-2017 13:16 via wivb.com
  NEW YORK (AP) — After offering online deals for days, retailers are rolling out even more promotions for Cyber Monday, hoping to keep people buying stuff on their smartphones or computers.
  Shoppers are expected to spend $6.6 billion on Cyber Monday, up more than 16 percent from a year ago, according to Adobe Analytics, the research arm of software maker Adobe. And more people will be picking up their phones to shop: Web traffic from smartphones and tablets is expected to top desktop comput
  
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• Full slate of unfinished business will test lawmakers

  27-11-2017 12:46 via wivb.com
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The crush of unfinished business facing lawmakers would be daunting even if Washington were functioning at peak efficiency.
  It’s an agenda whose core items — tax cuts, a potential government shutdown, lots of leftover spending bills — could unravel just as easily as advance in factionalism, gamesmanship and a toxic political environment.
  There’s only a four-week window until a Christmas deadline, barely enough time for complicated negotia
  
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• Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle to wed next year

  27-11-2017 12:13 via wivb.com
  LONDON (AP) — Actress, humanitarian campaigner, lifestyle blogger — and, next spring, a royal.
  Palace officials announced Monday that Prince Harry is engaged to Meghan Markle, confirming months of rumors that the couple was close to tying the knot.
  Harry’s brother, Prince William, and his pregnant wife Kate welcomed Markle to the royal family.
  “We are very excited for Harry and Meghan,” they said in a statement. “It has
  
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• Sen. Schumer calls for crackdown on at-home DNA testing kits

  27-11-2017 05:14 via wivb.com
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)- Senator Chuck Schumer is calling for a crackdown on companies that handle at-home DNA testing kits.
  He says the popular testing kits could expose users genetic information.
  These kits help people learn more about their health, heritage and/or family.
  Schumer says he wants the Federal Trade Commission to make sure privacy policies are clear, transparent and fair to consumers.
  “But here’s what many consumers don’t realize, that their sensitive informati
  
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• Postal Service delivering mail and packages on Sundays during holiday season

  27-11-2017 04:57 via wivb.com
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Postal Service wants to make sure all gifts are delivered in time for Christmas so mail carriers will now be out on Sundays.
  The pressure is on for the next few weeks, as mail carriers across Western New York will be playing Santa.
  “Every time you go to the door you’re bringing something fun, something waited for something someone is going to see is this the perfect gift? said Karen Mazurkiewicz, spokesperson for the United States Postal Service.
  Mari
  
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• Hazmat team called to truck fire in Cheektowaga

  27-11-2017 01:04 via wivb.com
  CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) — An investigation is underway in Cheektowaga after a parked truck caught on fire between two homes.
  Pine Hill fire crews tell News 4 when they arrived on the scene at Bell Road, the truck was fully engulfed, and fire was spreading to the two homes.
  Crews were able to quickly put out the fire and then moved inside the houses to check for damage.
  While inside, a 500 gallon drum was found with an unknown substance inside.
  Fire crews then called for a hazmat team
  
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• Car crashes into front yard of home

  27-11-2017 00:43 via wivb.com
  BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — News 4 is working to learn more details about a car that may have crashed into a home in Buffalo.
  The crash happened around 4:30 p.m. at Bailey Ave. And William St.
  There was a black car on the scene with severe damage in the front yard of a home. The driver side door was actually off.
  It’s unclear if the car actually hit the house.
  Stay with News 4 for updates on this developing story.
  
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