Mike Desmond

You and the Law: Crossing the border for school or job

Mike Desmond — Sat, 18 May 2013 01:39:16 +0000

Crossing the border into the US is something thousands of people a day take for granted.

Fruit Belt charter school moving into former Mount St. Joe's

Mike Desmond — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:59:14 +0000

The Aloma D. Johnson Fruit Belt Community Charter School is moving into North Buffalo.

DiNapoli calls for campaign finance reform

Mike Desmond — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:59:12 +0000

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says the state's campaign finance system needs to be completely replaced, including ending pensions for state officials who are convicted for corruption.

Advocates campaign for legalized mixed martial arts

Mike Desmond — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:21:53 +0000

With the state legislative session nearing its end, there is a renewed push to legalize professional mixed martial arts in New York.

Buffalo Place Rocks Canalside: 2013 concert season

Mike Desmond — Thu, 16 May 2013 01:00:00 +0000

It's going to be another hot and entertaining summer on Buffalo's Waterfront, with the newly re-named Thursday at Canalside and Buffalo Place Rocks Canalside.

Eternal flame at Chestnut Ridge attracts world's attention

Mike Desmond — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:15:31 +0000

A little-known corner of Erie County's vast parks system is getting some worldwide attention after the busiest English-language website in the world ran a long story about the eternal flame in Chestnut Ridge Park. WBFO'S Mike Desmond brings us the story.

City lawmakers hold line on garbage tax

Mike Desmond — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:14:08 +0000

Buffalo Common Council members voted Tuesday for a measure which is supposed to block an increase in the city's garbage user fee.

Albany scandals spur call for public campaign financing

Mike Desmond — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:08:07 +0000

With indictments mounting amid accusations of public corruption, Albany once again has become a glaring example of all that is wrong with politics. But some see it as an opportunity for change.

County working to make parks more handicap accessible

Mike Desmond — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:41:41 +0000

Erie County is increasing handicapped accessibility in some of its parks, not an easy task in woods and on trails.

Finnish Ambassador visits Albright-Knox Art Gallery

Mike Desmond — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:12:29 +0000

The U.S Ambassador to Finland made his way to the Albright-Knox Art Gallery for a tour of its renowned collection this weekend and to visit with an old friend Janne Siren, the gallery's new director.

Pushing for Niagara Tourism bucks

Mike Desmond — Mon, 13 May 2013 09:00:00 +0000

Governor Andrew Cuomo is spending millions more dollars on tourism and the man in charge of tourism in Niagara County says that's great news.

Teachers' union going to court to defend evaluation 'side deal'

Mike Desmond — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:27:00 +0000

Governor Cuomo and the State Education Department are saying a side deal between the Buffalo school district and the Buffalo Teachers Federation regarding teacher evaluations is illegal and should be blocked. The union is going to court to uphold the deal.

Here comes the judge, license plates

Mike Desmond — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:58:21 +0000

Around half of the judges across New York State have license plates on their cars showing they are judges.

Paladino asks school board to halt employment actions

Mike Desmond — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:50:00 +0000

The day after a school board election and a few days before a Buffalo Teachers Federation election, Wednesday night's school board meeting was, at times, tense with politics front and center.

Paladino wins, vows to shake up school district

Mike Desmond — Wed, 08 May 2013 14:05:00 +0000

Local developer and longtime school district critic Carl Paladino, and two other newcomers, Theresa Harris-Tigg and Jim Sampson, were elected Tuesday to seats on the Buffalo Board of Education.

Bass Pro selects Niagara-On-The-Lake for new store

Mike Desmond — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:35:22 +0000

Bass Pro is coming. No, really. Bass Pro is coming across the border to Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario.

Wind power fight in Ontario's Niagara Region

Mike Desmond — Mon, 06 May 2013 13:39:49 +0000

There is a long-running fight in Ontario's Niagara Region over wind towers being used to generate electricity, while nearby, a series of companies are starting factories to make the components of wind generators.

Buffalo school board elections Tuesday

Mike Desmond — Mon, 06 May 2013 13:30:16 +0000

A frequently nasty fight over control of the Buffalo school board is moving into its final hours, with results uncertain.

You & The Law: Buying or selling a home

Mike Desmond — Fri, 03 May 2013 20:09:28 +0000

It's spring, a traditionally busy time to start looking to buy or sell a home. But closing deals are not always a simple process. On this week's edition of You & The Law, WBFO's Mike Desmond talks with attorney Bruce Ikefugi who says the process is become more complicated.

Economist says NY errs in subsidizing the rich

Mike Desmond — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:27:21 +0000

An expert on corporate subsidies and economic policy says the rich are getting richer and the rest of us are not, a pattern decades old.

Mayor's proposed budget looks to tackle school attendance

Mike Desmond — Thu, 02 May 2013 13:36:56 +0000

The City of Buffalo puts more than $70 million into the school system every year and this year it's contributing a little more to put staffers to work ensuring that kids show up.

Brown budget holds the line on taxes and fees

Mike Desmond — Wed, 01 May 2013 20:48:53 +0000

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown says his $482.5 million budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 is slightly less than the current year while making some investments in city services.

School board candidates debate education issues

Mike Desmond — Wed, 01 May 2013 14:14:29 +0000

With the Buffalo school board election a week away, eight candidates turned out Tuesday night for a debate in Lafayette Presbyterian Church.

Council fails to grant landmark status to Trico building

Mike Desmond — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:20:14 +0000

The historic Trico Plant No. 1 on the edge of downtown Buffalo won't be designated a local landmark. The Common Council deadlocked in a 4-4 vote Tuesday.

Genesee Gateway growth

Mike Desmond — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:51:42 +0000

There has been enough development in downtown Buffalo that projects are starting to feed off each other.

Details of alleged Canadian terror plot may be forthcoming

Mike Desmond — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:03:00 +0000

As early as Monday, we may find out if two Canadian residents had help in their alleged plot to blow up a train between New York City and Toronto.

Drunk driving arrests still too common, sheriff says

Mike Desmond — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:01:34 +0000

Just about every day, an Erie County deputy sheriff makes a drunken driving arrest. Sheriff Tim Howard says his deputies are on track for the fourth year in a row of making more than 300 such arrests.

You & The Law: Cross-border workers

Mike Desmond — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 21:45:00 +0000

Every day, thousands of people go back and forth across the U.S. border with Canada and a few try to do it illegally. For those who want to come here to work or to stay, there are legal procedures.

Thruway tolls will stay in Williamsville

Mike Desmond — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:30:54 +0000

The State Thruway Authority has decided to keep the Williamsville Toll Barrier in Williamsville.

Airport security changes & Homeland Security

Mike Desmond — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:00:00 +0000

Americans should feel more secure, even with what happened at the Boston Marathon. That's from Steven MacMartin, former U.S. Customs officer and director of the Homeland Security Program at Medaille College.