News

Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard is clarifying his recent comments regarding New York's new gun control law.

The operator of the historic North Park Theatre on Hertel Avenue in Buffalo says it will cease operations as of June 6.

Over the past week, the State of New York has reached casino rights agreements with two Native American tribes: the Oneidas in Central New York and the Mohawks in the North Country. That leaves the Seneca Nation in Western New York as the last remaining tribe whose dispute with the state is still unresolved.

The Buffalo Public School District has a new school budget with more spending and staff cuts as individual schools get a say on spending in their buildings.

Rare posters that were seized by Nazis in 1938 in East Berlin are now right here in Western New York.  About 30 of those posters were recently up for auction in New York City.

The Niagara County SPCA in Wheatfield has made a 180-degree turnaround following last year's disturbing findings according to Barbara Carr, director of the SPCA of Erie County.

Governor Andrew Cuomo, who still has not issued a decision on whether hydro fracking should be allowed in New York,  is backing further away from the controversial gas drilling process in his economic development plans for the future. 

Governor Andrew Cuomo outlined a plan while visiting the University at Buffalo campus Wednesday to encourage new businesses to locate near SUNY campuses. The initiative called “Tax Free NY” would allow businesses to operate without paying income, sales, property, or business taxes for ten years.

Toy maker Fisher-Price says it's moving or eliminating roughly 100 jobs from its New York operations.

A Brant woman who was impaired by drugs and alcohol when she crashed her SUV into an oncoming car, killing an infant, has been sentenced to 15 years in jail.

Albany is kicking in more than $5 million for the rehab effort of the historic Statler building in downtown Buffalo.

Buffalo has a budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 with council members making only small changes to Mayor Byron Brown's proposed spending plan.

Governor Cuomo has nominated former Buffalo Mayor Anthony Masiello to a seat on the Peace Bridge Authority.

Voters in six area school districts rejected spending plans on Tuesday.  The margin of defeat was decisive in Clarence where 58-percent voted against a plan to increase taxes by nearly ten percent.

A Western New York trucker is accused of taking children on trips across the state with the intent to engage in sexual activity with them.

Members of the Erie County Legislature's Minority Caucus are calling for a full investigation into the improper disposal of confidential Social Services documents.

The U.S. Coast Guard was called on to perform two rescues on local waterways over a 12-hour period Monday night and Tuesday morning.

Voters across Western New York are heading to the polls Tuesday to decide on school budgets and candidates in a number of districts. WBFO's Eileen Buckley has more on budget votes in the City of Niagara Falls and Clarence.

Each month, local criminal defense lawyer James Harrington travels on a long flight to Guantanamo Bay too meet with his client. Harrington meets at a military prison housing the tribunals handling alleged terrorism cases. WBFO's Mike Desmond sat down with the Buffalo attorney for an interview about his work.

Erie County's Republican party chairman says democratic State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver should go in the wake of the burgeoning sex scandal in his legislative house.

The small Southern Tier city of Corning has quietly become a top tourist destination. "We see nearly a half-million of visitors a year for tourism," said Mike Melaro, director of marketing and communications for Corning's Gaffer District. Thousands of those visitors are expected this weekend for the fourth annual GlassFest.

Western New York Assemblyman Michael Kearns says he is quitting his Democratic conference based on the way Speaker Sheldon Silver handled the scandal involving disgraced Assemblyman Vito Lopez.

The privacy of hundreds of Erie County residents has been breached, according to the county's top fiscal watchdog.

A Kenmore tavern owner was found murdered in his home Sunday morning. Police say 62-year-old Vincent "Jim" Cottone was discovered in his home around 11 a.m. Sunday at 21 Landers Road.

A group of Western New York high school students toured the Gates Vascular Institute in Buffalo to learn about medical science.

A sorority that serves thousands of African-American college women is celebrating its centennial. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded in 1913 at Howard University. WBFO's Eileen Buckley recently met some of the oldest past presidents of the Buffalo chapter and current leaders at UB's Amherst campus.

The crowds are pulling into Niagara-on-the-Lake as the Shaw Festival begins its summer season. Behind the scenes, the theater festival is watching every dime, both coming in and going out.

The Erie County IDA will be voting on a development project that could decide the future of a decaying downtown industrial facility. Jim Fink of Business First believes the project is important because of its visibility.

The scandal enveloping Brooklyn State Assemblyman Vito Lopez could have wider implications.  Lopez is resigning from the Assembly Monday in the wake of a sexual harassment scandal.  But as WBFO's Mark Scott reports, there are growing calls for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to step down.

A New York Assemblyman accused of sexually harassing women staffers for years says he will resign before he's expelled from the legislature.