Jay Moran

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.

Though most consider Bernie Tolbert an underdog in the race for Buffalo mayor, Buffalo News Political Reporter Bob McCarthy believes the former FBI agent brings some solid credentials to the campaign.

Though he has yet to officially announce his candidacy in Buffalo's mayoral race, Bernie Tolbert is generating waves of reaction on the local political scene. 

The Niagara Falls City Council has approved the next step in the $25 million plan to construct an International Railway Station.

When Dr. Philip Glick gathers for early morning Grand Rounds Thursday, he will be engaging with UB medical students, residents, faculty and practicing physicians. But they won't be reviewing the particular ailments of a current patient, or the latest health science research. Instead, they will examine the Affordable Care Act. 

Business First created a buzz when it placed developer Carl Paladino at the top of its list of the area's most influential people. In this week's Press Pass, Jim Fink provides background into how his magazine compiled the list. 

President Barack Obama delivered his State of the Union Address Tuesday night to the nation.  But republicans are not completely embracing his proposals. 

With 20 years as the director of the Vatican Observatory and as a member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Father George Coyne offers a personal understanding of Pope Benedict and his surprise resignation.

It appears that Albany is listening to local calls for the removal of the Skyway.

A warm front brought a mix of snow, freezing rain and rain into Western New York early Monday morning making the commute to work and school slow and slick.

Harvesting grapes for ice wine demands that pickers await the coldest weather before taking to the vineyards. With that standard in view, a mostly volunteer crew of 15 assembled before dawn this morning to begin gathering nearly four tons of grapes from an Orleans County field.

Western New York's winter weather appears ready to live up to its severe reputation over the coming days. 

With an Albany fundraiser this week adding to his million dollar campaign treasury, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown appears ready to run for a third term in November.

From coffee to clothing, "Fair Trade" shopping offers consumers a chance to make a difference with their purchases. That practice also includes an expensive luxury item.

A scan of December theater listings serves as a reminder of the holiday season. MusicalFare Theatre offers a unique seasonal show, "The Holiday Guys in Happy Merry Hanu-Mas."

By perpetuating the largest financial fraud in American history, the name Bernie Madoff has become synonymous with the term Ponzi scheme. Along with a handful of co-conspirators, Madoff stole an estimated $18 billion from individuals and entities who believed their money was legitimately invested.

A new billboard near the intersection of Southwestern Boulevard and McKinley Parkway is warning consumers about the cleanliness of the chicken they eat.

Today is Cyber Monday, the day analysts believe will be the busiest online shopping day of the year.  Over $1 billion in online sales are expected as workers return to their computers from the long holiday weekend.

For most, the 117th annual Turkey Trot was not a race. While some challenged at the front of the pack along the eight kilometer course, the majority moved down Delaware Avenue at a much slower pace.

Add Jim Fink of Business First to the growing list of those calling for removal of the Skyway from the Buffalo waterfront.

A veteran of many panels at area political debates, Buffalo News Political Reporter Bob McCarthy believes Tuesday night's debate between Kathy Hochul and Chris Collins was one of the best he has witnessed.

McCarthy was among the panelists at the studios of WNED-TV who posed questions to the candidates in the race for the 27th Congressional district.

As McCarthy sees it, both candidates were very clear in their positions and avoided many of the platitudes that bring little value to political discussions.

In his weekly Morning Edition conversation with WBFO News, Buffalo News Political Reporter Bob McCarthy said nearly $2 million in outside money has flooded into the district and onto the airwaves in the form of political ads.

"Some of these groups are not obliged to report their contributors," McCarthy said. "It opens up a whole new world for money in politics."

While many outside observers are crying foul over the emerging practice, insiders feel otherwise.

"As far as those people (political campaigns) are concerned, it's good."

With over 70 million albums sold and a history that extends over four decades, Kool and the Gang is familiar to most. Perhaps not as widely known is Lackawanna native Shawn McQuiller who joins tonight's class of inductees into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame, 21 years after joining Kool and the Gang.

McQuiller was on tour with a local band called Traffic Jam when his big break occurred.

A nation "curious about Mitt Romney," says Buffalo News Political Reporter Bob McCarthy, could draw an estimated 50 million viewers for tonight's Presidential debate.

As polls show President Barack Obama inching his way to a solid lead, McCarthy believes voters still want to see Romney's debate performances before they make their final decision on Election Day.

The Sabres organization and the City of Buffalo will begin preparing for Webster Block development.

That is one of the topics of conversation in this week's Press Pass conversation with WBFO & AM-970's Jay Moran and Business First reporter Jim Fink.

Jay and Jim also discuss new concerns that surrounded the Buffalo Creek Casino.

Cheektowaga's Super Flea, the popular weekend destination of bargain hunters, will soon make way for a Walmart Supercenter.

In written release, Walmart announced that it intends to build on the Walden Avenue site and relinquish its current location near Harlem Road. 

Academic fellows at UB's Humanities Institute share their expertise in a series of talks scheduled for scattered Fridays at Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center.

The Scholars at Hallwalls talks are "targeted toward a general audience," said Professor Carrie Bramen, Executive Director UB Humanities Institute.  

"The lectures are about 40-to-45 minutes and are not targeted toward professionals in that field. You don’t need to be an academic or have a PhD to understand what’s happening," Bramen told WBFO and AM970 News.

Though the summer season has ended for another year at Chautauqua, the renowned grounds remain active this week.

The 15th Annual Jazz at Chautauqua features jazz artists including Dan Barrett, Scott Robinson, Howard Alden and vocalist Rebecca Kilgore.

"Well, it's exciting. It's very different when we're there because the place is deserted. It's not like in the high season when it's just crammed with people and events,” Kilgore said in an interview with WBFO and AM970.

Western New York is taking time to remember the events of September 11, 2001 with several events to honor those who lost their lives eleven years ago.

Several events are scheduled Tuesday throughout the area to recall the horrific terrorist attacks.