Jay Moran

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.

For Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, the Democratic National Convention offers more than discussions in party politics.

The convention presents a chance to meet face-to-face with "state officials about what the state can contribute to the reconstruction of Ralph Wilson Stadium," Poloncarz said in a live interview on WBFO and AM970.

It's believed the Buffalo Bills are seeking over $200 million in improvements for their home stadium, a price tag the cash-strapped county is unlikely to afford on its own.

"We're still talking."

He is, perhaps, India's greatest writer, Rabindranath Tagore, whose words, music and philosophies extended well beyond his homeland.

Best and simply known as Tagore, this poet, essayist, novelist, musician commanded international acclaim. In 1913, he was the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. Transcending the communications and transportation limitations of an evolving world, Tagore's spiritual messages moved the most influential minds of his time,so says producer, Kushal Bose.

The largest look at global tobacco use has its origins at the University at Buffalo. The study, which surveyed 3 billion tobacco users in 16 different countries, was conducted by an international team led  by Gary Giovino, chair of the University at Buffalo's  Department of Community Health and Health Behavior.

Among the study's most daunting conclusions: one billion could die prematurely in this century if tobacco use trends aren't curtailed.

Two nations with fast-growing economies, China and India, combine for over a half-billion tobacco users.

For a smoker, the Herculean task of quitting takes many paths.

Pills. Jogging. Stress management. Chewing gum. Name it, a smoker has tried, failed, and continued lighting up.

Subbing veggies for smokes, is not new, but according to UB researcher Gary Giovino, new information indicates it may be a highly effective way out for the nicotine addict.

Though 13,000 people trekked to Jamestown for last year's Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, organizers are hoping for more this year and, with the big names set to appear, it may be able to achieve that goal.

Paula Poundstone takes the stage Thursday at the Reg Lenna Civic Center. Named one of Comedy Central's 100 Greatest Comics of All Time, Poundstone, not surprisingly, admires the legendary work of Lucille Ball. It's a passion she shares with her kids, though they were never allowed to watch Lucy on television.

While Buffalo Bills fans may be miffed over the team not easing its television blackout policy, Jim Fink of Business First believes the faithful may be encouraged by the progress of lease negotiations that could keep the club here for many years.

In WBFO and AM970's Press Pass conversation, Fink also discusses development prospects in downtown Buffalo.

He hears that Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, which has had great success in Syracuse and Rochester, may be opening in Buffalo.

While most of the area workforce slipped into the sunshine of summer's first day, some First Niagara employees were listening carefully to a best-selling author celebrate their company's worker-friendly culture.

The object of their attention is best-selling author Chester Elton, who seems to have constant eye contact with every person in the room as he rushed through a series of topics, anecdotes and jokes, a smile fixed perpetually on his face.

Restaurateurs and volunteers are preparing to greet the many thousands of people expected to visit the Taste of Buffalo this weekend.

WBFO and AM 970's Jay Moran spoke with Chris Hitchcock, the person charged with overseeing the event billed as the largest two-day food festival in the United States.

The Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor, in an effort to preserve the Canal's special history, has issued a grant to two local cultural institutions, the Buffalo Zoo and the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society.

The grant has produced the program "Erie Canal Connections," which is aimed at school children, grades three through five.

The program follows New York State education standards, according to Tara Lyons, Historical Society museum educator.

Local educators moved quickly to fill the spots available to attend the program.

Buffalo News Political Reporter Bob McCarthy says Chris Collins showed "great confidence" as he swept aside David Bellavia in the Republican primary in the 27th Congressional District.

That confidence, McCarthy says, comes from the Collins' campaign understanding of the newly-formed 27th district. Tuesday's vote showed Collins winning easily in the towns of Erie County where Republican enrollment is high.

As the first day of summer arrives in Western New York, very warm temperatures will be felt across the region.

Temperatures are expected to climb into the upper 80's .  The hot weather will continue into Wednesday evening, with warm, muggy conditions and lows in the lower 70's.  Much of the same is expected Thursday, with very warm and humid weather and the highs reaching into the upper 80's. 

The Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an "air quality alert" from until 11 p.m. Wednesday for most of Western New York.  

At a recent press conference, the Cuomo Administration proposed the formation of the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs to investigate and prosecute the nearly 10,000 annual cases of abuse of people under the care of New York State.

Nearly one million New Yorkers who fall under the umbrella term of "having special needs" are being served by either state-run facilities or state-funded private agencies.

Authoring much of the proposal was lawyer/advocate Clarence Sundram.

Jim Fink discusses his  recent  Business First story focusing on the economics of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.

While the cultural organization generates millions in economic activity, Nik Wallenda may be having trouble gathering the sponsor support needed to make his June 15th walk across the Falls.

A troubling development for Buffalo is the closing of the Canadian Consulate in downtown Buffalo. According to Jim Fink,  the impact of the move goes beyond losing 75 local jobs.

With May serving Children's Mental Health Month, it's worth noting that all is not carefree for young folks who have yet to pay a mortgage, buy a car or haggle with a health insurer over phantom expenses.

Marlene Schillinger, President and CEO of Jewish Family Service of Buffalo, says her agency sees plenty of cases of children struggling with serious mental health issues, like peer pressure, depression, even suicidal thoughts.

It may not be an optimal date, but Business First's Jim Fink believes Nik Wallenda's June 15th walk across Niagara Falls should boost tourism, if only temporarily.

Discussing the topic Monday morning on WBFO and AM970's Press Pass, Fink said in "a perfect world" the walk would have taken place in September.

Without Wallenda's appearance, hotels on both sides of the border would still  enjoy near full occupancy in June.

Jim Fink also offers updates on the restored Lafayette Hotel and the summer concert season coming to the Central Wharf.

With the number of obese American children continuing to rise, the problem may seem insurmountable, but the UB weight loss program has enjoyed the type of success that may help turn the tide.

"As far as I know, there's no other programs that have the kind of long term success that we do," said SUNY Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics Dr. Leonard Epstein, who supervises the UB weight loss program.  

Dry grounds combined with today's low humidity and gusty winds have prompted the National Weather Service to issue an alert regarding outdoor fires.

The National Weather Service has issued a "Red Flag Warning" from 11am through 6pm today.

"It's pretty rare for us to issue these. Our fire weather season is usually pretty short," said meteorologist Jon Hitchcock. 

"I'd say once every few years we have a bona fide 'Red Flag Warning' event here in Western New York."

Billy Gardell of the CBS sitcom "Mike & Molly," and Paula Poundstone are among the major acts appearing at Jamestown's Lucille Ball Comedy Festival in August.

According to Journey Gunderson, executive director of the Lucy Desi Center in Jamestown, last year's event drew 13,000 visitors and sparked $3.6 million in economic activity.

Before the Sprout Film Festival holds its annual April showing at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art in April, the critically-acclaimed film event makes its way into Western New York this weekend in Batavia.

The Sprout Film Festival travels around the country, making dozens of stops annually. It’s stated goal is to show films related to the lives, performances and accomplishments of people with disabilities.

"It's a nice process. It's a fight worth fighting, to get people to see these films" said Sprout Executive Director Anthony DiSalvo. 

Celebrated for her extensive catalogue of award-winning documentaries and human rights activism, filmmaker Pamela Yates appears tonight for the Buffalo premier of "Granito: How to Nail a Dictator."

Yates' early work earned accolades in the 1980s as she documented Guatemala's civil war that left over 200,000 dead and the international community seeking to prosecute the nation's leaders for war crimes.

"Granito," Yates says, examines how that case has been built.

"It's a political thriller and that's the way the story is told,” Yates told WBFO and AM970 News.

Wish You Were Here: The Buffalo Avant-garde in the 1970s" runs March 30 through July 8 at the Albright-Knox.

Artist Cindy Sherman made news again this week when auction house Christie's announced it's looking to sell one of her signature self-portraits for $3.8 million.

In this week's Press Pass, Jim Fink of Business First discussed the two conflicting sides battling over the future of the Trico complex in downtown Buffalo.

Meanwhile, across the border, the slots in Fort Erie face an uncertain future.

That uncertainty is not good for the city's legendary race track which Fink calls the "identity" of that community.

A relative surprise is the status of the Buffalo Bills.

Children from the '70's Saturday morning cartoon era will remember Schoolhouse Rock.  

The series of short, animated cartoons were designed to teach children about Math, grammar, history and science.

The creator of Schoolhouse Rock songs, Bob Dorough will be on state at Buffalo State for a concert and lecture Thursday afternoon and evening. 

At 12:15 p.m. he appears in Rockwell Hall for a discussion and demonstration.  Thursday evening at 7 p.m. Drough performs "From Bebop to Schoolhouse Rock!" in the Burchfield Penney Art Center Auditorium.

Super Tuesday for republican candidates is now history.  Mitt Romney emerged as winner after a close race with rival Rick Santorum.

Newt Gingrich places third with Ron Paul trailing behind the republican candidates. 

WBFO and AM-970’s Jay Moran had three conversations Wednesday morning with University at Buffalo Political professor James Campbell, associate professor Joshua Dyck and Erie County Republican Party Chairman Nick Langworthy. 

Each provided their perspective on Super Tuesday’s outcome.