State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says Industrial Development Agencies, or IDAs, are doing a better job of using incentives to create and retain jobs in New York. But the state's fiscal watchdog has some concerns about accountability and transparency when it comes to tax exemptions.
Several major development projects have been announced recently in Buffalo and Western New York. Many of these projects are being supported by generous government subsidies.
Erie County has seen a dramatic rise in homelessness. The Department of Social Services says nearly 2,200 individuals were placed in emergency homeless shelters in 2012, up 14 percent from 2011.
There is good news for local school districts in the state budget being finalized in Albany. The agreement hammered out between Gov. Cuomo and lawmakers provides more than $21 billion in aid to education, an increase of nearly $1 billion.
Classical guitarist Julia Crowe still remembers her first guitar. It was given to her by a guest who stayed at a rooming house run by her grandmother. In her new book "My First Guitar," Crowe tells the stories of 70 legendary musicians, including Elvis, Jimmy Page, Les Paul, Carlos Santana and Sharon Isbin.
The two Rochester-area firefighters who survived the Christmas Eve shooting that claimed the lives of two comrades say it's going to be a long road back to recovery.
The Buffalo Sabres are in Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs Thursday night and for the first time in 16 years, Lindy Ruff will not be behind the bench. WBFO's Jim Ranney talked with Steve Manson of Western New York Hockey Magazine about Ruff's firing and where the team goes from here.
Hundreds attended a rally outside the state Capitol Tuesday in opposition to the state's new gun laws. Buffalo developer and former Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino led the crowd in chants criticizing Governor Cuomo for pushing the law through.
The ban on assault weapons and large ammunition clips passed by state lawmakers and signed into law earlier this week has the support of 73 percent of New York voters, according to the latest poll by the Siena Research Institute.
Dozens of people gathered outside Rockwell Hall on the Buffalo State College campus Friday morning to remember those killed one week ago at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.
With winter weather in the forecast and holiday traffic expected to be heavy, the State Thruway Authority is taking steps to keep the highway clear for drivers.
Over $700 million in funding was awarded to the state's ten Regional Economic Development Councils today. The Western New York council is receiving $52.8 million for 58 projects.
Firefighters are busy in the village of Orchard Park dealing with a two-alarm blaze. Flames broke out in a building at 4226 North Buffalo Street just before 2 p.m. Tuesaday.
Work will begin soon on a parking lot expansion at Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
The Western New York Regional Economic Development Council and the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority will spend more than $8 million to increase parking at the Long Term B lot by 1,000 spaces.
The Buffalo News has selected Mike Connelly of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune to become editor and vice president, taking over for Margaret Sullivan who left for the New York Times earlier this month.
Connelly takes over in a challenging time for newspapers across the U.S.
WBFO and AM 970's Jim Ranney talked with Lee Coppola, former dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at St. Bonaventure University, about the challenges the new editor faces.
Lee Coppola will be inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasting Hall of Fame Class of 2012 Thursday evening.
The Niagara County Sheriff says a propane leak caused the deadly explosion of a house in the Town of Wilson that killed a 14-year-old girl Tuesday morning.
Officials said they don't know where the spark that ignited the gas came from. Niagara County Sheriff James Voutour said the house was supplied by a large, exterior propane tank, common in rural areas.
Good For You, a radio forum presented by WBFO/AM 970 and BlueCross BlueShield of WNY, examines ways to improve the quality of health care, while lowering costs.
Four local health care experts gathered before a live audience in the WNED studios. The panel included:
Dr. Andrea Manyon, A Primary Care Physician and Associate Dean of Student Affairs, U-B School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences and Clinical Chief of Family Medicine for Kaleida Health System
Karen Blount, an RN and Vice President of Healthcare Services for BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York
Hundreds of motorcyclist escorted a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to the Town of Eden Tuesday.
A police motorcade and members of the Vietnam Riders and Patriot Riders motorcycle groups traveled with a truck and trailer carrying the wall to the Newell-Faulkner Post 880 American Legion Hall off Route 62.
It will be open for public viewing from noon Thursday through Sunday at the Legion grounds off Main Street in Eden.
The wall contains the names of more than 58,000 Americans killed or missing in the Vietnam War.
The B-17 "Flying Fortress," which belongs to the Liberty Foundation, is on a national tour of more than 40 cities in what it calls a Salute to Veterans.
This particular plane was built toward the end of World War II and never saw any combat, but has been painted in the colors of the original Memphis Belle that flew countless missions with the 91st bomb group of the 8th Airforce. It was the first B-17 to complete 25 missions, something pilot Bob Hill says was unheard of.
Many of the planes and thousands of crew members were lost during the war.
Debate continues in Washington and locally over extension of the so-called Bush-era tax cuts.
Democratic Congresswoman Kathy Hochul called Monday for extension of the tax cuts for everyone making less than $250,000 a year. But Republican congressional candidate Chris Collins says the tax cuts should be extended for everyone.
Collins talked about it with WBFO & AM-970's Jim Ranney.
Erie County is kicking off a new program designed to provide a safe way home for drunk drivers.
The Designated Driver Program is privately funded and will run through the county's Stop DWI office. It provides two designated drivers; one to take the intoxicated driver home in their vehicle, and one to follow.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz calls it a smart way to remove drunk drivers from the road.
There is no change atop the Business First ranking of Western New York school districts.
For the ninth straight year, Williamsville Central is ranked first.
The district is ranked first in three subject areas, English, math and social studies with 65 percent of last year's graduates earning Regents diplomas.
Rounding out the top five school districts: Clarence, East Aurora, Orchard Park and Amherst.
Business First's Annual Guide to Western New York Schools hits newsstands today.
