Mike Desmond

There are big changes coming for the state's vast mental health system, grappling with embedded costs and a lot of residents who need help.

The U.S. health care system may not be ready for full implementation of the Affordable Care Act by October 1, and many potential new users may not know about potential coverage.

The full Common Council will vote on landmarking downtown Buffalo's Trico complex after coming out of committee without a recommendation.

The contentious fight over seats on the Buffalo Board of Education has descended into mud-slinging with a mysterious mailer attacking Buffalo developer Carl Paladino who's running in South Buffalo'S Park District.

A former prime minister of Somalia says the country is starting to turn around after decades of civil war and devastation.

The City of Buffalo is investing $2.7 million into the Fruit Belt neighborhood. Mayor Byron Brown announced the funding during a Monday afternoon news conference at Carlton and Peach in front of Futures Academy in the heart of the neighborhood.

A state senator from Buffalo is demanding answers on hazardous materials found in Western New York.  Senator Mark Grisanti says the Buffalo News article, titled "Toxic legacy’s time bomb," has put the area's history of toxic waste back on the front burner.

The political season is starting to heat up, with Erie County Democrats looking for opponents to contest two major incumbents.

Computers are good for your business.  On You and the Law this week, attorney Aaron Aisen says that may be true, but there are risks and business owners and managers should be aware of both and what to do.

In the wake of the criminal conviction of Tonawanda Coke and its top environmental official, New York State's top environmentalist was in town Thursday to tour of the area around the plant and around the Peace Bridge in Buffalo.

There has been great debate over the course followed by the United States in the wake of 9/11.  In a new book, Hilbert College Professor Andrew Kolin examines how Presidents Bush and Obama have extended the office's power in the name of national security.

Buffalo Public school children just aren't getting enough exercise and parents aren't happy about it.  A demonstration was held on the steps of City Hall Wednesday calling on the Board of Education to add more recess time.

An expert on the Catholic Church says Pope Francis will be a different pope from his predecessors. Father Thomas Reese, a Jesuit priest visited Buffalo this week.  Father Reese said the new pontiff has management experience running a Jesuit province and as archbishop of Buenos Aires. 

A plan to merge and move Buffalo's two-alternative schools drew heavy fire Tuesday night at a public meeting.

Three candidates are now lined up to run for Erie County Sheriff.  On Monday, County Sheriff’s Lt. Bert Dunn announced his campaign.

American manufacturing is doing better and production is moving on-shore from off-shore, but problems remain.  The topic was addressed Monday night at a town hall style meeting held in downtown Buffalo.

With a lot of talk about Buffalo Board of Education elections, the candidates are starting to file to run in the May 7 election. 

The New York State Thruway Authority will be spending around $200-million dollars this year in Western New York on roads, bridges and windmills. 

The University at Buffalo has another new building with the environmental rating of LEED Gold, latest in UB's push for environmental sustainability.  

Students need fewer standardized tests and more time with teachers, according to the group Western New Yorkers for Public Education.

Seth Godin may be a marketer, a best-selling author, public intellectual and founder of successful web sites, but when asked for a description, he came up with "ruckus-maker."

If you walk through the Central Library Dowtown, there's a special room for the original manuscript for Huckleberry Finn. In Tom Reigstad's new book, "Scribblin' for a Livin': Mark Twain's Pivotal Period in Buffalo," the college professor and writer explores how Twain and the manuscript wound up in the booming lake port during a pivotal period of his life.

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer used Buffalo's Dyngus Day celebration as back drop for his announcement to include New York’s Polish American community a priority in the comprehensive immigration reform efforts.

The issue of the fate of the Trico complex on the edge of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus has now become mixed into the fight over how much say Fruit Belt residents should have in development in their neighborhood.

This week on You and the Law, the discussion zeroes in on landlord and tenant relationships.  WBFO's Mike Desmond speaks with attorney Joshua Dubs about evictions.
 

The environmental control officer at Tonawanda Coke faces up to 20-years in jail and the company up to $200 million in fines after a federal court jury returned quick verdicts Thursday in a 19-count indictment.

Vowing to do more with less, Buffalo Schools Superintendent Pamela Brown says she is reorganizing the district, starting at the top.

Buffalo schools are seeing no financial relief in the new state budget which will probably fall into place Thursday.

Buffalo's array of food trucks received another year Tuesday as Common Council members approved new licenses and lower fees.

With the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo engaged in Holy Week, there was a small group of protestors outside Saint Joseph's Cathedral Tuesday night calling for the ordination of women.