Mark Poloncarz

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz is sending a clear message to the Trump administration: Send more refugees here. Poloncarz and other county executives across the country are now required to opt-in to allow future refugee resettlement in their districts.

A new series of tax breaks will allow the Lackawanna wind turbines along Lake Erie to get some much needed repairs.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz won re-election Tuesday, defeating challenger Lynne Dixon to win his third term in office.

On the eve of Election Day, Buffalo News politics reporter Bob McCarthy says voters are seeing "really nasty ads" from both sides in the race for Erie County Executive between incumbent Mark Poloncarz and Lynne Dixon. McCarthy also weighs in on the bigger picture in the City of Buffalo and how a lack of competitive races could affect turnout. And which are the county legislature races to watch on Tuesday?

Republicans in the Erie County Legislature want answers about Ruthie’s Law.

The Republican minority caucus sent a letter to Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz on Tuesday, demanding he explain why nursing homes aren’t following the law and what his administration is doing to enforce it.

Ruthie’s Law was meant to hold nursing homes more accountable. Proposed by Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz and passed by the county Legislature just a few months later, it mandates facilities report abuse-related incidents to the county twice a year, as well as submit proof they’re disclosing their ratings to prospective clients.

Now, more than two years after it was signed into law, it’s difficult to say what, if any, impact it’s had.

Eva Doyle, Cas Rodriguez and Jessica Marinelli share a common trait: they hold a keen interest in local politics. They were quick to volunteer for a panel to review Thursday's debate of the two candidates for Erie County Executive. They offered a variety of perspectives on the candidates' performances. They also highlighted the lack of discussion of one the region's most glaring issues, the number of inmates who have died while in custody at the Erie County Holding Center.

Lynne Dixon attacked Mark Poloncarz’s leadership in a televised debate Thursday night, even calling the Erie County Executive a “bully,” while Poloncarz defended his record and promised to continue the area’s economic growth if re-elected. 

A special election has yet to be called for Western New York's 27th Congressional District, but a heavy supply of political money is finding its way into the coffers of the declared candidates. While the district only recently lost its representation with the resignation of Chris Collins, Buffalo News Political Reporter Bob McCarthy says campaign treasuries are on the rise for the declared candidates.

Priorities, spending, taxes, the future home of the Buffalo Bills, economic development and the red/green budget. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz and county legislator Lynne Dixon squared off at Hilbert College Wednesday night in their first debate.

Albany made major changes in New York's criminal law in the last legislative session and those changes are slowly working into place. However, the cost of the changes is not yet clear.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said they are no better than a corner drug dealer. He was referring to corporate opioid makers. Poloncarz sees the county's lawsuits against them benefitting from an Oklahoma judge's ruling this week that Johnson & Johnson intentionally played down the risks, oversold the benefits of the drugs and must pay $572 million.

Erie County legislators heard Thursday morning from leaders of the Parks and Health Departments about the positive test results for lead in dozens of pieces of playground equipment in county parks.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz signed into law the creation of a new panel which, when seated, will observe and advise those who manage the county's jails in order to ensure those incarcerated are given fair treatment.

Meet Erie County's temporary hired help to take on an invasive plant removal pilot project. They come with four legs and a big appetite. And they're now truly eating away a big problem in Como Lake Park.

The Erie County Legislature agreed to put up the $5 million promised to the Albright-Knox Art Gallery by County Executive Mark Poloncarz, but it was along fight.

A laborer with the Erie County Department of Public Works, let go last summer while away on active duty with the Army National Guard, is being reinstated to his county job, County Executive Mark Poloncarz announced Monday. The move was announced just moments before Comptroller Stefan Mychajliw and the head of the union representing Sgt. Rapheal Ramos were to host a news conference demanding the employee's rehire.

In November, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz will be on the ballot, seeking another term. Wednesday, he was in the Albright-Knox Art Galley auditorium laying out future plans in his State of the County message.