Politics

With control of the New York State Senate on the ballot Election Day, state legislation about child abuse by clergy has moved onto the political scene.

The Republican candidate for attorney general in New York, Keith Wofford, said if he wins, he’d go after the head of his party, President Donald Trump, and his policies — but only if there’s a good reason.

Erie County lawmakers were given a formal presentation of two recommended sites for a new convention center and a pitch to build it. Supporters of a new venue admit there remain many unanswered questions but they insist doing nothing is an unacceptable choice.

The political coattails of Donald Trump should be enough for a Republican candidate to cruise to victory in the 27th Congressional District where the majority of voters enthusiastically support the President. For Congressman Chris Collins that path turned complicated upon his indictment on insider trading charges. Buffalo News Political Reporter Bob McCarthy says it's too soon to predict an upset, but he believes Collins faces many hurdles in getting the district's Republican majority out to vote in November. 

A former mayor of Syracuse brought her gubernatorial campaign to Buffalo Wednesday morning. Stephanie Miner, along with runningmate Michael Volpe, are seeking votes on behalf of a party founded just one year ago.

It's a grassroots effort that has grown from a handful of organizers to over 30,000 Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze and Palestinians. Women Wage Peace is working to pressure Israeli officials into forging a lasting peace between Palestinians and Israelis. Julie Sitcov Bogin, a Buffalo native, will discuss her group's efforts at 7:30 tonight at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Williamsville. The event is presented by Congregation Havurah.

In trying to understand the diverse views found across the New York's massive 27th Congressional District, The Batavian is a good place to start.  In 10 years, the website has developed a loyal following of readers who often engage in spirited debate on an array of topics ranging from the philosophical to the parochial. The site has become a must-stop for candidates looking to connect with voters, but the recent silence of embattled Rep. Chris Collins has prompted the Batavian to break from its standard policy. Publisher Howard Owens says they will no longer post Collins' press releases until the congressman agrees to another interview.

The Green Party candidate for state comptroller, Mark Dunlea, said he isn’t in the race to win but rather to highlight one key issue — combating climate change.

Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins, a retired UPS worker from Syracuse, and former Vietnam war protester, is running for governor for the third time, challenging popular incumbent Andrew Cuomo from the left. Hawkins, in a conversation with Karen DeWitt, explains why he thinks he is a true alternative and not just a protest vote.

An independent budget watchdog group agrees with an idea that Republican candidate for governor Marc Molinaro has to help bring down local property taxes. But it also says there is a tradeoff to any potential savings.

Three months ago, Chris Collins was expected to cruise to reelection in November. That was before the congressman was indicted on insider trading charges and announced he was suspending his campaign. Collins, of course, reversed that decision, stating that he would "actively" campaign in the 27th district. As Buffalo News Political Reporter Bob McCarthy points out, that activity has featured some limited public appearances and  heavy spending on political advertising, including one commercial which has raised the ire of ethnic groups and Democratic challenger Nate McMurray.

New York State's government is in bad shape, but there is so much secrecy it is hard to tell how bad. That was the message Wednesday night, as two public interest groups were honored for trying to open government and uncover what is there.

The state’s high property taxes and outmigration problem were among the issues discussed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his Republican opponent, Marc Molinaro, this week when each separately visited a meeting of some of the state’s business leaders.

The families of Flight 3407 are calling on Congress to reauthorize the flight safety standards passed in 2010. The “One Level of Safety” standards were put into effect a year after Continental Flight 3407 crashed in Clarence Center killing a total of 50 people.

More talk of Gov. Andrew Cuomo seeking the Presidency in 2020 has been fueled by the governor’s decisive victory over a candidate from the progressive left of his party. But the governor still says he’s only running for a third term to lead New York State.

Larry Sharpe claims he never refers to notes during interviews. That assertion was among the many the Libertarian Party candidate shared during an interview with WBFO this morning. The ex-Marine says notes aren't needed when a candidate answers questions truthfully. Sharpe ripped off many answers during a brief conversation.

WNED|WBFO will host a free sneak peek of the POV documentary "Dark Money" on Saturday at 3 p.m. in its Buffalo studios. The director of this Sundance award-winning film will be answering questions immediately following this only local showing before the PBS national premiere Oct. 1.