Buffalo Fire Damages Two Homes

An early morning blaze left two Buffalo homes damaged on East Eagle Street. 40-thousand dollars worth of damage to a vacant house and another 40-thousand dollars in damages to an occupied home. Investigators are still looking into what might have sparked the blazes.

Two Killed in Lancaster Crash

Two people died in a one-car crash on Transit Road in Lancaster last night. Witnesses said they saw a two cars drag before the wreck. The driver, a 24-year-old man from Lancaster, died early this morning. His passenger, a 21-year-old woman from Cheektowaga, died on impact. If you have more information on the crash please call at 683-2800.

Ripley Teen Killed by Train

A 16-year-old youth from the Town of Ripley was killed after being struck by a train on Thursday night. Investigators say the victim was walking with a group of friends on Goodrich Street. They crossed un-gated tracks even while the bells and lights were going off. Kenneth Strang was rushed to Westfield Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Artpark Free Concerts

Artpark has released the names of acts coming in this summer for 21 free concerts. Among those visiting will be Three Dog Night, Trisha Yearwood, Michael McDonald, Blue Rodeo, and Kansas. A link to the full list can be found at our new website, weck1230.com.

Buffalo #5 in Real Estate Growth

Some good local economic news. CNN and Money Magazine listed the Buffalo area as the fifth-fastest growing real estate market in the country! Home prices have risen about 30 percent in five years, at the same time the've fallen drastically in other areas of the US.

Buffalo Shooting

Buffalo Police are investigating a fatal shooting on the East Side. The man was found inside a vehicle on Rapin Place Wednesday night, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Buffalo Officer Fired

Buffalo Police Officer Cariol Horne has been fired, handing in her badge this morning, afer departmental charges stemming from a police call in November 2006. Horne said she was punched in the face by officer Greg Kwiatkowski at a crime scene. Kwiatkowski claims Horne jumped on his back to stop him during an arrest.

Missing Child Alert

The Niagara County Sheriff's Department is alerting the public about a missing child. Two-year-old Giana Lynn Bootes has not been seen since Wednesday night. Authorities say the girl was last seen with her mother's boyfriend, 33-year-old David Figueroa-Oehler.

Another Alleged Hazing in Wilson

Another case of hazing has been reported out of Wilson High School. Older players allegedly abused a teammate during a bus ride to an away game. After parents complained, one of the coaches started riding in the back of the bus to supervise conduct. However, that policy was no longer being enforced at the time of last month's hazing incident.

Pioneer Students Suspended for Cell Phone Pics

Two students suspended at Pioneer Central. A middle school student and a high school student each had nude photos of female students on their cell phones. Superintendent Jeffrey Bowen says teen girls are sending pictures of themselves to their boyfriends.

Falls Tattoo Artist Fined

Eight people have tested positive for blood-born diseases after getting skin infections from tattoos by John Portik the Third of Niagara Falls.
Portik had been ordered to stop giving tattoos but didn't, so his equipment has been confiscated and he has been fined.

Lackawanna Six Member Released

Word from federal authorities that one of the Lackawanna Six has been released from prison and sent to a half-way house. Faysal Galab is now in Detroit, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, who say he will be released from the half-way house in October.

Handyman Headed to Jail

Last January Ronald Timmerman was ordered to stop working as a home improvement contractor and pay back some 30-thousand-dollars he ripped off from dissatisfied customers. Judge Joseph Makowski has now sentenced the handyman to 90 days in jail after learning that Timmerman had continued to take on jobs and even had used a front company to remain in business.

Legislators Call for Gas Tax Cap

Two Erie County Legislators are calling for a cap on the county's share of gasoline tax. County Comptroller Mark Poloncarz is against a cap because he says it would cost the county money and provide no real savings to consumers. Poloncarz points out that oil companies have not passed such savings along to drivers.

Bowser Pleads Not Guilty

24-year old Daniel Bowser told Niagara County Court that he did not try and abduct a fourth grade girl on her way to school last Thursday. He pled not guilty to charges. Police are investigating a similar incident in Lockport on April 21st.

Donahue Trial Testimony Continues

Testimony continues in the murder trial against 55-year-old Dennis Donohue, charged with the 1993 murder of Joan Giambra. Members of the Buffalo Police Cold Case Squad were asked by defense attorney Joseph Agro why they had zeroed in on his client. This brought an immediate response from Judge Sheila DiTullio, because the answer could have opened the door for testimony about two other murders, including that of Chrystallyn Girard. Before the trial began all sides had agreed to leave those events out of this case.

Schumer Wants Saudi Deal Blocked

With gas prices creeping closer to four-dollars a gallon, New York Senator Charles Schumer says he knows what would bring prices down. Schumer wants Congress to block a multi-million-dollar arms sale between the Bush Administration and Saudi Arabia. Schumer says if Saudi Arabia started producing oil at the level it was back in 2005, prices at the pump would fall by 35 to 50 cents a gallon. New York's senior senator says at that time, the Saudis were pumping 800-thousand more barrels a day. According to the Lundberg survey, prices at the pump have climbed 15 cents over the past two weeks. The new national average for a gallon of regular unleaded is three-dollars and 62 cents.

UAW Workers Get Strike Update

Over the weekend local workers from American Axle got together to hear more about negotiations going on over their fate. The UAW strike has been going on for ten weeks. Workers were told that things keep changing and that nobody is sure about a report last week by a Detroit newspaper that the Tonawanda plant and another one in Michigan could be closed as part of a new deal. The company is pushing for big cuts in salaries and benefits. American Axle closed a plant in the City of Buffalo last year.

SWAT Standoff in Buffalo

The Buffalo Police SWAT Team and hostage negotiators were called out yesterday after a Zelmer Street man barricaded himself on the roof of the house following an argument with his girlfriend. Christopher Wright reportedly cut himself with a knife while refusing to come down for some five hours. Eventually he was talked into surrendering and was taken to the hospital. Wright has a lengthy criminal record.

Iraq Vet Killed in Batavia

Over the weekend, 22-year-old Matthew Hebell of Batavia was killed when his car went out of control and hit a utility pole on Route 98. Hebell had recently returned from Iraq and had hopes of one day becoming a New York state trooper. He apparently was on his way to work at a local nursing home when the accident occurred.

Akron Man Run Over on Road

Troopers are looking for the large, dark colored pickup truck that struck a 20-year-old man from Akron early Sunday morning. Kyle Regan has undergone surgery and was in critical condition at ECMC. Regan, the father of a young child, apparently had an argument with his girlfriend and went out. A driver saw him lying on County Road but before they could stop and help, Regan was run over by the truck that did not stop. Troopers don't know if he had been hit before or why he was lying in the roadway. His family says he will need further surgery.