Elmwood Village Gets Recycle Stations

Keeping a jewel of a neighborhood clean...New recycling stations are in place in Buffalo's Elmwood Village, with separate ports for paper, glass, plastic, pop cans, and trash. An $18,000 grant paid for seven such stations.

Garden Walk is Tops in Nation

The Buffalo Garden Walk is gearing up for a record weekend. More than 300 homes are taking part, with attendance expected to set a record. It's being cited as the largest in the country. Garden Walk President Jim Charlier spoke with Donahue and Moore this morning on WECK.

Kids Poisoned by Air Freshener They Thought Was Candy

It's a dangerous case of confusing product packaging...Three children have recently made trips to the E-R at Women & Children's Hospital after eating "Fruit Bomb," an air freshener they mistook for candy. The Western New York Poison Center plans an afternoon press conference with more details. They'll be joined ny the mother of two of the victims, girls aged eight and nine.

Foundation Profited from Casino Stock Sale Before Supporting Anti-Casino Effort

Perhaps some irony in the downtown casino case...according to buffalopundit.com, the Wendt Foundation, which is helping to fund the local anti-casino effort, disclosed to the IRS that it owned two-point-73 million dollars worth of Harrah's Corporation stock between 2003 and 2006. The Foundation made about two million dollars upon sale of the casino company's shares, which is about how much it has spent to support the case against the local casino.

DOT Worker Dies after Wednesday Accident

A state transportation worker died today after he was hit by an SUV on a job site Wednesday morning. The motorist lost control while trying to pick up a lit cigarette, according to the Niagara County Sheriffs. 46-year-old Kevin Forsyth of Wilson was struck as he was setting up traffic cones near Porter Road and Young Street. 47-year-old Frank Serba of Wheatfield was initially charged with failure to keep right, but the accident remains under investigation and further charges may be forthcoming.

Four Charged in Troopergate

A state ethics panel has charged four Spitzer administration officials with violations ethics laws, for monitoring the travel of former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno. The commission charges that Preston Felton, former State Police superintendent, and Darren Dopp, former communications director, "compromised the State Police." It took no action against former governor Spitzer in the long-running Troopergate affair.

TV Job for Luke Russert?

Tim Russert's son may end up on TV himself. According to the "New York Post's" "Page Six," NBC executives were apparently so impressed with how 22-year-old Luke Russert handled himself while discussing his father's death and funeral last month, they are thinking about having him help cover the upcoming presidential election.

Feds Stepping Into Casino Conflict

The U.S. Justice Department is asking Federal Judge William Skretny to turn the entire downtown casino issue over to the National Indian Gaming Commission. The Justice Department says recent events including new regulations may impact the case. Anti-gambling groups have asked the judge to shut the casino down, and Skretny has scheduled a hearing for August 21st.

Bruno Takes New Job

Former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno has landed on his feet; hired as the CEO of an Albany-area technology firm owned by the wife of a former colleague. The 79-year-old Bruno retired from the Legislature last Friday after over three decades in office. The company, CMA Consulting, has 410 employees and offices in New York City, Maryland, Texas, and Arizona. Company President Kay Stafford is the widow of long-time State Senator Ronald Stafford.

School Boards Association Opposes Cap, Most Members Disagree

The New York State School Boards Association remains officially opposed to that property tax cap, even though many in its member boards would support it under certain conditions. Communications Director David Albert says a cap would tie the hands of school boards and administrators, but a poll shows that 75-percent of school board members would support a cap if the state provides mandate relief in return.

Paterson in Buffalo

Governor David Paterson is in Buffalo today to sign environmental legislation. The bill is designed to encourage cleanup of contaminated brownfields. There are hundreds of such abandoned and contaminated industrial areas in the Western New York. The Governor also stopped by the National Lieutenant Governors Association convention at the Hyatt. Paterson also told a group of local reporters and editors that he will veto any legislation intended to weaken the powers of the control boards in Buffalo and Erie County.

Judge Schedules Casino Hearing

The possible downtown casino closure heads back to court next month. The Senecas have not stopped construction and have kept the provisional casino open. Now Judge William Skretny has given the National Indian Gaming Commission until August 1st to respond to a motion filed by casino opponents, and will hold a hearing on Agust 21st.

garden Walk is Country's Biggest

This weekend's Buffalo Garden Walk will be the biggest such event in the country. More then 300 homes are participating, and turnout is expected to set a record. Locations include Erie Basin Marina, 16th street and Granger Place.

Sentences for Assaulting Baby

An appeal is already planned by William Smielecki's attorneys after he was sentenced to seven years in jail for assaulting a baby. Last month, a jury convicted him of one count of assault. The baby was only two-weeks-old when the alleged abuse occurred, and suffered a broken arm and legs. The baby's mother spoke in court today.

Miller Meets the Press

The Sabres and Ryan Miller held a news conference this morning, after Buffalo locked up their starting goalie last week with a five-year, 31 million-dollar contract extension.

Toronto Tickets Not Sold Out Yet

While the Bills are close to selling out their entire 2008 schedule at Ralph Wilson Stadium, high ticket prices appear to be preventing a quick sellout of those games in Toronto this season. Organizers say they are happy with the response so far, which has already generated significantly more revenue than the Bills collect for a single game. 90 percent of about 40,000 general seats have been sold, and just more than half of about 14,000 VIP packages.

Telethon Gets New Location

Channel 7's Variety Kids Telethon is moving to a new location. Officials announced this morning that the telethon will have a new home at the Adam's Mark Hotel downtown. The Variety Club of Buffalo telethon has entered a four-year agreement with the Adam's Mark. In recent years the telethon had been held at the Millennium Hotel in Cheektowaga. Next year's telethon will air the last weekend in February.

Festival Fun in WNY

The weather didn't slow many people down when it came to taking part in a busy weekend of festivals. The Pulaski Day Parade was held Sunday on Harlem Road in Cheektowaga. In North Buffalo the Italian Heritage Festival wrapped up after a successful run on Hertel Avenue. The Greased Pole Festival, the oldest Puerto Rican heritage festival, was held on Swan Street, and Canal Fest was a big hit in the Tonawandas.

McCain Seeks Big Bucks in Buffalo

Senator John McCain brings his campaign to Buffalo today. The Republican presidential nominee-to-be is expected to land at about 5:30 pm, and will first hold a private fundraiser at the home of Anthony Gioia before going to the Albright-Knox Art Gallery for a second fundraiser. He is not scheduled to make any public appearances. Sources say McCain could raise over one-million dollars here, although most pundits believe he has no chance of winning the state. Local businessman and McCain supporter Russ Gigino is more optimistic.