Newstead Fire Damages Home, Injures Firefighter

A blaze damaged a Newstead home and sent a firefighter to the hospital last night. The Gregg residence on Fletcher Road suffered $200,000 in damage according to fire officials. A Newstead firefighter was treated and released from Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital after complaining of dizziness.

Newstead Fire Damages Home, Injures Firefighter

A blaze damaged a Newstead home and sent a firefighter to the hospital last night. The Gregg residence on Fletcher Road suffered $200,000 in damage according to fire officials. A Newstead firefighter was treated and released from Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital after complaining of dizziness.

Virus Warning for Campers

The State Health Department is warning campers about a virus that's making people sick. Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Anthony Billittier says the virus is similar to one found on cruise ships, and can spread quickly in camps and other places where people are in close quarters The state has issued a warning to camp directors and medical personnel. The virus struck a dance camp at UB two weeks ago and left 38 people sick.

Data Restored to Police Reports

After complaints from the media, Mayor Byron Brown has ordered the Buffalo Police to stop deleting information from police reports. The Mayor says the decision to start removing the information was made by a lower-level police official. Media outlets had complained that the public has a right to know what is happening as far as city crime is concerned, and the Mayor agreed.

Poultry Problem on the Thruway

The Thruway ramp to the 190-North was closed for awhile yesterday after a truck carrying almost ten-thousand live chickens rolled over. The tractor-trailer was heading to Canada when the crates full of chickens hit the pavement. Crews worked for hours caging the poultry that was still alive. They were taken to the SPCA to be checked out before being allowed to continue their travels. Police say unsafe speed may have caused the accident.

Favre Becomes Division Rival

Brett Favre is headed to Buffalo, for one game this season. The former Green Bay Packer quarterback has been traded to the New York Jets. The Bills will play the Jets twice this year: November 2nd at Ralph Wilson Stadium, and December 14th at the Meadowlands.

School Reconstruction Bill Goes Through

A last-minute compromise enabled Gov. Paterson to pave the way for a $300 million school construction program in Buffalo that had been jeopardized by the state’s worsening fiscal problems. Mayor Byron Brown spoke exclusively to Donahue and Moore this morning on WECK. The Governor's budget office had expressed concerns about the legislation’s cost.

Thruway Authority Terminates Health Care for Board

Meanwhile, as the belt tightens there are still examples of Albany waste. A state audit finds that Thruway Authority Board members improperly received health care benefits. State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli says the Authority halted the practice after his auditors told them it wasn't legal. DiNapoli is in Buffalo today. The Thruway Authority had been paying 100-percent of premiums for current board members and a former member, at a cost of about 52-thousand dollars. Board members are not supposed to be paid, and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has ruled that paid premiums would be considered compensation.

EZ Pass Office Closing Downtown

The state budget crisis is also having an effect on E-Z-Pass. The Thruway Authority will close the E-Z Pass Walk-in center in the Ellicott Square Building downtown on September 5, saving about $400,000 a year. You'll still be able to get an E-Z Pass at other retail outlets or at nysthruway.gov.

UB Freezes Hiring, Capital Spending

In the wake of state budget problems, the University at Buffalo has announced a hiring freeze and will postpone upcoming large purchases. UB President John Simpson is concerned that the state may cut up to 20-million dollars in funding, and is also worried about any effect the budget crunch may have on the UB 2020 expansion plan.

Lawsuit Filed Against NYS Business Grants

A lawsuit has been filed against New York State to stop the practice of providing public grants to private businesses. The suit says that Gov. Paterson and legislative leaders are violating the State Constitutuion. The group is being represented by Buffalo lawyer James Ostrowski, founder of Free New York, a taxpayer advocacy group. Ostrowski spoke with Donahue and Moore this moning on WECK.

Hornsby Concert Moved

Saturday night's concert by Bruce Hornsby was moved to Buffalo after the State Liquor Authority revoked the liquor sales permit at Gateway Park in North Tonawanda because of beer sales to minors last weekend. Hornsby will perform in at the Town Ballroom headlining a previously scheduled benefit concert for the Buffalo City Mission. The show is no longer free: tickets will be $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Talks are going on to try and save the other two Saturday night events in Gateway Park: Aug. 23 with Loverboy and Aug. 30 with Rik Emmett. Promoters are meeting with two local businesses to find someone who has a liquor license or who can apply for a temporary sales permit for use in the park.

Russert Honored in South Buffalo

Mayor Brown, Congressman Higgins, and the Russert family convened in South Buffalo this morning to unveil a "Street Trailblazing" sign at Woodside Avenue and McKinley Parkway. The block of Woodside where Tim Russert grew up is now "Timothy J. Russert Way." The US Flag that flew at half-staff at City Hall was also presented to the Russert family.

Is Buffalo Dying?

Buffalo is on a list of 50 U.S. cities that Forbes Magazine has labeled the "fastest-dying." The survey is based on population decline, unemployment, and other factors. The Forbes article notes that in the early 1900s, Buffalo was one of America's 10 largest cities, but has been in decline ever since, despite a location that takes advantage of trade with Canada. Mayor Byron Brown takes issue with the listing.

Pole Vaulter's Parents Headed to Beijing

Residents of her hometown of Fredonia, along with people from Roberts Wesleyan College have raised some 10-thousand dollars to send Jenn Stuczynski's parents to the Olympics to watch her compete in the pole vault. Jenn currently lives in the Monroe County Town of Riga and trained at Roberts Wesleyan. The money will pay for airplane tickets and a welcome-home party.

Letter Carrier Stole Mail, Cash

A former letter carrier in Amherst has admitted in federal court to taking some 50 pieces of mail, keeping some 500-dollars she found inside then throwing the rest out. Thirty-nine-year-old Apryl Silvashy of Tonawanda faces five years in prison and a fine when sentenced in November.

Small Plane Crash in Pendleton

A small plane crashed near an airstrip off Transit Road in Pendleton this morning. State police reported two people on board, but no serious injuries. The incident happened near Dunnigan and Transit in Pendleton. There is a small airstrip near that intersection.

Downsizing on the Move in WNY

Downsizing of local government is the hot topic across Western New York. In Amherst, a proposal to reduce the size of the Town Board was defeated 7 to 5. In the Village of Lancaster, a similar measure passed the Board of Trustees. Lancaster Mayor Mark Cansdale says the process is moving along. Kevin Gaughan, whose work has inspired the efforts of several local governments, spoke with Donahue and Moore this morning on WECK. Meanwhile, Sabres Owner Tom Golisano appeared in West Seneca today. His new political action committee is supporting a measure to downsize the town board there from five members to three.

Fatal Accident on Route 5

A 26-year-old corrections officer was killed last night when his pickup lost control on Lake Shore Road in Evans, flipped over and pinned him inside. Travis Darmott of East Aurora was Mercy Flighted to ECMC, and was pronounced dead about an hour after the crash, which happened about 7 p.m.

Benefit for Drunk Driving Victim

A benefit was held yesterday for the wife and newborn baby of 26-year-old Daryl Vetter. Vetter was killed last June by a drunk driver while he was crossing Route 5 in Hamburg. His first child was born six days later. The benefit at Lucarelli's Restaurant was to help his family get through the next few months. Donations are being accepted at any M&T Bank.

Fugitive Rapist Caught

A man suspected of raping a four-year-old girl last week in Pennsylvania was finally caught over the weekend. Last week we reported that 43-year-old Sherman Graham had been spotted outside the home of his ex-girlfriend in South Buffalo. The following day he was seen in Ohio and now has been arrested after a traffic stop in Kansas. He's awaiting return to Pennsylvania.

Springville Beating is Possible Hate Crime

Erie County Sheriff's deputies are looking into a beating early yesterday morning outside a bar as a possible hate crime. They've charged 26-year-old Joshua Holts of the Town of Holland with felony assault in the beating of a 47-year-old man near an East Main Street bar in Springville. A security camera reportedly caught Holts yelling anti-gay slurs at the man during the beating. The victim was treated at a nearby hospital for multiple broken bones in his face.