Rape Reported in South Buffalo

Detectives are investigating an attack on a teenage girl in South Buffalo. The girl's mother said her daughter was with a friend on South Park Avenue when a pair of teenage boys led them to a vacant apartment. One girl was in a room with the two boys who apparently prevented her from leaving, then one boy allegedly raped her.

Tax Hikes on County Table

Erie County Executive Chris Collins is not ruling out a property tax hike in the coming year's budget. Collins says the spending plan will be conservative -- and will likely include more than 100 job cuts. County Legislators, including Kathy Konst, are weighing in as well.

Episcopal Parish in Tonawanda to Secede

St. Bartholomew's Episcopal parish in Tonawanda plans to break away from its diocese and leave itss current facilities after 48 years. It would become the first local congregation to break ties since the controversial ratification of an openly gay bishop by the U.S Episcopal province in 2003.

Aud Demo to Begin

Dismantling of the Aud is slated to begin next month, with plans to have the arena completely torn down by May. The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. has approved a nearly one-and-a-half-million-dollar contract with Ontario Specialty Contracting for the demolition. Shops, a museum and a public plaza are slated to fill the spot along the waterfront.

Better Late than Never for Konst Finances

Democratic State Senate candidate Kathy Konst has filed her campaign finance reports, although some were six weeks late. The state Board of Elections sued Konst earlier this month for not submitting the paperwork. On Friday, she missed her third straight deadline. Konst's war chest is reported to be less than four-thousand-dollars, compared to Republican incumbent Dale Volker's balance of 77-thousand-dollars.

Collins Asks for Additional Fuel Purchases

Erie County is literally running out of gas, according to County Executive Collins. Collins has asked for a special session of the County Legislature to address a number of items, including an additional $600,000 in fuel purchases for county vehicles through year's end. The county fuel budget has run out because of the high cost of gas, but the County Executive says he won't allow that to impact residents.

Suspicious Powder Causes Closedowns

Police are investigating an incident involving a suspicious white substance which caused a woman to collapse at Medina Memorial Hospital. Authorities say the suspicious envelope was mailed from the Albion Post Office. Both the hospital and post office were forced to close for a time Tuesday afternoon.

Cara Dickey Ordered to Stay Away from Youth

The former school teacher accused of sex with a 14-year-old boy has been ordered to stay away from the teen. Cara Dickey was told that if she tries to contact the youth, she could face additional charges and jail time. Dickey is now facing felony charges in West Seneca for an alleged sexual affair with the boy. Earlier this summer, Dickey was arrested for unlawfully imprisoning the boy, supplying alcohol and OTC medications, and promoting suicide. Dickey also lost her job at South Buffalo Charter School after allegations of the inappropriate relationship surfaced.

Ghost Hunters Visiting Central Terminal

Buffalo's old Central Terminal is getting attention from a different crowd. Ghost hunters. Over the weekend, a biannual event, which offers tours of the art deco train station, drew in a crowd of five times more visitors than usual, from 20 to about 150. Some even came from Canada. The increased interest is probably due in part to the Terminal being featured on a nationally-televised ghost hunting show.

S Bflo Teacher Back in Court

A former South Buffalo Charter School teacher back in court Tuesday afternoon. Cara Dickey turned herself in to West Seneca Police last week and pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and violating an order of protection involving a 14-year-old former student of hers.