HWI Chairman Remembered

Friends and family say goodbye to Donald and Victoria Hess this weekend. Mr. Hess was the chairman of Hauptman-Woodward Research Institute. The Hesses died last Thursday when the small plane Mr. Hess was piloting crashed in a residential area in Tallahassee, Florida. The memorial service for the Clarence couple is Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at HWI on the Buffalo Medical Campus.

Oprchard Park Company Cuts Jobs

Orchard Park-based Minrad International is eliminating 50 jobs, because of low cash flow and just-posted third-quarter losses of eleven-million dollars. The company will cut 35-percent of its company's workforce. Minrad's stock closed Thursday at just nine-cents-a-share, down 97-percent from a year ago.

Thuway Toll Move Proposed Again

A draft report by the State Thruway Authority calls for a retooling of the highway's toll collection system, including the recommendation that the Williamsville and Lackawanna barriers be moved to eliminate tolls in metro Buffalo. The state appears to be lacking the funds to implement the plan, which would cost over a billion dollars statewide. Thomas Pericak, Buffalo Division Director, says it's not the same proposal that stalled before.

Hillary Headed to State Dept.?

The word is getting out that Hillary Clinton will be introduced as President-elect Obama's choice for Secretary of State shortly after Thanskgiving. The two met last week to discuss the position, and the Senator has emerged as the likely choice since then. Ms. Clinton was in New York City last night, but volleyed away a question about her job prospects.

DOT Drivers Ready for Winter

New York State Department of Transportation spokesman Peter Van Keuren says the agency's fleet of trucks is now ready for the worst of what winter has to offer. Van Keuren says all trucks have had their dispensers calibrated, and trucks won't be allowed to idle when crews are taking breaks. Diesel fuel prices have dropped along with gasoline, so but the cost of road salt has risen 30 to 35 percent on average.

New Yorkers Support Hillary for State Dept.

A Marist Poll released Wednesday indicates that 55-percent of New Yorkers want to see President-elect Barack Obama appoint Senator Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. Thirty-one-percent oppose the choice. With Clinton considered the top candidate, the names of several prominent New York lawmakers are being floated as her successor in the U.S. Senate. State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is mentioned, along with Big Apple Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Congressman Brian Higgins, and Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown.

Statler Deal Scuttled

A 3-point-five million deal to sell the Statler has fallen through. Howard Hurst and Greystone Development Partners have scuttled a deal with British businessman Bashar Issa, saying that Issa continuously renegotiated the purchase and sale agreement, making it impossible to finalize the purchase.

Sportswriter Dies from Injuries

Buffalo News sportswiter Tom Borelli has died from injuries he suffered in a fall at All-High Stadium on November 8th. Borrelli passed away overnight at ECMC, where he had been hospitalized in critical condition since the incident. Sports Editor Howard Smith said there were encouraging signs until just recently.

Massage Parlor Owner Sentenced

The woman accused of recruiting as prostitutes at her four local massage parlors was sentenced to a six-year prison term today. 45-year-old Len-Wah Chong owned massage parlors in Niagara and Erie Counties.

City Blue-Collar Raises Coming

City blue-collar workers in Buffalo will get 20-percent raises under a contract deal struck at City Hall. The workers, who collect trash, plow streets and maintain buildings, haven't seen any increases since 2001. Pay raises would be applied retroactive to 2007. The union has scheduled a ratification vote for later today. The plan still needs the go-ahead from the Common Council and the control board.

NFTA Raising Fares, Rochester Dropped Them

A tale of two transit authorities. The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority says it didn't want to raise fares, but as it faces a possible 16-million dollars in revenue losses, a fare hike looks to be the only way out. A pair of 25-cent increases will take effect in 2009, raising the cost of a MetroBus or MetroRail ride to two-dollars. The Rochester Regional Transit System, however, is taking the opposite approach. It has lowered fares to just a dollar, and is attracting more riders.

Albany Session Fails

With the effort to rein-in New York's deficit through yesterday's special session dashed, Governor Paterson will meet this afternoon behind closed doors with House and Senate Democratic leaders to plead his case for the federal government's help in solving the state's fiscal woes. Yesterday, the Governor admitted that further State action will have to wait until he presents a new budget in December.

Bills Lose Another MNF Heartbreaker

The Browns made a long field goal, and the Bills missed one. That was the difference on Monday Night Football. But it wasn't the whole story. WECK's Joe Major has our recap:

http://www.weck1230.com/News/Major111808.mp3

Buckle Up New York Resumes

Law enforcement agencies across New York state have launched a seat belt enforcement campaign. State Police, sheriff's departments, and local police agencies started the two-week 'zero tolerance' enforcement effort Monday. The campaign will continue through November 30th. with safety restraint checkpoints. During last year's "Buckle Up New York" police issued more than 45-thousand tickets.

Frozen Meal Recall

Nestle is recalling frozen chicken meals that could contain "foreign materials." The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the recall of Stouffer's Asian Style Pot Stickers on Monday. One person reported an injury after finding small pieces of plastic. For a link to a list of the recalled products, log on to http://www.weck1230.com

Bills and Browns on MNF

The Buffalo Bills are in the national spotlight tonight as the Bills get the Monday night game against Cleveland. Both teams are trying to stop three game losing streaks and break out of mid-season slumps. Buffalo had won five of the first six games, but hit the skids, now at 5-and-4. The Browns also are trying to get back in the win column, standing at 3-and-6. Brad Riter broadcasts live from the Big Tree Inn tonight ast 5.

Arrest in Murder-Suicide

An arrest has been made in a Niagara Falls murder-suicide. The sister of the suspect has been charged with hindering prosecution. Authorities say 32-year-old Valerie Holliday knew exactly where her brother, Charles Holliday was, on both the day he shot his wife and the day he killed himself in an Amherst motel room. Cops say she refused to give up his location. On November 1st, Charles is alleged to have shot his wife Amy. Police say Valerie Holliday then helped her brother elude arrest by having a friend secure a motel room, where he shot himself two days later.

Casino Opponents File Follow-Up Motion

Opponents of the Seneca's downtown casino say the National Indian Gaming Commission is ignoring a federal judge's ruling that gambling there is illegal. Cornelius Murray, lawyer for Citizens against Casino Gambling in Erie County, has filed a motion before Judge William Skretny, saying it's time to shut down the casino:

http://www.weck1230.com/News/Murray1.mp3

Mayor Brown, County Executive Collins, and Congressman Higgins have all come out in favor of the casino, but Murray says the reasoning of government officials is flawed:

http://www.weck1230.com/News/Murray1.mp3