Good Morning Buffalo 11/28/08 - Joe Major

Sports Reporter Joe Major's preview of the Bills-49ers this Sunday

Audio: http://www.weck1230.com/GMB/MajorBills.mp3

Good Morning Buffalo 11/28/08 - Brad Riter

Brad talks with Loraine O'Donnell and Tom Donahue about the MAC East Champion UB Bulls before their home finale vs. Kent State Friday afternoon.

audio: http://www.weck1230.com/GMB/RiterUB.mp3

New Audio from Brad Riter Show

Turner Gill: 1 2 3

John Corto: 1 2 3

Ruben Brown: Segment 1 Segment 2 Segment 3 Segment 4 Segment 5 Segment 6 Segment 7

Reason With Scott Leffler 11/26/08

Scott's not happy about stores that are open on Thanskgiving.... (1 hr)

Audio: http://www.weck1230.com/Scott/reason112608.mp3

The Financial Hour - 11/26/08

Money advice in a tough econony from Mike Gimlin and Todd Miller (1 hr)

Audio: http://www.weck1230.com/AskThePro/FinancialHour111908.mp3

Mayor Brown in the Running for US Senate

A recent online poll shows Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown is fifth in the running among New Yorkers as a possible U.S. Senate replacement for Hillary Clinton. If Brown had six-percent of the vote yesterday afternoon in the online poll conducted by Albany-based newspaper the "Business Review." The newspaper reports that Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is the frontrunner in their poll, followed by Congresswoman Kirsten Gillbrand, Caroline Kennedy, environmentalist Robert Kennedy Jr., Mayor Brown, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, and Congresswoman Nita Lowey.

Warnings About Gift Cards

Buyer beware when it comes to store gift cards. State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says with the current economy, gift cards may not be worth anything. He says shoppers need to think about stores closing in the area or even bankrupt, saying gift card sales may be suspended when that happens. DiNapoli says that if you still want to purchase cards, buy them at stores you can be sure won't be going out of business soon. Gift cards may also start to lose value, or expire if not used for a period of time. Check the fine print.

Audio: http://www.osc.state.ny.us/press/releases/nov08/giftcards.mp3

Big Lottery Winner in WNY

A Cheektowaga woman was introduced yesterday as a big winner in the New York Lottery. Carolyn Blackmon hit a million-dollar jackpot on a scratch-off lottery ticket she bought at the Kwik Fill Red Apple store at Harlem Road and Cleveland Drive on Nov. 3. The million will be paid out over 20 years, about $34,000 annually after taxes. The big hit came on the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" game.

Tricky Weather for Thanksgiving

A lake effect snow warning is in effect for Southern Erie, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and McKean Counties until 6 a.m. Thursday. Lake effect snow bands are expected to form southeast of Lake Erie, bringing with it heavy snow to the Southern Tier. Six to eight inches of snow is possible today, with as much as ten inches possible at higher elevations through Thanksgiving Day. Expect slippery roads and white-out conditions with the lake effect bands. WeatherBug senior meteorologist Steve Princivalli says a powerful storm near the Great Lakes will hamper pre-Thanksgiving travel across the Northeast.

Cracking Down on Water Deadbeats

The Buffalo Public Works Department is stepping up enforcement against residents who illegally turn their water back on, after having it shut down because of failure to pay. The City says it will install concrete plugs in service boxes to prevent residents from illegally re-activating their water. A report showed that 18-percent of homes which have had water service terminated were found to have illegally turned it back on.

Common Council OKs Union Deal

The Buffalo Common Council is expected to give the green light today for new contract with the city's blue-collar workers' union. The nine-year deal includes raises averaging 20-percent. The workers, who collect trash, clean streets and maintain city buildings, have not had a raise in the past eight years. The new contract goes back to 2002 but pay raises would not be retroactively effective until July 2007. Majority Leader Richard Fontana says considering it is a nine-year deal, it is just over two-percent per year. The control board still has to sign off on the deal at their meeting on December 17th.

City Hall and Cable Company Settle Dispute

Time Warner Cable and the Buffalo Common Council have reached a deal on overdue cable TV bills. The company has agreed to waive monthly fees for cable hookups in council member offices, and eliminate about five thousand dollars in back payments. The controversy began when the company started charging council members for service, even though most don't have TVs in their offices. When the city refused payment, Time Warner changed its policy and now says it will continue the service for free.

Blue Print for Buffalo-Niagara

Local leaders from the Buffalo Niagara region say they've found a way to help the state get out of financial crisis. Their "blueprint" includes expanding the University of Buffalo by 2020. That plan is considered "the future of the Buffalo Niagara Region." Business leaders are saying the plan is a good thing, since it won't require state money to complete. UB is looking to be able to establish their own tuition policies, and approval of the move would cost the state nothing.