12/17/08: This was the night we discovered that Brad's intern was once charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Scott Wilson joins for the whole show, the intern comes in around halfway through. Segment 1 Segment 2 Segment 3 Segment 4 Segment 5 Segment 6 Segment 7 Segment 8 Segment 9
12/15/08 (entire show)
Friday, December 19, 2008
Reason with Scott Leffler
Scott's last live show before the holiday! The ups and downs of the NFTA Metro system.
Good Morning Buffalo: Calleri at the Movies
Warm up at the theatre this weekend! Michael Calleri reviews the new films.
BuffaloStyle from 12/13/08
Christina Abt discovers Buffalo holiday celebrations including Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.
Hometown News: Snowy Afternoon
Snow is expected to continue falling today and totals could stack up nine inches of the white stuff. Western New York is forecast to be hit with another round of Old Man Winter through this afternoon. The Rochester area is under a winter storm warning from 8 a.m. through 10 p.m. The snow is expected to start falling by 9 a.m. and we could see winds up to 25 miles-per hour. Our winter storm warning continues until 10 tonight.
Committees Approve Metro Fare Hike
The wheels are now in motion for commuters to pay more for Metro Bus and Rail fares. Two Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority committees have recommend a 25-cent boost in the base fare effective January 1st. That would bump the cost from a dollar-fifty to a dollar-seventy-five. The plan also would include another 25-cent raise in July, if budget gaps are not filled by then. The full Authority will vote on the matter on Monday.
Plea Deal in Assault on Schoolgirl
A North Tonawanda man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl. Prosecutors say 41-year-old Mitchell Brokob admitted to grabbing the girl at knifepoint outside of his Gilmore Avenue home on March 20th. Under the plea agreement he will be sentenced to the maximum of 25 years to life in prison. Brokob's attorneys say he will also plead guilty to federal child porn charges. The Erie County DA's office says they are investigating possible links to a child molestation case from four years ago. Authorities say Brokob's DNA matched evidence from the assault on the 12-year-old girl.
HTN: Batavia School Bus Driver Cheered
The Batavia school bus driver who talked a a six-year-old into surrendering a weapon is being hailed. James Henning told the boy if he didn't want to get in major trouble he needed to hand the weapon over. The boy produced a purple sack with the gun inside. Twenty other kids were on the bus. The boy's father and older brother, who don't live with the little boy, are facing charges of child endangerment and weapons violations, as police say both of them knew the unregistered gun was in the home and had handled it before. The boy said he found the gun under his mother's bed. She has not yet been charged. Authorities are still investigating.
HTN: Andreychuk Pitches Hamburg Rink Expansion
Ex-Sabre Dave Andreychuk retired in 2006, but is looking to get back out on the ice. The 600-goal-scorer pitched a plan for a new ice rink in Hamburg at a public information meeting. The house would provide a place for the town's growing hockey programs. Hamburg resident Jeff Walker and Andreychuk run the Leaping Sports Facility Management LLC company, which has been the sole bidder in responding to a proposal request by the town. Andreychuk and Walker want to lease the town's municipal ice rink and spend between eight and nine-million dollars to build a second rink, indoor soccer field, new locker rooms, a restaurant, and parking and other property and facility upgrades. Recreation Department officials say leasing the building would mostly eliminate the operating costs the facility loses for low attendance numbers on weekdays. There are currently 940 players in the Hamburg Hawks youth hockey league, but that number continues to grow.
HTN: Golisano is a Top Clinton Contributor
One of Upstate New York's wealthiest men, Tom Golisano, is one of former President Bill Clinton's top fundraisers. According to financial records released by Clinton, the Buffalo Sabres owner has contributed at least ten-million dollars to Clinton's Foundation. Golisano was among four donors on the ten-to-25 million category. Just two donors were above the 25-million-dollar threshold. Clinton has released the fundraising disclosures as his wife, Hillary, prepares to become Secretary of State. As part of the agreement with the Obama Administration, Clinton promised to release his donors, including foreign governments with whom Hillary may have to negotiate with.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Good Morning Buffalo: Food Bank of WNy
Loraine and Tom with Paula Milligan, discussing the Food Bank's holiday campaign.
Reason with Scott Leffler
Caroline Kennedy visited Buffalo yesterday. Is she the right choice for Senate? Dynasty politics explored.
Hometown News: Caroline in Buffalo
Everybody's talking about Caroline Kennedy today. Despite that fact that she's never held political office, she's emerged as the frontrunner to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate. Ms. Kennedy spoke after visiting Mayor Brown at City Hall yesterday. Her visit to the Quuen City was part of an upstate tour that also included Rochester and Syracuse. Kennedy says she wants to know what issues are here, and she also wanted to meet with local officials. Former Erie County Republican Party Chairman Bob Davis says Kennedy brings with her the name, money, status, and what he called "the Kennedy aura" to the seat, but not the political qualifications.
HTN: Health Care Hit Hard by Budget
It's probably the biggest industry in Western New York, but it expects to be socked by Governor Paterson's budget cuts. Medical services in Western New York have expanded while other businesses have struggled, with facilities exoansions including the Buffalo-Niagara Medical Corridor. But now hospitals and nursing homes are calling 3-point-5 billion in health-related cuts staggering and disproportionate, warning that the reductions will lead to layoffs and facility closures.
HTN: Boy Boards Batavia Bus with Gun
A six-year-old boy in Batavia boarded a school bus with a gun yesterday . Authorities say the bus driver was told the student had a weapon. The driver then confronted the boy, who gave up the gun. Police say there were no bullets in the chamber, but there was ammunition in the clip. The investigation continues.
HTN: No More Free Ride on Downtown Rail?
There may not be a free ride much longer on Metro Rail's downtown section. The NFTA is considering implementing a fare for the above-ground section that has been free since the line opened in 1986. Currently, riders who get on between Scott and Tupper Streets do not have to pay. But, the NFTA wants to change that because of a nine-million dollar budget gap. Riders on the rest of the line will be paying more as regulat bus and rail fares are expected to increase to a dollar-75 on January 1st. The NFTA is holding a heated meeting on the fare increase this hour.
HTN: New Name for Ballpark
The downtown stadium that hosts the Bisons has been known as Pilot Field, North Americare Park, and Dunn Tire Park. Now, it's Coca-Cola Field. The team and the city made an announcement yesterday that a ten-year naming-rights agreement with the soft-drink company will replace the Dunn Tire contract which runs out at the end of the year.
WECK Weather Alert: Winter Storm Watch
A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for Western New York and Northern Pennsylvania from tonight through the afternoon Friday. Light snow is expected to develop before daybreak Friday, followed by moderate to heavy snow with blowing and drifting, putting an estimated seven to 12 inches on the ground. The heavy snow will diminish to snow showers by Friday evening. Snow could come back Tuesday night and stick around through Christmas Eve.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Hometown News: Caroline Kennedy in Buffalo
Caroline Kennedy was in Buffalo as Mayor Brown's guest this afternoon, and expressed her interest in Hillary Clinton's U.S. Senate seat. The visit to City Hall was part of a whirlwind upstate tour today including Syracuse and Rochester.
Good Morning Buffalo: Amherst Downsizing
Loraine and Tom spoke to Amherst Councilwoman Shelly Schratz.
Hometown News: Reaction to Paterson Budget
Lawmakers across the state are reacting to the Governor's executive budget. Presumptive State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith says shared sacrifices will be made. Assembly Minority Leader Jim Tedisco calls Governor Paterson's various tax and fee increases "ugly," and says they will hit the middle class hard. Tedisco adds you especially shouldn't raise taxes during a recession.
HTN: Alden Murder-Suicide
A married couple in the Town of Alden is dead after an apparent murder suicide. Authorities say 39-year-old Jack Wilczak and 35-year-old Lisa Wilczak were found dead in their Four Rod Road home on Monday night. Investigators say Jack shot Lisa once in the chest in the living room, then went to the bedroom and shot himself in the head. Investigators are trying to piece together what led up to the shooting. The couple leaves behind two children ages eleven and 13.
HTN: Fort Erie Track on Last Legs?
The Fort Erie horse racing track could be on it's way to the finish line after more than a century. 190 employees have been told their jobs are due for termination by the end of March. However, owner Nordic Gaming Group says it will pursue every effort to find a way to keep the races going for 2009. The company wants to put pressure on the provincial government of Ontario to come to some financial arrangement. The adjacent Fort Erie casino will not be effected. The race track has is the seventh oldest in North America.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Breaking News: Gill to Stay at UB
UB football coach Turner Gill is staying put! Gill will remain on the Bulls sidelines after receiving a contract extension and salary increase. UB finishes its historic 2008 at the International Bowl in Toronto on January 3rd. Hear it here on the Home of the Bulls, Hometown 1230 WECK!
Reason with Scott Leffler
The Buffalo chapter of the Better Business Bureau talks about holiday scams and much more.
Good Morning Buffalo: NFADA's Paul Stasiak
Governor Halves Funding for Empire Zones
Governor David Paterson is slashing the funding for New York's most expensive economic development program. He's now requiring that all companies participating in the Empire Zone program to meet tough new investment standards, which will be proposed today in his state budget plan. Empire Zone offers tax breaks to businesses in exchange for development in distressed areas. Governor Paterson is poised to cut half the program's funding: 270-million dollars that benefits 21-hundred companies as the entire program winds down in 2011. Hundreds of hometown businesses are included in those cuts. The Buffalo zone covers four square miles, mainly downtown.
HTN: Plea Deal in Fatal Street race
Christopher Mejak has taken a plea deal for his involvement in an illegal street race that left two dead. The 21-year-old was allegedly racing Mark Harhigh of Lancanster on Transit Road in May, with speeds reaching 120-miles-an-hour. Harhigh crossed over four lanes of traffic and hit a pole, which split his car in to, killing him and his girlfriend, Melanie Page of Cheektowaga. Mejak has pleaded guilty to two counts of criminally negligent homicide and faces up to four years in jail. The minimum is six months jail time and five years probation. Mejak is free on ten-thousand dollars bail. He will be sentenced in March
HTN: Mattel Settles Lead Suit
Toymaker Mattel, which owns East Aurora's Fisher-Price, has reached a 12-million-dollar settlement with 39 state attorneys general, including New York's. The settlement stems from a 2007 recall of toys made in China which were found to have lead levels far more than federal standards allow. Mattel has also agreed to stricter standards for lead in toys made after November 30th, as well as to keep four years of records from subcontractors. New York's portion of the settlement is 340-thousand.
HTN: Common Council Approves Capital Spending
The Buffalo Common Council has narrowly approved the city's 2009 capital budget. The 20-million-dollar spending plan was approved by a five-four margin. As part of the plan, six-and-a-half million dollars for road repairs will be divided into nine accounts, one for each Council district. Council members say that will ensure that each area of the City gets a fair share of road improvements. More than 300-thousand dollars has been cut, which would have been earmarked for repairs at City Hall and another 365-thousand eliminated that was going to a new police and fire communications system. Mayor Byron Brown and the city control board will have to sign off on the spending.
HTN: Buffalo Christmas Tree Pickups Announced
The city of Buffalo will collect Christmas trees for mulching after the holidays. The Department of Public Works, Parks and Streets is offering the service in order to expand the city recycling program. The collection program runs January 5th through 9th and is part of scheduled garbage collection days. Place trees at the curb before scheduled pickup, but don't put them in garbage bags. Trees will be picked up separately from garbage. Trees can also be dropped off between 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday from December 26th through January 17th at the golf course parking lot in Cazenovia Park, the Shoshone Park parking lot, and at 1120 Seneca Street.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Ask the Pro: Make-A-Wish Special
The hometown chapter of Make-A-Wish discusses their program with Loraine O'Donnell.
Good Morning Buffalo: Mike Randall
Channel 7's weather guy talks about his side job: portraying Charles Dickens.
Hometown News: Hardy Out
Brad Riter reports that Bills rookie WR James Hardy tore his ACL Sunday against the Jets and will need surgery. More details tonight at 6.
HTN: Governor Signs Indian Tax Bill
Governor Paterson has signed a bill which would begin the collection of state sales taxes on cigarette on Indian lands. The state is looking to close a projected 15-billion-dollar budget gap, and this measure could raise upwards of 400-million dollars according to some estimates. The taxes would only be enforced on non-Indian purchases. Tribes such as the Seneca Nation say it violates treaties which are hundreds of years old. When former Governor George Pataki tried a similar move, Indian tribes shut down the Thruway and violence erupted.
HTN: Inner Harbor Plan Unveiled
The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation and the Empire State Development unveiled the master plan for Buffalo's inner harbor revitalization yesterday. The Canal Side project will cover 20 acres of the waterfront with 725-thousand-square-feet of entertainment, hotel, office, retail, residential and restaurant. The plan also includes waterfalls, an ice-skating rink, towpaths, a replica milling wheel, underwater tunnel, canal boats, and more. Construction won't start until a State Environmental Quality Review is finished; that could take six to 12 months.
HTN: Tops is Expanding
Tops is expanding despite the weak economy. The area's leading grocer is adding seven to ten new stores in Buffalo, Rochester, and mid-state market. The company is also spending 150-million dollars for renovations to its existing 76 stores. Currently, Tops employs around ten-thousand people.
Promo: Trip to Toronto for UB Football
We're giving you the chance to "Hit the Road with the UB Bulls," and win a trip to Toronto to see the UB Bulls play in the International Bowl. Whenever you hear the "Bulls on the Road" sound effect. Be the 12th caller at 783-WECK, 783-9325.
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