Movie Critic Michael Calleri with this week's premieres.
Colleen DiPirro from the Amherst Chamber of Commerce.
Doreen Rao, Choir Director from the Buffalo Philharmonic
Friday, April 24, 2009
Good Morning Buffalo: 4/24/09
Hank Chlebowski, writer of a new song to benefit Mercy Flight.
Movie Critic Michael Calleri with this week's premieres.
Colleen DiPirro from the Amherst Chamber of Commerce.
Doreen Rao, Choir Director from the Buffalo Philharmonic
Movie Critic Michael Calleri with this week's premieres.
Colleen DiPirro from the Amherst Chamber of Commerce.
Doreen Rao, Choir Director from the Buffalo Philharmonic
Reason with Scott Leffler 4/24/09
Jim Fink from Business First, and Robby Takac from the Goo Goo Dolls. Full Two Hours.
HTN: Former Attorney Appeals DWI Sentence
A former attorney and professor at the University of Buffalo Law School will remain free while she appeals a drunk driving sentence. An appeals court judge issued a stay on the 15-day jail term Anne Adams was set to receive. Adams' lawyer will have 120 days to modify his appeal of the sentence. Adams was arrested September 2nd in the Town of Hamburg on drunken driving charges. She then tried to get a falsified blood alcohol test. Adams can no longer practice law in New York and had her teaching post come to an end last month.
HTN: Accused Ponzi Schemer Could Get Prison
The accused 82-year-old Ponzi-schemer from Amherst could likely see prison time under a plea deal in the works. Federal prosecutors say they could have a deal in place within the next two months for Richard Piccoli. He is accused of ripping off millions of dollars from investors. Authorities estimate that Piccoli raked in 17-million dollars over a five year period. Investigators say Piccoli advertised in religious publications and many of the victims include priests and church groups. Federal prosecutors say despite Piccoli's age prison time under any plea deal is likely.
HTN: Buffalo Crime Stats On-Line
If the Buffalo Common Council gets its way, you could have online access to neighborhood crime stats. The measure has been talked about for a year and Council members say they'd like to push for it to become reality. If given the green light, residents would be able to log on to "crime reports-dot-com" and view data on a map.
HTN: Angola Bridge Needs Repair
A railroad bridge in the town of Angola needs repair. The bridge is owned by CSX Transportation and crosses over Big Sister Creek. Town officials say they've been after CSX for some time about fixing it. CSX officials say they are aware of the problem and are working with an engineering firm to develop a plan to fix the bridge. The work on the 1800s-era bridge should be finished in about a year.
HTN: Delphi gets Bankruptcy Extension
Delphi, which owns a plant in Lockport, has been thrown a financial lifeline in bankruptcy court. The company has been granted more time to submit a plan for restructuring. Had Judge Robert Drain not approved the move, Delphi's parent company might have had to liquidate its assets. Delphi now has until May 4th to reveal its restructuring plan to its lenders. The struggling company has been under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection since October of 2005.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Hometown News: Wind Power in WNY
The New York Power Authority has announced a plan to develop a one-billion-dollar offshore wind project on either Lake Erie or Lake Ontario. Power Authority Chief Richard Kessel agrees that the Authority needs to generate more low-cost power to attract more businesses to New York State.
HTN: City, County Agree on Park Maintenance
An agreement between Erie County and Buffalo will keep city parks and recreation areas open and fully-staffed, at least through the summer and fall. County Executive Chris Collins and Mayor Byron Brown have agreed that the county will continue to maintain, manage and operate city park parcels, rec centers, indoor and outdoor pools, and splash-and-spray pads. In exchange, the City will pay the County $4.4 million for the year, up from $1.5 million last year. Erie County will budget for 52 full-time positions and 144 seasonal positions. The plan also calls for crews to mow the grass in parks every 12 days, instead of every 20 days. Collins and Brown are working on a long-term agreement.
HTN: Off-Duty Cop Shoots Burglars
Buffalo police are continuing the investigation into an off-duty officer's fatal shooting of a burglar. Authorities say the officer heard someone trying to break in to his home on Burlington Avenue Wednesday morning, and used his off-duty weapon to shoot two of the suspects, killing one and injuring the second. The names of the victims have not been released.
HTN: Former Teacher Sentenced in Rape Case
The former South Buffalo Charter School teacher charged in a statutory rape case is off to prison for four years. 30-year-old Cara Dickey admitted to a relationship with a former student last summer. Dickey's defense attorney told the judge she is suffering psychological problems which blurred her ability to decipher right from wrong. In March, Dickey pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree rape of an underaged victim.
HTN: Rother Ave. Body Identified
Buffalo police are trying to determine if foul play was involved in the death of a woman whose body was found in a vacant house. The woman has been identified as 31-year-old Angela Williams. Her body was found by officers investigating a 911 call to Rother Avenue Monday afternoon. Williams was found in the basement of a vacant home on the 200 block. The exact cause of death is not known. Witnesses are urged to contact police.
HTN: Admitted Cross-Burner Gets Harsh Sentence
A Buffalo man will spend three-and-a-half to seven years behind bars after admitting to burning a cross at a racially mixed couple's home. Prosecutors say 41-year-old Donald Napierala crafted a four-foot high wooden cross and lit it on fire on his neighbor's South Park Avenue front lawn last July. Lawyers for Napierala say the neighbor hit Napierela with a metal pipe on July fourth, which led him to seek revenge. Napierala's mother says her son just wanted to scare the neighbor to get him to leave them alone. He pleaded guilty to a felony hate crime of reckless endangerment and aggravated harrasment.
HTN: GM Layoffs Hit Home
The struggling auto industry has hit home in Tonawanda. About 60 salaried employees will be issued pink slips at General Motors' engine plant, as part of the company's efforts to reduce its nationwide workforce. The cuts are part of 16-hundred layoffs announced by GM this week, and represent about 30-percent of the local plant's salaried employees.
HTN: Helipad Denied to Emergency Service
Women's and Children's Hospital will not allow the Starflight helicopter to land on its helipad. The hospital says that Starflight never sought clearance to land there. Since Starlight doesn't have authorization, critically injured children must be flown to the parking lot of the Erie County Medical Center, and then taken by ambulance, a 12-minute ride to Women and Children's.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Reason with Scott Leffler 4/22/09
Scott's Earth Day Edition, plus an American Idol update. Full two hours.
Hometown News: Ground Collapse in Amherst
Town of Amherst emergency crews responded to the scene of a partial ground collapse on Tonawanda Creek Road near Transit early this morning. About a 300-foot section of ground dropped about 25-feet. A house lost a part of its back porch, and is now unsafe for its residents.
HTN: Foreclosures Dropping in Buffalo
Some good economic news for us: when it comes to foreclosures, Buffalo is rather low on the list. California, Florida, Nevada and Arizona are home to cities with the highest home repossession rates in the nation. A newly-released report from RealtyTrac shows Buffalo at number 162, with just one home in every 873 seeing foreclosure. That's a eleven-point-73-percent drop from 2008. California, Florida, Nevada and Arizona are the states that house the cities the worst foreclosure rates among cities, Las Vegas is worst off of all. with nearly four-and-a-half-percent of its housing involved in some state of foreclosure during the first quarter of this year. That's one in every 22 homes and more than seven times the national average.
HTN: Medical Pot in New York?
New York could become the next state to legalize medical marijuana. Two lawmakers are introducing identical bills to decriminalize the use of pot for medical proposes. Assemblyman Richard Gottfried wants to allow residents with debilitating illnesses to grow or buy limited amounts of marijuana. State Senator Thomas Duane is introducing a similar measure in the state Senate.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Reason with Scott Leffler 4/21/09
Scott talks about Gov. Patterson' (lack of) approval ratings, and interviews the guys from WNYMedia.net. Full two hours.
Hometown News: Local Teen Charged in Beating
A local high school student who has been charged with the brutal beating of a classmate has a rap-sheet that includes arson. Seventeen-year-old Curtis Byers assaulted Michael Lang at Williamsville South High School last month. Byers was arrested for felony assault and will be back in court in May. He also admitted to setting a Wende Street fire that injured a Buffalo firefighter two years ago. The firefighter lost a leg and fractured his skull in the incident. Byers received just 100 hours of community service for the fire. He committed another felony a short time later, for which he received just five years probation after being considered a "youthful offender."
HTN: Education News
The Amherst Town Board passed a resolution Monday night directing the town's three school districts to reach out to the State Education Commissioner and request action on a merger. The resolution was the idea of outgoing Amherst Supervisor Dr. Satish Mohan, who has proposed that one day Erie County will operate with only one school district.
The former Brighton Elementary School in the Town of Tonawanda could meet the wrecking ball soon. Erie County Industrial Development Agency directors unanimously Monday morning to approve an incentive package for Clover Management to raze the closed school. In its place will be a three-story senior apartment complex. Brighton has been closed since the 1980s and the building is leased to other groups.
The former Brighton Elementary School in the Town of Tonawanda could meet the wrecking ball soon. Erie County Industrial Development Agency directors unanimously Monday morning to approve an incentive package for Clover Management to raze the closed school. In its place will be a three-story senior apartment complex. Brighton has been closed since the 1980s and the building is leased to other groups.
HTN: WNYer Promoted to HSBC Position
A native Western New Yorker has been promoted by HSBC Bank. Andy Ireland is the new executive vice president and regional president for Upstate retail banking. He'll be based in Buffalo and will continue in his current capacities as head of premier banking and managing director of HSBC Securities. The 43-year-old joined HSBC Bank three years ago and has over 21 years experience in banking, insurance and securities.
HTN: Paterson Popularity Continues to Slide
Governor Paterson's own approval rating has taken another dip. The Siena poll shows Paterson is viewed favorably by only 27 percent of voters. That's a two point drop from last month. Poll analysts say Paterson's free-fall in popularity could be attributed to the way he has handled New York's finances and the budget negotiations that many felt were done in secrecy. The poll also found that only 12 percent of New Yorkers say they will vote for Paterson in 2010, with 71 percent saying they'll cast their ballot for "someone else."
Hometown Sports: Hasek to Play with Czech Team
Former Sabre and future Hall of Famer Dominik Hasek has returned to his roots, agreeing to play for HC Moeller Pardubice in the Czech Republic. The retired NHL goaltender returns to the team where it all began as a 16-year-old in 1981. He helped the club win league titles in 1987 and 1989. The 44-year-old is a six-time Vezina Trophy winner, and won two Stanley Cups with Detroit.
Monday, April 20, 2009
BuffaloStyle 4/18/09
Hosted by Christina Abt, with this week's guests:
Richard and Kathy Hillman have joined forces with Captain Kate Mini to bring the Spirit of Buffalo, his 73-foot, red-sailed beauty, home to our historic inner harbor. Their plans call for the ship and her crew to serve as an educational tool for WNY's youth in providing hands-on adventures of sailing along the scenic shores of Lake Erie.
Also, WECK's own Joe Major gives us his live eye report on opening-day at the New York Yankees new multi million dollar stadium.
Music for the day comes compliments of an awesome young singer/songwriter by the name of Mick Hayes.
Richard and Kathy Hillman have joined forces with Captain Kate Mini to bring the Spirit of Buffalo, his 73-foot, red-sailed beauty, home to our historic inner harbor. Their plans call for the ship and her crew to serve as an educational tool for WNY's youth in providing hands-on adventures of sailing along the scenic shores of Lake Erie.
Also, WECK's own Joe Major gives us his live eye report on opening-day at the New York Yankees new multi million dollar stadium.
Music for the day comes compliments of an awesome young singer/songwriter by the name of Mick Hayes.
Weather: Wet, Windy Start to Working Week
The National Weather Service forecasts up to an inch of rain for today and more by tonight. Wind gusts could reach over 35-miles-per-hour. Tuesday is expected to be rainy as well.
Hometown News: Domestic Dispute in West Seneca
A domestic dispute Sunday night in West Seneca left three people injured, including a young boy. Police and ambulances responded to a home on Indian Church Road at 8 o'clock last night. West Seneca Detective Captain Jack Daly said the boy's father stabbed the youth in the chest, and the boy's mother then responded, stabbing the man several times. The woman was also injured. All three are expected to survive. An investigation by West Seneca Police is ongoing. Daly says the father is expected to be charged with attempted murder.
HTN: Senecas Plan Own School
Unhappy with the education their children receive in traditional public schools, leaders of the Seneca Nation plan to start an own independent school in the fall of 2010. They intend to seek state and federal aid, and that has public school administrators concerned. Seneca leaders complain that their children aren’t learning enough about their own traditions and culture in the Salamanca, Gowanda, Lakeshore and Silver Creek public schools.
HTN: State Foreclosures Rising
State foreclosure rates are rising after a state law enacted last September that delayed filings by 90 days has expired. The measure targeted subprime and nontraditional mortgages, giving homeowners counseling services and access to court-appointed lawyers.
HTN: Free Ice Skating in North Buffalo
Children of every age laced up their ice skates yesterday for some fun at the North Buffalo Ice Rink. Some took it easy, while some skated in the fast lane at the rink on Tacoma Avenue in Buffalo. The free skating day was make possible partially by Assemblyman Sam Hoyt and Common Council Member Michael LoCurto.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
