Friday, May 22, 2009
Hometown News: Private Plane Crash Probed
The plane crash that killed two Buffalo attorneys last month may have been at least partly caused by rain and poor visibility. A preliminary report states that pilot Michael Doran was relying only on his instrument panel to navigate the plane because of poor visibility. Doran and passenger Matthew Schnirel were killedon April 28th shortly after takeoff from the County Airport in Richmond Heights, Ohio.
HTN: Williamsvill Coach Accused in Sex Case
Police in Amherst have charged a Williamsville South High School coach with forcible sexual contact involving a student. Cops say 47-year-old Sammy Hasan faces a forcible touching charge as well as endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated harassment. Police say they began their investigation following a complaint from a family member.
HTN: Lockport Earthquake is Minor
The U.S. Geological survey says a minor earthquake struck deep inside the Earth beneath Lockport Wednesday morning. The one-point-nine magnitude tremor was located more than a mile under the surface. Experts say anything less than a magnitude-three quake can't really be felt. Scientists say three tremors also hit southwest of Buffalo on Monday.
HTN: Buffalo Business on "Inc. 100 " List
Two Buffalo businesses have been recognized among the country's fastest growing inner city companies. Advanced Educational Products Inc. placed ninth on the 2009 "Inc. Magazine" Inner City 100 list. Buffalo-based SLR Contracting & Service placed 15th.
Memorial Day Weekend Alert!
Triple-A says since gas prices are lower than a year ago, holiday traffic volume for passenger vehicles this weekend is expected to exceed last year's figures. 32-point-four-million Americans are hitting the road or taking to the sky this Memorial Day weekend. That's nearly eleven-percent of the total U.S. population. The average round-trip for Mid-Atlantic states residents is expected to be 557 miles this year. Eighty-three-percent of the total number of travellers will be driving, seven-percent will take to the air, and ten-percent will be using other forms of transportation.
This Memorial Day weekend marks the start of the busy summer travel season, and the State Thruway Authority is reminding motorists about its free TRANSalert service. TRANSalert uses email or text messaging to inform Thruway travelers about unscheduled incidents affecting travel. Those wishing to sign up for the service can do so at the Thruway Authority's website: http://www.nysthruway.gov/tas.
This Memorial Day weekend marks the start of the busy summer travel season, and the State Thruway Authority is reminding motorists about its free TRANSalert service. TRANSalert uses email or text messaging to inform Thruway travelers about unscheduled incidents affecting travel. Those wishing to sign up for the service can do so at the Thruway Authority's website: http://www.nysthruway.gov/tas.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Hometown News: Albany Update
Governor David Paterson is extending unemployment assistance to more than 56-thousand New Yorkers whose benefits were set to expire next week. The governor is striking a deal with state Legislative leaders to cover more than 120-thousand out-of-work residents. Governor Paterson says this helps many New Yorkers.
Meanwhile, the Governor announced he expects to see at least a three-billion-dollar current year budget deficit soon. The new projection is on top of a projected two-point-five-billion-dollar deficit logged for next fiscal year, which begins April 1st, 2010. Paterson's announcement comes in tandem with State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli's report that the state tax revenue dropped below projected levels last month.
Meanwhile, the Governor announced he expects to see at least a three-billion-dollar current year budget deficit soon. The new projection is on top of a projected two-point-five-billion-dollar deficit logged for next fiscal year, which begins April 1st, 2010. Paterson's announcement comes in tandem with State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli's report that the state tax revenue dropped below projected levels last month.
HTN: More H1N1 Cases in County
Nine more cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Erie County. Six are children, while three are adults. Three cases have been confirmed at the Transit Middle School in Williamsville, with one each at Nichols School in Buffalo, the William Street School in Lancaster, and Amherst Middle School. The three adult cases all are from Amherst. There are now 13 confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus in Erie County. Health Commissioner Doctor Anthony Billittier says he is closely watching the schools, especially the Transit Middle School. However, the decision to close schools remains at the local level. Billittier says so far the symptoms have been mild.
HTN: Arrest in 34-year Cold Case
Buffalo police have made an arrest in a 34 year old murder case. Authorities say 55-year-old Bernard Thomas is responsible for the 1975 killing of 19-year-old Michelle Dixon. Detectives say they were able to use DNA evidence to revive the case and make the arrest. The announcement was made on the 34-year-anniversary of the death dating back to May 20th, 1975. Authorities say Dixon was found shot to death in her bed . Mayor Byron Brown says the family has been suffering and wondering in pain for 34 years. Police say Thomas was a friend of Dixon's boyfriend at the time, but the motive has not been revealed.
HTN: Hit and Run Victim Goes Home
One of the college students badly injured in a hit and run two months ago has left the hospital. The parents of 22-year-old Amy Stewart say their daughter has been released from Erie County Medical Center but still has a long road of recovery. Authorities say Stewart and 21-year-old Rachel Baird were hit on March 7th near Daemen College. Stewart sustained head trauma and was in a coma. Baird suffered less severe injuries. Authorities say 30-year-old Andrea Glinski of Tonawanda has been charged in the incident.
HTN: Suspicious Death in Tona
Police in the Town of Tonawanda are investigating what they call a suspicious death. Authorities say a woman's body was found Wednesday morning about 10 a.m. at a Sunset Terrace home. Police are trying to determine if the death was a homicide. The woman's name has not been released pending notification of family.
HTN: Worst Drivers in Nation
New York has the worst drivers in the nation, at least when it comes to the rules of the road. That's according to G-MAC Insurance, which just released its fifth annual study of state driving test results. New York ranked dead last in the U.S. with an average score of 70-point-five percent. It's the second time in five years the state ranked at the very bottom.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Hometown News: Wilson Hazing Case Leads to Trooper Probe
The State Police are conducting an internal investigation involving personnel assigned to investigate the Wilson High hazing case. Students Colton Sherman and Christopher Sidote were charged with misdemeanor hazing and forcible touching. A third student, 18-year-old Geoffrey A. Seefeldt, was charged with three counts of third-degree forcible touching, a misdemeanor. The internal investigation has to do with possible improper police action
HTN: Union Rally at Delphi
The United Auto Workers union is set to rally today at the Delphi Thermal Systems plant in Lockport, to protest the loss of hundreds of Western New York area manufacturing jobs. The "Save America" demonstration is being sponsored by UAW Region 9 and is scheduled to start at 3 this afternoon. Several speakers, including the mayors of many of the region's cities, will take the stage with the protestors.
HTN: Passport Office in Buffalo
The federal government is giving Western New York 700-thousand-dollars to help build a passport office in Buffalo. Area representatives requested the office be located here, given the location of the Peace Bridge. There are currently 14 passport agencies in the continental U.S. Travelers to Canada will need a passport or other certified document of citizenship, starting June 1st.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Good Morning Buffalo: Auto Legislation
Loraine and Tom talk with Fox New Radio's Rich Johnson about the Obama Administrations emissions and mileage policies.
Hometown News: Golisano Plans to Keep Sabres, PAC
Buffalo Sabres owner Tom Golisano may have moved his official residence to Florida, but says that won't affect his role with the team. Golisano is moving to avoid paying high New York taxes. The billionaire founder of Paychex says he will not unload the hockey team, and will stay active in attempting to influence politics in Albany. Golisano has run for Governor three times and spent millions trying to sway the outcome of political races. The move to Florida will save him about five-million dollars a year.
HTN: Lawmakers have to Prove Full-Time Status
Lawmakers who win new two-year terms in Erie County this November will have some new rules to follow. They will need to prove they are full-time employees if they want to retain their status in the state retirement system. The state comptroller's office is asking elected leaders of New York's local governments to document how many hours they work over three months so they can build pension benefits. Comptroller Mark Poloncarz says elected officials should start keeping a daily calendar showing they worked at least six hours a day on legislative matters.
HTN: Inner Harbor to Add Hostoric Streets
Buffalo's Inner Harbor will add four historic streets. Prime, Lloyd, Perry and Hanover Streets are old roadways which were once well traveled when Buffalo's Inner Harbor was active. The roads will be resurrected using cobblestone to make them look like they once did. The project will also include restoration of the Historic Commercial Slip. The money to is coming from federal stimulus funds and federal transportation dollars.
HTN: Police Vets to be Honored
A plaque honoring Buffalo police officers who served in Vietnam will be unveiled Monday at a Memorial Day service. The granite plaque, reminiscent of the national Vietnam Veterans Memorial, was designed by artist Ralph Sirianni and has been four years in the making. It will list the names of 65 Buffalo police officers, and be displayed in the lobby of the Buffalo Police Headquarters at Franklin and Church Streets. The public is invited to attend the unveiling at 10 a.m. at the Buffalo Police Training Academy on the second floor of Police Headquarters.
HTN: Whitner Proclaims Innocence
Buffalo Bills safety Donte Whitner is back in a Cleveland court today. Whitner was arrested on April 11th and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Whitner has pleaded not guilty, but is hoping the charges will be dropped today. He spoke before the Bills workout yesterday saying a video tape of the incident was sent to his lawyer last week that will show he didn't do anything wrong. Police say Whitner took a fighting stance against them as he tried to make his way into a fight outside the House of Blues nightclub in Cleveland.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Hometown News: Teen Boy Rescued from River
A teenage boy is in stable condition after spending more than 40-minutes in the frigid waters of the Niagara River Sunday night. A passerby noticed the boy waving his paddle from the water just west of the North Grand Island Bridge. He had apparently flipped his kayak, and was pulled to safety by members of the Niagara Falls Fire Department. The teen was taken to the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center where was treated for hypothermia.
HTN: Albion Mayor Resigns Under Duress
Albion Mayor Michael Hadick was supposed to go on trial today for allegedly stealing village funds for fireworks, instead he decided to ignite some political fireworks by resigning. Hadick says he has simply run out of money for his defense and the Orleans County DA agreed to drop the charges in exchange for his resignation and restitution. That means Hadick will turn in his Mayoral title and 346-dollars, the amount he allegedly kept from Fourth of July fireworks.
HTN: Click It or Ticket Underway
The Memorial Day holiday means that police ae launching an aggressive, two-week seat-belt enforcement campaign across the state. The annual "Click It Or Ticket" campaign will have State Troopers and local police using stationary checkpoints and roving patrols as part of a nationwide seat belt enforcement effort.The enforcement campaign runs through May 31st.
HTN: Current, Former Bills Arrested
Buffalo Bills fullback Corey MacIntyre has been charged with exposing himself outside a woman's home in Port Saint Lucie, Florida. Police say the incident happened on the morning of March 20th, when a 59-year-old woman reported that MacIntyre was outside her window. Authorities caught up with the player last Thursday. He was booked and released on ten-thousand-dollars bail. Meanwhile, soon-to-be Hall of Famer Bruce Smith faces DWI charges after being pulled over for speeding in Virginia Beach last Friday morning. Smith was charged with DWI and refusing to submit to a breath test. The former Bill was elected to the Hall of Fame earlier this year and will be officially inducted in August.
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