HTN: Laying the Blame for Bad Air

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation has shared the results of the Tonawanda Community Air Study. One of the conclusions made in the report is that benzene and smoke emissions form the Tonawanda Coke plant on River Road have been the likely source of irritation for nearby residents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say long-term exposure to benzene can cause an array of harmful effects. The study looked at wind and meteorological data and pollution concentrations in four areas around the plant.

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: Parents Protest Tonawanda School Closing

Tonawanda parents will have another chance to speak out today about the closing of Highland Elementary School. A group of parents, teachers, and community members formed a committee to come up with their plan, which they will present later to the school boards today. The district's plan involves closing Highland Elementary and sending students to Fletcher, Mullen, and Riverview schools, with each location hosting only a couple of grades.

Low-Speed Car-Train Accident

A car-train accident in the Town of Tonawanda left the female driver unhurt, but charged with DWI. The collision came on Kenmore Avenue near the CSX rail yard. Police said the train was moving at only five miles-per-hour.

Amherst, Tonawanda Schools on Alert after Stranger Danger Cases

Amherst and Tonawanda schools have followed up on two reports of motorists offering rides to middle school students. The districts are now on alert after incidents last Tuesday within a couple of hours of each other. Descriptions of the driver and the vehicle were similar in each case.