Wilmers Hires Top ESD Lieutenants

New York City-based banker Marisa Lago has been tapped as the day-to-day operations chief of the Empire State Development Corp. Rochester development official Dennis Mullen will lead upstate New York economic development for the state. Gov. David A. Paterson and ESD Chairman Robert Wilmers made the announcements in New York City this morning.

Aud Salvage Plan to be Revealed

Mayor Byron Brown is appearing in front of the Aud at this afternoon to announce salvage plans after the building is demolished next year. Earlier reports indicated that some seats and other items might be put up for auction, and perhaps the front of the building might be preserved, similar to the old War Memorial Stadium.

HSBC Crash Still Causing Trouble

HSBC Bank's computer system crash is still causing problems. The system went down last Sunday night, and yesterday some of the eight-thousand employees of Catholic Health Systems went without direct deposit of their paychecks. The bank kept eight branches open late to deal with customer concerns.

Vigil Held for Magdalena

A candlelight vigil was held last night in Niagara Falls for missing 12-year-old Magdalena Lubowska of the Bronx, who was swept away last week into the rapids of the Niagara River while on a hike. Meanwhile there could be a criminal investigation into an unlicensed bed and breakfast that was run out of a private home in the Falls.

Hoyt Responds to Allegations

After a local blogger posted e-mails purportedly from Assemblyman Sam Hoyt to an woman he allegedly had a relationship with, the Assembly Ethics Committee went behind closed doors Wednesday to look into the matter. Hoyt did not respond directly but released a statement saying he and his wife have had marital difficulties in the past, but that he did not violate any assembly rules. The Buffalo News reported this morning that the two women were adults and not interns when they were allegedly involved with Hoyt.

Cheektowaga Town Official Resigns

A Cheektowaga recreation supervisor has quit after a the alleged embezzling of up to $50,000 from the town's Youth & Recreational Services department. 39-year-old Paul Marchewka had worked for the department for 14 years. Now, Cheektowaga police say he is the target of a probe into accounting irregularities over the past four years.

28 Arrests at Darien Concert

Genesee County sheriff's deputies arrested 18 people at Darien Lake during the Rockstar Mayhem Festival on Tuesday. Most of the busts were for alcohol and marijuana, disorderly conduct, trespass or harassment. 32-year-old Jeremy Telvock of Auburn was charged with attempted assault on a police officer, after allegedly hitting a deputy trying to escort him out of the amphitheatre.