Top Stories
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Trump says Ukraine needs ‘somebody else’ at the table as Ukrainians’ U.S. protection passes its deadline with no decision
Ukraine’s Temporary Protected Status hit its Oct. 19 end date with no federal decision, leaving about 101,000 Ukrainians nationwide protected only by…
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Amherst’s tax hike lands on plows and garbage trucks, not the general fund
Amherst’s proposed 2027 budget breaks the state tax cap by $3.55 million, yet the town’s main operating fund barely moves. The increase…
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Two weeks after neighbors reported it, the state still hasn’t said where the oil in the Buffalo River is coming from
DEC’s spill record for the South Buffalo sheen lists diesel, mineral oil and latex, with the source “Unknown” and no volume. The…
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Hamburg adopts its first Airbnb law, with $2,000 in fees and single-family streets included
Hamburg had never had rules for Airbnb-style rentals, yet more than 100 are listed. On Monday the Town Board adopted a law…
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Traditional Gayogo̱hó:nǫʼ council challenges Cayuga Nation police appointment, saying no clan consensus approved it
The Condoled Chiefs and Clan Mothers Council says the Halftown administration’s police department was never approved by the clans, and that Cayuga families who oppose it should not be called “dissidents.”
Latest Headlines
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Powder letters hit Schumer, Gillibrand and dozens of other offices as New York heads into early voting
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Erie County drivers deserve license plate camera rules written by lawmakers, not by Flock
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Shootings are falling in most of New York’s hardest-hit cities. Buffalo and Niagara Falls are going the other way
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Darian Bryan’s Reserve Steakhouse is a big-night splurge in Larkinville. Here’s what the record shows
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Niagara County weighs fully exempting its most disabled veterans from county property taxes
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Erie County lawmakers killed a new jail. The plan to keep the two old ones running now costs $57 million
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BMHA’s director goes month to month Nov. 1, with two board seats empty and tenants pressing on safety
Gillian Brown’s contract as head of the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority expires Oct. 31, and two of the…
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Erie County lawmakers killed a new jail. The plan to keep the two old ones running now costs $57 million
Poloncarz’s 2027 budget puts $7 million toward repairs at the Holding Center and the Alden jail, the first…
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Erie County’s plan to widen its senior property-tax break has sat in committee since summer
A bill to raise Erie County’s senior exemption income limit from $37,399 to $50,000, at a cost of…
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Buffalo wants its control board to borrow $20 million for emergency repairs. Its comptroller wants the math first
[PREMIUM] Buffalo is asking its state control board to borrow up to $20.06 million for emergency repairs, the…
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Road-repair merger forces sale of Suit-Kote plants in Jamestown, Buffalo and Belmont to keep county bids competitive
In nine Western and Central New York counties, Colas and Suit-Kote were often the only two companies bidding…
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Still waiting on your $200 energy rebate? Most New Yorkers are, and the checks keep coming through December
Only 3 million of 8.2 million POWER checks had arrived by mid-October. Here’s who qualifies, why your neighbor…
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Upstate voters sour on Hochul, Buffalo’s hometown governor, as downstate megaprojects draw billions
Kathy Hochul is the first governor from Buffalo since Grover Cleveland. Polls show upstate voters souring on her…
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Albany’s data center review closes its first comment window Tuesday as Western New York’s biggest proposal sits on hold
Comments on the scope of New York’s statewide data center review are due Oct. 20, and 56 legislators…
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Lockport’s short line gets $9.6 million from the last of the infrastructure law’s rail money. Congress hasn’t refilled the pot
The Falls Road Railroad between Lockport and Brockport won $9.64 million in Monday’s $2.3 billion federal rail round,…
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Trump says Ukraine needs ‘somebody else’ at the table as Ukrainians’ U.S. protection passes its deadline with no decision
Ukraine’s Temporary Protected Status hit its Oct. 19 end date with no federal decision, leaving about 101,000 Ukrainians…
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Buffalo gets a second shot at federal lead money as the White House moves to cut the program by nearly two-thirds
[PREMIUM] Buffalo’s new $4 million HUD lead grant follows one it gave half of back. Federal records show…
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Trump again reserves most U.S. refugee slots for white South Africans, keeping Buffalo’s resettlement pipeline nearly shut
The 2027 refugee ceiling stays at 17,500, mostly for Afrikaners, after a year in which all but five…
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Powder letters hit Schumer, Gillibrand and dozens of other offices as New York heads into early voting
At least three dozen congressional offices and election officials in 15 states have received suspicious letters, including New…
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DOJ threatens California election workers with prosecution as New York, which beat the department in court, opens early voting
The Justice Department says California officials who count ballots from 20,000 “likely” noncitizens risk prosecution. A federal judge…
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Brooklyn judge tosses Trump’s sanctuary suit against New York City and finds a key federal information-sharing law unconstitutional
A federal judge dismissed the Justice Department’s suit against New York City’s sanctuary laws and held that 8…
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Bend police say teen gunman scaled a fence and shot through locked doors before a father stopped him
Police say a 16-year-old former student climbed a fence and shot through locked glass doors at Silver Rail…
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Niagara County weighs fully exempting its most disabled veterans from county property taxes
Niagara County lawmakers hold a hearing Tuesday on a full county property-tax exemption for veterans the VA rates…
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Niagara Falls froze its trash fee for 2027, leaving a $1.12 million gap for the mayor’s budget
The Niagara Falls City Council voted 5-0 to keep the garbage and recycling fee at $181, leaving about…
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Niagara SPCA gets $5,000 county boost as grace year for New York’s new shelter rules runs out
Niagara County legislators gave the Niagara SPCA $5,000 to upgrade kennels under New York’s new shelter standards, as…
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Niagara County weighs suing Albany over immigration law it says shields noncitizen voting, though the law exempts election work
The Niagara County Legislature votes Tuesday on suing the state over a new limit on helping immigration agents,…
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Shootings are falling in most of New York’s hardest-hit cities. Buffalo and Niagara Falls are going the other way
[PREMIUM] Shootings with injuries are down 16% across the state’s GIVE cities this year, but Buffalo is up…
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North Tonawanda traffic stop that ended in Border Patrol arrests is under state review
The attorney general’s office is reviewing a complaint over an Oct. 7 North Tonawanda traffic stop that ended…
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No charges in Cheektowaga Flock camera misuse, leaving discipline and oversight as the open questions
Erie County prosecutors won’t charge three Cheektowaga police employees who used Flock cameras to track a co-worker for…
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Tops gunman’s lawyers say Western New York’s jury lists shortchange Black residents as death-penalty jury selection begins
Payton Gendron’s lawyers moved to dismiss his federal indictment the day before jury selection, arguing Black residents are…
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43North’s final pitch is over. The biggest return on New York’s startup bet now sits in a foundation
[PREMIUM] 43North handed out its last $5 million this month. Tax filings show how a state-funded stake in…
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Buffalo Niagara added jobs again in September, but it’s the only peer region with fewer businesses than in 2020
A second straight month of hiring still left Western New York’s private sector slightly smaller than a year…
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Copart now owns ACV, and the merger filings show what Buffalo workers were promised, and for how long
Copart closed its $1.9 billion cash purchase of Buffalo’s ACV Auctions on Oct. 16. The filings guarantee employees’…
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Western New York’s $16 minimum wage is frozen for 2027 by a jobs test Albany now calls ‘overly sensitive’
A small drop in statewide jobs canceled the first inflation raise under New York’s 2023 wage law. Gov.…
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Josh Allen ties Jim Kelly in Las Vegas, but a spitting ejection leaves the Bills with a suspension question
Josh Allen tied Jim Kelly’s franchise touchdown-pass record in a 33-30 win over the Raiders. Now the 5-1…
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Bills are 4-1, but Jim Leonhard says his defense can’t keep waiting for Josh Allen to rescue it
The Bills are 4-1, but defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard says a unit giving up historic numbers can’t keep…
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Bills fans paid $1.08 million in Erie County’s stadium surcharge in August. Where does it go?
A 6% Erie County surcharge on tickets, food and merchandise at the new Highmark Stadium raised $1.08 million…
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Sabres keep digging out of early holes, and Lindy Ruff wants them to stop digging
The Sabres keep rallying from two-goal deficits, including Saturday’s 4-3 overtime loss in Montreal. Coach Lindy Ruff’s verdict:…
Latest News
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Erie County’s budget holds Buffalo’s stages to last year’s dollars and leaves out a dozen groups its own reviewers backed
Poloncarz’s 2027 budget recommends $8.5 million for 112 arts groups, $113,862 less than this year. The BPO, Shea’s and most theaters are held flat, and 12 groups the…
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43North’s final pitch is over. The biggest return on New York’s startup bet now sits in a foundation
[PREMIUM] 43North handed out its last $5 million this month. Tax filings show how a state-funded stake in ACV Auctions became a $61 million foundation that now decides…
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Nearly three years of Seneca casino money sits in escrow. If the compact the Nation describes is approved, the 2023 deal sends it to arbitration
[PREMIUM] Since December 2023 the Seneca Nation has paid its 25% slot share into escrow. The extension Hochul signed says a new compact without exclusivity, like the one…
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Road-repair merger forces sale of Suit-Kote plants in Jamestown, Buffalo and Belmont to keep county bids competitive
In nine Western and Central New York counties, Colas and Suit-Kote were often the only two companies bidding on road-sealing work. Attorney General Letitia James says a forced…
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Still waiting on your $200 energy rebate? Most New Yorkers are, and the checks keep coming through December
Only 3 million of 8.2 million POWER checks had arrived by mid-October. Here’s who qualifies, why your neighbor may get one first, and what the $1 billion payout…
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Buffalo Niagara added jobs again in September, but it’s the only peer region with fewer businesses than in 2020
A second straight month of hiring still left Western New York’s private sector slightly smaller than a year ago. A new Buffalo Niagara Partnership report ranks the region…
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Erie County’s plan to widen its senior property-tax break has sat in committee since summer
A bill to raise Erie County’s senior exemption income limit from $37,399 to $50,000, at a cost of about $7 million, was back on the Finance and Management…
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Alden’s 2027 budget sets aside $40,000 for ambulance service as Mercy Flight takes over Dec. 1
Alden’s preliminary 2027 budget carries $41,000 for ambulance service and billing after a decade of free coverage from Lancaster’s volunteer ambulance corps. Mercy Flight EMS takes over Dec.…
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Trump says Ukraine needs ‘somebody else’ at the table as Ukrainians’ U.S. protection passes its deadline with no decision
Ukraine’s Temporary Protected Status hit its Oct. 19 end date with no federal decision, leaving about 101,000 Ukrainians nationwide protected only by a government web alert. The same…
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Amherst’s tax hike lands on plows and garbage trucks, not the general fund
Amherst’s proposed 2027 budget breaks the state tax cap by $3.55 million, yet the town’s main operating fund barely moves. The increase lands on highways, salt and garbage,…
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Hamburg adopts its first Airbnb law, with $2,000 in fees and single-family streets included
Hamburg had never had rules for Airbnb-style rentals, yet more than 100 are listed. On Monday the Town Board adopted a law that charges hosts $2,000 for a…
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Alberta votes to stay in Canada, CBC projects, after a campaign Carney cast as a stand against outside pressure
Albertans voted to remain in Canada, CBC News projected, with about three in four ballots counted so far rejecting a path to a separation vote. Carney had warned…
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Upstate voters sour on Hochul, Buffalo’s hometown governor, as downstate megaprojects draw billions
Kathy Hochul is the first governor from Buffalo since Grover Cleveland. Polls show upstate voters souring on her as billions go to downstate transit, while her office points…
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Josh Allen ties Jim Kelly in Las Vegas, but a spitting ejection leaves the Bills with a suspension question
Josh Allen tied Jim Kelly’s franchise touchdown-pass record in a 33-30 win over the Raiders. Now the 5-1 Bills wait to learn whether the NFL will suspend C.J.…
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Buffalo gets a second shot at federal lead money as the White House moves to cut the program by nearly two-thirds
[PREMIUM] Buffalo’s new $4 million HUD lead grant follows one it gave half of back. Federal records show Erie County has drawn about 5% of its own $7.75…
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Washington’s ‘big shift’ is landing on New York’s books, and counties still don’t know what Albany will pass down
[PREMIUM] Federal H.R. 1 cuts are moving Medicaid, Essential Plan and SNAP costs onto Albany and the counties. Erie County faces $13.8 million now and a possible $55…
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DOJ threatens California election workers with prosecution as New York, which beat the department in court, opens early voting
The Justice Department says California officials who count ballots from 20,000 “likely” noncitizens risk prosecution. A federal judge in Albany threw out its demand for New York’s voter…
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Ontario will buy 600 megawatts of New York power this winter, weeks after Ford threatened to cut the U.S. off
Ontario’s grid operator has contracted 600 MW from New York’s Alpha Generation starting Nov. 1, two months after Premier Doug Ford said cutting power exports to the U.S.…
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Trump again reserves most U.S. refugee slots for white South Africans, keeping Buffalo’s resettlement pipeline nearly shut
The 2027 refugee ceiling stays at 17,500, mostly for Afrikaners, after a year in which all but five of 16,292 admitted refugees came from South Africa. Here is…
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Albany’s data center review closes its first comment window Tuesday as Western New York’s biggest proposal sits on hold
Comments on the scope of New York’s statewide data center review are due Oct. 20, and 56 legislators want more time and public hearings. At STAMP in Genesee…
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Copart now owns ACV, and the merger filings show what Buffalo workers were promised, and for how long
Copart closed its $1.9 billion cash purchase of Buffalo’s ACV Auctions on Oct. 16. The filings guarantee employees’ pay for one year but describe no commitment to keep…
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Buffalo wants its control board to borrow $20 million for emergency repairs. Its comptroller wants the math first
[PREMIUM] Buffalo is asking its state control board to borrow up to $20.06 million for emergency repairs, the first such request since 2007. Comptroller Barbara Miller Williams wants…
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Erie County still chasing $617,700 from Albany for jail stays left over from the prison strike
Erie County lawmakers voted unanimously to press the state for $617,700 the Sheriff’s Office spent holding parole violators during the prison staffing crisis. The state law at issue…
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Niagara Falls froze its trash fee for 2027, leaving a $1.12 million gap for the mayor’s budget
The Niagara Falls City Council voted 5-0 to keep the garbage and recycling fee at $181, leaving about $1.12 million for the general fund to cover. Mayor Robert…
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North Tonawanda traffic stop that ended in Border Patrol arrests is under state review
The attorney general’s office is reviewing a complaint over an Oct. 7 North Tonawanda traffic stop that ended with Border Patrol arresting three roofing workers. The police chief…
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Seneca Nation bans all Level 3 sex offenders from its territories, with annuities and leases on the line
The Seneca Nation Council has barred every Level 3 registered sex offender from Seneca territory. Members who violate it can lose annuity payments, and lessees who harbor an…
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Western New York’s $16 minimum wage is frozen for 2027 by a jobs test Albany now calls ‘overly sensitive’
A small drop in statewide jobs canceled the first inflation raise under New York’s 2023 wage law. Gov. Hochul wants $16.55 upstate by March 1, but that depends…
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Hotels chosen for convenience and self-approved credit cards: what four new audits found in Western New York
Audits of the Snyder Fire District, Lancaster’s Twin District fire company, the City of Olean and Erie County’s cash office found weak checks on receipts, wire transfers and…
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Bills are 4-1, but Jim Leonhard says his defense can’t keep waiting for Josh Allen to rescue it
The Bills are 4-1, but defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard says a unit giving up historic numbers can’t keep relying on Josh Allen to bail it out. “Everything’s being…
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Bills fans paid $1.08 million in Erie County’s stadium surcharge in August. Where does it go?
A 6% Erie County surcharge on tickets, food and merchandise at the new Highmark Stadium raised $1.08 million in August alone. Where the money goes, who tracks it,…
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Erie County drivers deserve license plate camera rules written by lawmakers, not by Flock
Cheektowaga’s Flock misuse case shows how little stands between drivers’ movements and anyone with a login.…
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ORELL: Richard Franke left a legacy on the liberal arts education
By Brent Orell This weekend, the Wall Street Journal marked the passing of Richard J. Franke,…
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TEWS: 5G, Planes, and Progress
By Shane Tews Last week, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee’s…
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ABRAMS: New England liberal arts colleges are dangerous to American civility
BY SAMUEL J. ABRAMS With their leafy campuses, visually diverse student bodies, well-stocked libraries, and attentive…
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PETHOKOUKIS: So Big Tech massively investing in itself is worrisome now?
By James Pethokoukis Imagine a world much like this one where the most valuable companies were…
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