New Police Commissioner hopes to build in-roads with officers, the community Erika Shields will be the first woman and first openly gay person to serve as commissioner of the BPD if she is confirmed. She looks to build trust with officers and the community, using data and trai...

New @buffalonews.com:

New Buffalo police commissioner hopes to build inroads with officers, the community

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Lindy Ruff said Sam Carrick is not a possibility to play in this series against Boston. Noah Ostlund is a possibility.

Mayor Sean Ryan's first budget proposal is out. My latest:

Buffalo police officer shoots man following apparent armed robbery on West Side Two Buffalo police officers reportedly came upon an armed robbery in progress at a 7-Eleven. One officer fired at the alleged robber after the robber shot a store clerk and fired at officers.

Two Buffalo police officers reportedly came upon an armed robbery in progress at a 7-Eleven. One officer fired at the alleged robber after the robber shot a store clerk and fired at officers.
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Serial killer Richard Fox gets additional 25-to-life sentence for killing woman found in Niagara Falls A Niagara County Court judge on Wednesday sentenced Richard J. Fox II, who is already serving a term of 40 years to life in prison, to the maximum sentence available for the murder of Crystal Curthoys...

Serial killer Richard Fox gets additional 25-to-life sentence for killing woman found in Niagara Falls.

Crystal Curthoys, 32, was the fourth woman Fox admitted to killing.

buffalonews.com/news/local/c...

Budget day is here. Check out my primer on how the city got so deep in the hole and what to expect going forward.

Sabres open online store to further boost merch sales The Buffalo Sabres have opened an online store to give fans the option of shopping from their computer or electronic device for licensed NHL playoff merchandise.

The Buffalo Sabres are opening an online store – just in time for the playoffs.

My latest:

“Buffalo loses considerable clout with the retirement of Crystal Peoples-Stokes. She is far up the political 'food chain,' and losing her will undoubtedly reduce the benefits Buffalo received."

— Blair Horner, a longtime state government watchdog at the New York Public Interest Group.

Democratic party will choose Crystal Peoples-Stokes replacement on Democratic line Erie County Democratic Committee leadership will pick Crystal Peoples-Stokes replacement on the ballot after she announced she is dropping her re-election bid.

From @justinsondel.bsky.social

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As volunteers age and prices soar, Buffalo's community fish fry options dwindle Western New York's community fish fry options are shrinking because of a lack of volunteers. “When the fish fry was happening, we felt closer together," said one volunteer.

Options for community fish fries, a Buffalo tradition, are dwindling.
by @chessabond.bsky.social
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Lawsuit over Erie Basin Marina contract tossed by judge A judge has tossed a lawsuit brought against the City of Buffalo accusing city officials of improperly administering a request for qualifications process to select new operators for the Erie Basin Mar...

Erie Basin Marina lawsuit against the city has been dismissed. My latest: buffalonews.com/news/local/g...

Audit criticizes financial oversight at Western Regional OTB The audit primarily covered a period under a previous OTB leadership team, however, and the report stated the current administration has begun making changes based on the office's recommendations.

The audit primarily covered a period under a previous OTB leadership team, however, and the report stated the current administration has begun making changes based on the office's recommendations.
buffalonews.com/news/local/a...

Medical examiner: Refugee Nurul Amin Shah Alam's death ruled a homicide The death of the mostly blind Rohingya refugee found dead in Buffalo in February who went missing after being dropped off by federal agents miles from his home has been ruled a homicide by the Erie Co...

Medical examiner says refugee's death was homicide buffalonews.com/news/local/c...

Lawmakers miss deadline to pass budget, pass 'extender' bill to fund state operations The state Legislature passed an "extender" bill Tuesday of more than $1 billion to fund state operations from April 1 through April 7.

State lawmakers have pushed the state budget back by at least a week, complicating the City of Buffalo's budget process.
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Council members say 25% is tax increase is too much Buffalo Common Council members hope to work with Mayor Sean Ryan's administration to reduce his proposed 25% increase to the tax levy in the upcoming budget.

Buffalo Common Council members think Mayor Sean Ryan's 25% property tax levy increase is too high for residents to absorb in one year. But they also don't see a lot of room for cuts. My latest: buffalonews.com/news/local/g...

Buffalo officer's 'selective recall' in Internal Affairs interview benefited Granville, supervisor A Buffalo police officer's answers about her involvement in the crash investigation of Daniel "D.J." Granville served to protect Granville and his sister-in-law, Lucia Esquilin, then a Buffalo police ...

ICYMI: Buffalo Police's Internal Affairs division found an officer responding to the D.J. Granville crashes had "selective recall" in giving them statements about the incident, according to documents.
by @aaronbesecker.bsky.social
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Ryan looks to scrap parking ramp plan Mayor Sean Ryan wants to scrap a major initiative begun by his predecessor Christopher Scanlon: Ryan said he no longer wants the city to sell its two parking ramps to a newly formed entity.

Mayor Sean Ryan wants to scrap his predecessor's plans to sell city parking ramps. He will need the State Legislature's help. My latest: buffalonews.com/news/local/g...

Buffalo wants Albany to allow control board to borrow $500 million Mayor Sean Ryan’s team is pushing the state Legislature and Gov. Kathy Hochul to pass a bill that would allow the city to borrow up to $500 million through the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority, over...

Mayor Sean Ryan's team is pushing Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state Legislature to pass a bill that would allow the city to borrow upwards of $500 million for deficit bonding through the control board. My latest: buffalonews.com/news/local/g...

Step into the lounge: Buffalo's piano bar tradition Buffalo News reporter Francesca Bond recently wrote about Howard Goldman's crusade to save Buffalo's piano bar tradition, a legacy that includes the legendary Jackie Jocko, who entertained guests at various

From Jackie Jocko to Howard Goldman, read The Buffalo News' coverage of Buffalo's piano men, and they places they played, here:

Ryan pauses demolitions as he reorganizes problem housing plan Ryan announced an executive order placing a 60-day pause on all city demolitions as his administration develops a system for tracking at-risk houses and connecting owners to resources to get them back...

Mayor Sean Ryan issues a 60-day moratorium on demolitions as his administration works on a plan to keep housing stock out of the landfill. My latest: buffalonews.com/news/local/g...

The bill comes due in Buffalo: Ryan to propose a 25% tax increase Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan plans to put a 25% increase to the tax levy before the Common Council when he submits his proposed budget next month.

Mayor Sean Ryan plans to propose a 25% increase to the tax levy in this year's budget. My latest: buffalonews.com/news/local/g...

The Senate includes the $40 million in aid to Buffalo proposed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, while the Assembly added $16.8 million to that figure, a good sign for Mayor Sean Ryan that it is likely to be included in the state spending plan.

Ryan wants city to take the lead on Scajaquada project After years of delays and last year’s setback, the city needs to push to get the project headed in the right direction again, Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan said.

Mayor Sean Ryan is seeking lead agency status for the city on the Scajaquada Expressway project. My latest: buffalonews.com/news/local/g...

Hochul says state is 'ready' to bring Winter Olympics back to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Western New York lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle want to form a committee to explore the return of the Winter Olympic games to New York for the first time since 19...

buffalonews.com/news/local/a...

Buffalo mayor says to expect tax increases for several years Mayor Sean Ryan and the Common Council are walking into a difficult budget season, and city taxpayers should brace for significant increases.

Mayor Sean Ryan's administration is ramping up to present its first budget next month. One thing is for sure - taxes are going up. But by how much and details of how the city will bring its books into balance are still being finalized. My latest: buffalonews.com/news/local/g...

Scanlon calls for Macy to appear before Police Oversight Committee Former Mayor and current Common Council Member Christopher Scanlon wants the interim Buffalo Police commissioner to answer questions about his role in the controversy involving Erie County Sheriff’s O...

South District Council Member Christopher Scanlon wants interim BPD commissioner Craig Macy to appear before the Council's Police Oversight Committee. buffalonews.com/news/local/g...

Comptroller seeks to hire fired city employee Comptroller Barbara Miller-Williams is seeking Common Council approval to hire Karla Thomas, a former city employee who was fired in 2011 amid controversy.

City Comptroller Barbara Miller-Williams is seeking Common Council approval to hire Karla Thomas, the former city Human Resources commissioner who was fired by former Mayor Byron Brown in 2011. My latest: buffalonews.com/news/local/g...

Scanlon defends his handling of Granville investigation, discipline "This incident did not occur while I was mayor," Scanlon said. "But I told the residents of the City of Buffalo it would be handled as quickly as possible. As I repeatedly stated, I did not, do not an...

'I didn't want to punt': Scanlon defends his handling of Granville investigation, discipline

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Ryan administration follows through on pledge to release all files in Granville case The administration has released more than 3,200 pages of documents and 12 hours of audio files from the Internal Affairs investigation into the handling of Erie County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Chief...

Ryan administration follows through on pledge to release all files in Granville case buffalonews.com/news/local/g...

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