National Mortgage Settlement Monitor Joseph A. Smith Jr. today released an update on the consumer relief activities of the five banks that are parties to the National Mortgage Settlement, as reported by the banks through March 31, 2013.

More than 1,500 health care workers from across New York packed the West Capitol Park in Albany today for a rally in support of two bills to address the patient care crisis in this state - the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act (A6571/ S3691-A), which would create safe nurse-to-patient staffing ratios for acute care facilities, and the Safe Patient Handling Act (A2180-A/S1123-A), which would create a statewide safe patient handling policy.

Today, the New York State Senate passed legislation authorizing Niagara County to prohibit level two and three sex offenders from being within 1,500 feet of any school grounds or child care facility.

Assemblyman John D. Ceretto, R-I-C-Lewiston, today voted against the DREAM Act, which he said imposes further costs on middle class families who are already struggling to pay for their children's college education. The DREAM Act, which was passed, would allow illegal aliens who are also students to receive taxpayer funds for their college education.

Call it a matter of consistency.

Members of the Niagara River Greenway Commission met Tuesday at the Beaver Island State Park Clubhouse to consider three submissions for project consistency with Greenway Plan objectives.

The annual Grand Island Father's Day Lawn Mower Races, Classic Car Show and 5K Kevin Doring Memorial Walk are taking registrations for the kind of competitive but mostly fun day, Sunday, June 16, on West River Parkway between Long Road and Sunset Drive. Proceeds benefit the Grand Island Relay For Life/American Cancer Society.

WGRZ has announced Jennifer Stanonis is now full time on the 2 On Your Side team, making Storm Team 2 the largest weather team in Buffalo. Stanonis joins Kevin O'Connell, Andy Parker, Maria Genero and Mary Beth Wrobel, thus expanding the station's commitment to covering weather in Western New York.

The New York State Senate and Assembly passed legislation yesterday that increases penalties for killing a police dog or police horse while on the line of duty.

The silver anniversary Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day conference is Thursday, May 23. It will feature Western New York professionals and businesses that specialize in services for people with developmental disabilities. The full-day event will be held at The Conference Center Niagara Falls, 101 Old Falls St.

Dunkin' Donuts is inviting Buffalo-area residents to get ready for summer with the return of "Iced Coffee Day." On Wednesday, May 22, $1 from every cup of iced coffee sold at participating Dunkin' Donuts restaurants throughout the greater Buffalo area will directly benefit Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

Holly Cowman, the international relations officer from Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, Ireland, visited Niagara University Monday to mark the establishment of a memorandum of understanding between the two institutions.

State Sen. Mark Grisanti, R,-I-60, has announced passage of Senate bill S. 1710, which would provide green development home tax exemptions. Grisanti's bill would allow a tax exemption of 35 percent for real property for a period of no longer than 20 years if authorized by the local municipality.

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center recently turned the spotlight on its volunteers, celebrating their service and commitment at a luncheon at the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute.

The New York State Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation, in partnership with Old Falls Street and the Comfort Inn The Pointe, will host the 2012 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year Jennifer Pharr Davis.

The eight area YMCA Buffalo Niagara locations will be collecting old worn and tattered flags ready for retirement from June 3-7. Flags will be taken to Forest Lawn Cemetery on Saturday, June 8, for proper retirement.

Everyone likes Gary Hall.

But that doesn't mean everyone is on board with his plan to build a tennis center at his North Second Street property.

The Health Association of Niagara County Inc. will present six awards at its annual meeting and luncheon at noon on June 6 at the Niagara Falls Country Club, 505 Mountain View Drive, Lewiston. The nonprofit agency will also conduct elections for its board of directors.

Dr. Stuart Weinstein recently presented a check from Advanced Dental to Niagara Falls Air Base Capt. Gina Pizziconi-Cupples.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is notifying the public that it will close its offices nationwide on Friday, May 24, as a result of government-wide automatic spending cuts that took effect on March 1.

Erie Community College will host more than 350 students and teachers from Western New York middle and high schools to participate in its 2013 Tech Wars competition, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, in buildings 5 and 6 at the college's South Campus at 4041 Southwestern Blvd., Orchard Park.

University at Buffalo earthquake engineer Michael C. Constantinou said that, while Friday's earthquake near Ottawa, Canada, appears to have caused little damage, it should nonetheless remind people that the East Coast is not immune to temblors.

Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. cut the ribbon Friday on its 520-linear-foot dock extension along the Central Wharf at Canalside in Buffalo, doubling the dock's length and bringing the total amount of berthing space to nearly 1,000 feet. It will allow for up to 40 additional boats to dock at Canalside.

Tops Friendly Markets, a leading full-service grocery retailer in upstate New York, northern Pennsylvania and western Vermont, wants its neighbors to grill safely as Memorial Day rings in the unofficial start of the summer cook-out season.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce welcomed its largest crowd - more than 300 people - to the annual Chamber Awards Gala Friday at the Niagara Falls Country Club.

Congressman Brian Higgins, NY-26, visited the Robert H. Jackson Center on Friday to take part in events featuring current U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts Jr.

State Sen. Mark Grisanti, R-I-60, announced Friday he nominated United States Army Captain Roger L. Woodworth as his nominee for the New York State Senate's 2013 Veterans Hall of Fame Honoree Celebration.

Don't miss the fifth annual Lewiston Region Tour of Kitchens and Homes June 8 and 9. Get an up close and personal look inside of six of the area's most fabulous homes and entertaining spaces located in the Lewiston and Youngstown region

Niagara Hospice and the Schoellkopf Health Center on May 10 announced a new partnership that will lead to the opening of a dedicated hospice unit on the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center campus.

More than 200 U.S. troops and their families were on hand recently at the Connecticut Street Armory in Buffalo to present Lewiston's Dennis Brochey certificates of appreciation and a large Minuteman statue for his efforts in raising money for military families of Western New York.

Investigation of workers' compensation claims by Niagara Active Hose Volunteer Fire Co. members has sparked some heated discussion in the Town of Niagara.

Das Haus German Heritage Museum will open at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 19, for its 39th season.

Congressman Brian Higgins, NY-26, spoke on the Floor of the House of Representatives Thursday calling on both Houses of Congress to follow through on committee action to eliminate a plan to study a new fee on citizens crossing the U.S. border by land.

During Disaster Safety and Mitigation Week (May 13-19) - which is part of National Building Safety Month - the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety is touting the importance of state enactment and enforcement of modern building codes.

On Saturday, June 8, Niagara University is hosting a conference designed to offer attendees "best practices" for establishing citizen and community preparedness initiatives.

Old Falls Street, USA, the historic three-block destination in downtown Niagara Falls, has released its schedule of activities for the 2013 season. Most activities are presented free of charge while promising "Food, Festivals and Fun ... just footsteps from Niagara Falls!"

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-C-I-Lewiston, called Thursday for the immediate resignation of Assemblyman Vito Lopez and for Sheldon Silver to step down as speaker of the Assembly after the release of a scathing JCOPE report detailing the sexual misconduct of Lopez toward several of his female staff.

"New York Farm Bureau is pleased to see the quick work performed by both the Senate and House agriculture committees in moving the 2013 farm bill. The expediency both houses demonstrated this week reinforces the need to get this passed on the floor of both houses this summer."

Congressman Chris Collins, NY-27, voted Wednesday to approve the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act of 2013, and move it out of the House Agriculture Committee. The bill was passed by a large, bipartisan vote of 36-10.

The Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, through its amateur sports development fund, is making an $11,000 donation to support the following amateur athletic organizations: Touching Base Softball League of Erie County Inc., Gloria J. Parks Community Center, Amherst Youth Basketball, Mary Queen of Angels School, WNY Sting, Rachel Jager, West Side International Soccer and Depew Lancaster Boys and Girls Club.

The League of American Orchestras board of directors has elected Angelo M. Fatta as chairman-elect. Fatta will assume this position in June and will hold it until June 2014, when his election to succeed Lowell J. Noteboom as chairman will take place.