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.

Niagara University has announced David Cristantello, Ph.D., has been named vice president for institutional advancement.

Kali, a 65-pound polar bear cub, arrived Wednesday in Western New York and will join young female cub Luna at the Buffalo Zoo.

The EmStar Emergency Department of Mount St. Mary's Hospital will recognize local emergency medical service professionals at an award's dinner on Tuesday, May 21, at the Niagara Falls Country Club. The dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Applications for the Ruth and William O. Sass Scholarship to encourage excellence in the field of nursing are being accepted through June 1.

Outraged over recent revelations that the Internal Revenue Service singled out and targeted conservative political groups, Congressman Chris Collins, NY-27, has signed a letter to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew voicing concern and demanding answers.

Congressman Brian Higgins, NY-26, won approval for an amendment blocking the U. S. Department of Homeland Security's plan to study a new land crossing fee at U.S. borders. Higgins introduced the amendment during today's House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security hearing to markup H.R. 1417, the Border Security results Act of 2013.

Approximately 360 employees of the 914th Airlift Wing are scheduled to be furloughed one day a week for 11 weeks starting July 8.

Buffalo Place Inc. announced its "Thursday at Canalside" summer concert lineup on Wednesday. This year, the entire series is moving to the Buffalo waterfront. Free weekly concerts run from 5 until 9:30 p.m.

Tops Friendly Markets, a leading full-service grocery retailer in upstate New York and northern Pennsylvania, held a grand re-opening celebration Wednesday to mark the completion of a major renovation of the family-owned and operated Lewiston Tops Market at 906 Center St.

Twenty-three Niagara University Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadets were commissioned second lieutenants in the U.S. Army during a ceremony held May 10 in NU's Gallagher Center. It marked the 72nd consecutive year that members of NU's Purple Eagle Battalion have taken the oath of office.

Congressman Brian Higgins released the following statement concerning today's discussion hosted by state leaders about the future of the Buffalo Skyway. While Higgins is in Washington, D.C., for votes, his office participated in today's roundtable conversation.

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman joined senators Michael Ranzenhofer and Carl Marcellino and Assembly members Jim Brennan, Helene Weinstein and Steve Englebright in proposing sweeping, bipartisan legislation to overhaul the laws governing New York's nonprofit sector.

The product of more than a year of legislative deliberation and negotiation, the Nonprofit Revitalization Act and the Executive Compensation Reform Act would be the first major reforms to the state's charities laws in more than 40 years.

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-C-I-Lewiston, met this week with two officials from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to discuss issues of importance to his district in Western New York.

The jackpot for Wednesday night's Powerball drawing has increased to $360 million, just $5 million shy of the second highest jackpot in Powerball history. The midday bump reflects very strong sales across all participating Lottery jurisdictions.

Dunkin' Donuts celebrated the opening of its newest restaurant in the greater Buffalo area at Roswell Park Cancer Institute on Tuesday.

With momentum building toward next Tuesday's Niagara Greenway Commission public meeting/review/vote to determine consistency and funding for the proposed Lewiston Civic Center, the Town Board has taken further steps to make the project a reality.

At its Monday work session, the Lewiston Town Board voted in favor of three items pertaining to the Civic Center. One of those items was paying $50,000 for a 10-acre parcel of land at Lew-Port.

For those who may be hesitant to create a large garden, or who just don't have the space, put your gardening skills to the test by participating in the container garden contest at this year's Lewiston GardenFest on June 22 and 23. The event is sponsored by the Lewiston Garden Club.

Assemblywoman Jane Corwin, in an effort to help restock the shelves of many local charities that have run bare, delivered food to local Western New York food banks as part of her "Annual Food Drive to Combat Hunger."