Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced Friday that Christopher Collins, who represented the 27th District of New York as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, was sentenced to 26 months in prison today by U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick for participating in a scheme to commit insider trading and for making false statements to federal law enforcement agents when interviewed about his conduct.

Proceeds from North Tonawanda's 10th Mayor's Charity Snowflake Ball will benefit the Vietnam Veterans WNY Chapter 77, which maintains a museum in Tonawanda and helps provide food and necessities to veterans and their families in need. This chapter, with its 675 members, is the largest in New York and fifth-largest in the nation.

The Kaleida Health DeGraff Memorial Tower in North Tonawanda, formerly used for inpatient care, has been listed with Pyramid Brokerage Co. to attract a developer to fill the five-story building. Some of the property's highlights, according to Pyramid, include easy access to the I-290 and its suitability for redevelopment, as well as it being ideal for multi-family residence and affordable housing.

The Niagara County Industrial Development Agency on Wednesday announced its Consolidated Funding Application for the Microenterprise Grant Program has been approved by New York, with $200,000 in funds being made available. The program will provide resources to support and foster the development of local microbusinesses.

Attorney General Letitia James announced over $8 million in grant awards as part of the Cities for Responsible Investment and Strategic Enforcement ("Cities RISE"). Cities will use these grants to launch innovative programs related to housing and strategic code enforcement. The program aims to innovatively address and transform blighted, vacant or poorly maintained problem properties through the use of housing and community data from various state agencies.

IRS-certified accounting students from the University at Buffalo School of Management will again provide free tax preparation services to individuals and families with annual incomes below $56,000.

Assemblyman Angelo J. Morinello (R-C-I-Ref-Niagara Falls) today announced he'll run for reelection to the New York State Assembly in 2020.

Property tax levy growth for school districts will be capped at 1.81% for the 2020-21 fiscal year, down from a 2% cap in each of the two previous years, according to data released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

Congressman Brian Higgins on Monday announced a $1.5 million federal grant awarded through the U.S. Department of Labor to The Service Collaborative of Western New York for its Western New York YouthBuild: Leaders Under Construction program.

ABC and dick clark productions announced Nik Wallenda, seventh generation of the Great Wallendas, will return to the highwire for a daring 1,800-foot-long walk over the active Masaya Volcano in Masaya, Nicaragua. "Volcano Live! with Nik Wallenda" will air as a live two-hour special on Wednesday, March 4 (8 p.m. EST). This will mark Wallenda's longest and highest highwire walk ever attempted and make him the first person to embark on the 1,800-foot-long walk over the famed volcano.

The Buffalo Zoo is doing its part in helping raise much-needed emergency funds for those affected by the devastating bushfires in Australia.

Today, the Buffalo City Mission announced the launch of its "Pick-a-Brick" campaign, a fundraising initiative that will provide community individuals and organizations with a special opportunity to make a lasting legacy gift that will build a "Pathway to Hope" for the next century - leading to the completion of the organization's new community center, the Alfiero Family Center of Hope and Promise.

The New York State Thruway Authority has announced cashless tolling customer assistance sessions will continue in 2020 at the Western New York Welcome Center on the first Tuesday of each month.

Two Lewiston businesses originally slated to become part of the renovated Fourth and Center streets complex are moving. The owners of Brewed and Bottled Craft Beer Shop and Sgt. Peppers Hot Sauces said the corner's concept just wasn't the right fit for them. As such, they're headed to 442-444 Center, a property developed by attorney and Town of Lewiston Councilman Alfonso Marra Bax.

The Thruway Authority is moving ahead with a proposal to adjust tolls on the Thruway beginning Jan. 1, 2021 -- the first since 2010 -- after we have converted to cashless tolling system-wide by the end of 2020. I want to further clarify what this means for motorists in Western New York, and how the proposed changes will impact our customers.

Legislator Kevin Hardwick has announced that the Island Dispatch will again serve as one of the official newspapers of Erie County for the 2020 legislative year.

January is National Cervical Health Awareness Month, and the Erie County Department of Health is reminding women that screening and vaccination are important tools to detect and prevent cervical cancer.

The Lewiston-Porter School District Board of Education on Monday announced the appointment of Bradley Rowles as the new principal of Lewiston-Porter High School.

SUNY Distinguished Professor Paresh Dandona, M.D., Ph.D., one of the world's leading experts in the treatment of diabetes and vascular disease, will be honored with the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation's 2020 Life Time Contribution Award in Chennai, India, in July. He is the eighth scientist to receive the award.

Lake Shore Bancorp Inc., the holding company for Lake Shore Savings Bank, recently announced the bank awarded $14,000 in grants to local nonprofit organizations throughout Erie and Chautauqua counties.

Sen. Chris Jacobs is calling on the leadership of the State Senate to immediately repeal the so-called "Criminal Justice Reforms" on the first day of legislative session, this Wednesday, Jan. 8. The new laws, which went into effect Jan. 1, mandate the release of most criminal defendants without bail.

The Historical Association of Lewiston's first program of 2020 program, "Saving Sergeant Niland: The Local True Story Behind Spielberg's Epic Film," will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, at the Lutheran Church of the Messiah Fellowship Hall, 915 Oneida St., Lewiston. Historian Douglas DeCroix will keynote.

The Town of Porter this week released the agenda for the upcoming Lake Ontario Preparedness Committee. The group, consisting of representatives from the Town and Village of Lewiston, Town of Porter, Village of Youngstown, Village of Barker, Town and Village of Wilson, and Town of Newfane will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, at Porter Town Hall.

Grand Island government began the transition to a one-party Town Board with a New Year's resolution to work toward town unity.

On a cold, rainy and snowy Dec. 14, the Kiwanis Club of Niagara-Wheatfield assisted the Salvation Army's bell-ringing campaign. Members greeted customers at the Sanborn Tops Market as they entered the market and wished them a merry Christmas as they left, offering candies and candy canes for those who wished. It was a busy five hours of receiving donations. The Kiwanians also aided the Tops employees by retrieving baskets from the wet, slushy parking area.

Inside Voz Cycle City Inc. is a vast array of gear for everyone's favorite motorcycle enthusiast. To keep it open and running, owners Terry and Carol Vosburgh have to work hard. However, even with their busy schedules, they still find time to give back.

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced an agreement negotiated with Emergent BioSolutions - manufacturers of the successful opioid overdose reversal nasal spray NARCAN - in an effort to increase opportunity for additional companies to utilize the patented, proprietary spray technology that allows for life-saving drugs to be easily administered to patients.

After the holidays, everyone is stuck with a gift or two that they just cannot use. Community Missions is giving everyone an opportunity to put those gifts to work for good, and throwing a party, too!

Well, we've torn 2019 out of our calendars, which means we've resolved to make some changes to ensure that we're happier and healthier in 2020.

Joined by family, friends and supporters, nine officials were sworn into office Jan. 1 at the Town of Lewiston Town Hall.

Deciding to join a gym is just the first step in your fitness journey. There are so many options nowadays it's important to know what you're getting into before you sign on the dotted line. Don't forget to do your research to get the most from your gym membership.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli is urging New Yorkers this holiday season to read the fine print on gift cards for details about fees and expiration dates. While some gift cards sellers have eliminated inactivity fees, consumers should still ask whether fees apply. DiNapoli also reminds recipients to spend their new gift cards in a timely manner, otherwise the money could eventually get turned over to the Office of Unclaimed Funds.

The New York State Department of Labor announced the implementation of a new law that prohibits both public and private employers from asking about salary history. One of the pillars of the new law, which takes effect on Jan. 6, is New York employers cannot request job applicants provide wage or salary history as a condition of employment. Current employees do not have to provide their salary history from any outside employers. It also prevents businesses from seeking similar information from other sources.

Following an extensive five month search by the board of trustees, Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger, apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Buffalo and chairman of the board of Catholic Charities of Buffalo, announced the appointment of Deacon Steve Schumer as the organization's new president and CEO, effective Jan. 6.

New Yorkers can greet 2020 with a choice of 85 guided hikes at state parks, historic sites, wildlife areas, trails and public lands sponsored by the state Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation and the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

On Christmas, the Buffalo City Mission launched its annual "Hambone Express" event to deliver hot meals to the poor and homeless across Western New York.

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced certain private nonprofit organizations (PNPs) located in 18 counties throughout upstate New York that do not provide critical services of a governmental nature may be eligible to apply for low-interest rate disaster loans. These loans are available following a presidential disaster declaration for public assistance resulting from damages caused by severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, 2019.

Congressman Brian Higgins applauded momentum on the DL&W Terminal project.

People Inc. it has been awarded $100,000 from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation National Paralysis Resource Center Expanded Effect Quality of Life Grants cycle. The award was one of seven grants totaling $663,946 given to nonprofit organizations that empower individuals living with paralysis.

At the last Town Board Meeting for the Town of Wheatfield this year, department heads took a look back over 2019 and also what would be needed in the future.