Current News

On Tuesday night, the Niagara County Legislature voted unanimously to rescind Gov. Andrew Cuomo's 2020 budget proposal to cut funding for the Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) program.

Congressman Brian Higgins announced the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Continuum of Care (CoC) program has awarded almost $13.75 million in federal funding to Western New York organizations to assist in the mission to end homelessness in the region.

This week, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) issued a document identifying hundreds of military construction projects subject to cancellation to free up resources to help pay for the president's border wall. Democrat Congressman Brian Higgins is continuing to object to the emergency declaration, which Higgins said would pull billions of dollars from projects supporting the military, including potentially a $14 million training and fitness center at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.

Dove, K-Love and Billboard Music Award-winners - one of the most successful Christian touring groups of the past decade - Big Daddy Weave will bring the "Alive Tour" to 35 cities this spring. Featuring guest instrumentalists Johnathan Chu (Skillet, Kari Jobe) and Becca Bradly (Michael W. Smith), the tour is set to visit Houghton College's Wesley Chapel this Sunday, March 24, at 7 p.m.

"American Idol" heads to the heart of Los Angeles for its renowned "Hollywood Week" rounds, as the search for America's next superstar continues on The ABC Television Network, Sunday, March 24 (8-10:01 p.m. EDT), streaming and on demand.

The Erie County Department of Senior Services is seeking nominees for Erie County Senior of the Year, a resident over the age of 60 whose community involvement has made a difference to others - improving the quality of life in and around Erie County - and putting to use his or her knowledge, skills, values and motivation to enable that difference.

Heart, Love & Soul Food Pantry and Dining Room will host its Annual Recognition Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, at the Russell J. Salvatore Dining Commons at Niagara University.

The New York Power Authority, in collaboration with WNY Stem Hub Inc. and MISSION: IGNITE Powered by Computers For Children, will launch a series of computer coding classes geared toward young people at the Niagara Power Vista, 5777 Lewiston Road, Lewiston.

Danica Patrick - one of motorsports' most popular figures - will join NBC Sports' inaugural coverage of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, when drivers start their engines for the 103rd iteration of the race on Sunday, May 26. This year marks the first time the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" will be broadcast on NBC.

The Niagara Falls Community Development Department (NFCD) is announcing Small Business Support Fund (SBSF) grant awards to three local, neighborhood-based renovation projects. The SBSF is a new, federally funded NFCD program that offers matching grants to businesses willing to significantly improve their properties.

In celebration of March being Women's History Month, Suneel's Light Foundation has released "Women in the City of Good Neighbors," a unique coffee table-style book that showcases 42 remarkable women who are dedicated to making Western New York a better place to live, play and work (while often going unrecognized for their selfless service).

New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Transportation Committee Chairman William Magnarelli announced the passage of a measure to install safety cameras on school buses to monitor overtaking and passing violations (A.4950A, Magnarelli).

The Erie County Agricultural Society will present up to $20,000 in scholarship opportunities to students who participate in the Erie County Fair. Scholarships are awarded based on general County Fair participation and those involved in agricultural-related activities.

Robert Irvine returns to help struggling owners turn their failing restaurants around in a new season of "Restaurant: Impossible," premiering Saturday, April 20 (9 p.m. ET/PT), on Food Network.

The next meeting of the Buffalo and Erie County Greenway Fund Standing Committee will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Friday at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, 726 Exchange Street, Suite 525, Buffalo. The meeting is open to the public. The agenda includes announcement of Greenway funding awards for submitted project grant requests.

On Friday, award-winning singer/songwriter Grace VanderWaal released her new song "Hideaway" (listen HERE). The track is featured in the animated film "Wonder Park" produced by Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Movies, in theaters now. "Hideaway" encapsulates a blissful, inspirational tone that conveys the film's hopeful message.

The two Lewiston projects endorsed last week by the Greenway Commission will receive funding, following approval from the Host Communities Standing Committee on Tuesday.

Legislator David Godfrey, R-Wilson, was recognized by the Niagara Military Affairs Council (NIMAC) at the Niagara Aerospace Museum last week. Godfrey was presented an award for his years of service on the NIMAC board of directors, a position he has held for nearly a decade.

WarnerMedia Entertainment announced the premiere date and showrunner for "Chasing the Cure" (formerly known by its working title "M.D. Live") from TNT and Lionsgate Television. This is a groundbreaking enterprise anchored and executive produced by award-winning journalist and humanitarian Ann Curry.

Fourth-generation baker Buddy Valastro is known as one of the biggest names in the industry, taking his local bakery and building it into an international empire. Now, Buddy is paying it forward on new series "Bake You Rich." He's providing the opportunity of a lifetime to professional pastry chefs as they compete to have their treats produced by the "Cake Boss" and sold on Carlo's Bakery website immediately following each episode.

RBCxMusic, in partnership with Golf Canada, announced a new concert series, featuring Grammy-nominated and internationally acclaimed duo, Florida Georgia Line (FGL), and JUNO award winners and homegrown rock band The Glorious Sons.

Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino welcomes "Criss Angel RAW - The Mindfreak Unplugged" show to the Seneca Niagara Events Center at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 8. Tickets go on sale this at noon on Friday for this 18-and-older show.

United Way of Greater Niagara will host its ninth annual meeting and awards breakfast on Friday, April 12, at the Wurlitzer Event Center, 908 Niagara Falls Blvd., North Tonawanda. The event will celebrate the organization's 2018 annual campaign, which raised over $1 million to support 46 programs provided by 29 different agencies in Niagara County.

Congressmembers Brian Higgins (D-NY-26) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) will co-chair the Northern Border Caucus for the 116th Congress. The working group is comprised of a bipartisan assembly of members of the House of Representatives committed to addressing the policies integral to the relationship between the U.S. and Canada.

Basketball fans are thrilled that both University at Buffalo teams and Syracuse University have made it to the NCAA Tournament.

Western New York's premier equine exposition and equestrian gathering returns to the Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg this weekend. WNY EquiFest opens its two-day run this Saturday (9 a.m. to 5 pm.) and continues on Sunday (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

The Buffalo Sabres Green Team, KeyBank and Shred-it will partner to host a "Shredding Day" from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 30, at the KeyBank Branch located at 5207 Broadway in Lancaster. This event will provide an opportunity for participants to properly shred and recycle important documents following tax season. Properly shredding documents goes a long way to help prevent identity theft.

The Niagara County Workforce Development Board, in partnership with Niagara's WorkSourceOne, will hold its annual spring career fair on Wednesday, March 27, at Four Points by Sheraton, 7001 Buffalo Ave., Niagara Falls. Hiring representatives from more than 60 businesses will be on-hand, hoping to fill positions in a broad cross-section of local industries.

Common medications prescribed to treat heartburn, acid reflux and ulcers are linked to increased risks for kidney failure and chronic kidney disease, a recent University at Buffalo study has found.

More than two-dozen students from the U.S. and Canada presented their research on issues connected with American-Canadian relations at the 2019 "Crossing Borders" interdisciplinary student conference, held March 1-2 at Niagara University.

The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) and the New York State Health Department (DOH) announced the launch of a new campaign to raise awareness of the addiction services available in New York for women who are pregnant.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce on Friday held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Samana Salt Spa. Owners Cheryl Krouse and Jim Fittante, and their children, welcomed elected leaders, fellow retailers and friends to their establishment, located at 700 Center St., Lewiston.

An agribusiness outreach forum will be held at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Niagara County, 4487 Lake Ave., Lockport, on Friday, April 5.

Today's national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.55, up 7 cents from last week. One year ago, the price was $2.55 as well. The New York average is $2.66 - up 7 cents from last week. A year ago, the state average was $2.69.

"Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts will host ABC's opening night presentation of the 2019 National Football League Draft, live from Nashville, Thursday, April 25 (8 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network and via streaming. Roberts will host the prime-time broadcast of round one, joined on a separate set by co-host Rece Davis and the crew from "College GameDay Built by The Home Depot."

"American Idol" is set to kick off its iconic live performances and America's vote from Los Angeles starting Sunday, April 14 (8-10 p.m. EDT, live-to-tape episode), on The ABC Television Network.

BPO Nation will present "Live on Mars," described as "an amazing journey celebrating the very best of iconic pop hero David Bowie," inside the Artpark Mainstage Theater on June 8.

"Love Moves," the anticipated sixth recording from singer/songwriter, adoption advocate and diversity spokesperson Erskin Anavitarte, bows April 11. Produced by Stephen Leiweke (Chris Tomlin, Sara Groves), the project will be available on leading music platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music.

The Oliver G. & Sarah Sloan Bauman Fund for the Arts is accepting grant applications for its 2019 granting cycle. The Oliver G. & Sarah Sloan Bauman Fund for the Arts is administered by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo and awards annual grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations located within the eight counties of Western New York that specialize in the classical arts sector.

The $477,147 "Aliens of the Sea" exhibit will build on the visitor excitement created by the new $3.5 million "Penguin Coast" exhibit, which opened to rave reviews last year. The new exhibits are expected to attract an additional 30,000 visitors each year.