Current News

"Hi there," the human-like form on the smartphone says. Dressed in a conservative blue suit and equally neat white shirt, "Kevin" sets out to make immediate contact, even though he is a computer-generated person.

The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) announced the launch of the "Develop a Plan" campaign, which encourages adults to develop a plan with teens and young adults to get out of dangerous situations involving drugs or alcohol. It also encourages adults to talk to young people about not using alcohol and drugs, since peer pressure can be challenging and being prepared with a plan can help. The launch of the campaign coincides with prom and graduation season, as well as National Prevention Week.

One of the most celebrated TV series on any platform since its launch in 2016, ratings powerhouse "This Is Us" has been renewed by NBC for the next three seasons.

FOX'S No. 1 drama, "9-1-1," expands its reach to the city of Austin, Texas, with new installment, "9-1-1: Lone Star," starring Rob Lowe. The series will premiere during the 2019-20 season on FOX.

USA Network, cable's No. 1 entertainment network, announced it will reboot "The Biggest Loser," one of the most popular and longest-running unscripted franchises in television history. The 10-episode season from Endemol Shine North America, in association with Universal Television Alternative Studio, is expected to debut on USA Network in 2020.

KeyBank will once again this year sponsor the Chalk Walk competition, which is presented by Lewiston Council on the Arts.

The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. board of directors met Monday and authorized ECHDC to enter into a $5.53 million contract with Savarino Companies LLC for construction of the Longshed Building at Canalside. The approximately 4,400-square-foot wood-frame structure will reflect the Central Wharf site's history by incorporating elements from the Joy and Webster Storehouse located on the site in the early 1800s. Staff and volunteers with the Buffalo Maritime Center will work out of the building during its first three years while building a replica of an 1825 packet boat.

Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Charlotte, Louisville, Tulsa, Austin and Forth Worth are among the stops planned for the fall continuation of the "Imagine Nation Tour." Multi-Platinum-selling MercyMe will spearhead the run alongside fellow Grammy nominee Crowder and GMA Dove nominee Micah Tyler.

Scoring three nominations each, Casting Crowns, Danny Gokey, for KING & COUNTRY and Lauren Daigle are the top nominees for the seventh annual K-LOVE Fan Awards. Chris Tomlin, Elevation Worship, Josh Baldwin of Bethel Music, MercyMe, Newsboys, TobyMac and We Are Messengers each scored two nods.

The New York State Gaming Commission's Lottery and Video Lottery operations on Monday reinforced their collective standing as North America's largest and most profitable lottery businesses by becoming the first to break $10 billion in combined sales and net win for the fiscal year ending March 31. Combined, the record-breaking earnings generated $3.47 billion in Lottery Aid to Education, which accounts for 13 percent of all New York state school aid disbursed in fiscal year 2018-19.

The Niagara River Greenway Commission will meet on Tuesday, June 11, to determine the consistency of the 65th round of projects. The meeting will begin promptly at 3 p.m. at 4 Scott Ave., in Old Fort Niagara State Park in Youngstown. The general meeting will be preceded by the business meeting at 2 p.m.

"The Great Food Truck Race" celebrates summer with a Tyler Florence-hosted culinary beach battle along the Atlantic coast, with nine teams of aspiring food truck owners with unique concepts competing for a $50,000 grand prize. Each week, the caravan of competitors hits a different seaside town for high-stakes food challenges that test their cooking chops, business skills and selling strategies and the least successful truck is sent home - until the one team left standing is awarded $50,000.

The Buffalo Sabres on Monday announced defenseman Lawrence Pilut has undergone successful shoulder surgery. The procedure has an estimated recovery time of five to six months.

The normally picturesque Village of Lewiston was anything but on Monday, as new construction was underway at three different sites.

The Nancy Price Memorial 5K race had 68 runners signed up, along with a large number of folks who walked the course and 10 kids who ran in the half-mile "fun run."

The 55th annual commencement ceremonies on Saturday at the Arts and Media Theatre on the Sanborn campus of Niagara County Community College were highlighted by keynote speakers from various backgrounds.

Following three-straight rainouts, Ransomville Speedway is looking to get its 2019 season off and running this Friday night as Fantasy Island, United Materials and Bailey Brothers Landscaping present "Autograph Night."

Monday's national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.86, down 4 cents from last week. One year ago, the price was $2.87. The New York state average is $2.96, down 1 cent from last week. A year ago, the state average was $3.00.

The journey to find the next superstar continued Sunday as the remaining five "American Idol" hopefuls left it all on the stage, singing their hearts out to win America's vote and land themselves a spot in the season finale.

Xylem Inc., a global water technology company dedicated to solving the world's most challenging water issues, celebrated the Cheektowaga Youth Baseball Inc.'s opening day by donating five acres of land from its Cheektowaga location to the nonprofit. Xylem Watermark, the company's corporate citizenship and social investment program, helped enable the donation and support the day's events, which included water awareness education and activities focused on solving water challenges and promoting sustainability.

One extra inning thriller just wasn't enough for the Niagara-Wheatfield and Lewiston-Porter softball teams. Saturday afternoon, on the turf of Kenmore West High School, the two Niagara Frontier League squads dueled in a second extra inning affair, with the Falcons defeating the Lancers, 6-3, in eight innings.

There is no comparing the new Adrian's Custard & Beef to the old, said members of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce at a ribbon-cutting Saturday celebrating the restaurant's move across the street to 2352 Grand Island Blvd.

The Grand Island Rotary Gazebo, off limits for months because of structural problems, will be torn down.

Town Councilman Mike Madigan will be sitting in the former CannonDesign building, not as a councilman, but as a corporate employee, Town Supervisor Nathan McMurray said Monday.

Jacob McMahon, a U.S. Marine and a Grand Island native, is running for Erie County Legislator in the 4th District.

Attending Lewiston-Porter residents learned more Tuesday on what the $48.487 million district budget for 2019-20 entails - its goals, district concerns, what went into its development, and what Lew-Port students and the community can look forward to over the next year.

Steven J. Toth of Grand Island died peacefully at home after a long fought battle with prostate cancer.

When the Village of Lewiston Board voted to raise taxes last month, trustees pledged to look for ways to lower expenses and increase revenue in the next budget.

The Youngstown Business and Professional Association announced this week it is a recipient of the 2019 William G. Mayne Business Community Enhancement Grant Program award.

Barbara Gannon's sentence by Erie County Court Judge Sheila A. DiTullio to 5 years of probation for stealing thousands of dollars from the town's Meals on Wheels program avoids what amounts to a death sentence for the former Golden Age Center recreation supervisor.

St. Peter R.C. Church Rev. Monsignor David LiPuma had a special message for parishioners on Saturday: School Principal Maureen Ingham was promoted.

Ransomville Speedway canceled racing for tonight after heavy overnight rains fell on an already saturated facility. The driveway to the facility has been flooded and is not safe for pedestrians to pass through at this time.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District team, put "boots on the ground" Friday in the Town of Greece and the Village of Wilson, in coordination with its partners, to better understand shoreline conditions and mitigation efforts underway in response to the rising Lake Ontario water levels.

Superstars Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton are all set to return as coaches for the upcoming 17th season of the four-time Emmy Award-winning musical competition series "The Voice." Carson Daly also returns as host.

Speaking of Whitesnake's new album, frontman David Coverdale said, "The band and I are absolutely thrilled that our new album, 'Flesh & Blood,' has been released! We put everything we had and more into making this album. We truly hope you all enjoy it as much as we did making it for you."

On Friday, the Buffalo City Mission culminated a two-day, four-stop rally to celebrate the end of a successful third year of its "Mission: Possible Food Drive Challenge."

Empire State Development on Friday announced $1 million in "Restore NY" funding was provided to Grand Island Hotel LLC upon the completion of the $8 million Holiday Inn Express Hotel, located in the formerly vacant and blighted Dunlop building on Grand Island.

During the 2019 tax season, more than 120 IRS-certified accounting students from the University at Buffalo School of Management brought nearly $886,000 back into the Buffalo community through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

"United," the history-making full-length recording from Christian music supergroup Newsboys, is now available.

With 34 one-goal games, 15 overtime contests, and four Game 7s through two rounds, the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs are setting national, local and digital viewership and consumption milestones, according to Nielsen and Adobe Analytics.