Current News

It is with great sadness that we announce the postponement of the 12th Annual Niagara Uncorked Wine Festival in Lewiston on July 25th and July 26th due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

People of color and those with compromising health conditions make up the majority of COVID-19 deaths according to national, state and regional data. In response to these facts, community leaders in Niagara Falls announced the creation of the Niagara Falls Health Equity Task Force.

Join a panel of financial experts from 3-4 p.m. Thursday, June 4, as they provide insight into ways to navigate the financial challenges family businesses are facing as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The discussion, presented via Zoom, is the second in a four-part virtual series exploring "How Western New York Businesses Are Dealing with the COVID-19 Pandemic."

On Monday, multi-Platinum, four-time Grammy-nominated rock band Goo Goo Dolls released a brand-new live video for their uplifting new single, "Fearless." The performance was filmed at the historic Kalamazoo State Theatre in Kalamazoo, Michigan, during the band's fall 2019 headlining tour in support of their 12th studio album, "Miracle Pill" (Warner Records). Watch the video now HERE.

The Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine at Erie County Medical Center, a member of the Healogics network, is helping raise awareness of chronic wounds during the seventh annual Wound Care Awareness Week, being held from June 1-5.

On Saturday, Erie County Medical Center Corp. celebrated the opening of the institution's new $55 million KeyBank Trauma and Emergency Department, which will double the size of the existing 40-year-old facility and feature state-of-the-art technology and equipment for the region's only level one adult trauma center.

Coronavirus stats for June 1

Artpark is churning with activity and fresh initiatives that will allow visitors to interact with the public park in new ways. In the face of multiple concert cancellations and postponements, Artpark has been actively developing new and adapted programs designed to bring the community both relief and inspiration while practicing social distancing and all COVID-19-related precautions to keep visitors safe at all times.

Dozens of people showed up Sunday night in different parts of Niagara Falls to protest the untimely death of George Floyd.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday announced New York dentists can reopen statewide on Monday.

With the coming of Flag Day, June 14, we may think of the symbol it stands for and how it is flown. As an example, the U.S. flag on Memorial Day has special rules. The flag is to be hoisted from sunrise to noon at half-staff to honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. From noon to sunset, the flag is to be raised to full staff to honor our nations living heroes.

Erie County District Attorney John Flynn on Sunday afternoon announced the arrest of 10 people following a protest Saturday night in the City of Buffalo. He said his office is investigating general property damage in the downtown area, as well as arson at City Hall, and looting and property damage in Amherst and Kenmore.

Michelle Marcotte, a Lewiston artist, will revive the occasional Niagara River Region Art Studio tours this summer - but, outside and socially distanced. She invites Lewiston-area artists to contact her so they can get organized to collaborate in timing, organization and publicity.

Tesla Owners Club New York State (TOCNYS) was able to raise $2,800 toward a GoFundMe campaign. With leadership at Tesla's Gigafactory New York, TOCNYS will partner to donate these funds to the Food Bank of WNY.

Speaking Friday on LCTV, Niagara County Legislature Chairwoman Becky Wydysh said, "From my perspective, I don't see any reason that Western New York should not begin phase two next week; and it appears that we are on target to do so."

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center has updated its schedule for performing community diagnostic testing for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The schedule, effective immediately, was revised to better reflect public demand for this testing.

Artpark & Company posted the following message from Executive Director Sonia Clark on its website on Friday:

Kingdom Bound Ministries posted the following to its website:

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the National Comedy Center has announced it is rescheduling the 30th annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival in Jamestown, originally scheduled for Aug. 5-9, to the same weekend in 2021: Aug. 4-8. This is in order to ensure the health and safety of festival attendees, staff and volunteers.

Grammy-winner Mandisa is debuting a brand-new single today with worship leader and Gotee Recording artist Jon Reddick. "You Keep Hope Alive," penned by Reddick, is available through all DSPs everywhere today. The lyric video is also available now.

With the CARES Act providing assistance to small businesses through Paycheck Protection Program and the funding of $349 billion and another $310 billion on April 24, the U.S. Small Business Administration is expanding its lender pool and increasing access to capital for small businesses across Western New York.

The Western New York COVID-19 Community Response Fund, announced it has awarded nearly $1 million to an additional 47 nonprofit organizations, bringing the total grant amount from the fund to $6.6 million, supporting a total of 156 nonprofit organizations. This collaborative philanthropic effort was created in mid-March in response to the COVID-19 health crisis and has been coordinated by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, Health Foundation for Western & Central New York, The John R. Oishei Foundation and the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County.

With the continuing warm temperatures across upstate New York this week, strong, scattered thunderstorms in portions of the region are possible. National Grid has a full contingent of crews ready to respond to any damage caused by severe weather.

NYSEG and RG&E, subsidiaries of AVANGRID Inc., are preparing for high winds and rain associated with incoming storms expected to hit their service areas Friday afternoon and into the evening. As a result of the storm, customers may experience service disruptions. The storm is expected to impact most of the NYSEG and RG&E footprint, which includes the Western New York, Rochester, Southern Tier, Capital Region and Hudson Valley.

The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department, announced it is setting aside $10 billion of round two funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to be lent exclusively by Community Development Financial Institutions. CDFIs work to expand economic opportunity in low-income communities by providing access to financial products and services for local residents and businesses.

In placing the highest priority on the health and safety of the community, Niagara Hospice is adapting its annual special events schedule into virtual events for the remainder of 2020. The organization's special events department has developed alternative activities, including trivia night and paint kits, and virtual versions of the Hospice Gran Fondo bike ride and Mighty Niagara Half Marathon & Hospice Dash 5K, to engage with supporters of all ages and interests.

Congressman Brian Higgins announced skilled nursing facilities in Western New York will receive more than $20 million in federal emergency funding to address increased expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Niagara River Greenway Commission announced the 2020 Paddles Up at Beaver Island State Park has been canceled due to the current COVID-19 restrictions and the concern for participants' health.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Division for Historic Preservation announced the release of the final scoping document for the Draft New York State Historic Preservation Plan (2021-25) and Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement.

Scheduling for COVID-19 antibody test appointments has resumed for Erie County Department of Health clinics taking place in June.

New York State has issued comprehensive guidance to help farms manage and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, and New York Farm Bureau is asking farms across the state to review the information and put it to practice.

Congressman Brian Higgins announced the House of Representatives approved H.R. 6509, the Public Safety Officer Pandemic Response Act of 2020. The bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide public safety officer death and disability benefits for certain first responders who contract COVID-19.

The Erie County Department of Social Services (ECDSS) announced the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) will be issuing a pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer food benefit to all New York state households with school-aged children who receive free or reduced-price lunches under the National School Lunch Act. This action was taken as part of the Families First Corona Virus Response Act of 2020.

Medicare can be confusing and complex, yet most of us will have to navigate it someday.

Whether it be behind masks, screens or phones, the legislature has reconvened in Albany, focused and motivated. The coronavirus epidemic has put a tremendous strain on our communities, our livelihoods, and the very things that make us human. Interactions at work, in social settings, or in passing have ceased to brief greetings and informal salutations. The legislature returns this week frustrated but with a heavy heart, knowing the pain, suffering, stress and anxiety the members of our community have faced over the last few incredibly trying months.

The Alzheimer's Foundation of America's (AFA) will host a free virtual educational conference as part of its national Educating America Tour to help New Yorkers affected by Alzheimer's disease during the COVID-19 crisis. This event is slated for 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 16. The conference will provide information and advice from health, legal and caregiving experts, as well as special guest speaker Dr. Mehmet Oz, host of "The Dr. Oz Show." It is free and open to all. To register, go to www.alzfdn.org/tour.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos announced the statewide fishing season for muskellunge opens Saturday, May 30, in most locations. The muskellunge season for New York's Lake Erie, Upper Niagara River, Lower Niagara River, Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River opens on the third Saturday in June - June 20 this year.

As part of her capstone course, projects in public health, Niagara University senior Joy O'Brien decided to install Little Free Libraries throughout the City of Niagara Falls to increase and promote children's literacy. Working with her course professor, Dr. Mark Gallo, and their community partner, Brian Archie from Create a Healthier Niagara Falls Collaborative, O'Brien was well on her way to construct six libraries, which serve as neighborhood book exchanges and operate on a "take a book, leave a book" basis.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos recently reminded New Yorkers to appreciate wildlife from a safe distance and resist the urge to touch or pick up newborn fawns and other young wildlife. Human contact with wildlife can carry unintended consequences detrimental to the creatures people intend to help.

Congressman Brian Higgins and Niagara County Clerk Joseph Jastrzemski announced the accreditation of Jeffrey M. Glatz, director of the Niagara County Veterans Service Agency. As a fully accredited representative of the American Legion, he can now work on the preparation and presentation of claims for veteran benefits.