Current News

The Niagara Falls High School baseball team for 2019 is one that not many people charted high expectations for.

James Holzhauer, a 34-year-old professional sports gambler from Las Vegas, won Wednesday's episode of "Jeopardy!" with a total of $131,127, breaking his own record for single-day cash winnings. His previous record of $110,914 in a single game was set just eight days ago, on April 9.

National Grid has approved an economic development grant for The City of North Tonawanda, which is undertaking a major eco-friendly construction project to upgrade and beautify a streetscape that will provide pedestrian amenities along Northern Main Street.

NBC's "Sunday Night Football," America's No. 1 primetime television show for an unprecedented eight consecutive years, gets "Back to Football," broadcasting 19 NFL games during the 2019 regular season.

One of the largest churches in Western New York is holding an Easter service in Niagara Falls. Inside a movie theater. The Chapel will hold a nondenominational program at 10 a.m. Sunday, April 21, inside Regal Cinemas, 720 Builders Way.

Knee, hip, joint and shoulder pain can severely impact one's life. When it comes to choosing a doctor and hospital for orthopedic care, it can be hard to know where to go.

NBCUniversal and LA 2028 announced the establishment of a unique offering that includes media, sponsorship and activation opportunities in the U.S. for the Olympics and Paralympic Games from 2021-28. This agreement, the first of its kind in U.S. Olympic and Paralympic history, gives brands the ability to connect with audiences across Olympic and Paralympic touchpoints throughout the next decade.

Multi-Platinum award-winning singer, songwriter and global superstar Josh Groban will release a CD/DVD package titled, "Josh Groban Bridges Live: Madison Square Garden," this Friday via Reprise Records. The CD/DVD package is available for pre-order now HERE.

Western New York BloodCare, formerly known as the Hemophilia Center of Western New York, has awarded the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo a second grant aimed at addressing a shortage of physicians in the region who specialize in treating non-malignant blood disorders.

The University at Buffalo has been selected by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) to host nearly 100 Fulbright Foreign Students from around the world in late April for a three-day Fulbright Enrichment Seminar titled "Combating Addiction and Addressing the Opioid Crisis."

The Erie County Department of Central Police Services is joining counterparts nationwide this week to participate in National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, an annual event held in April to honor and recognize 911 call-takers - the "first" first responders - for their dedication and service to the public during some of the most difficult moments in a person's life.

A six-week series, "Imagining a More Livable Niagara Falls - Exploring Solutions for the Future of the City," initiated by a group of local activists joined by the City of Niagara Falls and the New York State Chapter of the Congress for the New Urbanism (Partners for a Livable Western New York - Western Region of CNU-New York), will be presented on consecutive Thursday evenings beginning May 2. The program is designed to focus on the built environment and livability of the city.

Last week, Destination Niagara USA, in partnership with Delaware North and Niagara Falls State Park, launched a spring marketing campaign titled "The Other Side of NY." It specifically targets New York City and surrounding boroughs while aiming to highlight the various adventures to be had on the "other side of NY."

The New York Power Authority is featured on Forbes magazine's list of America's Best Midsize Employers for the second year in a row, ranking second in the utility industry and 52nd on the full list of companies "liked best" by employees.

The Erie County Department of Mental Health (ECDMH), in cooperation with the Erie County Sheriff's Office and the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo's Greater Buffalo Racial Equity Roundtable, has announced plans to establish an Erie County Reentry Resource Center in the offices of ECDMH's Forensic Mental Health Services at 120 W. Eagle St., Buffalo.

"35 years of Friends: Celebrating The Music Of Michael W. Smith" will also include appearances from Amy Grant, Avalon with Jay DeMarcus, Bob Goff, Brian Littrell from the Backstreet Boys, CeCe Winans, Chonda Pierce, Danny Gokey, Francesca Battistelli, The Gatlin Brothers, Gavin DeGraw, Henry Cho, The Isaacs, Jars of Clay, Jason Crabb, Jim Brickman, John Crist, Jordan Smith, Jordin Sparks, Justin Flom, Laura Story, Lee Greenwood, Mac Powell, Matt Maher, Matthew West, MercyMe, Natalie Grant, Nate Bargatze, Newsboys, The Oak Ridge Boys, Phil Keaggy, Point of Grace, Randy Travis, Rascal Flatts, Ricky Skaggs, Russ Taff, Sandi Patty, Scott Hamilton, Steven Curtis Chapman, Vince Gill, Wayne Kirkpatrick and the Original MWS Band, Wynonna, and Phillips, Craig and Dean.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Taste NY sales increased to a record $17.8 million in 2018. Total gross sales of New York products from Taste NY events and locations last year, including the opening of six brand-new Taste NY Markets in welcome centers across the state, increased by $1.7 million over the previous year. The continued year-over-year growth reflects increasing consumer demand for local food and beverage products.

The Riviera Theatre and Latshaw Productions welcome Amy Grant to North Tonawanda at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17. Reserved seating tickets range from $52-$82 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, April 26.

Niagara County Clerk Joseph Jastrzemski announced the start of the "shared services initiative," which now allows the county to expand its services to the City of North Tonawanda.

M&T Bank expects to hire more than 1,000 technologists in the coming years to support its rapid development and deployment of new technology.

Driving at night carries the highest fatality rate for both drivers and pedestrians, but could be made safer by headlight technology already on the roads in Europe and Canada.

Singer/songwriter, worship leader, producer and former Chris & Conrad co-founder Conrad Johnson is poised for a new chapter in an already-acclaimed career, making his solo debut - known simply as Conrad - with a series of new songs this spring.

High school sophomores, juniors and seniors are invited to apply for the Eric Pitman Summer Workshop in Computational Science, presented annually by the University at Buffalo Center for Computational Research (CCR).

Fair Trade Services and Chris Rice have teamed up once again for a new album, "Untitled Hymn: A Collection of Hymns," releasing everywhere May 17. The preorder, which includes instant songs including a re-imagined take on the fan favorite "Untitled Hymn (Come To Jesus)," is now available here.

The New York State Department of Transportation announced bridge rehabilitation work is scheduled to begin next week on the Niagara Scenic Parkway in the Town of Porter. As a result, traffic restrictions will occur.

The Erie County Division of Budget and Management announced Erie County's long-term debt burden has been reduced by close to $100 million since Jan. 1, 2012, a decrease of nearly 25% in the seven years since Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz took office.

NBC has renewed its highly successful freshman drama series "Manifest" for a second season.

The Buffalo Sabres on Monday announced the team signed defenseman Jacob Bryson to a three-year, entry-level contract. Bryson will sign an ATO and report to the Rochester Americans (AHL). The entry-level contract will begin starting with the 2019-20 season.

James Holzhauer, a 34-year-old professional sports gambler from Las Vegas, won his eighth game in a row on Monday and became No. 2 on the "Jeopardy!" all-time cash winnings list (regular games). His total winnings of $460,479 put him behind only Ken Jennings, whose historic 74-game winning streak yielded $2,520,700.

The summer entertainment lineup at Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino keeps heating up, with the announcement Ron White will perform in the Seneca Niagara Events Center at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 13. Tickets go on sale this Friday at noon.

On Tuesday, the Buffalo City Mission announced the topping-out of the new $15 million community center at 100 E. Tupper St. The 75,000-square-foot flagship facility will help prevent men, women and children from becoming homeless, and provide more complete care to individuals who already experience homelessness.

"American Idol's" Top 10 contestants head to "The Happiest Place On Earth," Disneyland Park in Anaheim, to prepare for the next phase of the competition, "Disney Night." The finalists will be joined by celebrity mentor Rebel Wilson, who will offer up her pitch-perfect expertise as the superstar hopefuls prepare for their Disney-themed performances.

Ae you longing for Britain? Join the Harmonia Chamber Singers for "A British Choral Tapestry" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 17, at First Presbyterian Church, 21 Church St., Lockport; and 4 p.m. Sunday, May 19, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 724 Delaware Ave., Buffalo.

On March 30, 90 people gathered at the Tuscarora Nation House for a Native American History Symposium sponsored by the Old Fort Niagara Association. The event featured three well-known Native American scholars, and a panel discussion. The program's theme centered on the Native view of Fort Niagara during the 18th and early 19th centuries.

At Old Fort Niagara's "Patriots' Day Weekend" event on April 27-28, visitors will experience living-history fun while learning about the American Revolution and how it started on the battlefields of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts.

After a long winter, travelers from across the region are headed to warmer destinations to celebrate Easter. The holiday is peak time for spring break travel, so travelers should be prepared for crowds and give themselves plenty of time on the roads and in the airports. Thursday and Friday, April 18 and 19, are peak days for departure, and Saturday, April 20, will also be busy. On the return, Sunday, April 28, will be the busiest day.

New York State Sen. Tim Kennedy, an early champion of addressing distracted driving issues and chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, AT&T, AAA Western and Central New York and New York State Police teamed up to raise awareness for Distracted Driving Awareness Month, AAA's "100 Deadliest Days" (the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when teen crash fatalities historically climb); the AT&T "It Can Wait" campaign; and state distracted driving laws; all the while providing tips and precautions for busy the Easter holiday travel period.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo and the Movement to Restore Trust (MRT), an independent organization of Catholic laity formed to lead a movement to restore trust and confidence in the church in the wake of the clergy sex abuse scandal, jointly announce their ongoing partnership through the creation of a joint implementation team (JIT).

Niagara County's permanent pharmaceutical drop box program has recently expanded to the Town of Wilson to enhance collection of pharmaceuticals in rural portions of the county.

The Riviera Theatre welcomes Berlin Featuring Terri Nunn, and special guest Leigh Nash, at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday.