Current News

Macy's is reopening to customers and communities in the Buffalo area, offering a curated assortment of beauty, fashion, accessories and home, plus the items to click and pick-up, just in time for Father's Day.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety's latest research finds drivers who have been in at least one crash in the past two years are significantly more likely to engage in risky behaviors like speeding or texting, even when they think the police may catch them. After three months of staying at home, AAA urges drivers to keep everyone safe on the roads and warns motorists against falling back into dangerous driving habits.

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and Congressman Brian Higgins announced Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center will receive $600,456 in federal funding to expand telehealth services to Western New Yorkers. The funding, included by Congress in the CARES Act, is distributed through the Federal Communication Commission's COVID-19 telehealth program. Both Schumer and Higgins reached out to the FCC to advocate on behalf of Roswell Park.

On Friday, the Aquarium of Niagara will celebrate its 55th anniversary as a destination for education, conservation and inspiration in Niagara Falls.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday announced $900,000 of supplemental funding is slated for successful brownfields revolving loan fund (RLF) programs to clean up brownfields sites in Camden (New Jersey), Niagara County and New York City.

The mass of growing and constantly changing data resulting from multiple disciplines represents one of the biggest challenges researchers and public health officials must confront while trying to manage the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Laboratory Assistant Jane Markarian, right, draws a blood sample for antibody testing from Grand Island Fire Co. EMS Director Robert Meyer at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center's Porter Road Patient Service Center in the Town of Niagara.

Artpark & Company on Wednesday announced the Chicago concert originally scheduled for Aug. 7 in the Mainstage Theater has been rescheduled to July 31, 2021.

The Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum is holding a curbside Chiavetta's chicken dinner pickup from 3-7 p.m. Friday, June 26. Dinners are $12 each in advance, and include the famous Chiavetta's chicken, potato salad, coleslaw and a roll. A portion of each dinner sold will help the museum to make up lost admissions income from the three months the museum was required to close due to COVID-19.

Niagara University, in partnership with Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, is offering COVID-19 testing on Tuesdays throughout the month of June.

Because the signs of reopening North Tonawanda are positive, city leaders are making decisions to let business and recreation areas reopen on a case-by-case basis. One notable feature is the allowance of restaurants to open patio seating in accordance with New York state protocols and SLA approval, if required.

To facilitate better health and safety, as well as to ease the concerns of students and their families, Niagara University has partnered with Spry Therapeutics to provide filtered pillows to its resident students. The university said it is the first in the country to provide this clean-sleep solution, which was made available by Spry Therapeutics, a health and wellness technology company owned by brothers and NU alumni Bill and Bob Purdy.

Congressman Brian Higgins is calling for the U.S. Department of the Treasury to issue "simple guidance and dedicated resources" to assist Americans without internet access in receiving their economic impact payments. After receiving outreach from constituents, Higgins worked with other House Ways and Means Committee members to stand up for those struggling with accessing the payments they deserve.

Coronavirus stats for June 10

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday unveiled a daily testing results dashboard to complement the early warning dashboard for New Yorkers and local governments to easily track the COVID-19 daily test results by region and county as all regions in the state are now reopening.

Congressman Brian Higgins, D-NY-26, is calling for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to continue to negotiate with New York state government in good faith to resolve the suspension of enrollment and renewal of Trusted Traveler program participation for New York residents.

On Monday, multi-Platinum, four-time Grammy-nominated rock band Goo Goo Dolls have kicked off their brand-new "Live From Home" video series with a performance of their song "So Alive." Recorded and filmed remotely, the six-part video series is set to continue throughout the month of June and will feature the band performing hits spanning their iconic catalogue.

Last week, Gotee Records' Ryan Stevenson released his new studio album, "Wildest Dreams." The new studio project was almost entirely produced by Micah Kuiper and Bryan Folwer for Man Cub Music House, along with production from Jordan Sapp and Tyrus Morgan. The first radio single, "Amadeo (Still My God)", is currently in the Top 10 on the Billboard Christian AC indicator and Top 20 Billboard Christian airplay and Christian AC monitored charts.

As Western New York moves through the phases of reopening with "New York Forward," the Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) contact tracing program will continue to be an important part of reducing community transmission of COVID-19 in Erie County.

On Tuesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo called on President Donald Trump to apologize for a tweet this morning claiming Martin Gugino, a 75-year-old protester who was allegedly shoved to the ground by two Buffalo Police Department officers, could be a member of antifa and might have staged the fall.

Niagara County Legislator Rich Andres on Tuesday announced the Niagara County Department of Emergency Services has goggles available for hair salons and barbershops to help them meet the state reopening guidelines. Andres said the guidelines initially required face shields, but now have been amended by New York state to include goggles.

The "New York Forward" website now has details on phase three of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's reopening plan. Western New York is expected to enter this stage on Tuesday, June 16.

Orion Pictures presents "Bill & Ted Face the Music," in theaters via United Artists, releasing Aug. 28, 2020.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is June 15. During the entire month of June, communities around the world work together to promote an understanding of elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue.

Tops Friendly Markets recently presented Auburn resident Paul K. and David D. of Niagara Falls with a $20,000 shopping spree and $5,000 in groceries for a year prizes, respectively, as part of the Monopoly "Rip It and Win It" contest.

The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra on Tuesday confirmed some cancellations and postponements of its popular summer season concerts, which usually take place in late June through July each year and draw tens of thousands of people, will be necessary.

After 15 weeks of closure due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Seneca Resorts & Casinos has announced phase one of its return to operations will begin Thursday, June 18, with the opening of Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino.

The Erie County Soil and Water Conservation District's annual summer fish stocking program has begun. Landowners looking to restock their warm/cool water ponds can place orders for largemouth bass and/or fathead minnows now through July 13 with the pick-up scheduled at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 25, at the district office in East Aurora.

Coronavirus stats for June 9

Congressman Brian Higgins announced Western New York will receive more than $4.4 million in additional federal aid to combat and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday signed legislation (S.8122-B/ A.10241-A) authorizing local governments to extend the deadline for filing property tax abatements to July 15, 2020, in recognition of the hardships many families and businesses continue to face as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Congressman Brian Higgins, co-chair of the Northern Border Caucus, responded Monday to an announcement by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau granting permission to cross the border to visit family, calling the policy change "an incremental step forward."

Jamie Symmonds opened her Lewiston Farmers Market on Saturday. Throngs of people came out - wearing masks and socially distancing, of course - to patronize local farmers and small businesses.

The New York State Senate majority will advance a major policing reforms legislative package which, it said, "includes the repeal of 50-a and other important bills to help implement real improvements to law enforcement efforts in New York."

Speaker Carl Heastie on Monday announced that, this week, the New York State Assembly will pass a package of legislation to protect New Yorkers, improve police and community relations, and bring transparency and accountability to the criminal justice system.

The recently enacted Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Flexibility Act provides additional clarity and flexibility for small business owners to meet the requirements of the PPP loan program created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. When the president signed the bipartisan legislation into law, it gave more time and discretion for when and how the loans can be spent to keep employees on payroll and keep up with accounts payable to further assist the nation's economy in its recovery from COVID-19 closures.

The Seneca Nation has approved reopening plans for its class II and class III gaming operations, clearing the way for thousands of local employees to begin returning to work and contributing to Western New York's economic recovery.

Ticks and tick-borne diseases are a public health concern in Western New York, including Niagara County. With warmer weather, ticks are actively feeding and reproducing.

The Niagara County Community College Foundation office has continued to work tirelessly to raise funds for our students who are struggling with financial hardships caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. As of June 5, the NCCC Foundation has raised $15,000 to support 150 current students. Each student has received a $100 gift card to help purchase groceries, medicine and other basic necessities.

The Niagara County Community College Workforce Development department will offer online training targeting businesses involved in the reopening of the hospitality sector. This awareness-level training is geared for employees who will be returning to the workplace and may be responsible for the cleaning and disinfection of their work space.