national news

Two legal developments unfolding overseas, one in Switzerland and another in Russia, are drawing attention to an unlikely but critical component of the United States’ defense industrial base: titanium. At first glance, the cases appear to involve a commercial dispute between a metals trader and a global producer. But the companies and materials involved sit deep inside the supply chain that feeds America’s aerospace and weapons industries, including manufacturers such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing and RTX (Raytheon). As the United States ramps up missile and interceptor production following recent conflicts and global tensions, the stability of those supply chains is

Public trust in the justice system rests on a simple expectation: prosecutions should follow evidence, not storylines. When the contemporaneous record—messages, timestamps, and immediate post-event conduct—conflicts with a later allegation, the obligation of prosecutors and the media is not to “interpret” the contradiction into coherence, but to treat it as central. That obligation is unavoidable in a Florida criminal case involving one of the Alexander brothers, where discovery materials and sworn deposition testimony reveal a stark tension between what an accuser’s communications conveyed at the time and what was later alleged. A similar pattern appears in materials that were made

For every mother who feels unseen inside a courtroom, this is for you. By: Michelle Pelletier Owner of Resolve WNY (www.resolvewny.com) Family court has a way of making mothers feel invisible. The system is busy, overworked, and often too focused on procedure to recognize the human being standing before it. If you are a mother in the thick of a custody battle, I want you to hear what no one inside that courtroom will say out loud: you are stronger than you think. I wish I could sit across from you at your kitchen table, hands wrapped around a warm

Phil Shawe has two parallel stories running at once. One is the familiar founder arc: bootstrapping TransPerfect from an NYU dorm room into a global language-and-AI platform with roughly $1.2 billion in annual revenue and 10,000 employees. The other is a political-legal crusade: a decade of trench warfare with Delaware’s Court of Chancery that pushed him to re-domicile in Nevada, relocate to Puerto Rico, bankroll reform efforts, and press a broader case that America’s most famous business court has lost the trust of entrepreneurs. From forced sale to deal machine After a bruising cofounder breakup, a court-ordered auction in 2016,

Sean “Diddy” Combs was acquitted of the most serious charges against him—racketeering and sex trafficking—after a grueling federal trial. Yet when he appeared before Judge Arun Subramanian last week for sentencing, those very allegations determined how long he would stay behind bars. That’s not conjecture; it’s how federal sentencing works. Under current guidelines, a judge may consider uncharged, unproven, or even acquitted conduct in determining punishment, so long as the allegations are deemed “proven” by a preponderance of the evidence—a far lower standard than “beyond a reasonable doubt.” It’s one of the strangest paradoxes in modern justice: a jury says

A Long Island construction industry whistleblower has filed a sweeping civil RICO lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court, alleging a web of public contract bribery, bid rigging, ghost payroll schemes, and union wage fraud tied to more than $27 million in awarded school construction projects. The case, filed by Vincent Bentivegna – former acting president of US Environmental Abatement Corp. (USEA) – names as defendants USEA, its leadership, and its outside counsel at Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP, along with several associated individuals. According to the 100+ page complaint, USEA allegedly secured lucrative public contracts from the NYC School Construction

The Eastern District of New York’s (EDNY) prosecution of wellness company OneTaste has ignited controversy, not only due to the conspiracy allegations but also because of the government’s attempts to conceal the identities of key witnesses. This effort, recently rejected by the Judge assigned to the case, Diane Gujarati, has reopened debates about balancing witness protection with a defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to confront their accusers. It is important to delve into the procedural issues surrounding witness anonymity in the OneTaste case, emphasizing constitutional protections against secret testimony and the broader implications for due process, especially as defense attorneys allege

Several years ago, I attended a hike through the wild and majestic Zoar Valley, located a half hour’s drive south of Buffalo, led by forestry expert Bruce Kershner. A living legend among the local environmental community, Kershner was an acknowledged expert and the “go to” guy when it came to identifying old growth tree stands. Old growth refers to forests that are estimated to be aged 150 to 300 years and older. Kershner sadly passed away a few years later, but not before authoring several books about the local nature scene, including “Secret Places: A Guide to 25 Little

New York Attorney General Letitia James, Governor Kathy Hochul, and bill sponsors Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Nily Rozic today announced that nation-leading legislation to combat addictive social media feeds and protect kids online has been signed into law. The bill signing ceremony included union leaders, advocates, parents, and children who all worked to help these bills advance during the legislative session. The first bill signed into law, Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) For Kids Act will require social media companies to restrict addictive feeds on their platforms for users under 18. The second bill signed into law, the New

The Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) are expressing their serious concerns about proposed changes to federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations governing both career and volunteer fire departments.  If these proposed regulations are implemented as presently written, there will be a profound negative impact on New York State’s almost 1,700 volunteer fire departments, as well as volunteer fire departments across the nation.    These proposed changes to OSHA regulations 1910.156, while well intentioned, may lead to: An increase of 2 ½ times to the number of hours required for basic firefighter training. A requirement

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) will make its Election Protection Hotline available for the upcoming June 25, 2024 primary election and during New York’s early voting period, which runs from Saturday, June 15 through Sunday, June 23. The hotline will be available to troubleshoot and resolve a range of issues encountered by voters, including issues with voting absentee, by early mail ballot, or in-person at their polling place. A guide addressing frequently asked questions is also currently available to assist voters with the absentee or early mail ballot request process

New York Attorney General Letitia James today recovered approximately $50 million from the cryptocurrency platform Gemini Trust Company, LLC (Gemini) for more than 230,000 investors, including at least 29,000 New Yorkers, who invested in the Gemini Earn program and were defrauded. Gemini allegedly misled thousands of investors on the risks associated with Gemini Earn, an investment program it offered with another cryptocurrency company, Genesis Global Capital (Genesis). The settlement provides all defrauded investors full recovery of the assets they invested in the Earn program but were unable to withdraw when the investment program collapsed. Today’s settlement follows Attorney General

BY: Andrew Moss There’s a breathtaking hubris at work when a political party seeks to suppress the votes of an entire people, then claims its leaders are the champions of that same people. You don’t have to look far to find such hubris in the Republican Party today. When Donald Trump travels the country, telling African Americans that they’re “on my side now” because they identify with the unfair treatment he says he’s gotten from the justice system, he neglects to mention the injustices his own party has meted out: policies and laws that have suppressed the votes of African Americans for

Is It Time for This War to End? Evidently Not BY: Mel Gurtov  In a major speech May 31, Pres. Biden offered a three-phase plan for ending the Israel-Hamas war, saying “it is time for this war to end.” (I have appended the White House outline of the plan to the end of this blog.) The proposal contains provisions for moving from a temporary to a permanent cease-fire, for exchanging all remaining Israeli hostages for Hamas prisoners, and for bringing the war to an end and providing for Gaza’s reconstruction. The Biden plan, which will be put before the UN

The American Heart Association, celebrating 100 years of lifesaving service, recognized the National Football League (NFL) with its Award of Meritorious Achievement Monday night. The award, the highest honor the organization bestows, was presented to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during ceremonies celebrating the founding of the American Heart Association. The Association was created 100 years ago this week at the Drake hotel in downtown Chicago. The NFL has collaborated with the American Heart Association for nearly a quarter of that century to promote health and fitness with youth. The NFL received the Association’s Award of Meritorious Achievement for the league’s

New York Attorney General Letitia James today secured more than $350,000 from two Long Island Nissan dealerships, Route 112 Nissan and South Shore Nissan, for overcharging more than 200 New Yorkers who wanted to purchase their leased vehicles at the end of their lease term. An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that the dealerships in Patchogue and Amityville added junk fees or falsified the price of leased vehicles that consumers wanted to buy when their lease ended. The investigation also revealed that Route 112 Nissan violated a previous settlement with OAG that required the dealership

The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) has announced it will defend former President Donald Trump’s gun rights in the wake of his conviction in a New York courtroom, which could result in the confiscation of his firearms. “If Donald Trump is further prosecuted for owning firearms,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb, “we will offer to defend him and challenge the law.” The veteran gun rights advocate noted it has always been SAF’s position that “Someone should not lose his or her gun rights due to a conviction of a non-violent crime.” “Donald Trump has no history

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and NOAA Fisheries today released the final management plan and environmental assessment for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, the first and only marine national monument located in the Atlantic Ocean. The monument was established to protect and conserve unique and pristine habitats, historic objects and features of high scientific interest.   The plan provides the foundation for long-term collaborative management and community stewardship of the monument, where public and community involvement will be key to achieving the plan’s vision and goals over the next 15 years. Adoption of the plan

BY: Barry Rosenberg There are currently three third party candidates for president: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Jill Stein and Cornell West. All three candidates claim they are running to give voters a choice and a chance to voice their views. All three insist they are not “spoilers.” Let’s examine this. In the last century, the most successful third party candidate was Ross Perot, with less than nineteen per cent of the popular vote in 1992. Voting third party is a “choice” to vote for someone who will not win. However, Teddy Roosevelt helped Wilson defeat Taft in 2012 and

Today, the New York State Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill S9241, relating to the duty to inspect vessels operated on non-navigable underground waters. This important legislation resulted from the tragic incident at the Lockport Cave and Boat Tour that sadly took the life of a Niagara Falls man and injured nearly a dozen others last year. In the course of the investigation, it was determined no local, county or state agency was tasked with overseeing these types of attractions. “With the passage of this bill, it is now clear that the Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic preservation will oversee

New York Attorney General Letitia James and a coalition of 13 attorneys general today urged the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to open a civil rights investigation into the July 2020 murder of Garrett Foster, who was protesting racial injustice when he was shot and killed by Daniel Perry in Austin, Texas. A jury found Mr. Perry guilty of murder in April 2023, but earlier this month, Texas Governor Greg Abbott pardoned Mr. Perry, citing Texas’ so-called “Stand Your Ground” law, which provides an incredibly broad self-defense justification for criminal conduct. In a letter to DOJ, Attorney General James and

New York Attorney General Letitia James today led a coalition of 23 attorneys general defending a proposed rule issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission(EEOC) to implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) of 2022. The PWFA is landmark federal legislation that requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant and postpartum employees. The EEOC rule would require employers to provide reasonable accommodations for a broad range of conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth, including an employee’s decision to seek abortion care. In an amicus brief filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Attorney General

New York Attorney General Letitia James and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar today filed a lawsuit against Anthony Labriola and his two affiliate companies—ALAC Realty, LLC (ALAC Realty) and ALAC Contracting Corp. (ALAC Contracting)—for illegally building a storage lot to park heavy-duty construction vehicles and store equipment on a protected area along the Carlls River in West Babylon, Suffolk County. Labriola and his companies removed trees and other vegetation from, then graded, a designated “buffer area” adjacent to wetlands of the Carlls River, the fourth longest river on Long Island. These wetlands have

New York Attorney General Letitia James, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and a bipartisan coalition of 30 attorneys general today sued Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (Live Nation) and its subsidiary Ticketmaster for monopolizing the live events industry and harming consumers, artists, venues, and competitors. The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, alleges that Live Nation controls almost every aspect of live events from promotions to venues and ticket sales, and abuses its market dominance to overcharge consumers, limit artists’ ability to perform at different venues, and restrict venues not owned by Live Nation from working

Erie County Republican Committee Chairman Michael Kracker issued the following statement in response to Congressman Nick Langworthy and the House Republicans voting to repeal Washington D.C.’s non-citizen voting law: “I want to thank Congressman Nick Langworthy and the House Republicans for taking a strong vote against allowing non-citizens to vote in our elections. Elections — at the federal, state, and local level — should be for US citizens only, and the DC City Council’s effort to open up local elections to noncitizens is offensive to every American who cherishes his or her citizenship. Sadly, Washington, DC isn’t the only municipal

New York State Senator Anthony Palumbo, State Senator Steve Rhoads, Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick and members of the Senate Republican Conference today introduced legislation aimed at fixing the glaring loopholes that resulted in the shocking decision by the  Court of Appeals to overturn the conviction of serial sexual assaulter Harvey Weinstein. On April 25th, the New York State Court of Appeals overturned the conviction of serial sexual assaulter Harvey Weinstein in a 4-3 decision after Chief Justice Wilson set a policy, shortly after his confirmation, that would allow him to replace Judges Shirley Troutman and Caitlin Halligan – who recused themselves

More than 1.8 million New Yorkers live in households that do not have any access to broadband Internet through a subscription or through a cellular data plan. Community partners, policy makers, and decision makers across NY are invited to join Rusty Weaver, Director of Research, ILR Buffalo Co-Lab, and community leaders in broadband accessibility on Friday, May 24, 2024 from 12-1:30pm ET for a virtual webinar of the New York State Digital Equity Portal and a discussion on opportunities going forward. In December 2021, The ILR School and Community Tech NY launched the New York State Digital Equity Portal in partnership with the New York State

On Friday, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on the Department of Defense’s (DoD) announcement of a substantial decline in military sexual assault and harassment. DoD’s Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military shows an estimated 19% decrease in unwanted sexual contact for active duty women and an estimated 13% decrease for active duty men when compared to 2021. “This report shows a promising trend,” said Senator Gillibrand. “As a longtime chair of the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee, I fought for years to fundamentally reform

Today, New York State Senator Rob Ortt proudly presented proclamations to New York State Troopers for their heroic, lifesaving actions. On April 7th of this year, Troopers Martin Derkovitz, Benjamin Zaccagnino, and Matthew Wetzel arrived at the scene of a residential fire, with an attached garage fully engulfed in flames and quickly spreading to the home and neighboring properties. The Troopers sprang into action, ensuring nobody was in the home and remained a safe distance from the burning structure as they awaited the arrival of firefighters. Troopers noticed the fire was spreading to a neighboring home and forced entry through

“MetLife Stadium suites offer the ultimate entertainment experience! With the exceptional sightlines, impeccable surroundings and first class amenities, no other environment provides a more impressive venue for entertaining. Now is the time to host your guests in the privacy of your own suite!” trumpets the MetLife Stadium website. The question some are asking is, who paid the bill for Governor Kathy Hochul’s Monday Night Football party at MetLife Stadium, where she and her entourage took in the Bills vs. Jets showdown?   The other night on “The Capitol Pressroom,” as aired on local NPR-affiliate WBFO-FM, lobbying expert David Grandeau

“Wray apparently doesn’t know that the problem with the FBI is…that they do not investigate crimes anymore and haven’t since 9/11/01.”

J. Gary DiLaura has written about all the facts that Durham spent four years investigating and without lawyers and a full FBI staff!

It’s common knowledge that Governor Kathy Hochul is in bed with the multinational casino, hotel and fast food conglomerate Delaware North, and we mean that quite literally, given that her husband, former US Attorney for the Western District of New York William J. Hochul Jr., presently serves as Senior Vice President and General Counsel for the Buffalo-based “hospitality” giant. The governor is acutely aware of this significant conflict of interest, and steps have been taken to distance her, at least in the public’s perception, from the business interests of her husband’s employer. It was an issue from

A recent article on the Frank Report discusses in-depth the recent passage of a bill in Nebraska that bans gender-affirming treatments, which the author calls birth-gender denial, including surgeries and hormone therapies, for minors. Under the new law, individuals must wait until they reach the age of 19 to undergo procedures such as breast or penis amputation and artificial implants. The legislation aims to protect children from making irreversible decisions and to provide additional oversight for such medical interventions. Supporters argue that it safeguards innocent lives and prevents experimentation with irreversible treatments. However, opponents, mainly Nebraska Democrats, claim that denying

Nate McMurray is a well known local attorney and politician. Formerly Grand Island Supervisor, McMurray oversaw the removal of the Grand Island bridge toll booths, saving countless drivers every day from having to fish for pocket change while ending the idling and stopping that contributed to local air pollution. The Western New York Welcome Center was constructed along the Grand Island thruway during his productive term of office. Additionally, McMurray was the driving force behind the construction of the $2.5 million, 8-mile West River Shoreline Trail, a hiking and biking trail along the Niagara River funded by the Niagara River

A federal indictment was returned charging an Ohio man with a violation of the Church Arson Prevention Act for using Molotov cocktails against the Community Church of Chesterland, in Chesterland, Ohio, in an attempt to burn the church to the ground last month. Aimenn Penny, 29, was also indicted on one count of using fire to commit a federal felony, one count of malicious use of explosive materials and one count of possessing a destructive device. Penny told police “he was trying to protect children and stop the drag show event.” Penny was found to be in the possession of

By now, you have probably heard about the train full of vinyl chloride that derailed and exploded into the atmosphere near the village of East Palestine, Ohio. The toxic black plume of poisonous gas rose into a mushroom cloud formation that resembled an atomic blast. According to the federal government’s National Cancer Institute, “vinyl chloride is associated with an increased risk of liver cancer and other cancers.” Inhalation of vinyl chloride causes a variety of symptoms and can be fatal. What you may not be aware of is the fact that this giant black cloud of poison made a direct

The New York State Senate’s Youth Leadership Recognition Award program honors outstanding students who will become our future leaders. Eligible students include current sophomores, juniors, and seniors who excel not only academically, but through leadership in extracurricular and volunteer activities. Students selected to receive the New York State Senate Youth Leadership Recognition Award will receive a congratulatory personalized certificate from your Senator. All nominations must be submitted by March 24, 2023, and the nomination website will be taken down after that date. If you have any questions about the Youth Leadership Recognition Award program, please email: [email protected] or call 518-455-2558.

OJJDP invites fifth graders to participate in the 40th Annual National Missing Children’s Day poster contest. The theme of this year’s poster contest is “Bringing Our Missing Children Home.” This contest creates an opportunity for teachers and school administrators, law enforcement personnel, and other child advocates to discuss the issue of missing and exploited children with youth, parents, and guardians and to promote child safety.  View and download the poster contest packet for additional information, including contest rules, submission deadlines, and contact information for state contest managers. The Department of Justice will recognize the poster contest winner at the National Missing

In 2022, for the first time ever, global investments in renewable energies topped investments in oil and gas extraction. According to independent firm Rystad Energy, investments in renewables will be $494 billion while investments in oil and gas will be $446 billion. It’s one important sign of how banks and other investment firms are increasingly placing their bets on the clean energy future. Now, it’s not all roses. Some 80 percent of major banks’ total energy portfolios are still centered on coal, oil, and gas. And US banks like JPMorgan Chase, Citibank, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America remain some of the biggest

“Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” – Post Office motto White House and USPS announce plan making most mail truck purchases electric within five years; fully zero emissions after 2026. Last week the White House and U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced plans to shift to predominantly electric mail truck purchases between 2023 and 2026, and committed to make mail truck purchases electric after 2026. The USPS fleet is roughly a third of the entire federal civilian fleet, and a shift to an electric future will deliver

After grassroots advocacy from NYS residents, business owners, winemakers, electeds, activists, & more, NYS is now the first state to protect the climate, environment, & local businesses & communities from energy-hogging cryptomining. Today, Governor Kathy Hochul signed the first-in-the-nation cryptocurrency mining moratorium. The law will put a two-year pause on new and renewed air permits for fossil fuel power plants that house proof-of-work cryptocurrency mining, and require the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to conduct a study into the practice’s environmental impacts. Advocates across the state celebrated this precedent-setting step, and urged the Governor to finish the job by

It was 1982. Ronald Reagan was president, Michael Jackson released his smash hit album “Thriller,” and “E.T the Extra-Terrestrial” was setting box office records. It was also the year that New York State instituted a 5 cent deposit on returnable cans and bottles. And four decades later, it’s still just that – a nickel. One of the first orders of business for newly re-elected Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state legislature should be to “Raise the Return,” especially when you consider that a 1982 nickel has lost two-thirds of its value over those 40 years. Adjusted for inflation, the returnable

Nickola Cunha is a divorce lawyer. Allegedly, she made antisemitic claims about Judge Gerard I. Adelman. This led to her disbarment. She said Judge Adelman favors Jewish lawyers and Jewish therapists. He is Jewish.  This series will examine Cunha’s alleged anti-Semitic statements. We will also examine whether Judge Thomas G. Moukawsher overlooked another important issue: Whether Judge Adelman is fit to be a judge. Cunha was seeking disqualification of Judge Adelman in a divorce and custody case. The case is Christopher Ambrose v. Karen Riordan.  Cunha appeared on December 1, 2021 before Judge Moukawsher to argue the matter. One month after she

Using a sledgehammer to kill a fly Yesterday’s Executive Order placing much of Erie County into the “Orange Zone” means that many businesses that actually promote health and wellness will be forced to close indefinitely, even if they have complied with all guidelines and are not implicated in spreading the virus.  Take Zoom Tan, a retail business that provides UV light treatments, which studies show help fight COVID by boosting the immune system.  Zoom Tan is considered by the State to be a “personal care” business that, by default, is too risky to stay open in Erie County.  Calling Zoom

By Correspondent Niagara Falls is a popular tourist destination. The distinctive feature of Niagara Falls, NY, is that it’s located near the waterfall and that it has a twin city — Niagara Falls, which belongs to Canada. A rainbow bridge connects both cities.  Visiting this place is obligatory for everyone who wants to get experiences and impressions that’ll warm the soul for life. Many people who visit this city think that it can offer only a beautiful view of waterfalls; however, there are plenty of things to do there. This place is always full of people. And it’s not surprising

The global economy has taken a shellacking in recent months, but the full extent of the damage is far from done. Subdued celebrations on Independence Day are testament to the effects of the New World order as it impacts countless millions of people from all walks of life. The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly share the same fate – and it is up to us to make lemonade with the lemons we’ve been given. Fortunately, all is not lost as every cloud has a silver lining. The indomitable human spirit remains defiant in the face of adversity. We will

Guest View Donald Trump is the hot favorite to win a second term in office according to political pundits and political betting markets, a favorable nod that is largely down to the strength of incumbency. In the history of the United States, only three presidents have failed to win a second term in office since the end of the Second World War. Gerald Ford (1976), Jimmy Carter (1980), and George W. H. Bush didn’t win a second term for various reasons; Ford didn’t mainly by his perceived association to Richard Nixon, and Carter and Bush didn’t because of general unpopularity with voters.

Last July, 2017 the Coudersport (Pennsylvania) Area Municipal Authority (CAMA) board members leased land to an outfit called Epiphany Allegheny LLC. Epiphany plans to build a wastewater treatment plant on the Allegheny River to process wastewater produced as a byproduct of high volume horizontal hydrofracturing (“fracking”). The top customer of the new treatment plant has been identified as JKLM Energy LLC, a leading Pennsylvania natural gas drilling concern that routinely employs fracking. JKLM Energy LLC is owned by Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula. According to Endeavor News (“Serving Potter & Cameron Counties in NorthCentral Pennsylvania”), JKLM would

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is under scrutiny by lawmakers in Albany, both Republican and Democrat, in the wake of his proposed 2018 budget which was released this past Tuesday. The Governor’s proposed budget, totaling $168 billion dollars, was highlighted by an estimated $4 billion deficit and $586 million in new tax or fee revenue that he is relying on to bridge the gap. “You can’t possibly get anywhere near where you want to be on education and health care unless you raise revenues,” said Governor Cuomo. However, Republicans throughout the State are not sold. “If anything, this is a

Town of Grand Island Supervisor and occasional Niagara Falls Reporter contributor Nate McMurray has announced his candidacy for the 27th Congressional district of New York State, which spans a vast region of Western New York comprising most of Niagara County and points east all the way to Rochester, and wrapping around the metropolitan area to the south of Buffalo. One of five Democrats currently declaring for the nomination, if the large and enthusiastic turn-out of over 200 attendees at his kick-off event at the Brickyard on Center Street in Lewiston last Sunday was any indication, he may have the inside

In an op-ed published in the New York Times this week, Governor Cuomo continued a fight for criminal justice system reform by pledging to propose a bill to the State Legislature focusing on bail reform, discovery reform, and changes to how cases are scheduled. Despite the fact that most people arrested are released on their own recognizance, many who are charged with nonviolent crimes are required to obtain bail to avoid pretrial detention. “As a result,” said the Governor, “our jails are filled with people who have yet to be proved guilty of any crime, and the system today has

By Frank Parlato Opening of Dr. Oz on NXIVM; 3:54 https://www.facebook.com/droz/videos/vb.35541499994/10150927978699995/?type=2&theater 30 second promo with Toni Natalie: http://www.doctoroz.com/episode/true-crime-tuesday-breaking-news-there-dangerous-underground-cult-branding-and-starving?video_id=5648765561001 30 second promo with Susan Dones:   https://www.facebook.com/droz/videos/10150927978699995/ You Tube: 2:52; Rick Ross appears

If he was your traditional type of newspaperman, having slogged it out in journalism school for years prior to occupying a cubicle at any one of hundreds of humdrum dailies across the country, he probably would have won a Pulitzer Prize or two by now. That’s because Frank Parlato, publisher of the Niagara Falls Reporter, a small, but ambitious and widely read Western New York weekly soon to celebrate its 20th year of existence, has broken two monumental stories over the past decade, either of which would have made the career of the average investigative reporter. Starting in 2008, Mr.

Nearly two decades into their state contract to provide food service and other amenities in the Niagara Falls State Park, we have obtained hard numbers as to how much money the multinational fast food conglomerate Delaware North Companies reaps from their operations in the world famous tourist destination. And to say that they are nothing short of astonishing would be an understatement. A document obtained this week by the Niagara Falls Reporter under the Freedom of Information Law reveals that Delaware North Companies made more than $4.72 million from concessions operations they ran in the Niagara Falls State Park over

ESD President no friend to Niagara Falls The resignation this week of Empire State Development Regional President Sam Hoyt resonated with this writer, who has crossed paths with Mr. Hoyt several times over the years, certainly more often than the average Niagara County resident. Overwhelmingly the encounters were negative, predictive of how much damage he would eventually inflict on the city of Niagara Falls and Niagara County. A second generation politician who, like Niagara Falls mayor Paul Dyster, obtained his undergraduate college degree not in any useful discipline such as business or technology but in Political Science, Mr. Hoyt assumed

A rehash of the War of 1812? A violation of the 1909 Canadian-U.S. Boundary Waters Treaty? An international incident? All of the above? The Niagara Falls, Ontario, Council met this week to demand that Niagara Falls, NY, Mayor Paul Dyster and the city Water Board do something to stop overflows of raw untreated sewage into the Niagara River that borders the United States and Canada. On five occasions since July 29, millions of gallons of foul smelling black sludge have been discharged into the basin beneath the falls themselves, horrifying tourists, particularly those on the Maid of the Mist and

Ever since 2002, when then city councilman and now Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster spearheaded the creation of the Water Board here, it’s been one excuse after another. No water service to your house for months on end? Not our problem, the Water Board said. Sewage backing up in your basement? Call a plumber. The stench from the Buffalo Avenue Wastewater Treatment Plant pervading the surrounding neighborhood? Of course it’s gonna stink, it’s summer. Meanwhile, a series of constant rate increases has contributed to a multimillion dollar surplus in the Water Board’s slush fund. Or should we say “sludge fund”?

Niagara Falls Tourism Advisory Board Chairman Pat Proctor is mad as hell, and he’s not going to take it anymore. Five times since July, tourists in Niagara Falls have been treated to the spectacle of foul smelling black sludge – untreated sewage – pouring into the river below the Falls. Mr. Proctor said that’s threatening local businesses. Mr. Proctor, who also works as director of marketing at Rainbow Air, the helicopter tour company that gives visitors a bird’s eye view of the mighty Cataracts, made his case public last week. “With the black water, it’s been a black eye

Will concentrate on bid for White House instead In stunning news that is certain to rock the New York State and even national political scenes, the Reporter has it on good information that, should he be subject to a serious primary challenge in 2018, Gov. Andrew Cuomo will decline to run for re-election. You heard it here first, in the Reporter. A reliable source has passed along to us, on condition of anonymity, that the Governor, known for strategizing career moves well into the future, has decided that anything resembling a hard-fought internecine primary battle for next year’s Democratic Party