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AAA offering classes on driving electric cars

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The popularity of electric vehicles is rising, and New York’s plan is to eventually have all new vehicles purchased here to have zero emissions.

Mike Formanowicz, AAA driver training manager, joined us on Wednesday morning to talk about the differences in how electric vehicles feel to the driver.

The company is offering classes for people to learn how to drive an electric car. Learn more in the video above and by clicking/tapping here.

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Evan Anstey is an Associated Press Award, JANY Award and Emmy-nominated digital producer who has been part of the News 4 team since 2015. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

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How veterans can get help after exposure to toxins

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Veterans who were exposed to dangerous conditions during their time of service can apply for expanded health care and benefits through the PACT Act.

PACT stands for Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics. On Wednesday morning, VA Western New York Healthcare System Assistant Director Danielle Bergman joined News 4 to elaborate on this.

Bergman talked about how much compensation has already been given to veterans, and how those in need of help can get it.

Learn more in the video above.

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Evan Anstey is an Associated Press Award, JANY Award and Emmy-nominated digital producer who has been part of the News 4 team since 2015. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

Abby Fridmann is an award-winning anchor and reporter who joined the News 4 team in November 2020. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter.

Chris Horvatits is an award-winning reporter and anchor who started working at WIVB in 2017. A Lancaster native, he came to Buffalo after working at stations in Rochester and Watertown. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

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Catholic Health holding hiring event in Amherst

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — On Wednesday, Catholic Health is hosting an “on-the-spot” hiring event in Amherst.

It’s happening at Classics V Banquet & Conference Center at 2425 Niagara Falls Blvd. from 2 to 6 p.m.

Open interviews will be given to Home Care LPNs and registered nurses, the company says.

Applicants could be offered jobs right there that day. Retention bonuses of up to $20,000 could be included in job offers. Additionally, Catholic Health says referral bonuses of up to $5,000 are available.

To register for the event, click or tap here.

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Evan Anstey is an Associated Press Award, JANY Award and Emmy-nominated digital producer who has been part of the News 4 team since 2015. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

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Where to put a killer: Kindt to be paroled, released into society

OLEAN, N.Y. (WIVB) — Twenty-four years later, the man who raped and killed a Salamanca mother on a running trail could be set free as early as Wednesday.

Olean residents were searching for answers for their safety and security, concerned that convicted killer Edward Kindt was coming to their community. They say he shouldn’t be released on parole and that he should remain locked up and behind bars.

After more than two decades behind bars for raping and killing Penny Brown on a walking trail in Salamanca, Kindt was granted parole on Feb. 17, according to the New York State Department of Correction and Community Supervision (NYDOCCS). Kindt, who was 15 at the time of the murder, was convicted of murder in the second degree in 1999 and sentenced to nine-years-to-life in prison.

Jeffery Miles owns The New Lantern Motel on Rt. 417 in Allegany and says he has allowed paroles to stay at his motel before. He says a parole officer called his motel, asking if Kindt could stay there starting on March 29. Miles says this is typical procedure and one of his employees took the call. The motel is usually given the parolee’s name, but not what they were convicted for, according to Miles.

“I believe in second chances, but not in this case,” Miles said. “We realized who this person was and what he was accused of and we decided for the community and for ourselves that it was not a good idea.”

The motel is less than 15 minutes from Olean and less than 20 minutes from Salamanca.

Salamanca killer to be released on parole

NYDOCCS said in a statement to News 4 that Kindt’s release date is March 29 pending completion of his community preparation, which could be done before, on or after Wednesday. The department also said there is no basis for rescinding parole.

Following an appearance before the Board of Parole on February 17, Edward Kindt was granted an open date with a release date of March 29, or earlier. Kindt will be released upon completion of his community preparation, which could be before, on, or after his release date. At this time, Kindt remains incarcerated.

There is no basis for a rescission at this time.

New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision

“The State of New York should put a halt on releasing Edward Kindt into society… into any society, certainly into the City of Olean, the City of Rochester or the City of Salamanca, it doesn’t really make a difference,” John Crawford, president of the Olean Common Council. said.

The Olean Common Council unanimously passed a resolution saying Kindt should stay behind bars. Crawford told News 4 that the city was not informed that Kindt would be released near their community and he questions the state’s transparency.

“It’s frightening from the mere fact that government is supposed to be open and transparent and we know nothing,” Crawford added.

Seneca Nation President Ricky Armstrong banned Kindt, who is Seneca, from all territory for at least a year.

Salamanca daughters speak out over their mother’s killer being released from prison

With Edward Kindt scheduled to be released from prison tomorrow, Seneca Nation President Rickey Armstrong signed an Executive Order this afternoon banishing Kindt from all Seneca Nation Territories for one year, effective immediately.

Kindt, who is Seneca, was convicted of the 1999 murder of Penny Brown of Salamanca, which is located within the boundaries of the Nation’s Allegany Territory. Kindt was a resident of the Allegany Territory at the time of the murder.

Seneca Nation Spokesperson

State Senator George Borrello represents the 57th district, which includes Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties. His office tells News 4 it confirmed with law enforcement that Kindt is now heading to a motel in Westfield.

I’ve just learned that the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) plans to release vicious sexual predator and murderer Edward Kindt tomorrow into a motel in the Town of Westfield.

Sen. George Borrello, NY—57

Residents in Olean are just concerned for their safety and wellbeing, fearing the worst.

“This is a small community… Olean, Salamanca. Its a quiet place. Its not a big city, so when big things like that happen it puts everyone on alert,” Debbie McPherson of Olean told News 4.

“I remember the day very well that Penny Brown was murdered and it struck a deep nerve,” Kathleen Martel of Olean added. “I feel that he is as much of a danger now as he was when he was put into prison.”

Kindt is serving his sentence at the Elmira Correctional Facility. The earliest he can be released is March 29 pending approval of his community preparation.

Tara Lynch is a Buffalo native who joined the News 4 team as a reporter in 2022. She previously worked at WETM in Elmira, N.Y., a sister station of News 4. You can follow Tara on Facebook and Twitter and find more of her work here.

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Williamsville school district unveils new logo

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Williamsville School District got a new look.

On Tuesday, the district unveiled its new logo, designed to celebrate its 130th anniversary. Members of the community were able to vote on the new logo and district leaders say they are happy with the decision.

They say the “W” is a symbol for the district, an imagery that dates back to the early days of the district. They also wanted to maintain the history and tradition of the logo.

The district will officially start using the new logo on July 1.

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Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here.

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Well-being check on children turns into three drug arrests: police

WESTFIELD, N.Y. (WIVB) — A well-being check on children in the Town of Westfield turned into three arrests upon the discovery of a methamphetamine lab, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday.

Police were called to a home on Ogden Road on Sunday night for the well-being check for two children. Upon the alleged discovery, police say they obtained a search warrant and found a quantity of fentanyl, methamphetamine, scales, packaging material used in distribution, and a shotgun.

30-year-old Gary Warren III, 53-year-old Julie Warren and 25-year-old Dana Walsh, all of Westfield, were arrested.

All three are facing second-degree unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine, criminal possession of a controlled substance in both the third and seventh degrees, second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia and endangering the welfare of a child. In addition, Gary Warren III and Julie Warren are facing fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

All were transported to the centralized arraignment program at the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office Jail.

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Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here.

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‘Disbelief, anger, resentment at a system that’s totally failed us’: Salamanca daughters speak out over their mother’s killer being released from prison

(WIVB) – The man responsible for raping and murdering a woman on a Salamanca running trail more than two decades ago could be set free as early as tomorrow. This is causing shock and outrage throughout the Southern tier.

Sisters Kaitlyn and Bradleigh Brown feared the day their mother’s killer would be released from prison. Their mom, Penny Brown, was raped and murdered on a running trail in Salamanca on Mother’s Day in 1999.

“This was a community that was affected, this was a region that was affected not just our family. This is everybody’s worst nightmare,” Kaitlyn told News 4.

Edward Kindt, who was 15 years-old at the time, pled guilty to second degree murder. More than two decades later, Kindt is being released.

The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision released a statement to News 4 saying, “Mr. Kindt will be released upon completion of his community preparation, which could be before, on, or after his release date. At this time, Kindt remains incarcerated.”

Salamanca killer to be released on parole

“In his statement’s he’s shown absolutely no remorse, no signs of rehabilitation, whatever that might entail,” Kaitlyn said. “Make no mistake about it, he raped and murdered my mother and threw her body in a ravine in broad daylight. He’s now a grown man, probably even more physically capable than he was at that time. I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re hearing something next.”

Kindt is now 39, the same age Penny was when she was killed.

“Not only is it so violating that it would even be considered for my mom’s sake, but that it would mean that we’d need him to commit more crimes to prove that he needs to be in there longer, for life,” Bradleigh said.

“I think you can see the public outrage, which makes a lot of sense. There’s so many variables and it’s just layers and layers of disbelief, anger, resentment at a system that’s totally failed us,” Kaitlyn said.

The family fought for years to keep Kindt locked behind bars. They worked with local lawmakers to pass Penny’s law, which increased the second degree murder sentence for someone under 16 years-old to 15 years to life.

“My family fought tirelessly to put legislation in place just to close this loophole,” Kaitlyn said. “To watch him walk free at such a young age, and still being relatively young ourselves, is absolutely impossible to get your head around.”

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It’s unclear where Kindt will go once he’s released or if he’ll face any restrictions while on parole.

Leaders in the Southern tier are speaking out saying they strongly oppose having Kindt back in the community.

“We don’t want this person here,” said William Aiello, who’s the Mayor of Olean. “I know that’s awful to say but we have to protect our community here. He is not rehabilitated by all accounts and we don’t want an innocent person, another innocent person, to be harmed or injured by this person.”

“I have fear for our family I fear for any path of any woman or man that he’ll cross” Bradleigh said. “It’s not if, it’s when.”

The Seneca Nation released a statement today saying the New York parole board should reverse the decision to free Kindt.

Seneca Nation President Rickey Armstrong signed an Executive Order today excluding Edward Kindt from all Nation territories for at least one year.

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“Kindt, who is Seneca, was convicted of the 1999 murder of Penny Brown in Salamanca. He is expected to be released on parole tomorrow. President Armstrong previously urged the New York State Board of Parole to reverse its decision to grant Kindt his freedom. If Kindt re-enters Nation territory, he will be removed with the cooperation of local law enforcement. The exclusion order will be reassessed before it expires next year.”

The Board recently decided to grant parole release to Edward Kindt, who was convicted of the 1999 rape and murder of Penny Brown of Salamanca, which is located within the boundaries of the Nation’s Allegany Territory. Kindt could be released this week.
“This individual took someone’s life and inflicted terror upon our entire community. He should not be allowed to re-enter the same community that was traumatized by his heinous actions,” said Seneca Nation President Rickey Armstrong, Sr. “No amount of time can heal the wounds he created, and our community should not be forced back into the shadows of fear knowing that the State Parole Board is allowing him to walk among us.”
“Furthermore, this individual was a resident of our Allegany Territory when he murdered Ms. Brown. The Seneca Nation should have been consulted before any parole decision was made. We would have strenuously objected to his release, as I have now done in a letter to the Parole Board. His release makes our territory and our families less safe.”
“Granting parole to someone who showed such blatant disregard for human life is not only an insult to justice, but to Ms. Brown and to her family, friends, neighbors and community. New York later enacted a law named after Ms. Brown in order to strengthen the state’s sentencing guidelines. The criminal whose actions spurred that law should not benefit from any loopholes that the law intended to close. Ms. Brown was robbed of her life at age 39. Allowing her killer to see freedom at that same age adds a cruel layer of irony to the Parole Board’s misguided decision.”
“The Seneca Nation and our community lends our voice in support of the Brown family and all those who seek to ensure that Ms. Brown’s murderer sees no reprieve for his actions so that our community can rest easy that he remains behind bars.”

Senator George Borrello has issued the following statement in response to the news that Edward Kindt will be released to a motel in Westfield, NY:  

“I’ve just learned that the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) plans to releasevicious sexual predator and murderer Edward Kindt tomorrow into a motel in the Town of Westfield.  

“I am outraged that the criminal coddling members of the New York State Parole Board have made the decision to release this killer, disregarding the utterly brutal and heinous details of his crime, the trauma of his victim’s family, and with no concern for the innocent members of the public they are putting at tremendous risk.   “He should remain in jail the rest of his life. However, if the two individuals of the three-member Parole Board panel who voted to free him believe that Edward Kindt is fit to live in society, then I ask them to come forward so we can make arrangements for a placement near their homes and their families.”

Sarah Minkewicz is an Emmy-nominated reporter and Buffalo native who has been a part of the News 4 team since 2019. Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahMinkewicz and click here to see more of her work.

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Buffalo Catholic schools talk security in wake of Nashville shooting

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Dr. Tim Uhl oversees the 32 elementary schools in the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo.

We sat down with him to see what security measures are in place and if parents should feel safe sending their kids to these schools.

Dr. Uhl told News 4, he wishes private schools like his had the same money available to upgrade security as public schools have. He said the installation of metal detectors and other systems makes some schools feel like prisons.

“I don’t know. It’s sort of a tough thing. It’s sort of like the training, if you go too far then you kind of destroy the sense of calm that school needs to be,” said Dr. Uhl. “So, there is sort of a tension there. We don’t want our schools to become prisons where it kind of disturbs that school environment.”

At the Diocese’s St. Mark School, when a visitor arrives, they ring the intercom and once they’re let in, they have access to the entire school. From there, they use pen and paper to sign in.

He said Diocese schools have regular emergency drills and response plans in place.

The installation of security equipment isn’t uniform across schools.

“I haven’t heard anyone say, we wish we had those sort of weapons detection systems,” Dr. Uhl said. “That’s not to say those aren’t necessary and important in the right places. We do have non-public safety equipment money available, but, it’s probably not enough, it hasn’t gone up enough to install the cameras and entry systems we need.”

Dr. Uhl added that he thinks there’s more lawmakers could be doing to limit certain guns that are being used in school shootings.

He believes parents should feel safe sending their kids to schools like St. Mark.

“People who say there is really nothing you can do then the next logical conclusion is except for arming people and getting more guns,” said Dr. Uhl. “And I think to myself, well there are things that we can do. We could limit the access to assault weapons, we could do that. That would prevent some loss of life and there are things we can do.”

Dr. Uhl also said parents should keep tabs on their child’s mental health because the effects of the pandemic and school shootings weigh heavily on students.

Also, News 4’s Jacquie Walker discussed school security with Jeff Rinaldo, a former Buffalo Police Captain who is now a security consultant. You can see the interview below.

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Patrick Ryan is an award-winning reporter who has been part of the News 4 team since 2020. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

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Buffalo airport saw highest percentage of flights canceled in 2022: study

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — If you were one of the unlucky ones to have a flight canceled out of Buffalo Niagara International Airport in 2022, you’re not alone.

That’s because the Buffalo airport had the highest percentage out of any airport in the country of canceled flights, according to a new study from InsureMyTrip, using data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

5.55% of flights from the airport were canceled in 2022, a large jump from 2021, where only 1.43% were canceled in 2021, which put Buffalo 37th on the list. Buffalo was seventh on the list in 2020 and fifth in 2019.

Major weather events in November and December forced the cancelation of many flights, including the airport being closed for several days during the December blizzard.

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The top 10 airports for cancelations across the country can be seen below.

Buffalo Niagara International Airport: 5.55%

Southwest Florida International Airport (Fort Myers, Fla.): 5.47%

LaGuardia Airport (New York, N.Y.): 5.19%

Newark Liberty International Airport: 4.82%

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport: 3.93%

Dallas Love Field Airport: 3.82%

Palm Beach International Airport: 3.79%

Baltimore-Washington International Airport: 3.74%

Chicago Midway International Airport: 3.73%

Orlando International Airport: 3.70%

To see the full list from this year and previous years, click here.

Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here.

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NYSDOT: Part of Route 33 to be closed overnight for around two months

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Part of Route 33 will be closed during overnights for around two months to repair an overpass, the New York State Department of Transportation said Tuesday.

Eastbound on Route 33 between Best Street and East Delavan Street will be closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. from Monday to Friday beginning on April 3.

Repairs will be made on the Dodge Street overpass, which was damaged in a crash involving a tractor trailer truck on March 1.

Additionally, traffic continues to be restricted to one lane of alternating traffic controlled by a temporary traffic signal on Dodge Street over the 33.

For up-to-date information, call 511, download the 511NY mobile app, or click here.

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Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here.

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