Category: PostNews

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.

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.

(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.”

Person found dead in Wales home that caught fire

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.

Buffalo man taken to ECMC after being shot multiple times

“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.”

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.