Category: PostNews

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Buffalo Police say a 25-year-old man from the Town of Tonawanda is dead after an overnight crash. Police responded to the scene in the 3700 block of Main Street just after midnight Saturday.

Police tell News 4 a Ford Edge traveling west on Main crossed into the east lane, then left the roadway, and went “several hundred” feet on the curb and sidewalk area before hitting a tree.

The 25-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene after being ejected from the vehicle, police say.

Investigators say the Ford Edge could have been traveling at an “excessive rate of speed.”

No one else was inside the vehicle at the time of the incident, according to police.

A portion of Main was closed for several hours due to the crash.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A 22-year-old Buffalo man is dead after a shooting in the vicinity of West Utica and Elmwood.

Buffalo Police say the 22-year-old arrived at Buffalo General Hospital in a car after midnight with a gunshot wound.

He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Police ask anyone with information to contact them on their confidential tip line at 716-847-2255.

The title might imply that this is an article about school or about children. It is not. This is an announcement for the next monthly meeting of PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO, INC. As always, we’ll be meeting on the last Monday of the month, October 25, ready to share information that you will find useful. Our community gatherings are always open to the public with an eye toward community education and empowerment. 

While “Ready! Set! Learn!” is a commercial initiative that relates to children’s learning and growth, the very same might well be said as we take a look at the lives of our returning citizens and their families. While prison is meant to ensure care, custody, and control, a return to community should be a space that provides for rehabilitation, restoration, and redemption if necessary. While returning citizens, reformed offenders, may feel ready to move on with their lives upon release, getting set may pose issues that require an individual to learn new ways of living a new life. 

Probation and Parole have rules and policies that require strict adherence. What does one do if the rules conflict with getting and/or keeping a job? What does one do if the rules interfere with continuing your education? How does one deal with rules that forbid living with a family member or friend of your choice? Whether the period of incarceration was 10 years or 20, technology changes every day and must be learned to navigate this new life. Sadly, one thing changes slowly. Society has a tendency to look at prisoners and their families and communities in a negative light, criminalizing and marginalizing them in ways that impede positive progress. 

Karima Amin and Baba Eng of PRP2

You are invited to join us for the next monthly meeting of PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO, INC. on Monday, October 25, 7:00-9:00pm, at the Rafi Green C.A.O. Masten Resource Center, 1423 Fillmore Avenue @ Glenwood. Our featured speakers, returning citizens, will share their stories. 

You must come masked.

For more information: Karima Amin, karimatells@yahoo.com BaBa Eng: g.babacng@yahoo.com www.prp2.org

TheMinority Bar Association of  Western New York  (MBAWNY), together with the Urban Think Tank, the NAACP Buffalo Branch, Members of the Clergy, Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, National Lawyers Guild-Buffalo and others, held  a press conference in front of City Hall last Thursday where they released the following statement:

“The Minority Bar Association of WNY Criminal Justice Reform Task Force has worked with community stakeholders over the last year to provide impactful, common-sense recommendations for policing reforms.  One of those reforms is the Right to Know Law, which has been enacted in New York City and Syracuse.  

Taking inspiration from these versions, as well as the demands and gains of activists during last year’s uprising, the MBAWNY Criminal Justice Reform Task Force drafted the first version of the Right to Know Law for Buffalo and provided extensive input regarding the final version. 

The Right to Know Law that is now in effect is the most robust one in New York State.  Now that the law has been passed by the Common Council and signed by Mayor Brown, the Buffalo City Code and Charter will be amended to require police to provide the public with notice of the reasons behind their encounters with the Buffalo Police Department (BPD), as well as information on how to file a complaint.

This law will also require police to record most interactions with civilians, and will require them to obtain affirmative consent for searches in most situations. Overall,  the law is also designed to increase transparency in police practices and restore trust between the BPD and the community. “

“Fire Shut Up In My Bones” is the  first opera by a Black composer, Terence Blanchard staged at the Metropolitan Opera with an all   Black cast.  Both the choreographer and the author of the opera’s libretto or text are also Black.

 You can now see this historic  Performance at the Met on Saturday, October 23 at 12:55 p.m.  live in HD at the Regal Cinema in  the Regal  Eastview Mall,  Henrietta.  Tickets are $24 for adults and $18 for senior citizens and youth 18 and younger. All seating is reserved.  You select your seat when  you buy your ticket at  https://www.tributemovies.com

An  encore showings( not live) will take place Wednesday, October 27 at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

(WIVB) — A local decorated World War II veteran celebrated his 100th birthday Saturday. And along with the balloons and the birthday presents — he got a brand new prosthetic leg.

The Western New York VA Medical Center gave Navy veteran Bob Henneson a new leg. Henneson lost his leg about two years ago — decades after being injured when he was hit by a car. So henneson worked out and got in shape so he could move on from the walker and cane to his new bionic leg.

Henneson says he’s young at heart and can’t wait to use his new mobility to see the world.

“I’m 100 – I don’t feel any older than I did when I was 90! I just feel great. I want to live, I want to go out in civilization, see what Buffalo looks like now,” Henneson said.

Henneson wrote a letter to the VA thanking them for getting back up on his feet after years of pain.

YOUNGSTOWN, N.Y. (WIVB) — Friday kicked off the annual Best Warrior Competition in Youngstown.

15 national guard soldiers from across the state are competing in a three-day test of knowledge, strength and endurance.

Some of the activities they’ll compete in include a stress shoot, hitting multiple targets with different weapons. A 12-mile march, carrying 35 pounds of equipment. A quiz about military history and much more.

“It’s a huge point of pride just to get to this level, takes months of training before they even get here and months of training to continue to compete,” said U.S. Army Major Avery Schneider.

The winners of this competition have the chance to go on and represent the state on a national level.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Chippewa Street in Buffalo just got a major makeover. Six months and $2.5 million later, the project is finally complete.

Crews repaved the popular street, replaced the sidewalk and added lights and benches.

It’s part of a much larger plan to upgrade the city’s entertainment district.

“People are excited to gather in downtown Buffalo and they are already enjoying these great upgrades we are unveiling today,” City of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said.

The city is also working on Franklin Street and crews will start construction on court street in the spring.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — It was a disappointing Friday night for Sabres fans.

The team lost to the Boston Bruins at KeyBank Center. The game wasn’t available on MSG.

You could only see it on ESPN’s streaming service.

One fan told us that played a big role in his decision to go to the game.

“That’s probably the reason why I’m here. ESPN+, sure, I’ll get the subscription, I felt it’s the first time in a while I’ve had a free night. I’ll hit up a game, get some cheap tickets, see the Sabres in action,” said Dean Adams, Sabres fan.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Early voting starts Saturday, and one of the most polarizing names in politics is in Buffalo, raising support for India Walton in the race for Mayor of Buffalo.

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was one of the first politicians to congratulate Walton on her primary night win.

“India Walton’s policies show that another way is possible, and not only can we take care of each other, but that it’s good government, it’s transparent, it’s accountable, it can balance the books and we can actually revitalize cities like Buffalo,” Ocasio-Cortez said during an interview with News 4 Friday.

Both Walton and Ocasio-Cortez identify as democratic socialists, but they say voters shouldn’t focus on the title.

“We should expect our government to lead in that way and prioritize the people,” Walton said. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.”

Here’s a look where the race for Buffalo mayor stands as early voting begins Saturday

“All of these ‘ism’s’ – you know, when you talk about capitalism, socialism, et cetera – these are very high-minded debates, and I think what’s important is we say ‘where’s the beef? What are the policies each candidate is actually proposing?” Ocasio-Cortez said.

The congresswoman will appear alongside Walton at an early voting event Saturday at the Town Ballroom, she said she believes this race can impact people nationally.

“We want to show that post-industrial cities like the City of Buffalo can thrive with progressive policies,” she said.

Mayor Byron Brown is also holding an early voting event tomorrow morning at his Washington Avenue headquarters. News 4 will be sitting down with the incumbent Mayor ahead of Election Day – watch that story Monday night.

Watch the full interview below: