Category: PostNews

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The White House is rolling out plans to get vaccines in the arms of children, saying they have enough shots to vaccinate every child ages five to eleven should federal health officials extend eligibility.

The FDA’s independent advisory committee is expected to meet Oct. 26, and the CDC’s independent advisory committee will meet Nov. 2. Should they authorize emergency use of the vaccine for children in this age range, White House officials said the shots will be available at doctors offices, pharmacies and school or community clinics.

“I think access is key. I think being in pediatricians offices is key because they can ask their pediatricians what they think, why they recommend this vaccination,” said Dr. Richard Charles, Chief Medical Officer of General Physician, PC.

The vaccine would be a smaller dose of the Pfizer vaccine currently being administered to those 12 and older.

“For children who are smaller in that age range – they certainly weigh less – this would be a reduced dose that would produce a similar amount of immunity that’s felt to be protective in adults,” Dr. Charles said.

The White House announced they will launch a campaign to educate parents on the vaccine, and that pediatricians and community leaders will use social media and visit high risk areas to speak with families.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — One person is dead after being shot in the Kenfield neighborhood of Buffalo.

It happened on Langfield Drive near Suffolk just before 9 p.m. Buffalo Police say the victim was shot while sitting inside a car.

Homicide detectives are on the scene.

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There’s no word on the victim’s age or gender.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Housing costs are surging fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic and now consumer watchdogs say, that is leading to a spike in rental scams. The state division of consumer protection issued an alert, and they say crooks are devising new ways of stealing your money.

The Federal Trade Commission says rental scams have cost New Yorkers nearly $2 million over the last three years and real estate experts say there are a few simple ways you can avoid getting ripped off.

One family had already started to move when they learned they had been ripped off by a rent scammer. They found the house on Craigslist and after talking with the fake landlord on the phone and through email, they paid a deposit and the first month’s rent.

Then the real landlord showed up.

“The owner comes and says we are trespassing,” the ripped-off renter said.

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These kinds of rental scams can be especially painful for folks on shoestring budgets and the president of the Local Realtors Association told us, the money is paid upfront, online or through other means that are hard to trace.

“And they will arrange for a time to meet at the property and then never talk to the person again. By that time it is already too late because the money is already gone, the deposit has already been taken from the client,” said Amber Wesser, Association of Realtors.

Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors president Amber Wesser told us, a meeting is set up to turn over the keys, but when the scammer does not show, the victims often turn to the realtors association for help.

“And say well, I am renting that property and I can’t get ahold of the seller or the owner, can you help me? We are like, you are not renting the property, unfortunately, and it is heartbreaking,” Wesser said.

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Wesser also told us about another scheme involving new homebuyers who receive a letter like this that seems to be a bill for a document search, but a closer look shows a disclaimer that it is only an offer.

“Unfortunately our industry has been hit extremely hard over the past decade with all of these fraud scam type situations and we have to stay up to date on them,” added Wesser.

That document search scheme might seem unscrupulous but the disclaimer keeps law enforcement at bay. You can find a link to the state’s consumer alert, here.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – For decades, DiTondo’s Tavern has been serving up Italian food to the Queen City at 370 Seneca St.

The restaurant is now under its fourth generation of familial ownership since Rita DiTondo and her husband, Fabio Consonni, took the reins.

DiTondo’s closed in 2018, and the couple moved to Buffalo the following year to purchase it. The Seneca Street staple has been renovated and has a new name – simply “DiTondo” – to reflect the new vision for the restaurant.

“We wanted to keep the same last name – we’re really honored to carry on the legacy, but wanted to communicate that it’s a different restaurant,” DiTondo explained. “We’re carrying on some of the same traditions, but it will also be different in many ways, so we thought a slight name change was good.”

DiTondo is a trained sommelier and Consonni is an Italian-born chef.

“It’s always been our dream to share the Italian culture and food we enjoy at home with other people at our own restaurant,” DiTondo added. “We met working together, so we had worked together in the past, but the beginning of the project was a huge renovation. It was something new for both of us.”

Renovations included restoring the façade of the building to match a photograph of the restaurant DiTondo had from the 1940s. The original bar is still there, as is some of the plaster work.

“As we renovated, we tried to keep some of the historical features,” she said.

DiTondo’s great-grandfather, Sebastiano DiTondo, was the original owner of the restaurant.

“When he immigrated from Central Italy, he opened a tavern down the street in partnership with another family in 1904,” DiTondo said. “Then in the 1930s, he branched out on his own and opened a tavern at this location.”

DiTondo and Consonni are bringing their professional influence to the menu, which is inspired by the 20 regions of Italy and has a focus on raw ingredients.

“We’re really excited to embrace old customers and new customers and welcome everyone,” DiTondo said.

They’re currently open for lunch on Monday through Friday and should be serving up dinner soon.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Two New York State Troopers, a suspect, and a passenger were hospitalized after a police chase and crash in Rochester Wednesday.

Investigators say US Marshals took a suspect in a Niagara County stabbing into custody at the scene on Dewey Avenue at Driving Park. That suspect, a female passenger, and two troopers were all taken to an area hospital with what police say are minor injuries.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – There is a good chance that we may not know who won the Buffalo mayor’s race until two or three weeks after Election Day. That’s because the actual write-in votes cannot be examined until at least 10 days later, when all of the military and absentee votes are in.

Ralph Mohr, the Republican commissioner for the Erie County Board of Elections is predicting voter turnout to be between 60-70% in the Buffalo mayor’s race. If that’s the case, and if Byron Brown were to get about half of the vote in his write-in campaign, it would mean elections workers will have to count about 50,000 votes one by one.

“Unless this is a real blowout of one kind or another, we want to be careful about really declaring victory because we won’t know who those write-ins are until we count them,” said Jeremy Zellner, the Democratic commissioner for the Board of Elections.

Zellner also confirmed to News 4 on Wednesday that they will count a write-in vote even if the write-in bubble is not filled in, as long as it’s in the correct column and says “Brown” or even just “Byron.”

“So, whether the write-in bubble is filled in or not – we prefer that it’s filled in because that assists us on election night to determine whether a write-in has been cast or not – it is still not critical to the counting of that ballot,” said Mohr.

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The elections commissioners say they are likely to have at least five different tables of elections inspectors sorting through the write-in votes if there is the potential for Byron Brown to win.

“It’s all done in a bipartisan fashion,” Zellner said. “The ballots are kept locked up by two keys, one Republican and one Democrat, everyday. We really have a lot of fail safes that the public should be confident in what we’re doing here.”

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — U.S. regulators on Wednesday signed off on extending COVID-19 boosters to Americans who got the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine and said anyone eligible for an extra dose can get a brand different from the one they received initially.

The Food and Drug Administration’s decisions mark a big step toward expanding the U.S. booster campaign, which began with extra doses of the Pfizer vaccine last month. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will also consult an expert panel later this week before finalizing its own official recommendations for who should get boosters and when.

“The available data suggest waning immunity in some populations who are fully vaccinated,” said Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D. “The availability of these authorized boosters is important for continued protection against COVID-19 disease.”

She applauded the decision saying it was evidence the country was “proactively fighting against the pandemic,” adding that the vaccine continues to be the safest and most effective way to prevent COVID-19, as well as subsequent hospitalizations and death.

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The latest moves would expand by tens of millions the number of Americans eligible for boosters and formally allow “mixing and matching” of shots — making it simpler to get another dose, especially for people who had a side effect from one brand but still want the proven protection of vaccination.

“The amendments to the emergency use authorizations to include a single booster dose in eligible populations are based on the available data and information and follows the input from the members of our advisory committee who were supportive of the use of a booster dose of these vaccines in eligible populations,” said Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.

Specifically, the FDA authorized a third Moderna shot for seniors and others at high risk from COVID-19 because of their health problems, jobs or living conditions — six months after their last shot. One big change: Moderna’s booster will be half the dose that’s used for the first two shots, based on company data showing that was plenty to rev up immunity again.

For J&J’s single-shot vaccine, the FDA said all U.S. recipients should get a second dose at least two months following their initial vaccination.

The FDA rulings differ because the vaccines are made differently, with different dosing schedules — and the J&J vaccine has consistently shown a lower level of effectiveness than either of the two-shot Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

ALBANY, N.Y. (WROC) — Former governor Andrew Cuomo’s legal team announced Wednesday the submission of an application to alter Attorney General Letitia James’ sexual harassment report about him.

Rita Glavin, the attorney for the former governor, says James viewed the allegations through a bias lens due to her own political ambitions, including the potential of her being a Democratic primary opponent against Cuomo in 2022’s gubernatorial election.

Cuomo resigned in August following the attorney general’s bombshell report that concluded he sexually harassed numerous women, including former and current state employees.

“The independent investigation has concluded that Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple woman and in doing so violated federal and state law,” James said in August. “Specifically the investigation found that Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed current and former New York state employees by engaging in unwelcome and non-consensual touching and making numerous offensive comments.”

The nearly five-month investigation, conducted by two outside lawyers who spoke to 179 people, found that the Cuomo administration was a “hostile work environment” and that it was “rife with fear and intimidation.”

People interviewed for the attorney general’s report included complainants, current and former members of the executive chamber, New York State Police troopers, additional state employees and others who interacted regularly with the governor. They also reviewed more than 74,000 piece of evidence, including documents, emails, text messages, audio files and pictures.

Line by line: Key findings of Cuomo’s sexual harassment report

Wednesday, Glavin announced that Cuomo’s legal team has submitted an application to change the findings of the attorney general’s report.

“Today we are submitting to attorneys, an application to correct, amend and supplement the August 3rd accusation of sexual abuse against the governor,” Glavin said. “First of all, the application must be considered by a truly independent reviewer. It is our position that the attorney general cannot consider the application because she is not to be involved into allegations against the governor.

“The August 3rd report is materially misleading, it is flawed, and it is unreliable,” Glavin said. “It misled the public, but it also is relied upon in civil lawsuits that defendants have said they plan to file. The report prejudiced the governor, overturned the election, and disenfranchised 3.6 million votes. It has to be corrected.”

According to Glavin, the attorney general’s report contained “glaring material omissions and errors, regarding facts, evidence, and applicable law, as detailed in a 150-page submission with exhibits.”

Cuomo’s attorney said James was not an independent party on this investigation, due to her potential candidacy in a gubernatorial primary against Cuomo.

“We are asking the attorney general to appoint an independent group to oversee the report and to fairly consider our application to amend and supplement that report,” Glavin said.

Despite his resignation announcement, the governor challenged the findings of the sexual harassment report.

“The report said I sexually harassed 11 women: That was the headline people heard and saw and reacted to,” Gov. Cuomo said in August. “The reaction was outrage, as it should have been. However, it was also false.”

The governor said during his resignation announcement there were are “serious” issues and flaws with how the report was compiled and presented, saying there is a difference between alleged improper conduct and sexual harassment.

WATCH: Gov. Cuomo’s full resignation announcement

“This is not to say there are not 11 women who I truly offended,” Gov. Cuomo said. “There are, and for that I deeply apologize. I thought a hug, or putting my arm around a staffer while taking a picture, but some found it to be too friendly. I kissed a woman on the cheek at a wedding and I thought it to be nice, but she found it to be too aggressive. Women found it dated and offensive. I said on national TV to a woman, to a doctor wearing PPE, and giving me a nasal swab, I said ‘you make that gown look good.’ I was joking, obviously, otherwise I wouldn’t have said it on national TV, but she found it disrespectful and I take full responsibility for my actions.”

The governor said his interactions were not meant to be taken sexually or with intimacy, but attributed his behavior to generational and cultural shifts.

“There are generational and cultural shifts that I just didn’t fully appreciate and I should have — no excuses,” Gov. Cuomo said.

The governor has consistently denied that he ever touched anyone inappropriately. Glavi also challenged the credibility of the attorney general’s report during separate August press conferences:

Cuomo’s attorneys challenge AG report: Governor was targeted, no ‘openminded fact finding’Gov. Cuomo’s attorney challenges credibility of AG’s sexual harassment report again

Regarding a separate investigation into possible wrongdoing regarding the former governor’s book on leadership during the pandemic, Glavin said New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli was also politically influenced and could not be objective because of his own ambitions to potentially run for governor.

Back in April, DiNapoli authorized the attorney general’s office to investigate whether improper use of state resources were used to publish the governor’s book.

“Allegations have recently emerged that public resources may have been used in the development and promotion of the governor’s book,” DiNapoli wrote in a letter to James dated April 13.

The comptroller went out to request the attorney general investigation the allegations further.

Cuomo said in April that he asked some people who he mentioned in the book to “review” it. The governor also said the money made from book sales would be revealed in the the forthcoming release of his tax return.

Promotional efforts for Gov. Cuomo’s book were halted in March following the state’s nursing home scandal, as well as allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior on behalf of the governor.

The New York Times previously released a report earlier this month that claimed Gov. Cuomo used trusted aides and junior staffers to help with the manuscript, full-scale edits and clerical work for his new book — which could possibly be a violation of state law.

That law prohibits the use of public resources for personal gain.

Cuomo’s top aide, Melissa DeRosa, was involved in pitching the book and editing early drafts. Another top aide, Stephanie Benton, asked assistants to print portions of the draft of the book and deliver them to Cuomo at his Executive Mansion in Albany.

According to the report, Richard Azzopardi, a senior adviser to the governor, said that Ms. DeRosa and Ms. Benton volunteered on the project, which would be consistent with ethical requirements of the state.

When asked if Cuomo was considering a run for governor next year, Glavin said: “I don’t have an answer for that.”

Officials from the attorney general’s office have not immediately returned a request for comment.

Check back with News 8 WROC as we will continue to update this developing story.

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s lawyer Rita Glavin continues to blast the August 3 sexual harassment report issued by the Attorney General’s Office. Glavin is now demanding a “truly independent” review of that report.

“We are submitting to the Attorney General an application to amend, correct and supplement the August 3rd, 2021 report on the investigation into sexual harassment allegations against the Governor,” Glavin said this afternoon.

Glavin has sent Attorney General Letitia James a 150-page submission on behalf of former Governor Andrew Cuomo. She alleges that James “admitted personal involvement in the investigation and production of the Report, which expressly violated” the Governor’s March 1st referral for her to select an independent law firm to conduct an inquiry.

“It is our position that the Attorney General cannot be the person to consider our application amend, correct, and supplement the report because the Governor’s March1st, 2021 referral was not for the Attorney General to oversee an investigation, conduct and investigation, or to be involved in any of the investigation of allegations against the Governor,” Glavin said.

Glavin argues that James who has been rumored to be exploring a run for Governor, had “political motivations.” Glavin also wants James and her office to “immediately recuse themselves and cease and desist from any other matter concerning the Governor.”

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Attorney General James hit back saying:

“Another day, another baseless attack by the former governor who resigned so he didn’t have to participate in an impeachment hearing. The most concerning part of today’s charade was the former governor’s attempt to stifle a legal criminal investigation into allegations that he used state resources for a book deal and personal profit. This is not the Moreland Commission, and we will not be bullied into shutting down this investigation like the former governor did with that commission.”

The Attorney General report found that Cuomo sexually harassed eleven women. Glavin maintains he didn’t sexually harass anyone. 

………………..

TAMPA (WFLA) – The FBI is scheduled to hold a press conference at 4:30 p.m. with the latest updates in the search for Brian Laundrie.

Law enforcement officials searching for Laundrie found partial human remains in the Carlton Reserve on Wednesday, according to NBC News.

Having issues viewing the stream? Watch WFLA Now’s live coverage here

The Sarasota County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed it had been called to the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park by police Wednesday afternoon. The environmental park connects to the Carlton Reserve.

According to Pete Williams with NBC News, law enforcement officials say “what appears to be partial human remains” were found in an area that was previously underwater. The search for Laundrie has been focused on the environmental park and connected reserve for more than a month now. Search crews had previously cited difficulties maneuvering through the massive area due to some sections being underwater.

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Earlier Wednesday, Bertolino told 8 On Your Side both of Laundrie’s parents went to the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park to search for Brian. He said The FBI and North Port Police Department met the parents, Chris and Roberta Laundrie, at the park Wednesday morning.

The FBI Tampa office tweeted about the “items of interest” shortly after 2 p.m. They said an FBI Evidence Response Team was called out to process the scene.