Category: PostNews

(WIVB) — The State DMV is warning New Yorkers of a “text message phishing scheme.” 

Officials say the phishing or “illegitimate text messages” ask folks to verify their driver’s license information and validate their COVID-19 status.

Anyone receiving a text like this should delete it right away, the NYS DMV tells News 4.

The NYS Office of Information Technology Services recommends these precautions:

DO exercise caution with all communications you receive, including those that appear to be from a trusted entity. Inspect the sender’s information to confirm the message was generated from a legitimate source.DO keep an eye out for telltale signs of phishing – poor spelling or grammar, the use of threats, the URL does not match that of the legitimate site. If the message does not feel right, chances are it is not.DON’T click on links embedded in an unsolicited message from an unverified source.DON’T send your personal information via text. Legitimate businesses will not ask users to send sensitive personal information through text message.DON’T post sensitive information online. The less information you post, the less data you make available to a cybercriminal for use in developing a potential attack or scam.

For more information on DMV phishing scams, click here.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — On Friday, YMCA Buffalo Niagara unveiled its official t-shirt design for this year’s Turkey Trot.

Race organizers say all registered participants and race volunteers will receive a t-shirt at the pre-race packet pick-up.

The design is available for purchase on select merchandise on the new Turkey Trot online store, organizers tell us.

Registration is $42 per entry until the race sells out, and a virtual option is available to former participants and those who cannot attend the in-person event.

SLOAN, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Buffalo man has been indicted on charges accusing him of killing a child and leaving the scene.

This past August, prosecutors say Kevin Mendola, 37, was in a vehicle on Lovejoy Street in Sloan when he put the vehicle in reverse and hit 10-year-old Michael Conklin. This happened near Griffith Park around 5 p.m.

At the time, Conklin was standing next to his bicycle. After the boy was struck, prosecutors say Mendola put the vehicle in drive, and then ran over Conklin again.

Mendola, who didn’t have a valid driver’s license, then left the scene without reporting what happened, prosecutors say. He was found nearby shortly after this.

Conklin was taken to Oishei Children’s Hospital, where he later died as a result of his injuries.

MORE | Family of 10-year-old boy hit and killed in Sloan: ‘There is nothing in this world that will ever replace him’

Mendola, who was indicted on charges of criminally negligent homicide, leaving the scene of an incident resulting in death and aggravated unlicensed operation, faces up to seven years in prison.

He’s currently in custody without bail and will be back in court for a pre-trial conference on October 29.

RUSHFORD, N.Y. (WIVB) — After an injured person was found in a ditch in Allegany County, a driver is facing multiple charges.

This past Friday, New York State police responded to the scene on West Centerville Road in Rushford. It was determined that the person in the ditch had been seriously injured as the result of a crash.

The driver, whom police identified as 54-year-old Richard Jakubowski, had left the scene, they say. After giving him field sobriety tests, police say they determined Jakubowski was drunk.

Jakubowski, whose license had been revoked due to DWI arrests in the last 10 years, was arrested, arraigned and remanded to Allegany County Jail on $5,000 bail. He faces charges of aggravated vehicular assault, DWI, leaving the scene of a serious physical injury accident and aggravated unlicensed operation.

He’ll be back in court later this month.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Erie County Department of Health says emergency rooms at local hospitals are filling up and wait times are getting longer.

They want to remind people to use other options besides the hospital for non-emergency treatment. These options include primary care doctors, telemedicine and urgent care centers.

If you do need to go to a hospital, some of them provide estimated wait times online.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — CWA members have now been on the picket line for a week.

But Friday morning, CWA leaders and Catholic Health will be back at the bargaining table to try and reach a deal. This comes after a busy night, as striking workers got lots of support from other unions.

And in return, the strikers showed support for their patients.

Hundreds of CWA union workers lined the streets outside Mercy Hospital for a candlelight vigil to honor the patients inside.

Labor representatives, including those from New York State United Teachers and United Auto Workers were also on-site to show their support as the strike goes on.

Still, the two parties have not struck a deal they both can agree on.

In a statement, a Catholic Health spokesperson says rather than having a sense of urgency to get employees back to work, union leaders have instead coordinated pickets and rallies.

But union members remain on the picket line until the hospital system meets their demands.

ERIE COUNTY. N.Y. (WIVB) — Several Erie County lawmakers are criticizing the county executive’s veto of a bill that would have allowed 12 and 13-year-olds to hunt deer with guns.

Members of the legislature’s minority caucus say Mark Poloncarz’s veto is out of touch with the people of the county.

This leaves Erie County as one of the few counties in the state that does not allow young hunters to use firearms with adult supervision. They say they’re planning an override vote.

ERIE COUNTY, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Erie County Department of Health wants people to consider all their options before deciding if a trip to the emergency room is the right move.

Emergency rooms across Erie County are seeing an influx in patients and Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein says those with less severe illnesses should look for alternative treatment.

ECDOH suggests people with minor ailments consult with their primary care physicians, medical practices and specialty physicians. They also suggest visiting an urgent care center, walk-in clinic, seeking virtual medicine/telemedicine through a hospital emergency department, medical practice or health insurance company.

“We do not want to discourage people from seeking medical care,” Dr. Burstein said. “However, emergency department resources are finite, and are not designed to diagnose chronic conditions or treat minor illness. When patients with minor illnesses that could be treated by a primary care physician or telemedicine visit emergency departments, it delays and diverts medical resources from people with heart attacks or strokes, women in labor, vehicle accident victims, and children with serious illness.”

Here’s a list of medical conditions that require emergency care:

Accidental or sudden injury – vehicle accidents, burns, smoke inhalation, deep or large wounds, falls or head traumaBleeding that will not stopBreathing problems (difficulty breathing, shortness of breath)Change in mental status (unusual behavior, confusion, difficulty arousing, slurred speech)Chest painChokingCoughing up or vomiting bloodFainting or loss of consciousnessFeeling of self-harmHead or spine injurySevere or persistent vomitingSudden, severe pain anywhere in the bodySudden dizziness, weakness, or change in visionSwallowing a poisonous substanceSevere abdominal pain or pressure

If you believe a trip to the ER is right for you, here’s more information about local hospitals:

Bertrand Chaffee HospitalCatholic HealthCatholic Health, TelemedicineErie County Medical CenterECMC, TelemedicineKaleida HealthKaleida Health, TelemedicineErie County Department of Health

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. (WIVB) — Western New York’s Polish-American community is celebrating Erie County’s Bicentennial.

They held an awards dinner Thursday at Samuel’s Grande Manor. Several people were honored including Dr. Pawel Kalinski and Bozena Rutkowski as citizens of the year.

News 4’s Don Postles was honored as the Western New York Polonia Ambassador of the Year. Don was recognized for his work in the Polish community and serving for more than 30 years as an honorary grand marshal of the General Pulaski Day parade.

“Polonia is bigger than individual people it’s a community. And Buffalo, Erie County, that community is largely identified as polish people,” said Joseph Mikolaj Rej Jr., president, The General Pulaski Association, Inc.

“The Polish contribution to the region, to Buffalo and Erie County is tremendous, it’s beyond something we see in other places in the United States of America,” said Adrian Kubicki, Consul General of Poland in New York.

News 4 anchor Don Postles

Federal bankruptcy court Judge Carl Bucki gave the keynote address.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Kathy Hochul is picking up more support in her run for governor next year.

She’s received the backing of Democratic chairs from Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua and Allegany counties. Eight other county chairs are also endorsing Hochul.

Earlier this week, state Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs threw his support behind Hochul.