Category: PostNews

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – Newly revealed documents confirm the consulting firm hired by New York State to look into the Bills stadium situation is assessing more than just the Orchard Park location of the current stadium.

AECOM, which will be paid as much as $154,561 to conduct the analysis for the state, says in addition to looking at whether to renovate or build in Orchard Park, they will analyze a “South Park Site.” The paperwork, obtained by News 4 through the Freedom of Information Law, does not specify where the South Park Site is, but it is believed to be in the City of Buffalo in the vicinity of South Park Avenue and Louisiana Street or Hamburg Street.

The consulting firm previously studied that location for the state in 2014.

Tom Scerbo, a vice president for AECOM, laid the scope of their present-day project out in a the firm’s proposal to conduct the study. It also notes that AECOM will “review with State and others regarding additional sites that should be evaluated”.

The Bills lease to play at Highmark Stadium expires after the 2022 season. The state, team, and Erie County are engaging in three-way negotiations to determine what happens after that.

The Bills have said publicly that they would like to play in a new stadium to be built across the street from the current stadium in Orchard Park. The $1.4 billion price tag would be shared between the team and government, under the proposal.

A spokesperson for Pegula Sports and Entertainment had no comment on the scope of the state’s study.

State study of Bills’ stadium needs reviewing all possibilities, including renovation

In late September, Governor Kathy Hochul said the study would come out “in the next couple of weeks”. She also said the report would be made public.

“There’s a study going on by a company that’s just assessing the different options and we’re going to release the study in about two months,” Hochul said.

TOWN OF PORTLAND, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office says the second set of human remains found last month were those of a Buffalo woman.

Marquita Mull, 50, was reported missing on July 18 after last being seen in Buffalo’s Broadway-Fillmore area on June 25.

MORE | Sheriff rules out serial killer as second set of human remains found in Chautauqua County

Mull’s remains were found a day after another set of remains were seen near the Rails to Trails entrance off Woleben Road in the Town of Portland. The sets of remains were less than 20 yards apart.

The other set of remains, which are believed to be decades old, were not those of Lori Ceci Bova or Corrie Anderson — two other women who went missing in Chautauqua County in 1997 and 2008. Dental records helped lead officials to this conclusion.

According to authorities, Mull did not have a known connection to Chautauqua County, so they believe she was brought there.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Buffalo International Film Festival is starting Thursday, and goes through Monday.

More than 120 films from 24 countries will be screened across a number of local venues, including the North Park Theatre and the Burchfield Penney Art Center.

“We look forward to welcoming new and old friends back to BIFF to celebrate our fifteenth anniversary and our official selections. Great storytellers have found innovative ways to stay creative and it has been very exciting to see how filmmakers have adapted to the challenges we’ve collectively faced” said Artistic Director John J. Fink.

Tickets are available at this site. The all-access Bison Pass is $45, a ticket for three virtual screenings is $20, individual tickets to live screenings with filmmaker Q&A sessions are $20 and virtual screenings are $9.

For the full lineup, click or tap here.

BATAVIA, N.Y. (WIVB) — On Wednesday night, a Mercy Flight helicopter crashed at the Genesee County Airport.

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office says it happened on the north side of the airport between State Street Road and Bank Street Road around 9:20 p.m.

According to authorities, the helicopter had tried to land normally after returning from Strong Memorial Hospital, but made a hard landing.

The underside of the fuselage was damaged, but everyone inside the helicopter safely got out. They were taken to a hospital for evaluation.

The Sheriff’s Office says that it’s unclear why this incident occurred.

(WIVB) — Dozens of local veterans will take off this weekend for a whirlwind trip to Washington, D.C. aboard Honor Flight.

They’re flying to see the nation’s war memorials and lay a wreath at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington. There will be veterans from WWII, Vietnam War, the Korean War and the Cold War on this flight.

Wednesday on News 4 at 5:30 we spoke with the president of Buffalo-Niagara Honor Flight.

“Our mission is to get these heroes to Washington. WWII, Korea, followed by Vietnam and honor them for their service to our country. We’ve been on pause for two years so we are super, super excited,” said Tom Petrie, president, The Buffalo-Niagara Honor Flight Chapter.

News 4 will have photojournalist Allison Staebell aboard that flight. Look for her stories in the days ahead.

TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) — Tonawanda landmark could soon be turning in its putter for a sandwich.

Plans are in the works for the former putt-putt, now known as Adventure Landing on Sheridan Drive to become a new location for Jim’s Steak Out.

The miniature golf course has been closed for some time after being a very popular family fun center. This new Jim’s Steak Out location would be 3,500 square feet, have a drive-thru feature and optimal parking for customers.

And the man behind the famous hoagie is excited about the potential plan.

“We’re not taking putt-putt away, we are expanding our business, I wanted the blessing of the town before we move forward,” said Jim Incorvaia, owner, Jim’s Steak Out.

Town officials say they are not the only business looking at the property. If and when the sandwich shop takes over Adventure Landing, the franchises’ location on the corner of Sheridan and Belmont will close.

(WIVB) — People had a chance to weigh in Wednesday night on plans to add speed cameras to work zones along the thruway.

The pilot program would add 30 speed cameras to better protect highway workers from injury or death because of speeding cars.

Some say drivers need to have proper notice of speed changes and cameras ahead. But, most people who attended the virtual meeting say they are in favor of the cameras.

“I have witnessed accidents, employee injury, the list goes on and on. we need to do everything that we can to protect all of our workers out there in these zones,” said one meeting attendee.

Speed cameras coming to NY Thruway work zones, part of pilot program

“So be truthful to the public and tell them if you have cameras that the cameras are there and they’re operating,” another said.

The program is a part of a series of bills Governor Hochul signed in September.

ALBANY, N.Y. (WIVB) — Booted from the ballot, according to the New York Post, Andrew Cuomo planned to dump Kathy Hochul off the 2022 ticket as lieutenant governor before he resigned.

The Post says Cuomo’s top aides called Hochul to tell her in January that she would not be his running mate when he ran for another term. A source told the post there was concern about diversity on the ticket.

Hochul has recently picked up major support as she plans to run for re-election. The state’s Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs endorsed Hochul earlier this week.

Both state Senator Tim Kennedy and Congressman Brian Higgins are also supporting Hochul.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Crime Stoppers WNY is offering $2,500 to get a Buffalo bank robber off the streets and is asking for the public’s help doing it.

Crime Stoppers says the person was involved in four City of Buffalo bank robberies between September 3, 2021, and October 1, 2021.

If you have any information that might lead to the arrest or indictment of the person responsible, call Crime Stoppers WNY at (716) 867-6161. Or submit a tip through the Buffalo Tips mobile app.

LEWISTON, N.Y. (WIVB) — Lewiston Police are thanking one of its own for jumping into action and rescuing an elderly woman from a burning home Tuesday night.

Lewiston Police officer Jon Smith was one of the first on scene around 11:20 p.m. Tuesday when a fire broke out at 1345 Swann Road. With his body camera rolling, Smith ran to the home and pulled a trapped woman through the first-floor window of the burning house.

Lewiston Police said the woman was evaluated at the scene and wasn’t transported for medical attention.

No one was reported injured from the blaze.

Town of Lewiston Police Chief Frank Previte told News 4 that Smith has been with the force for over three years. Previte said he “couldn’t be prouder” of Smith for his actions.

An estimate on the damage to the Swann Road home wasn’t available, though Previte said it was significant.