Category: PostNews

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Meet Tiva! She’s up for adoption through the SPCA Serving Erie County.

Tiva’s 5 years old and would prefer to be the only dog in the home. For more information on adopting her, watch the video above and click/tap here.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Buffalo audiences can be the first to see the national debut of the touring production of To Kill A Mockingbird starring actor Richard Thomas.

The tour kicked off Sunday at Shea’s Performing Arts Center.

Mockingbird isn’t the first show to open its tour in Buffalo and it probably wont be the last.

Producers of the show said they had several reasons for choosing Buffalo as their starting point.

For tour producer Orin Wolf, kicking off in the Queen City means smart, engaged audiences every single night.

“There’s a vibrant, energetic, enthusiastic audience that awaits you when you come into this city. And that’s very helpful for a tour at any point in its life, it’s specially helpful when youre launching a tour because you learn from your audience,” Wolf said.

But before the show is put in front of an audience, the cast and crew arrive in town weeks in advance.

He said the convenience of the downtown area and the talented staff at Shea’s draw Broadway to the 716.

The New York State theater production tax credit is also a perk. It allows Broadway shows to start tours in upstate New York and receive a credit for the money spent in the communities.

But most of all, as Shea’s presenting Broadway partner Albert Nocciolino said, Buffalo is a theater town.

“Buffalo has become one of the best one week theater markets in America. We have one of the biggest subscription or season ticket bases,” said Nocciolino. “That means when they come to Buffalo they’re gonna have the seats filled and a great audience.”

“Everyone that’s involved in our industry that’s involved in touring understands the value that Buffalo brings,” Wolf said.

Both said Sunday’s kickoff performances only reinforced what everyone already knew about the Buffalo theater community.

“Quite sincerely and honestly, I have never heard an audience hoot, holler, stand, scream, clap, yell at the end of a show it was just unbelievable,” Nocciolino said.

“It was a reminder of how funny the work is and how much joy it brings,” said Wolf.

This is the third tour to kick off in Buffalo this season alone. Frozen and Tootsie started here in the fall.

Mockingbird runs at Shea’s through Saturday, April 2.

Kayla Green is a reporter who has been part of the News 4 team since 2021. See more of her work here.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — U.S. Marshals in Western New York are looking for a fugitive who is said to have gone on the run with her infant child.

Adrienne Marean, 35, was charged in Harrison County, West Virginia on March 7 with violating a family court order. She was reportedly ordered to transfer custody of her child in February and is believed to have fled the area with the child in early March. A felony warrant for kidnapping was reportedly issued for Marean on March 9.

Marshals said they are focusing efforts on locating Marean and her child in the Dunkirk and Fredonia areas. Marean has been described as a white woman with brown hair and brown eyes, stands about 5’7″ and weighs about 165 pounds. Her daughter, Iris Chidester, is also white with brown hair and brown eyes, is 11 months old, around 3′ tall and about 17 pounds.

The Marshals service sent the attached photos of the gray/silver Toyota Prius Marean is believed to be driving. The vehicle has yellow New York license plates, numbered JJR-1907.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Marean or Chidester is asked to call 911 or contact the U.S. Marshals Service at (304) 623-0486. Tips may also be submitted via the USMS Tips app.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WIVB) – The Buffalo Bills, New York State and Erie County agreed on a deal to build a new football stadium in Orchard Park, as well as a new lease agreement that ties the team to Western New York for 30 years.

Here’s an overview on what we know about the agreement.

Deal reached for new Bills stadium

What does the new Bills stadium cost, and how much are taxpayers paying?

The new stadium has a projected price tag of $1.4 billion – the same price Terry Pegula paid to buy the team in 2014.

Here is the financial breakdown from Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office:

$600 million from New York$250 million from Erie County$550 million combined from the NFL and the Bills

“We got a very good deal” Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said, adding that any cost overruns will be paid by the Bills.

Poloncarz said there will not be tax increases due to the stadium deal.

Is this the largest public stadium subsidy in history?

Yes, it is believed to be.

The Raiders’ $1.97 billion stadium that opened in 2020 contained $750 million in public funding. Even if you adjust for inflation, the Bills’ number is higher.

Latest news in Bills Stadium Negotiations

What does a 30-year lease mean?

A 30-year lease means the Bills are committed to play in Erie County into the 2050s.

The key item to watch for is the relocation penalty. A major financial penalty for moving the team is what gives muscle to the lease agreement — if the number is too low, the Pegulas (or other future owners) could move the team by paying the fee.

These figures are not yet known, but Poloncarz called it “strong” and said he expects the team to remain here under the terms.

“If team is allowed to move by a court,” Poloncarz tweeted, “team must pay back [the state and county] contributions in full during the first 15 years, and then it declines for final 15 years, and stadium is to be demolished by the team.”

Where is the stadium going to go?

The new stadium is expected to be built across the street from the current one on Abbott Road in Orchard Park. The exact location is not yet finalized.

When will the new stadium open?

The stadium’s opening date is not finalized, but the 2026 and 2027 seasons have been discussed. The Bills will continue playing in the current stadium in the meantime.

The team’s current lease to play in Erie County ends in 2023. County Executive Mark Poloncarz says they are currently working on an extension of the lease to cover the period between 2023 and when the new stadium opens.

Bills propose 60,000-seat stadium by 2027

Why isn’t the stadium going in the City of Buffalo?

That is a complicated question, but the short answer is: That ship has sailed. Many in Western New York advocated for a stadium inside the city in recent months, specifically at the South Park site, but the planning and financial backing for this plan did not get the momentum they needed.

A state-funded study found the cost of a stadium in Buffalo to be about $2.1 billion and said it would take longer to build.

Bills stadium site in Buffalo outscored Orchard Park site in PSE’s 2019 study

Is the stadium a dome or open-air?

All signs point to an open-air stadium. Despite Buffalo’s climate, the team consistently expressed it did not want a dome or retractable roof, which would have been more expensive. Some sections of seats are expected to be covered.

In a study New York State had done by AECOM, the cost of constructing a stadium with a roof was given. The consultants said building a stadium with a roof on it would cost $298 million extra, while building a stadium that could eventually support a roof in the future (if one was desired but the funding for it could not be secured) was $109 million extra.

Keeping the costs down as low as possible appeared to be a goal of the team throughout the process.

Empire State Development: Buffalo Bills stadium study is complete

What’s next in the process?

With an agreement reached, both local and state governments need to sign off on the spending. The state now needs to pass its budget – which is due by Friday – and the Erie County Legislature needs to approve the expenditure, which could come within the next month.

When will they start building the new stadium?

Pegula Sports and Entertainment executive Ron Raccuia said there will be some breaking of ground on the new site in the coming weeks, but a true groundbreaking with “a big hole in the ground” is expected by next spring, in April or May 2023.

What is the stadium capacity?

The stadium will have a minimum capacity of 60,000, which is less than the current stadium. There could also be standing-room-only areas.

Will the new Bills stadium have PSLs?

Yes, PSLs are expected. A Personal Seat License is an additional expense for the right to purchase season tickets, on top of the cost of the tickets.

The cost of the PSL is expected to be proportional to the cost of the ticket. PSLs could start at $1,000 per seat. Money raised through PSLs goes toward ownership’s contribution to the stadium.

Season tickets will not account for every seat in the stadium.

Bills pushing for personal seat licenses at proposed new stadium

What will the stadium look like? Are there renderings?

There are no renderings yet, but the team has hired an architect. PSE’s Ron Raccuia said the team is still meeting with fans to get a feel for their desires on the stadium.

The stadium is expected to have some sections covered and have a grass field.

Bills find architect to design new stadium

Could Buffalo get a Super Bowl now?

That is highly unlikely. Buffalo is not believed to have the required infrastructure to host a Super Bowl, such as the requisite number of hotel rooms in the region.

What will happen to the old stadium?

The old stadium is expected to be demolished once the new one is built.

What is the stadium’s name?

The name of the new stadium is not official yet, but Highmark has right of first refusal on the naming rights.

Who owns the stadium?

The current stadium is owned by Erie County and subsequently leased to the state and sub-leased to the Bills. Poloncarz said the new stadium will be owned by the state, not the county.

Bills land star pass rusher Von Miller

How many jobs will this create?

Both Poloncarz and Hochul said 10,000 construction jobs could be created over the life of the stadium.

When might we see the documents?

Probably not for a while. Poloncarz mentioned all the contracts need to be entered into by Sept. 1.

Could other sports play in the stadium?

Yes. Poloncarz called the 1.35 million-square-foot stadium a multi-use facility and specifically mentioned trying to get international soccer games at the new stadium.

Are upgrades to the Sabres arena included in this deal?

Upgrades to KeyBank Center were not discussed as part of this deal. Raccuia was asked if the Sabres or any other PSE property were for sale – he said no.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Sunday was the opening day of the United States national tour of “To Kill a Mockingbird” — a new stage production of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.

Brought to the stage by Aaron Sorkin and directed by Bartlett Sher, the play stars Richard Thomas as lawyer Atticus Finch — a widowed father of two who fights for the acquittal of an innocent Black man accused of raping a white woman in 1930s Alabama.

Thomas is best known for his role as John-Boy Walton in the 1970s TV show “The Waltons.” His entrance to the stage was welcomed with applause during Sunday afternoon’s debut at Shea’s Performing Arts Center.

Just before the actors took the stage that afternoon, Sher came out to address the crowd, sharing praise for Buffalo and letting the crowd know that the cast was understandably nervous, but nonetheless excited for the debut performance.

In a bold move, Sher revealed to the audience that the show had only run through a full rehearsal once before Sunday afternoon. But if there were any nerves, you couldn’t tell.

This national tour follows the Broadway debut of Sorkin’s adaptation, which was performed in 2018 to critical acclaim.

“To Kill A Mockingbird” will be in Buffalo through Saturday night, with the final performance happening at 8 p.m. To get tickets, click or tap here.

The post Introducing Lisa LaTravato, finalist for the 2022 ATHENA Leadership Award appeared first on Buffalo Niagara Partnership.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A car appears to have crashed into a furniture store in downtown Buffalo.

Police were seen at the intersection of Genesee and Oak streets around Midnight.

One person was seen being handcuffed and taken into a police vehicle.

News 4 will provide more details when they’re available.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – Hundreds gathered at the Irish Center in South Buffalo to celebrate a mixture of holidays, including St. Patrick’s Day, St. Joseph’s Day and Dyngus Day.

After a two-year hiatus because of COVID, organizers are thrilled to bring people back together.

“It feels great. It’s nice to see people’s faces and just talk to people, it’s been a long time,” said Theresa Marcello, the first vice president of the Federation of the Italian-American Societies in Western New York.

Each room inside the center, located on Abbott road, showcased either Irish, Italian or Polish heritage.

“We ended up at the Irish Center, the three different rooms, the sound doesn’t bleed through and it’s been a success every year. All three nationalities are very prominent in the Buffalo area so here we are,” said organizer Dan McCue.

“It’s nice to have the different heritages work together and enjoy each other’s heritage and customs,” Marcello said. “We like to teach our children so that they continue what we’ve been doing for so many years and it’s nice to bring the community together.”

For those celebrating Dyngus Day, polka music was played loud and clear.

“There’s nothing like it when you’re playing and seeing a group of people dancing and hooting and hollering and things like that, it’s great,” said Dan McCue, a musician with the band ‘Seven.’

“My parents met at a young age, at a polka dance when my dad was playing,” said Lori Urbanczyk, who attended Sunday’s event. “It’s great. It’s also bittersweet. My dad passed away of COVID in December of 2020, but it’s great to be back, having my brother carrying on the tradition, as a family just going out and supporting polka music.”

Organizers also held a tribute to show their support for Ukraine by playing Ukraine’s national anthem and holding up the Ukraine flag.

“We’re going to show our support. I think it’s a fitting tribute and their anthem is beautiful,” McCue said.

“It’s very important for us to show that we are supportive of them in every way that we can,” Marcello said.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Buffalo lawmakers are taking another step in setting up a new Community Police Advisory Committee.

This step comes after the previous board was disbanded earlier this month because of tensions on the board. Common council members say they want mental health experts to come forward and be part of the new committee, as they would be relied upon to help develop and propose better mental health policies for the buffalo police department.

To apply, click here. The deadline is Wednesday, April 13.