Category: PostNews

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Russian invasion of Ukraine is touching the hearts of a lot of people all across Western New York. They can’t just stand by and watch one man flex his military muscle on innocent people. The push is on to raise money for the people of Ukraine.

The Dnipro Ukrainian Cultural Center in Buffalo has held many events to raise money for the people of Ukraine since the war broke out. On March 30, more than 200 people will take part in the Sunflowers for Ukraine paint night.

“It will help save lives, save soldiers, civilians we’re providing them with medical care and supplies hard press to save lives in Ukraine,” said local artist Dianna Derhak.

Dianna Derhak is a local artist from Ukraine, who is spearheading the fundraiser. Video of Russian leader Putin unleashing his war machine on Ukraine fills her with sadness and anger.

WNY’s Polish community stands with Ukraine

“First there is deep sadness, for the suffering of the people, children, families losing loved ones, the destruction that is happening, the targeting of Ukraine, annihilation it’s tragic it’s a genocide,” she added.

With all the death and destruction in her homeland, she is enraged that one man, Vladimir Putin, can launch such a deadly war.

“I’m just enraged with Putin for waging this war,” Derhak said. “The man has no limits, he’s a monster.”

Many businesses, organizations and churches are responding to the cause to help the people of Ukraine. The BFLO Store is now selling a Buffalo t-shirt with the flag of Ukraine, with all the proceeds going to that country.

“We’re actually sending it through a relief fund going directly to soldiers and families in need. Some of these things will help them with basic needs, supplies, food and shelter those kinds of things,” Nathan Mroz, BFLO Store said.

Nathan believes these responses are expanding the meaning of the City of Good Neighbors.

Local businesswoman hosts a donation drive for Ukraine called Buffalo Gives

“We’re actually doing this for a great cause everything from churches organizations everywhere around town you see it. I think Buffalo is making a big impact on this fight in more ways than one,” added Mroz.

There are many events being planned to help the people of Ukraine. March 27, 20 cultural organizations in Erie County and banding together to hold a fundraiser under the umbrella of the Italian Cultural Center on Hertel Avenue. That’s one of many events.

For more information, click here.

(WIVB) — Leaders across the state are urging lawmakers to target more money for developmental disabilities services.

It has been so long since caregivers for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities have gotten a boost in pay, their advocates say the cost of living adjustment offered by Governor Hochul is not nearly enough and the clock is ticking to change that.

Hundreds of New Yorkers with developmental and intellectual disabilities, their families, and caregivers converged on the State Capitol to urge lawmakers to give those caregivers, known as direct support professionals, a boost in pay.

The money to pay those caregivers comes primarily from the government and it has been 10 years since those workers got a meaningful raise in pay.

Advocates are asking for an 11% cost-of-living adjustment to compete with other vocations and parents say, as they get older, it is critical to ensure the care of their adult children.

“That he is going to be able to be in a spot where we are going to be able to eventually be able to have him live there in quality and with trusted people, people that are competent, people that want to be there that are going to really be paid the kind of pay that they really should be paid,” said max Donatelli, Hamburg parent.

Max Donatelli and his family were among a substantial contingent of advocates, and lawmakers from Western New York who took part in the rally at the Capitol. Governor Hochul is calling for a 5.4% cost-of-living adjustment, but the State Assembly wants to double it to 11%.

If lawmakers are to make any changes to the COLA, they only have a few days to do it. The pay raise is wrapped into the governor’s budget, which has to be passed by April 1, but in Albany, they are known to be flexible.

CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) — Katie Riford, the Wheatfield mother who went missing with her two children in 2019, is back in Western New York and News 4 exclusively spoke with her.

On March 3, Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti said Riford and her children, Olivia and Mason, were found safe in Albuquerque, N.M. after not being seen in more than three years. Their disappearance followed a custody battle between the children’s mother and father.

We’ve waited three years to hear from Katie Riford and now we have. At 8:30 p.m., she landed at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport and was escorted out by Niagara County Sheriff’s deputies in street clothes.

“I am a domestic violence victim and my children are also victims of abuse,” Riford told News 4. “The truth is going to come out, the corruption is going to be exposed, my family and I are going to fight tirelessly until my children are safely returned home to their family and free from all forms of abuse.”

As for why she went to New Mexico, Riford said they have plenty of resources for domestic violence victims that Western New York does not have but she would not get into specifics on what those resources were.

The children’s father denied Riford’s allegations of abuse and Sheriff Filicetti added that an investigation did not reveal any abuse.

She’s expected to be arraigned on Thursday and is scheduled to appear in family court. She faces custodial interference in the first degree, a Class E felony with a maximum sentence of four years in prison, and failure to obey a family court warrant.

Missing kids in Niagara County custody battle found in New Mexico

“Due to bail reform, she is most likely going to be released when she gets brought back here. We all acknowledge she is a considerable flight risk because she’s already been to New Mexico, but we will wait to see how that plays out,” Sheriff Filicetti said on March 3.

At a hearing in New Mexico in early March, Riford waived extradition.

During the same press conference, the Sheriff added the children would be reunited with their father who lives in Massachusetts. News 4 has reached out to their father, Peter Diarbakerly, but has not heard back.

There are no federal charges against Riford at this time and the Sheriff said he believes Riford’s family in both New Mexico and Western New York assisted her with her disappearance. Riford was using different names while in New Mexico while her children kept their first names, but went by a different last name. Authorities believe the mother and her children received help in creating their new identities and hiding from law enforcement.

Watch our full interview with Katie Riford below:

WHEATFIELD, N.Y. (WIVB) –The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office has found Anthony Kunecki safe.

ORIGINAL

The Niagara County Sheriff’s office is trying to locate 86-year-old Anthony Kunecki.

Kunecki stands at 5’10” tall, weighs 190lbs, has grey hair and wears glasses.

The 86-year-old left an address in the Town of Wheatfield in a 2013 tan Chevy Equinox with New York plates CUG2926.

He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a navy blue sweatshirt and a heavy black and gray coat.

If you have any information on Kunecki’s whereabouts, call the Niagara County Sheriffs at (716) 438-3393.

CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) — Cheektowaga Police are searching for two missing kids.

Jeremy and Austin Kamuda left their home Tuesday and were last seen in the Raymond Park area of a nearby bike trail, according to CPD.

The pair requires daily behavioral health medications.

Jeremy and Austin have been located in the past on Cable Street (off of Clinton west, of South Ogden) and on Hammerschmidt Avenue (in the Seneca/Mineral Springs area) in the City of Buffalo.

Anyone with information is asked to call Cheektowaga Police at (716) 686-3501.

CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) — Cheektowaga Police tracked down a 52-year-old parolee and slapped him with several charges for three Citizens Bank robberies.

Thomas Blachowski is accused of the March 18 attempted robbery of Citizens Bank inside the 700 Thruway Plaza Tops Market and the successful robbery of the 1722 Walden Ave. Citizens Banks on the same day.

He’s also accused of the successful March 21 Citizens Bank robbery at 3865 Union Rd.

On March 18, Blachowski first hit the Citizens Bank inside the 700 Thruway Plaza Tops Market. The teller refused to hand over cash and the 52-year-old fled in a waiting taxi, according to Cheektowaga Police.

Nine minutes later Blachowski hit the 1722 Walden Ave. branch and threatened the teller, who then turned over cash, authorities said. After this robbery CPD detectives pinned Blachowski, who was on parole for a 2019 bank robbery, as a suspect in both robberies.

Police weren’t able to locate Blachowski over that weekend. On March 21, the Tops at 3865 Union Rd. was robbed after the teller was threatened. Police identified Blachowski as the suspect.

Body cam video released from deadly trooper-involved shooting

Detectives narrowed in on the 52-year-old’s location after surveilling the Route 62 Motel at 1900 Niagara Falls Blvd. On March 22, Blachowski was arrested at the motel and was in possession of felony-weight crack cocaine, according to Cheektowaga Police.

CPD also found evidence linking him to the robberies.

Thomas Blachowski was charged with two counts of first-degree robbery, third-degree robbery, grand larceny, petit larceny, fourth-degree criminal possession of a narcotic drug and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Blachowski was arraigned Wednesday morning in Cheektowaga Town Court.

Warning: The video above contains graphic video released by police.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – The New York State Attorney General released body cam video of a trooper-involved deadly shooting that occurred in downtown Buffalo last month.

Attorney General Letitia James has issued a directive that videos obtained by her office during the course of investigations into the actions of police officers, when a death has occurred, are to be released in order to boost transparency.

The AG’s Office of Special Investigations has been investigating this incident, which began with State Police chasing a suspect on the I-90 and then the I-190.

The video shows State Trooper Anthony Nigro chasing James Huber, who is from the Erie, Pa. area, on Saturday, Feb. 12. State Police said Huber was driving erratically.

State Police: Suspect dies after being shot by trooper in Buffalo following pursuit

Eventually, according to police, Huber drove into the City of Buffalo and troopers stopped their pursuit. State Police then found him pulled over on East Eagle Street near Washington Street talking to bystanders.

The body cam video shows Nigro getting out of his patrol car, drawing his gun and ordering Huber to get out.

You can hear Huber say “go away.”

Trooper Nigro continues to tell Huber to get out and pulls on him, but Huber refuses. It appears Huber’s car door is locked. Huber then goes in reverse, and Trooper Nigro fires and falls to the ground. You can then hear Huber crash on a parking ramp.

Trooper Nigro gets back up, runs to the scene and reports shots fired.

The State Attorney General’s Office says it is releasing the video as a sign of transparency. A State Police spokesperson told News 4 that Trooper Nigro is on active duty.

DA: ‘Crystal clear’ officers justified in Hertel Ave. shooting

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WIVB) – Planning to save costs by cutting six program offerings and combining others, Erie Community College President Dr. David Balkin said the situation was created by a declining enrollment and a lack of action.

“The challenges that we’re facing are the result of years of not addressing a problem that has been ongoing,” Balkin said Wednesday. He said the school has “not done the rightsizing” that was necessary as enrollment declined.

ECC’s current student population is in the neighborhood of 8,000, Balkin said, roughly half of what it was about a decade ago.

“Every college loves to be able to point to the number of programs that they have. Not every program should be maintained,” Balkin said. “Like any business, you have to continuously revisit and streamline and pare down programs that aren’t in high demand.”

Speaking at an event Wednesday, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz noted the issues ECC faces are threatening.

“These are significant problems to the effect that if they’re not addressed properly the college could go out of business,” Poloncarz said.

ECC is planning to drop its casino gaming machine repair technology, computer aided drafting and design technology, dental laboratory technology, graphic communications technology, web page design, and health information technology programs. The college will “teach out” students currently taking those classes.

In the meantime, the school will combine 16 common programs scheduled at both the North and South campuses and hub them at its North campus in Amherst. It means there will be a reduction of the footprint at the South campus in Orchard Park.

“Probably the greatest consideration frankly was underutilized space suggesting there are other things we might be able to do with that space,” Balkin said. “But additionally the demographics. The population growth in the Southtowns is slated to be significantly less than the other two locations.

Balkin took over as president at ECC last month. The reorganization marks his first major task as head of the college.

ECC plans to cut six programs as part of downsizing effort

On Tuesday, Erie County Legislator John Mills, who represents the Southtowns, expressed concern about the future of the South campus.

“I don’t see it. I hope it can sustain itself and still have a program where Southtowns residents can go to that school,” Mills said. “But I’m not optimistic.”

But Balkin provided a glimmer of hope Wednesday, with a caveat.

“Currently, I envision us always having a presence in the Southtowns,” he said. “What that looks like may change.”

The changes planned are slated to be the subject of impact bargaining with the unions representing those who work at ECC. Balkin noted the college is already in active discussions with all four unions.

“Nothing is done until it’s done. But it’s clear what we need to do from a cost perspective,” he said.

On Tuesday, Andrew Sako, president of the Faculty Federation at Erie Community College, said he had received “basic information” regarding planned deactivations.

“Some changes may be necessary,” Sako said. “Others might not make sense.”

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Several local school officials and law enforcement agencies gathered at the University at Buffalo’s Center for the Centers Wednesday for the 18th annual Safe Schools Seminar.

This year’s focus was stopping a threat from escalating into violence.

The conference is organized by the Secret Service’s National Threat Assessment Center.

The presentations were based on research conducted by NTAC.

“Our research focuses on previous attacks in averted school attacks so we can look at those case studies and examine them and determine the different types of stressors, life experiences, communications those students made,” said supervisory social science research specialist, Ashley Smolinski.

She said these behaviors from past averted attacks can help law enforcement and school officials recognize them in their own communities.

“Maybe making a comment that indicates they may not be safe or pose a risk of an unwanted outcome to someone around them, then we can really focus on prevention and getting them the resources they need to move them away from wanting to harm themselves or others.”

The research looks at trends including age groups, weapons and how they’re acquired, and where they pulled plot ideas from.

New York State Trooper James O’Callaghan said it’s important to keep up on this research.

“Social media is a huge thing, but it’s a tool we can use to possibly track down or monitor possible school threats, school violence. A lot of our school violence threats start in the social media kind of world. But it is ever-changing, down to tactics, down to how we look at different acts of violence in schools, things change, it’s evolving.”

While there were several local schools and law enforcement attend here in person today they also had several attend virtually on Zoom.

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) — Buffalo police have made an arrest in relation to threats made against Western New York Maritime Charter School’s high school.

The South Park Avenue school became aware of the threats this past Thursday morning.

On Wednesday afternoon, the arrest of a 15-year-old was announced. He’s been charged with making terroristic threats.

City officials say the case has been petitioned to family court.