Latest news with #ECMC
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Poloncarz says proposed federal budget cuts could cost Erie County over $100M by 2028
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Proposed federal budget cuts and changes to Medicaid and SNAP could cost residents of Erie County hundreds of millions of dollars by 2028, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said Friday. Erie County would be hit with a direct cost of $12.3 million next year and over $100 million annually by 2028 if the proposed changes become law, according to estimates by the Erie County Department of Social Services. Poloncarz said Erie County would have to pay ECMC to cover cut federal funds estimated at up to $50 million. Additionally, the county might have to pay for its portion of state SNAP cuts at around $84 million, among other costs. He said the proposed budget would target poor, elderly, sick, and hungry Americans above all. 'While the president is accepting a $400 million bribe from a foreign dictator he's simultaneously taking away critical programs and services that residents in communities nationwide, including Erie County, rely on to improve their everyday lives,' Poloncarz said. 'Now is the time to speak up against these injustices and I implore everyone to do so.' The tax break bill did not pass in the House Budget Committee on Friday, but the committee plans to reconvene on Sunday. Some right-wing lawmakers are reportedly calling for even steeper cuts to Medicaid before they vote in favor. Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Neighbors react to Hamburg house explosion
HAMBURG, N.Y. (WIVB) — Residents of West Lane in Hamburg are still in shock after a house on their street exploded on Monday night, killing one person and injuring another, who is now in critical condition. According to Hamburg police, 78-year-old Joene Pease died in the house explosion and 78-year-old John Pease was taken to ECMC. There were no other injuries reported. Police received calls about the explosion just before 9 p.m. One person said the explosion practically shook their house. 'I'm watching TV and all of a sudden it was a huge boom,' said Chris Polito, who lives on East Lane. 'It was instant, it didn't last long or anything.' Kathy Bradley, who lives a few houses down from the explosion, was also watching TV when the explosion occurred. 'We were watching TV and all of a sudden you hear this boom and it was loud — came out the front door and looked down the street and saw the house in the middle of the street,' she said. 'Went back in and called 911 told them a house exploded.' 'The house is gone,' Polito said. 'It's awful, you hear that and it's hard to believe that right up the [street] in this neighborhood I walk all the time, that one of those houses is gone.' People who heard the house explode have been stopping by the street all day on Tuesday to see the extent of the damage for themselves, while questioning how it happened. 'I don't know how they got anyone out there in the first place because there was nothing left of the house,' said Roger Britton, who lives on East Lane. Bradley said the Peases were quiet and 'stuck to themselves.' She recalled seeing them in the yard once in awhile. 'You can see there's a lot of damage,' said Alie Lavontuie, who lives on East Lane. 'My heart goes out to the families and everybody who knew them.' The explosion remains under investigation and officials have not yet released a cause. Sarah Minkewicz is an Emmy-nominated reporter and Buffalo native who has been a part of the News 4 team since 2019. Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahMinkewicz and click here to see more of her work. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Yahoo
Falls man taken to ECMC after driving pickup truck into Niagara Gorge
A Niagara Falls man who walked out of the Niagara Gorge after driving his pickup truck through a fence and down the steep embankment near the Whirlpool Bridge was taken to ECMC for treatment Wednesday night. New York State Park Police said they were called to the area of the Aquarium of Niagara about 6:25 p.m. Wednesday for a report of a man in medical attention. Upon arrival Officers found the 42-year-old man suffering from injuries consistent with an accident, including lacerations and multiple broken bones. While investigating the scene, officers located a damaged fence with tire tracks in the grass just north of the Whirlpool Bridge. It was determined that he had driven a 2008 Toyota Tundra through the fence and into the Niagara Gorge. Trees stopped the vehicle from plunging into the Niagara River rapids. The man was then able to extricate himself from the vehicle, walk the trail and up the stairs, and walk about a mile toward the aquarium until the point in time when officers made contact with him. Officers searched the area of the vehicle Wednesday night and determined there were no other victims. Early Thursday morning just after sunrise, Park Police went back out to the crash site to do a secondary search of the area and vehicle and again saw no signs of anyone else. The man was transported to ECMC by AMR ambulance for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The incident remains under investigation by the New York State Park Police with the assistance of The New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Niagara County District Attorney's Office. New York State Parks is currently investigating means to remove the car from the gorge. The area where the vehicle is currently closed off.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Yahoo
Woman taken to ECMC after being struck by car in Niagara Falls
A woman is being treated in the trauma unit at Erie County Medical Center after she was struck by a vehicle while crossing a street in Niagara Falls Friday night. The Niagara Falls Police Department Crash Investigation Unit reports that the accident happened about 8:15 p.m. on the 2100 block of Hyde Park Boulevard. A 2012 Buick operated by a 41-year-old Niagara Falls man was traveling south on Hyde Park Boulevard in the right hand lane when it struck the 30-year-old woman who was crossing from the east side of the street. She suffered severe head injuries and was transported by AMR ambulance to ECMC where she is currently being treated in the trauma ICU. The driver of the vehicle was uninjured and is cooperating with police as they continue the review of the crash.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
Prominent Allentown artists found dead in their home
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Two people, both prominent artists in the community, were found dead in their Allentown residence Tuesday afternoon, Buffalo officials said in a press conference Wednesday. Michael Harmon, 40, co-owner of The Good Stuff on Allen Street, and Jordan Celotto, 37, were found deceased at 5 St. Louis Place, according to Buffalo police. 'Mickey was an anchor of Buffalo's LGBTQ+ community, a talented artist, and a dedicated leader in Allentown,' said State Senator Sean Ryan in a statement. 'From Remedy House to the dance floor, Jordan will always be remembered for the welcoming presence and joy that he brought to countless friends and neighbors. Police were dispatched to the residence around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. A friend called police after checking on one of the victims when they didn't show up for work. Police said the friend spotted a person with a knife outside of the residence. When police arrived, the man dropped the knife after cutting himself. The 35-year-old person-of-interest was taken to ECMC and remains there under police supervision. Police said the cause of death for Harmon and Celotto was blunt force trauma. The two were a couple but officials said they have no reason to suspect it was a hate crime or that the person-of-interest was known to them. 'As district councilmember and as a member of the LGBTQ community, there is nothing that suspects that this was a hate crime,' said Council Member Mitch Nowakowski. 'I want to put those tensions at ease. The individual is at ECMC so no one is believed to be at large.' Both Harmon and Celotto were artists together in Allentown. Art was the centerpiece of their lives. Harmon was known for his drawings of historic Buffalo homes and landmarks, as well as murals with LGBTQ themes and themes of giving. 'He was a staunch Buffalonian,' said Nowakowski. 'He believed in our neighborhoods, he believed in walking and biking and not using a vehicle, he believed in artwork and bringing people together, having a ton of fun and evolving. This is a huge loss.' Remedy House, a cafe on Buffalo's West Side, made a post honoring Celotto, who worked there. The homicides remain under investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
