Latest news with #WIVB
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Two mayoral candidates talk Buffalo's commercial corridors
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Two candidates for Buffalo mayor, Sean Ryan and Chris Scanlon, talked about commercial corridors Friday during their respective news conferences. New York State Senator Sean Ryan stood in Lafayette Square Friday morning to lay out his plans, if elected, for improving downtown Buffalo. Ryan wants to take a full assessment of downtown infrastructure to better understand the downtown tax base and expand it. That plan includes investing in capital projects to rebuild Main Street and the downtown core. Additionally, he plans to address underutilized lots and buildings. Ryan also said he'll name a downtown development coordinator and small business liaison. That's in addition to working towards creating a sales tax-free zone in hopes of small businesses coming back to Main Street. Ryan also shared more about his small business microloan program. 'I will also create a small business microloan program that will provide grants of up to $10,000 to existing and emerging small businesses,' said Ryan. 'These grants will help people quickly get on their feet, help existing businesses stay competitive, and allow them to invest in things like technology, minor upgrades to their physical conditions, or to purchase new equipment.' Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon also held a news conference Friday, launching his 'Keep Buffalo Beautiful' campaign. Trash removal, pothole patching, graffiti removal and addressing broken parking meters are among the items this citywide campaign will focus on. 'This is not just a campaign,' Scanlon said. 'This is a commitment. This is a commitment moving forward to quality of life in our neighborhoods and to our commercial corridors. When we invest in clean, vibrant corridors, we invest in Buffalo's economic future and the well-being of everyone who lives near and around our commercial corridors. So, I look forward to working with our partners, and together we'll keep Buffalo beautiful.' Scanlon said crews have already been out working in various areas around the city. The initiative was launched along Elmwood Avenue, and we're told it will expand. Scanlon says that includes Broadway-Fillmore, South Park, Grant Street, Niagara Street, Bailey Avenue and Amherst Street. WIVB to hold Buffalo mayoral debate ahead of Democratic primary Ryan said in part on Friday that as long as the same tired leadership is in City Hall, there will be the same tired results. He added that Buffalo needs a mayor with a fresh vision. Scanlon responded to Ryan's news conference, saying in part that his administration has been proactive, implementing tangible initiatives for economic growth, supporting small businesses, and enhancing Buffalonians' quality of life. Scanlon added that this is Sean Ryan's latest attempt to paint a bleak picture of Buffalo and ignore their progress. To read more from Ryan's campaign about this announcement, read below. To read more of Scanlon's response, read below. STATEMENT-FROM-MAYOR-CHRIS-SCANLON-1Download Patrick Ryan is an award-winning reporter who has been part of the News 4 team since 2020. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Buffalo man sentenced for purchasing stolen Paypal, Venmo, Amazon account information
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Buffalo man was sentenced to over three years in prison for purchasing stolen account information from Paypal, Venmo, and other companies, in addition to a drug charge, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Between March 2020 and May 2021, 43-year-old Corey Robert Dodge allegedly purchased 14 packages on an illicit online marketplace known as Genesis Market. The market works by retrieving account information from malware-infected computers around the world and selling it for bitcoin. Stolen credentials purchased by Dodge included accounts for Paypal, Venmo, Chase, eTrade, eBay, Amazon, FedEx, Walmart, Etsy, and Tracfone. During a search at his residence for evidence related to the Genesis Market, Dodge was found to be in possession of fentanyl and other drugs. He was sentenced to three years and five months in prison and was also ordered to forfeit $27,000 related to the crimes. He was originally convicted of possessing 15 or more unauthorized access devices with intent to defraud and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. 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
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Orchard Park High School creates car crash simulation before prom
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WIVB) — An annual demonstration of a simulated car crash was held at Orchard Park High School Friday morning to warn students about the dangers of driving while intoxicated after prom. 'The message we want students to take from this is to make memories, and to make good memories, to make good decisions that go along with those memories, and realize that every single choice that they make in life can have consequences, good and bad,' said Chief Patrick Fitzgerald. Though the demonstration is fake, the lessons learned are real. 'Don't drink and drive, don't commit these crimes,' said senior Juliana Place. 'Be careful, think before you act, understand that these are very heavy metal machines that can, and will kill you, if you are not careful.' Nearly 35 people a day die in the country in drunk-driving crashes, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Thirty percent of drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 who died in car crashes in 2023 had a Blood Alcohol Content of .01 or higher. The school has partnered with first responders for more than twenty years to hold this demonstration. 'It's super impactful, every year we get a good amount of kids that say they were really influenced by it in a good way,' said Amanda Mohler, a social worker at the school that planned the event. 'I feel like a lot of kids think they're invincible and they're untouchable at times, and it's important to know that there are consequences. Just because you think you're driving safe doesn't mean the next person behind you might be.' Months go into planning the event. High school students created a storyline and a video of the events leading up to the crash, and then the consequences. This year they named the project an acronym of 'P.R.O.M.' 'Prom stands for 'Please Return on Monday, so with this idea in mind, our message is just really be responsible,' said senior Maddy Shurtliffe. Hope Winter is a reporter and multimedia journalist who has been part of the News 4 team since 2021. See more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Buffalo splash pads to open Friday
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Nine splash pads across the region are now open in Buffalo. The Ralph Wilson Park, Allison Park, Lanigan Park, Lincoln Park, Cazenovia Park, MLK Park, Houghton Park, Schiller Park, and the Roosevelt Park splash pads are all open Friday until 7 p.m. following a brief weather-related delay. Splash pads will be open daily from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. until the end of the school year. Once summer begins, the hours will be 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. every day through Labor Day. The Masten Park splash pad will be closed this year due to ongoing construction. 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
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Prominent Niagara County attorney missing, family pleading for help to find him
LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Lockport family is pleading for help to find their loved one, a prominent Niagara County attorney who went missing earlier this week. Scott Stopa, 46, was last seen around 8:30 Tuesday morning. His loved ones have not heard from him since, and now police are investigating, hoping to find him and bring him home to his family who are devastated by his disappearance. 'Scott, we love you so much, please come home if you see this,' his sister, Jenny Ryan said, fighting back tears. 'We miss you, we love you, we're all here for you, and we want you to come home.' Ryan said that her brother said he was heading to work when he left Tuesday morning, but that's the last they've seen or heard from him. He was in the process of opening up his own law office at the Bewly Building in downtown Lockport, according to the family. 'Efforts have been made by multiple family members to reach him, unfortunately he doesn't have his phone on him,' Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti said. 'So, they're very concerned because they haven't had contact with him for now going on three days, and they contacted us to assist them in locating him.' Stopa's family said that he had been dealing with personal issues, including depression. Filicetti said they believe he could still be in the area. 'We have some indications that he's still local based on our investigation, so again we're still trying to locate him,' Sheriff Filicetti said. 'We're using the usual techniques that we would normally do to try to find somebody. Through the use of technology we can indicate that his vehicle has been in the area the last couple of days. So, again, we're going to continue to stay local here for our purposes, for the investigation.' Stopa's family remains devastated by his disappearance and are praying that he comes home safely. They're urging anyone with any information on his whereabouts to come forward. 'We are devastated. We just want him home safely,' Ryan said. 'We miss him, we love him, and we just want him home safely. Please, please contact the Niagara County Sheriff's Department immediately – even if it's the smallest tip – no matter what, we need information as soon as possible.' Stopa was last seen driving a black 2014 Jeep Compass with New York registration – LNN1422. Anyone with any information on his whereabouts is urged to call the Niagara County Sheriff's Office at (716) 438-3394. Rob Petree is an anchor and reporter who joined the News 4 team in 2025. See more of his work by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
