NEWS & INFO

By: Sumit Majumdar President & CEO of Buffalo Biodiesel Inc. | Lead Director of Energy & Limited Partner of Verite Capital Partners The Golden Era: A Personal Dispatch      I’ve been servicing restaurants for over 20 years and a lot has changed in our industry.  As a patron to many a bar and restaurant,  it’s also changed on a personal level.  I’m in my 50’s now and when I look at the "For Lease" signs on Main Street, I don't just see empty buildings; I see the ghosts of a ci

A stretch of damaged roadway in Lockport drew attention Friday after an unknown individual attempted a makeshift repair by filling a stretch of potholes with redwood mulch—highlighting growing frustration over winter-worn streets.      The improvised fix appeared at the intersection of Lincoln and Beattie Avenues where deteriorating pavement has become a recurring issue. While the act may have been intended as a statement or temporary solution, city officials made clear it wa

Lewiston town officials covered several major topics during a recent board meeting, including property reassessments, proposed zoning updates, and a renewed agreement with the New York Power Authority.      One of the main discussions focused on the town’s ongoing reassessment project, which is nearing completion in coordination with the Town of Porter. Town Assessor Nicholas Fiutko addressed confusion among residents, particularly around paperwork they recently received.   

After years of planning, funding efforts, and delays, North Tonawanda officials are preparing to move forward with construction of a new aquatic facility that will replace the long-closed Memorial Pool.      Mayor Austin Tylec recently confirmed that contracts have now been approved, finally clearing the way for work to begin at the Payne Park site. The project has been in development for more than six years and is intended to modernize recreational offerings while addressing

A major environmental restoration project is moving forward in Niagara Falls after state officials awarded $2 million to improve conditions along Gill Creek, a key waterway running through Hyde Park.      City leaders say the funding will support a large-scale effort to repair shoreline damage, enhance natural habitats, and expand public access to the creek, which flows through one of the largest urban parks in New York State outside of Central Park.      The grant is through

A proposed late-night recreation program for Niagara Falls teens is now at the center of a growing divide between the mayor’s office and the City Council, raising questions about coordination inside City Hall as two separate efforts move forward without alignment.      City officials recently announced a partnership with the Niagara Falls Boys & Girls Club to launch a “Night Gym” pilot program aimed at providing a safe, structured environment for teens ages 16 to 18 during ev

Emergency crews carried out a rescue operation in the Niagara Gorge on Saturday, March 21st after a man in his 60s suffered significant injuries in a fall and had to be airlifted to a nearby hospital. The incident began late Saturday morning when fishermen in the area discovered the injured man and notified authorities at approx. 11:20am. Initial information indicated the man had fallen down a steep embankment within the gorge. Due to the challenging terrain, multiple emergen

On Tuesday, March 24th, at 12:11pm, the Niagara County Communications Center received multiple 911 calls reporting a motor vehicle accident with a possible ejection at the intersection of Hartland Road and Slayton Settlement Road. Initial reports indicated the crash involved a passenger vehicle and a dump truck. First- arriving patrol units confirmed that the driver of the passenger vehicle had been partially ejected. EMS and Fire/Rescue personnel arrived shortly thereafter a

By: Sumit Majumdar CEO of Buffalo Biodiesel & Limited Partner of Verite Capital Partners      Following our exploration in "Farming the Future," we turn our focus to the balance sheet. For the modern dairy or beef operation an anaerobic digester is no longer just an environmental compliance tool––it is a sophisticated revenue engine. By "stacking" credits, commodities, and co-products, farmers are transforming manure management from a cost center into the farm’s most consiste

By: Sumit Majumdar President & CEO of Buffalo Biodiesel Inc. | Lead Director of Energy & Limited Partner of Verite Capital Partners      In the landscape of modern enterprise – particularly within the progressive environmental sector – the mission is often as much about social restoration as it is about ecological sustainability. My professional journey has been guided by a legacy of relentless excellence. My mother achieved the highest levels of achievement in both the medic

By: Sumit Majumdar President & CEO of Buffalo Biodiesel Inc. | Lead Director of Energy & Limited Partner of Verite Capital Partners The modern industrial landscape is defined by a high-stakes tension between the drive for automated efficiency and the preservation of human labor. For twenty years, my journey through renewable energy, technology strategy, and industrial infrastructure has been guided by a singular realization: technology is an inevitable force, but its dir

A newly drafted vehicle policy from the Erie County Sheriff’s Office that allows certain deputies to use county-owned vehicles for limited personal purposes is generating debate among county officials with critics questioning whether the policy is an appropriate use of taxpayer resources.      The drafted policy, released by Erie County Sheriff John Garcia, permits designated deputies to take county vehicles home and use them for personal travel within Erie County. The propos

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz says he will once again veto any legislation that would allow 12 and 13-year-olds to hunt in Erie County under a state youth hunting program. The issue will again remain contentious between county leaders and lawmakers who support the measure.      County legislators had recently begun discussing another attempt to adopt a measure that would allow younger hunters to participate in the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

A proposed moratorium on new large multi-family housing projects in the City of Lockport could jeopardize plans to redevelop the long-vacant Bewley Building, according to developers involved in the project.      The proposal, currently under consideration by the Lockport Common Council, would temporarily halt approvals for new multi-family developments containing 25 or more apartments in certain parts of the city. The six-month moratorium is intended to give city officials ad

A North Tonawanda High School senior who endured a sudden and life-threatening medical emergency late last year has returned to school after months of recovery following a liver transplant that saved her life.      Meredith Roberts returned to the classroom Thursday, March 12th, marking a major milestone in her recovery after being away from school since November when she experienced sudden liver failure.      Roberts said the ordeal began unexpectedly when she noticed severe

The Niagara Falls City Council has unanimously approved a plan to address the city’s growing pothole problems by combining overtime for Department of Public Works road crews with the return of the controversial “Pothole Killer” repair truck.      Mayor Robert Restaino requested authorization to again contract the specialized pothole repair equipment while also expanding traditional patching efforts carried out by city crews. Council members ultimately supported the proposal,

Fake degrees. An alleged barroom showdown over another man’s girlfriend. Bullets on the I-190. And a mysterious “HopeFundMe” fundraiser that vanished. By: Staff Reports      For those of you picking up this newspaper (or reading this article online) who have never heard the name Dante Richardson before, congratulations—you’ve lived a peaceful life up until now.      Allow us to introduce him.      Depending on which version of Dante Richardson you happen to be listening to, h

After years of legal battles, public criticism, and what many observers have described as an inflexible approach to development decisions, Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino now appears to be signaling a possible willingness to compromise in the city’s long-running dispute with Niagara Falls Redevelopment (NFR).      The change in tone comes as the city and NFR continue court-ordered mediation over land near John B. Daly Boulevard that has become the centerpiece of a develop

By: Staff Reports      A petroleum spill in the Buffalo River originating from a historic naval vessel at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park was quietly concealed for months in 2025, according to information and photographs obtained by Niagara Action.      The environmental incident, which occurred in July 2025, was never publicly reported at the time despite federal and state regulations that require immediate disclosure of petroleum discharge into navigable w

A Niagara Falls middle school teacher has been terminated following an investigation into an incident in which a racially offensive remark referencing slavery was made to students inside a classroom at Gaskill Preparatory School.      Niagara Falls City School District Superintendent Mark Laurrie confirmed Thursday, March 12th, that the teacher was terminated. The district is also moving forward with a Part 83 filing with New York State, which will allow state officials to de