NEWS & INFO

The Buffalo-Niagara community is coming together to support the family of longtime firefighter and business owner Scott Janowski, a Buffalo Fire captain who died unexpectedly leaving behind his wife and a 3-year-old son. To help ease the financial effort facing the family, friends and loved ones launched a fundraising effort. A tribute posted with the fundraiser describes Janowski as a lifelong public servant, devoted father, and small business owner who dedicated himself to

Niagara Action recently began an investigative series into failed Niagara County legislative candidate Dante Richardson who, by all accounts, is not who he holds himself to be publicly. Let’s recap what has been reported thus far:   Dante Richardson is a violent, convicted felon.   In 2014, he was convicted in Erie County Court of first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery, and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon for a violent home invasion that occurred in Buffalo

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a call around 4:30am on January 11th after reports of a medical emergency on Witmer Road in the City of North Tonawanda. Police were requested to the location for a welfare check. The 911 caller said that an 84-year-old male was making suicidal comments and that he had a knife in the bathtub. Police responded to the scene and prevented what could have been a tragic outcome. If you are thinking about suicide or self-harm, h

After five terms representing the people of New York State Assembly District 145, Assemblyman Angelo Morinello today announced he will not seek reelection, marking the conclusion of a decade of public service dedicated to community engagement, responsive constituent services and bipartisan cooperation. “It has been the honor of my lifetime to serve the residents of the 145th Assembly District,” Morinello said. “From Grand Island to The Town of Porter, Niagara Falls, Lewiston,

Governor Kathy Hochul is proposing a significant reshaping of Niagara Falls State Park with plans to bring Whirlpool State Park and Devil’s Hole State Park under the same umbrella in an effort to spread tourism beyond the Falls. The idea, she said, is to encourage visitors to stay longer in the region. The proposal, outlined in Hochul’s State of the State booklet released Tuesday, comes as state data continues to show a stark imbalance in where tourists spend their time. Niag

Local businessman, community leader and Niagara Falls Board of Education member Russ Petrozzi today announced he will run for Niagara County Legislator this November in the 5th district. The seat is currently held by Legislator Chris Robins, who announced he will not seek re-election. Petrozzi plans to seek the Republican and Conservative lines. “I have a long career in serving this community and I want to continue doing that as a legislator where I think I can have a signifi

A New York Supreme Court Judge issued a sweeping decision this morning dismissing a lawsuit brought by 27 restaurants against Buffalo Biodiesel, rejecting what the court characterized as speculative, conclusory, and legally deficient claims. The rebuke lands squarely on the shoulders of plaintiffs’ counsel, Manhattan attorney Michael Collesano. In a detailed Memorandum Decision, Hon. Michael A. Siragusa, J.S.C., granted Buffalo Biodiesel's motion to dismiss finding that the a

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a call around 6:30pm on January 6th after reports of a motor vehicle v. pedestrian accident with injuries that occurred in the area of Genesee Street and Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo. The 911 call said that a female was struck and lying in the road. EMS and emergency personnel was called to the scene. According to witnesses at the location, the woman could be heard moaning "help me," but could not move any part of her body.

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a call around 7:30pm on January 4th after reports of a mental health emergency on 69th Street in Niagara Falls. The 911 caller said that her 16-year-old son, who is on the spectrum, was attempting to jump out of their window, stating that he was going to cause harm to himself. Police and emergency personnel responded to the scene. It is unknown if the boy was taken for mental health treatment, but police/first responders w

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW A man died Sunday afternoon after falling from a window of a multi-story building in Lockport, police say. Police said the incident occurred around 12:15pm at a building on Main Street where a 63-year-old man fell from the eighth floor. Police audio indicated that they received a call stating a male was on the ground with blood everywhere. His identity has not been released, nor has the circumstances surrounding the fall. Emergency responders pron

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a call around 7:35pm on December 30th after reports of a mental health emergency at LaSalle Waterfront Park, 6611 Buffalo Avenue, in Niagara Falls, NY. Reports indicate that a male was in the area who left his jacket and phone by the gazebo at the park if he entered the water. Other than that, they had no other contact. There was no indication during the call that he was located. As previously reported, dozens of bodies tr

James Glynn, longtime chairman and chief executive officer of the Maid of the Mist Corp. and one of Niagara Falls’ most influential leaders, died Sunday, December 28th, at his home following a lengthy illness. He was 91. Glynn’s association with the iconic Niagara Falls attraction spanned more than seven decades. He joined Maid of the Mist in 1950 as a ticket seller, using his earnings to help pay for his education at Niagara University. On May 25th, 1971, he realized a lifel

A third-prize Powerball ticket worth $50,000 was sold in Niagara Falls for the December 24th drawing, according to the New York Lottery. The winning ticket was purchased at the 7-Eleven located at 8505 Niagara Falls Boulevard. In total, eight third-prize Powerball tickets were sold across New York State for the Christmas Eve drawing, each matching enough numbers to secure the $50,000 prize. The remaining winning tickets were sold at the following locations: Tops at 5335 West

A Christmas Eve fire left a Hartland family without a home and killed several animals, according to authorities. The blaze broke out Tuesday night at a residence on Stone Road in Niagara County. According to the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, the fire started in the garage shortly after 9pm and quickly spread through the rest of the house. The structure was already heavily involved by the time crews arrived. No one was inside the home when the fire started, nor were any inj

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a call around 12:30pm on December 22nd regarding a medical emergency at Niagara University's Dwyer Arena. The 911 caller said that a 79-year-old male slipped on the ice at Dwyer Arena, slamming his head on the ice, and could not feel his extremeties. An ALS Priority response was recommended. No further information is available at this time. These are merely allegations and should not be taken as fact. LISTEN TO FULL AUDIO

Our community is mourning the loss of Daniel Thompson III, a 6-year-old boy whose life was cut short after a battle with pneumonia. Daniel died on December 20th, 2025, leaving his family, classmates, and teammates devastated just days before Christmas. A 1st grader in Buffalo, Daniel was known for his warmth, curiosity, and gentle nature. Teachers and classmates alike described him as a joyful child who brought light into every room he entered. The news of Daniel’s passing wa

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a 911 call on December 12th after a witness described watching an individual go over Niagara Falls. Law enforcement responded to the welcome center. The witness described watching someone go over Niagara Falls, believed to be a male. However, it could have been a female. The witness described seeing the individual in the water from the Prospect Point Observation Tower. Several first responders went to the location. The res

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a call around 9pm on December 11th after a request for a welfare check at an apartment on Seventh Street in the City of Buffalo. Police responded and, after confirming a deceased male in the apartment, a coroner arrived as well. Family of the deceased resident also arrived on scene. No further information is available at this time. These are merely allegations and should not be taken as fact. LISTEN TO FULL AUDIO HERE: Pro

A Grand Island man died Thursday night after an incident in which he was reportedly crushed between a semi-truck and a pickup truck while attempting to work on the larger vehicle, according to a spokesperson for the Erie County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities identified the victim as 59-year-old Pavel Tsygyrlash. Investigators said he had been making repairs to a semi-truck in a parking lot near the intersection of Grand Island Boulevard and Long Road when the accident occurred

Mark Laurrie, superintendent of the Niagara Falls City School District, has been selected as the Buffalo Bills’ 2025 Inspire Change Changemaker, an annual honor the team presents to local leaders advancing meaningful progress in their communities. The recognition aligns with the NFL’s Inspire Change initiative that focuses on four pillars of education, economic advancement, police–community relations and criminal justice reform. Laurrie was celebrated for decades of work on b