NEWS & INFO

By: Sumit Majumdar How Consolidating a Crumbling System Will Pay for Itself, Save Taxpayer Dollars, and Rescue a Burnt-Out Workforce      In the public discourse surrounding the American justice system, the spotlight is almost always fixed on the incarcerated. We talk about inmate rights, overcrowding, and the systemic failures of the "inside." These are necessary, often heartbreaking conversations. However, a massive shadow is cast by that spotlight, hiding the human beings

By: Sumir Mjumdar President & CEO of Buffalo Biodiesel Inc. | Lead Director of Energy & Limited Partner of Verite Capital Partners In this exhaustive 12-part technical and economic dossier, we examine how forced electrification, massive tech hyperscaling, and failing baseload policy threaten to crush ratepayers. Is advanced natural gas the only bridge to a zero-emission future? Editor's Note: This special edition expands upon our previous reporting, drastically deepening the

Prosecutors announced that a Niagara County jury found 33-year-old Brandon Wall guilty of aggravated cruelty to an animal and criminal mischief in the second degree after determining he strangled a puppy belonging to his significant other, leaving the animal with severe injuries that required intensive veterinary care to survive. District Attorney Brian Seaman condemned the act following the guilty verdict: “It is hard to imagine how a person could hurt a helpless pet in this

A Niagara Falls man who admitted to carrying out a violent hammer attack on a gas station employee during a robbery has been sentenced to nearly two decades in state prison. State Supreme Court Judge Mario Giacobbe imposed a 19-year prison sentence Tuesday on 59-year-old Darrion A. Cotton following his guilty plea to first-degree assault. The conviction stems from a January 19th, 2024 attack at a gas station located at 63rd and Buffalo Avenue in Niagara Falls. Cotton admitted

A discovery inside an Upstate New York funeral home has led to criminal charges against a Long Island man accused of operating without a license while allegedly deceiving grieving families and mishandling human remains. According to the New York Attorney General’s Office, 55-year-old Michael Naughton of Baldwin has been indicted on multiple charges tied to his operation of Camelot Funeral Home in Mount Vernon. Police say Naughton continued running the business despite having

Federal immigration officials say a man accused of abducting a 4-year-old girl from a laundromat on Long Island was taken back into custody after initially being released into the community. The Department of Homeland Security identified the suspect as 38-year-old Carlos Corte-Corte, a citizen of Ecuador, and described his immigration history as involving multiple prior removals from the United States. In a statement, Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said, "This three-ti

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 Niagara Falls woman has been sentenced to two decades in state prison for the killing of her mother inside their Main Street apartment.      According to the Niagara County District Attorney’s Office, 30-year-old Seleste Bomberry was sentenced to 20 years in prison following her conviction for first-degree manslaughter in connection with the death of her mother, 48-year-old Gennie Blackwell.      Prosecutors said the fatal incident occurred on March 23rd, 2025, inside the p

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 dual U.S.-Israeli citizen facing federal charges tied to an alleged human smuggling attempt at the Rainbow Bridge is now being described by prosecutors as a fugitive from Israel. Federal authorities say 46-year-old Israel Enden, who was arrested in January after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered a man concealed under luggage in a rented SUV, had failed to disclose a critical detail during earlier court proceedings—he was already wanted overseas. Accordi

A new statewide survey suggests New York’s gubernatorial race may be tightening, even as a large share of voters remain unfamiliar with Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman. According to the latest poll from the Siena Research Institute, incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul now leads Blakeman by 13 percentage points, which is a noticeable drop from the 20-point advantage she had over him in February. Despite her narrowing margin, Hochul’s overall standing with voters has remained

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 sharp and sustained drop in Canadian visitors is reshaping the economic landscape of Niagara Falls, NY and surrounding border communities as new data and regional reporting point to one of the most significant cross-border tourism slowdowns in decades.      The downturn, which accelerated into early 2026, is being linked to a combination of trade tensions, shifting consumer sentiment, and changing travel patterns. For communities that have long depended on Canadian day-trip

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

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a call around 2:37pm on March 28th after reports of a domestic disturbance on Elmwood Avenue in Niagara Falls. The 911 caller told police that a female was attempting to harm her grandmother with a taser. She also told dispatch that the suspect had a knife. Police responded to the scene. It is unknown if any arrests were made. No further information is available at this time. These are merely allegations and should not be

Authorities in Tonawanda have shut down two smoke shops following an investigation into the sale of illegal cannabis products, according to police. The businesses – Mr. Greensfield, located on Niagara Falls Boulevard, and Sweet Puffs, located on Delaware Avenue – were both ordered to cease operations earlier this week. Officials said the closures were tied to allegations that the shops were distributing illicit cannabis in violation of state regulations. The enforcement actio

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Attacked Law enforcement received a call around 5:46pm on March 29th after reports of an assault on Linwood Avenue in Niagara Falls. The 911 caller told police that several females were following and attacking a teenage girl. One suspect was carrying and hitting her with a shovel while the other was hitting her with a broom. Police responded to the scene. It is unknown if any arrests were made. No further information is available at this time. The

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a call around 4:32pm on March 25th after reports of an assault on Buffalo Avenue in Niagara Falls. The 911 caller stated that her husband attacked her. She told police that she suffered a broken finger and broken hand during the attack. Medical and police responded to the scene. It is unknown if the husband was arrested. No further information is available at this time. These are merely allegations and should not be taken

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW enforcement received a call around 2:22pm on March 23rd after reports of harassment at the Days Inn on Niagara Falls Boulevard in Niagara Falls. The 911 caller told police that a customer was charged a smoking fee and made threats to the employee because they did not agree with the fee that was charged. The threats were aggressive in nature and caused the employee to be fearful for their physical safety. Police responded to the scene. It is unknow

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a call around 6:43am on March 19th after reports of a domestic incident at the Woodland Inn on Niagara Falls Boulevard. The 911 caller said that a female and male were fighting inside of the room. The female could be heard screaming for help. According to a second call for the same incident the male is believed to be on parole. Police responded to the scene. It is unknown if the male was arrested. No further information is