NEWS & INFO

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,

One of Niagara Falls Canada’s most famous tourist attractions is set to undergo significant improvements aimed at making the experience more comfortable, accessible, and appealing throughout the entire year.      Niagara Parks, the agency responsible for many of the region’s signature landmarks, has announced plans to modernize Journey Behind the Falls, a visitor favorite that allows tourists to travel through tunnels carved beneath the rock behind the Horseshoe Falls and wit

The Niagara Falls City Council approved a contract to continue the city’s tourism trolley service, a program designed to move visitors between key destinations during the busy tourism season.      Council members voted 4–1 to renew the agreement with the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) allowing the trolley system to operate from late May through the end of the year. The service is scheduled to run from May 22nd through December 31st and will cost $641,062 for

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

A man convicted more than three decades ago of murdering a teenage girl and a one-year-old child in Wayne County has now been released on parole and placed in a supervised residential program in Erie County, according to state corrections officials.      Chad Campbell, now 50, was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder stemming from a 1990 case in which a 15-year-old girl and a one-year-old child were killed.      Campbell was 14 years old at the time of the crimes.

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

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a call around 6:08am on March 13th after reports of a medical emergency on Lockport Olcott Road in Lockport.   The 911 caller told dispatch that there are “transmitters in his mouth” and that he is “receiving signals.”   Dispatch did note that there is an officer safety notice for this individual as he threatened suicide by cop once.   Police were dispatched to the scene. It is unknown if the male was taken for mental heal

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a call around 7:54am on March 11th after reports of a domestic incident on Ganson Street in North Tonawanda.   The 911 caller – the child’s mother – told police that he refused to attend school and was in the kitchen with a knife. She was so afraid of her son, who is 12, that she was hiding in her bedroom.   Police responded to the scene. It is unknown if the child was taken anywhere for psychiatric help. No further inform

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a call around 3:20pm on March 6th after reports of an assault on Falls Street in Niagara Falls.   The 911 caller – a third party – told police that Deandre Carter was “attacking” a CPS worker. It is believed that the CPS worker was at the home due to a complaint involving a child[ren].   Police responded to the scene. It is unknown if the male was arrested. No further information is available at this time. These are merely

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

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a call around 2:56pm on March 8th after reports of a man with a weapon in the area of 760 Center Street (near Tim Hortons) in Lewiston. The male, who was walking westbound, looked to be carrying a firearm. He was described as an older white male wearing jeans with a beard and camo jacket. The firearm was said to be hanging out of the backpack. Police responded to the scene. It is unknown if the male was arrested. No furthe

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a call around 6:51pm on March 6th after reports of a motor vehicle accident and subsequent assault at Walmart on Military Road in Niagara Falls. The incident occurred between Walmart and Hobby Lobby. The 911 caller said that after a two-vehicle accident both male drivers exited their vehicles and became argumentative. The altercation then became physical and punches started being thrown. Police responded to the scene. It i

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a call around 3:15pm on March 6th after reports of a hit-and-run incident in the area of 74-76th block of Niagara Falls Boulevard in Niagara Falls. Police received multiple calls of a white female being dragged 20 feet by a vehicle that took off. The woman who was hit and dragged continued walking down the boulevard and was finally contacted by police at Popeyes. She was not injured. Police did not release any identifying

LISTEN TO POLICE AUDIO BELOW Law enforcement received a call around 12:15pm on March 6th after reports of animal neglect on 2700 block of Falls Street in Niagara Falls. The 911 caller said that he is working in the property and that there's several emaciated dogs. He told police that they are being confined solely to a back patio area with no food, no water and filled with feces. Police responded to the scene. It is unknown if the owner was arrested. No further information is

Plans for the long-anticipated return of the Thunder of Niagara Air Show have been grounded once again after organizers confirmed that the event scheduled for this summer at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station will not take place in 2026. Officials with the 914th Air Refueling Wing announced Monday that the 2026 show has been cancelled due to operational demands tied to ongoing military missions overseas. “Due to the allocation of resources to ongoing operations in the U.S.

Authorities are investigating a fatal accident that occurred Monday afternoon in Niagara County after a man was seriously injured while cutting a tree. According to the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, the incident was reported on March 9th at approximately 3:24pm when the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received a 911 call reporting that a man had suffered severe injuries during a tree-cutting accident. Deputies and emergency medical personnel responded

A series of recent court rulings involving domestic violence cases in Rochester has sparked mounting criticism from local officials and law enforcement leaders who argue that repeated decisions to release accused offenders without bail are placing victims at risk and undermining public confidence in the justice system.      At the center of the controversy are decisions made by Van White, whose handling of several domestic violence-related arraignments has drawn sharp reactio

State Analysis Warns Climate Law Compliance Could Raise Energy Costs for New Yorkers by Thousands      A newly disclosed state analysis suggests New Yorkers could face significant increases in household energy costs as officials grapple with how to fully implement the state’s sweeping climate mandate, intensifying debate over the future of New York’s landmark environmental law.      Governor Kathy Hochul said in February that complying with the state’s climate requirements co

New York State has indefinitely halted the issuance and renewal of certain commercial driver’s licenses for non-citizens after federal officials threatened to withhold millions in transportation funding, marking a significant shift in state licensing policy amid escalating immigration and regulatory disputes under Governor Kathy Hochul.      The pause affects New York’s non-domiciled commercial driver’s license (CDL) program, which previously allowed individuals who were not

By: Scott Yerger      Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already increasing its role in everyday life and we are seeing its rapid evolution right before our eyes.  So, what can we expect when it comes to AI’s role in the future of medicine. In the next 10 years AI is expected to fundamentally reshape medicine, but not by replacing doctors, by augmenting them. Current Landscape      On the healthcare administration side, AI will expand its role in driving down cost by automating

Less than a year after launching a highly visible neighborhood policing initiative, the Buffalo Police Department has discontinued its Foot Patrol Integration Unit with city officials pointing to staffing limitations, overtime costs and operational challenges as the primary reasons for ending the program.      The decision was confirmed during a recent Police Oversight Committee meeting at Buffalo City Hall after Common Council Majority Leader Leah Halton-Pope questioned Inte