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

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

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

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

By: Scott Yerger      Healthcare spending is reaching unprecedented levels, with national expenditures projected to surge to $8.59 trillion by 2033, accounting for more than one-fifth of the total U.S. economy. While medical innovation continues to reach new heights, the financial burden on employers, families, and public health systems is creating a critical affordability crisis.  Addressing this challenge requires a dual understanding of the modern drivers behind these spik

An investigation by the New York State Attorney General’s Office concluded that students of color and students with disabilities in Buffalo Public Schools were suspended at significantly higher rates than their white peers and students without disabilities.      The findings stem from a review of district discipline data from 2019 through 2023 school, excluding the COVID-19-impacted year. According to the Attorney General’s report, in the 2022–2023 academic year, Black second

By: Tom George      Governor Kathy Hochul hosted a roundtable with law enforcement and elected officials to announce the “Local Cops Local Crimes Act” which prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies from partnering with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for civil immigration enforcement. Hochul made the announcement surrounded by more than a dozen District Attorneys, county sheriffs, police chiefs and county executives from across the state.      The Act

In what it portrays as an effort to remedy reputational harm rather than seek a payday, Buffalo Biodiesel, Inc. (“BBD”), a Buffalo-based company that collects used cooking oil from more than 28,000 restaurants across the Northeastern United States, has filed suit in Erie County Supreme Court against The Buffalo News (“BN”) and Manhattan-based attorney Michael Collesano. BBD claims it’s seeking to restore its reputation and confront a coordinated smear campaign against its bus

A Buffalo family is turning to the community for help as their 20-year-old daughter fights for her life following a series of medical emergencies tied to a lifelong heart condition. Danielle was born with a complex congenital heart condition known as hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a diagnosis that has required her to undergo numerous medical procedures and open-heart surgeries throughout her life. Despite enduring significant health challenges since birth, her resilience an

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

Areo (left) and Sumit Majumdar (right) On Friday, October 17th, Niagara Action published a story titled " Staley Road ‘Mob’ Targets Brown Resident During Grand Island Zoning, Town Board Meetings ." Read here: https://www.niagaraaction.com/staley-road-mob-targets-brown-resident-during-zoning-town-board-meetings While writing that article, Niagara Action reached out to Sumit Majumdar for comment and did not receive a response. On Tuesday, October 28th, we received the followin

Press Release, PR Newswire Buffalo Biodiesel Inc. ("BBD"), a leading used-cooking-oil recycler and renewable green energy fuel producer headquartered in Buffalo, New York, today announced a transformational capital and growth partnership with Verite Capital Partners ("VCP"). The agreement secures a planned $300 million funding program that will accelerate BBD's expansion from a 15-state footprint to 25 states across the entire eastern United States, from Montreal to Miami. Un

A family and community are mourning the loss of Everleigh M. Snell, affectionately known as “Evy,” who passed away on October 16th, 2025, at just 4-years-old. Born with a radiant smile and a spirit far stronger than her years, Evy faced unimaginable health battles. At only a few months old, she was diagnosed with severe epilepsy that resisted medication along with a rare neurological disorder known as infantile spasms, or West syndrome. Despite countless hospital stays and an

Weddings are supposed to be unforgettable, but for Emily MacKinnon and Nicholas Birke of West Seneca their big day will forever be remembered as the time the groom nearly lost a battle with a roasted potato. The couple tied the knot on August 23rd at the Botanical Gardens in South Buffalo. Everything was picture-perfect – the vows, the flowers, the laughter – until dinner rolled around. Emily says she had just complimented the food when she looked over and noticed Nicholas wa

In the early morning hours of August 14th, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out an operation at Lynn-Ette & Sons...

A member of Marquette University’s men’s lacrosse team from Western New York was killed in a car accident Friday night, the school...

A Western New York couple is facing charges after authorities say they left their dog locked inside their former house without food or...

For any parent, the nightmare of a missing child can be unbearable. When children disappear, countless dangers exist from getting lost to...

What began as a devastating fight against an insurance denial has turned into a victory for one Western New York family, and a major step...