Man accused of rape given deadline to plead guilty
LOCKPORT – Isaac L. McDonald, a Niagara Falls man accused of raping a 15-year-old girl last year, was told Thursday by Niagara County Judge Sara Sheldon Farkas that he if he doesn’t make a plea deal...
View ArticleSex offender avoids prison for failure to register
LOCKPORT – A Level 1 sex offender who failed to inform police when he moved within Niagara Falls last year was granted a conditional discharge Thursday by Niagara County Judge Matthew J. Murphy...
View ArticleNiagara Health Dept. seeks more security amid wandering patients
LOCKPORT – More security is needed after hours at the headquarters building of the Niagara County Health Department, Public Health Director Daniel J. Stapleton told the Board of Health on Thursday.The...
View ArticleMetro Rail extension eyed to shuttle workers to Medical Campus
The sprawling Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus taking shape at the north end of downtown is expected to employ about 17,500 people in five years – but without anywhere near 17,500 parking spots.That’s...
View ArticleAccused killer rejects plea, may argue self-defense
LOCKPORT – Darius M. Belton, a Niagara Falls man charged with shooting his uncle to death, rejected a plea offer Thursday in Niagara County Court.His attorney, Angelo Musitano, said the proposed...
View ArticleSenate rejects rival bids to avert sequester
WASHINGTON – Squabbling away the hours, the Senate on Thursday swatted aside last-ditch plans to block $85 billion in broad-based federal spending reductions as President Obama and Republicans blamed...
View ArticleChurch Notes / News of area faith groups
The 114th annual novena of grace in honor of St. Francis Xavier will be held in St. Michael Church, 651 Washington St., Monday through March 12.Weekday novena prayer services will be held during...
View ArticleSearch for jumper at Grand Island bridge proves unsuccessful
Grand Island firemen, state police and Erie County Sheriff’s deputies on Friday investigated a report that someone had jumped off one of the South Grand Island Bridges.The report was received at 9:40...
View ArticleMan pleads not guilty to indictment over beating
LOCKPORT – A Niagara Falls father of five was arraigned Friday in Niagara County Court on charges that he beat a man with an expandable police baton after a disagreement between his daughter and the...
View ArticleConvicted robber admits to Falls shooting
LOCKPORT – Michael D. Agee, who is awaiting sentencing March 14 for two armed robberies, pleaded guilty Friday to shooting a man who was sitting in a parked car July 14 on Eighth Street in Niagara...
View ArticleMan indicted on charges of pot growing, gun possession
LOCKPORT – A Cambria man, arrested after a Sept. 7 raid on his home, pleaded not guilty Friday in Niagara County Court to charges that he was growing marijuana and had an illegal handgun.Kevin L....
View ArticleGunman placed on probation, at least for now
LOCKPORT – A man who took part in a June 22 shootout in Niagara Falls was placed on six months’ interim probation Friday, to give Niagara County Judge Sara Sheldon Farkas more time to decide what to...
View ArticleLawsuit seeks to invalidate Niagara SPCA election
WHEATFIELD – A lawsuit against the SPCA of Niagara seeks to clean house at the agency – again.The lawsuit, filed Thursday in State Supreme Court by attorney Peter A. Reese on behalf of his wife and...
View ArticleFalls Heritage Area offers grants
NIAGARA FALLS – The Niagara Falls National Heritage Area announced a grant program Friday, offering awards from $2,000 to $10,000 for eligible groups.Those are to provide grants to nonprofit entities,...
View ArticleOfficials honor Olcott firefighters for lake rescue
OLCOTT – Olcott firefighters have received citations from local officials for their rescue of seven passengers from a 16-foot motorboat that sank in Lake Ontario last summer.Two adults and five...
View ArticleRed Cross assisted 110 after fires in February
The American Red Cross Serving Erie & Niagara Counties provided emergency assistance to 110 people following 21 fires in the two counties during February, chief programs officer Kenneth Turner...
View ArticleLocal governments group opposes gun-control law
A group representing local governments in Erie County is supporting calls to repeal the state’s new gun- control law.At its monthly meeting Thursday, the Association of Erie County Governments went on...
View ArticleConvenience store robber to serve up to 15 years
LOCKPORT – A Niagara Falls man who robbed as many as six convenience stores in western Niagara County last fall led a parade of robbers and other thieves past the Niagara County Court bench...
View ArticleSequestration cuts go into effect, have little local impact
Dramatic federal budget cuts of 13 percent for defense and 9 percent for most other programs took effect Friday, and the world did not end.Instead, traffic flowed normally at the Peace Bridge,...
View ArticleNews publication WNY Refresh will make its debut next Saturday
The Buffalo News next Saturday plans to launch a new “Gusto-style” publication focused on health and fitness, nutrition and family matters.It will be called WNY Refresh.The new Saturday morning news...
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