Western NY News Now

(WNY News Now) – Landowners in Chautauqua County have until January 31, 2025, to submit requests to include viable agricultural land in the county’s certified agricultural district. This annual opportunity allows landowners to secure the benefits and protections of the district. JAMESTOWN, N.Y. – Per New York State Agriculture and ... read more

(WNY News Now) – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announces a significant win for 9/11 responders and survivors with the inclusion of crucial World Trade Center Health Program funding in the year-end spending package, preventing an imminent funding shortfall. Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement on the ... read more

(WNY News Now) – BUFFALO, NY — The National Weather Service (NWS) in Buffalo has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for several counties in Western New York. The advisory is in effect from 7 a.m. today through 6 a.m. Saturday, warning residents of significant snowfall and hazardous driving conditions. Snowfall ... read more

(WNY News Now) – New Yorkers can now savor fair access to their favorite eateries as Governor Hochul targets the ‘black market’ for restaurant reservations with groundbreaking legislation. Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation to crack down on the ‘black market’ for restaurant reservations. The bill prohibits third-party restaurant reservation ... read more

(WNY News Now) – Attorney General Letitia James has secured a $500,000 settlement from Noblr, an auto insurance company, for failing to protect the sensitive personal information of over 80,000 New Yorkers. NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today secured $500,000 from auto insurance company, Noblr, for failing ... read more

(WNY News Now) – HARRISBURG, PA – Nine individuals face charges in connection with a $20 million Medicaid and Medicare fraud scheme allegedly orchestrated through a South Philadelphia pharmacy, Broad Street Family Pharmacy. HARRISBURG — Attorney General Michelle Henry announced charges against nine individuals regarding a $20 million Medicaid and ... read more

(WNY News Now) – HARRISBURG, PA — A former psychologist from the State College area, Richard Lenhart, 63, has been sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison for the repeated sexual assault of a young girl over an eight-year span. Richard Lenhart, 63, of Bellefonte, was found guilty in ... read more

(WNY News Now) – With overnight temperatures forecasted to dip below freezing, Lockport Mayor Michelle Lombardi has extended a Code Blue alert through December 23 to protect the city’s most vulnerable residents. As freezing temperatures settle over Lockport, a Code Blue alert has been declared to ensure that those without ... read more

(WNY News Now) – A coordinated drug task force operation in Jamestown uncovered stolen firearms, high-capacity magazines, and methamphetamine, resulting in the arrest of two local residents. JAMESTOWN, NY — On December 16, 2024, at approximately 2:30 p.m., a search warrant executed at 216 Forest Avenue, Apartment 1, by the ... read more

(WNY News Now) – A former Buffalo police officer has been sentenced for orchestrating a fraudulent auto theft claim. BUFFALO, NY — Dewayne Raye, a 35-year-old former Buffalo police officer, was sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge in Erie County Court today after pleading guilty to insurance fraud charges. Acting ... read more

Mobile Users Click Here For Video (WNY News Now) – Hochul Highlights State-Wide Inflation Refund Proposal to Boost New Yorkers’ Finances. Governor Kathy Hochul walked with shoppers at the Crossgates Shopping Mall in Albany to discuss her first proposal for the 2025 State of State’s affordability agenda — New York State’s ... read more

(WNY News Now) – Governor Kathy Hochul announces a major achievement for the I-81 Viaduct Project, as the New York State Department of Transportation’s Local Hire Initiative earns top honors in the Transportation Research Board’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Video Competition. Governor Kathy Hochul announced that a video produced by ... read more

(WNY News Now) – A two-month narcotics investigation culminated in a search warrant execution at 107 Lincoln Ave., resulting in multiple arrests and the seizure of drugs, cash, and paraphernalia. DUNKIRK, NY — In a decisive effort to combat local narcotics activity, law enforcement executed a search warrant at 107 ... read more

(WNY News Now) – A collaborative investigation into suspected narcotics activity in the Town of Ellicott has led to the arrest of three individuals and the seizure of drugs, weapons, and cash. ELLICOTT, NY – A months-long investigation into narcotics activity at 185 E. Livingston Avenue concluded on December 18, ... read more

(WNY News Now) – New Yorkers are urged to protect their digital privacy as warnings of coordinated attacks on U.S. wireless networks resurface. Attorney General Letitia James offers essential tips for safeguarding personal information when using mobile messaging apps. NEW YORK – New York State Attorney General Letitia James today ... read more

(WNY News Now) – ROCHESTER, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced on Wednesday that Jacob Brewer, 31, of Elmira, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with attempted enticement of a minor, attempted receipt of illegal images of children, and attempted possession of illegal images of children, ... read more

(WNY News Now) – A prior felon in Buffalo, NY, is returning to prison after federal investigators uncovered a fentanyl trafficking operation during a routine probation visit. BUFFALO, N.Y.—Alexis Javier Centeno-Baez, 30, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison following his conviction for possession with intent to distribute over ... read more

(WNY News Now) – HARRISBURG – The Office of Attorney General Michelle Henry announced the winners of the 28th Annual Drug-Free Calendar Contest, showcasing powerful artwork created by fifth-grade students across Pennsylvania. In October, which is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, fifth-grade students across the Commonwealth were encouraged to create ... read more

Three Arrested After Traffic Stop Uncovers Meth, Fentanyl, Firearms, and More (WNY News Now) – On Tuesday, December 17, 2024, a routine traffic stop by Dunkirk Police led to a significant narcotics and firearms seizure, resulting in the arrest of three individuals. The incident occurred at approximately 9:43 PM on ... read more

(WNY News Now) – A late-night street check on Jamestown’s north side ended in a foot chase and the apprehension of a 19-year-old local resident with an active arrest warrant. On December 19, 2024, at approximately 1:07 a.m., officers from the Jamestown Police Department’s 3rd Platoon initiated a routine street ... read more

Emotional distress is a significant and often overlooked consequence of personal injuries. While physical harm is visible and easier to document, emotional suffering can be just as debilitating and longer-lasting. Claims for emotional distress are becoming more common in personal injury cases as victims increasingly recognize the impact of accidents ... read more

(WNY News Now) – Rochester, N.Y. – Michael Elmore, 33, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in an altercation that claimed the life of Genesee County Sheriff’s Sergeant Thomas Sanfratello. Elmore pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated manslaughter stemming from a March 10 incident at Batavia ... read more

(WNY News Now) – A Rochester man is facing multiple charges after allegedly calling 911 to stage a robbery and assaulting a responding officer in an unprovoked attack. ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A Rochester man, Brandon Volpe, 37, has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a violent altercation with police ... read more

(WNY News Now) – An Amherst man has been sentenced to 10 years in state prison for the killing of his mother during a domestic dispute. Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announced that Om D. Samant, 36, received the minimum sentence permissible under a plea agreement for ... read more

(WNY News Now) – A Niagara Falls man admitted to sexually assaulting two victims in separate incidents, pleading guilty to two counts of Attempted Rape in the First Degree. LOCKPORT, NY — Gregory Noonan, 25, of Niagara Falls, has pleaded guilty in Niagara County Court to two counts of Attempted ... read more

(WNY News Now) – A federal grand jury has charged six individuals with a scheme to steal used restaurant cooking oil, a commodity in demand for biodiesel fuel production, in a multi-state operation. ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Six men are facing federal charges for allegedly conspiring to steal and resell used ... read more

Passenger Turned Fugitive Escapes Custody in Patrol Car, Faces Up to 7 Years in Prison (WNY News Now) – A Brant man has pleaded guilty to stealing a New York State Police vehicle and leading authorities on a dangerous pursuit while under arrest for a warrant. Bryan D. Ells, 41, ... read more

(WNY News Now) – Buffalo, NY — A Buffalo man has been sentenced to 16 years in state prison for the fatal stabbing of a 49-year-old on the city’s West Side. Timothy A. Austin, 37, received the sentence in Erie County Court on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. Judge Sheila A. ... read more

(WNY News Now) – A teenager suspected of a hit-and-run that left an 89-year-old man injured in Derby has voluntarily turned himself in, according to the Town of Evans Police Department. The 17-year-old, a resident of the Town of Evans, is cooperating with detectives and faces charges for leaving the ... read more

(WNY News Now) – Brooklyn, NY — A 24-year-old man has been charged in connection with an October crash that claimed the life of an Uber driver on the Belt Parkway, police announced Tuesday. Fitzroy Moore faces charges of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, assault, reckless endangerment, reckless driving, and speeding ... read more