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Aug 20

2024

The militias of the Radical Right

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Private paramilitary activity is illegal, in New York and across the nation.  Nevertheless, there are more than an estimated dozen militias active in the Empire State, and countless more elsewhere in the United States. These militias believe they’re entitled to use violence to advance their agenda, which is aligned with America’s Radical Right. Western New York is home to perhaps the movement’s most infamous figures, Timothy McVeigh, whose bombing of a federal office building in 1995 killed 168 people and injured 680. That bombing helped expedite the growth of the militia movement. ProPublica reported last week on one of the[...]

Posted 8 months ago

Aug 16

2024

Infographic: Wealth and poverty in our communities

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Poverty remains a problem in upstate New York cities. Latest Census Bureau estimates show poverty is twice the state rate in the largest upstate cities and median household incomes are barely half of statewide earnings in some of the urban centers. Median is defined as half are above and half are below. Highest median household incomes — all upwards of $100,000 — in Erie County, according to 2022 estimates, are in Clarence, Grand Island, and Orchard Park. The lowest  — all in the mid to low $40,000 range — are in Buffalo and Lackawanna as well as the Cattaraugus Reservation,[...]

Posted 9 months ago

Aug 15

2024

Four judgeships, four cross-endorsed candidates

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New York State Assemblyman Michael J. Norris. Photo provided. Story updated 1:35 p.m. today. A New York state assemblyman from Niagara County, who struck immunity from prosecution deals as part of criminal investigations in the past,  is in line for a new job as a state Supreme Court judge.  Assemblyman Mike Norris, R-Lockport, said in an interview earlier this month that he intended to seek reelection this year, but the Niagara Gazette learned Wednesday that he is one of four state Supreme Court nominees cross-endorsed by Republicans and Democrats this week. Niagara County Republican Committee Chairman Richard Andres confirmed Wednesday[...]

Posted 9 months ago

Aug 15

2024

The Evolution of Education Systems: Historical Perspectives and Modern Trends

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Education has always been a big part of human life. From the earliest days when people gathered under trees to share knowledge, to today’s modern classrooms and online lessons, education keeps changing with the times. These changes reflect what society values and how people live and work. In the past, learning was often limited to small groups, and many people never had the chance to go to school. Today, education is more open to everyone, but challenges still remain. Let’s take a closer look at how education systems have grown and changed over time. History Education has a long history.[...]

Posted 9 months ago

Aug 14

2024

New Tesla deal slashes penalties, ups rent

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New York State officials are prepared to slash penalties on Tesla in coming years, even if the company fails to hire enough workers at its South Buffalo plant and across the state. Under the company’s current arrangement with the state, Tesla must employ 1,460 workers in Buffalo and 2,000 statewide or else pay a $41 million fine. That deal, however, expires this year. According to details of a draft agreement, which could run through 2034, Tesla must employ 1,800 in Buffalo and 3,000 statewide. The current penalty will stay in place through 2029 but will drop to $10 million after[...]

Posted 9 months ago

Aug 13

2024

Summer fun drops student reading scores

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Students board a school bus outside of Buffalo’s Waterfront Elementary. Photo by Garrett Looker. Educators call it the “summer slide.” In the spring of 2023, almost 41 percent of Buffalo students in kindergarten through third grade were reading at — or above — grade level. But when those students returned to school in the fall — as first through fourth graders — some of their reading skills had fallen: 34.5 percent reached their benchmark. The 6-point drop is the summer slide, a few points steeper than the typical loss in recent years. And, an Investigative Post analysis found, it primarily[...]

Posted 9 months ago

Aug 12

2024

Free speech may not be as popular as the Buffalo Bills

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Mark Sommer of The Buffalo News has a good read on a new policy imposed by the Chautauqua Institute that stifles demonstrations, apparently out of fear that protesters  advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza might show up at their gated community. (No one has.)  Some folks are OK with the move, others are not, accusing the institute of betraying its  self-proclaimed support of democracy and free speech. On one hand, the move is kind of surprising, given Chautauqua’s reputation.  Then again, a lot of Democrats, including big city mayors who cracked down on Gaza demonstrators on college campuses this spring,[...]

Posted 9 months ago

Aug 9

2024

Infographic: Fatal crashes in Buffalo-Niagara

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For a while, traffic fatalies were dropping – locally and nationally. Then came the pandemic. Traffic deaths went up. In some communities, including Erie and Niagara counties, they stayed up, even once COVID cooled down. Motor vehicle crashes in Erie and Niagara counties killed 683 people in the 10-year period from 2013 to 2022, with victims including motorists, passengers, bicyclists and pedestrians. In 2022, the most recent year finalized data is available, there were 78 fatal accidents, killing 88 people in Erie and Niagara counties. (Preliminary data indicates fatal accidents remained high in Erie County in 2023,  but dropped in[...]

Posted 9 months ago
Investigative Post