Jun 18
2014
Investigative Post editor Jim Heaney discusses the SolarCity deal, and the thinking behind the Buffalo Billion initiative, with WGRZ’s Danny Spewak in a 6 minute, 42 second interview taped Tuesday evening.
Jun 3
2014
President Obama’s Power Plant Rule requires power plants to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent by 2030, using 2005 emissions as the baseline. “But Environmental Protection Agency data shows that the nation’s power plants already have reduced carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 13 percent since 2005, or about halfway to the goal,” the AP reports. This rule alone would make a small improvement on global warming. But when this effort is coupled with Obama’s rule to reduce carbon dioxide from cars and trucks by doubling fuel economy, there is a much bigger gain. Five things you must know about[...]
May 16
2014
Chris Johnston, chairman of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency, has dug in his heels in the face of questions regarding his suspension and resignation from his private sector job. Johnston rejected a request from John Mills, chairman of the Erie County Legislature, to appear Wednesday before the Government Affairs Committee to answer questions about his departure last month from the World Trade Center of Buffalo Niagara. Johnston was suspended in late March in the midst of an internal review of trade center finances. He resigned in early April. Johnston told Mills in a letter that he would only answer[...]
May 14
2014
The bottom line is there won’t be any swimming this summer at Gallagher Beach off Route 5 in South Buffalo. Instead, state officials announced Monday that testing will continue through the spring and summer. Last fall, Investigative Post reported about potential water contamination at Gallagher Beach, where U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Byron Brown had hoped to open for swimming this summer. Three weeks after the story aired, the state agreed to test the water, soil and harbor floor. The testing, which was conducted over just a few days in late October, found a couple of potential concerns.[...]
May 5
2014
Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard has purchased equipment capable of snooping on citizens, but won’t discuss his surveillance program. An explosive report by Michael Wooten of WGRZ.
Apr 30
2014
Investigative Post editor discusses his recent reporting on the Buffalo Common Council and Erie County Legislature with 103.3, The Edge.
Apr 16
2014
Carl Paladino has survived a legal challenge that sought his removal from the Board of Education. Joan Simmons, a city resident upset with Paladino’s conduct on the board, petitioned state Education Commissioner John King in late November seeking Paladino’s removal just five months after taking office. “He has done nothing since July but create havoc, tension and animosity,” Simmons told Investigative Post earlier this week. “He is an unnecessary, destructive distraction to the board.” Paladino filed affidavits in December that contended Simmons’ petition lacked merit. King rejected the petition in a March 12 ruling that press outlets have not reported[...]
Apr 16
2014
Allegany Wind LLC wants to build a wind farm with 29 turbines in Cattaraugus County but needed an extension of its special use permit after a bout of legal challenges. The town of Allegany declined the extension, setting off another lawsuit. The courts sided with the town. A report by Great Lakes Echo.