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Aug 2

2021

Popular waterways contaminated by bacteria 

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E. coli is a nasty waterborne bacteria that can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Authorities close beaches when levels exceed safety limits. But they’re doing next to nothing about unsafe readings in other local waterways. There’s a particular problem with the Black Rock Canal, popular with fishermen, the occasional swimmer and, most notably, the West Side Rowing Club and high school and college crew teams. E. coli readings consistently exceed safe limits — by up to 14 times — established by the federal government. “There are people coming in contact with water with E. coli from human feces every single day,”[...]

Posted 4 years ago

Jan 1

2019

Probe into cop drowning voted top story of ’18

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An investigation by Daniela Porat that documented how Buffalo police put diver Craig Lehner in harm’s way was voted by readers as Investigative Post’s best story of 2018. Porat’s deeply researched story reported that Lehner, who drowned during a training exercise in October 2017, was not sufficiently trained and equipped to handle the swift currents of the Niagara River. Wrote Porat: “Trainees for swift water diving elsewhere typically start out in water moving somewhere between 1 and 4 knots, or under 5 miles per hour. But the Niagara River on the day Lehner trained – and drowned – was moving[...]

Posted 6 years ago

May 29

2018

Scajaquada project gets $600,000 boost

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Crews are in the homestretch of a seven year project to restore the stretch of Scajaquada Creek that flows through Forest Lawn Cemetery. That work got a boost Tuesday with an announcement that the state, with the support of Senator Chris Jacobs and Assembly Member Sean Ryan, has committed $600,000 to restore nearly four acres of wetlands in the cemetery adjacent to the S curves on Delaware Avenue. Work on the entire $6.8 million project is scheduled to wrap up by the end of the year, provided the final $700,000 in necessary funding is secured. The work will modestly help[...]

Posted 7 years ago

Mar 26

2018

Telvock leaves Investigative Post

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Award-winning environmental reporter Dan Telvock has left Investigative Post. Telvock, perhaps best known for his reporting on the polluted Scajaquada Creek and lead-poisoning among inner-city children, is joining WIVB, Channel 4, as investigative producer. “Dan was the first reporter I hired after I started Investigative Post and he’s been a big reason for our success,” said Investigative Post Editor Jim Heaney. “He’s won more than his share of journalism awards, but more importantly, his reporting had a huge impact in the community.” Said Telvock: “My six years at Investigative Post are among the most memorable and rewarding of my 18-year career.[...]

Posted 7 years ago

Feb 2

2018

Scajaquada among state’s unhealthiest creeks

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 The state Department of Environmental Conservation’s National Heritage Program released new data that shows Scajaquada Creek is part of a series of connecting streams and rivers that ranks 11th unhealthiest in the state. The designation might help bring additional funding for clean up. Both Cheektowaga and the Buffalo Sewer Authority will spend in total more than $140 million to upgrade sewer systems that pollute the creek. The sewer systems in these two localities spew a half-billion gallons of sewage into Scajaquada Creek each year. For Cheektowaga, it will take about a decade to complete the sewer repairs and a few[...]

Posted 7 years ago

Jan 6

2018

Police misconduct voted top story of ’17

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Readers have voted Daniela Porat’s story about misconduct by Buffalo police as Investigative Post’s best story of 2017. Buffalo police who cross the line, published and broadcast Sept. 20, documented how the department’s Strike Force and Housing Unit conduct illegal searches and sometimes submit dubious testimony. Defense attorneys described some officers as “vigilantes” with a “cowboy mentality.” Reported Porat: “I think they have a complete disregard for the Constitution of the United States, and most importantly, the Fourth Amendment,” said Michael Stachowski, a Buffalo defense attorney. “They just seem to roust kids in the street, chase people, and hope they[...]

Posted 7 years ago

Dec 19

2017

Vote for best Investigative Post story of 2017

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Investigative Post produced another bumper crop of hard-hitting stories in 2017. The best ones? We’ll leave that up to you readers to decide. Dan Telvock continued his relentless coverage of lead poisoning in Buffalo’s inner-city, radioactive contamination in Niagara County and pollution along Scajaquada Creek. Charlotte Keith exposed yet more wrongdoing and broken promises involving the Buffalo Billion. Daniela Porat documented abuse and other shortcomings in the Buffalo Police Department. Investigative Post Editor Jim Heaney selected 10 stories for consideration as the best of 2017. They include, in no particular order: Entrepreneurs take state grants and flee WNY (43North) Buffalo[...]

Posted 7 years ago

Dec 14

2017

More progress for Scajaquada Creek

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Two Western New York communities will get almost $6 million from the state for projects that will reduce the amount of untreated sewage spewing into Scajaquada Creek. The Western New York Regional Economic Development Council awarded the Town of Cheektowaga $5 million. The town will use the funding to repair damaged sewer pipes that get inundated with stormwater, which causes untreated sewage to be discharged into the creek. In addition, the Village of Depew received a total of $780,000 for two sewer-related projects. One of the projects will reduce untreated sewage from entering Scajaquada Creek by repairing damaged sewer lines and storage[...]

Posted 7 years ago