WBFO Brief

A preview of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s first ever budget address with correspondent Karen DeWitt reporting she’s ready to use a surplus to help small business, fight COVID, and increase health care and child care spending. Also today, a look at the state’s environmental goals , and Siena Poll’s annual survey of race relations shows more New Yorkers’ feel the state of race relations, has improved marginally since last year. BTW there was a snowfall record, ( 16.2 inches) at the airport weather station Monday

Snow, some Martin Luther King Jr Day observances despite the snow, a look at selfies as a Parkinson's diagnosis tool, and the return to in person school in Ontario.

If it’s Friday, It’s Theater Talk— today with Theater of Youth taking the unprecedented step of hiring swings, understudies and others to make sure the show goes on, despite COVID-19. Also Canadian truckers face COVID testing, and there’s an effort in Albany to create a version of the Child Victims Act, that would give adults a one year look-back to file civil lawsuits against their sexual abusers

Today, hear Dr. Nancy Nielsen MD say “We are not out of the woods yet. (COVID) Hospitalizations continue to rise… and deaths continue to rise, but not to where they were a year ago, before vaccines.” Also, the battle over preserving the Great Northern grain elevator has prompted a new inspections proposal from the Buffalo Common Council. And the Seneca Nation has agreed to settle it’s dispute with NYS over casino revenue.

Hear from a formerly compulsive gambler who has concerns about the state’s new online sports betting. Also The WNY Disability community has hope for Gov. Kathy Hochul, and likes a change in tone they saw in her State of The State address. Hear about a push in Albany for parole reform to help people of color, Ontario recruiting internationally trained nurses to deal with a shortage during COVID, and fears about the end of the eviction moratorium this weekend.

A paramedic shortage is rising in Ontario, Williamsville has voted to not impose or enforce any other COVID masking mandates, and the state senate looks at voter access in NYS. Also, freshly counted votes show Starbucks workers have unionized another Buffalo-area location, and the ATF is expected to have a report on the Buffalo grand arson by the end of the week.

The Buffalo Bills season ends with the team atop the AFC East, and analyst Matt Sabuda has concerns about a slow to start offense. Also, inside a co-ed boxing program designed to help build community and provide basic physical conditioning. And from Albany, former Gov. Cuomo’s appearance before a city court judge on sexual harassment charges.

If it’s Friday, It’s Theater Talk. Today check your tickets, shows have been cancelled. Also, bail reform and restoration of the Kensington Expressway in the spotlight after Gov. Hochul’s State of the State address. Also, Hochul’s plans on aging, and ethics reform get the DeWitt and Dinki in-depth treatment.

As WBFO’s Tom Dinki looks back on the Capitol attacks last year, we learn the six people from Erie County charged by the Dept. of Justice for storming the Capitol, rank us fourth in the nation in having participants charged. Also Karen DeWitt on Gov. Hochul’s infrastructure, tax cut and health care plans. And hear Dr. Nancy Nielsen MD say “It’s really hard to justify why people aren’t getting vaccinated” against COVID.

Hear VOICE Buffalo’s Jerome Wright say “You age more in prison than on the outside”, as he talks about an elder parole bill in Albany. Also,for the first time ever, a woman will deliver New York State’s State of The State message. We look at what that could mean in terms of the issues that Gov. Kathy Hochul raises today