WBFO Brief

Today’s WBFO Brief looks at fears that the closed Canadian border could hurt the usual boost that stores in Niagara Falls get as we approach Holiday shopping. NYS. And WBFO’s Emyle Watkins has more about a campaign to bring attention to the lack of staff support for disabled people in NYS. Also, Medaille College has started playing on its new athletic facility in South Buffalo, approx. 7 miles removed from the main campus. And from WXXI in Rochester, we hear about yet another effect of the COVID pandemic: A shortage of veterinarians in NYS.

If it’s Friday, it’s Theater Talk. In today’s WBFO Brief, Anthony Chase and Peter Hall chat with Dominique Kempf (Frontier High School, SUNY Fredonia) from the national touring company of TOOTSIE, now at Shea’s, and Albany Correspondent Karen DeWitt looks at 45 days of Governor Kathy Hochul. Also, The Niagara Falls School board has a plan to bring several brawling students back into in-person learning after being sent home since the start of the year and mayoral candidate India Walton confirms that her car was seized by the city Thursday for unpaid parking tickets. And Niagara Falls launches an indigenous peoples’ weekend commemoration, in advance of Columbus Day.

In today’s WBFO Brief, Cartoonist Adam Zyglis says you know you’re from Buffalo if……. your local accent sounds like a sinus infection if your town’s resurgence is a tale of two cities. Hear more from the Buffalo News Cartoonist on the Buffalo maxims in his book, the racial divide here, and yes, the flat Buffalo A. Also, the struggles Black and Multi-cultural businesses face, and how more investment from banks could help Buffalo’s Eastside.And we have an update on the Mercy Hospital strike, a look at the start of the Buffalo International Film Festival, and the new season of the 43 North entrepreneurship contest.

In today’s WBFO Brief, Mercy Hospital RN Tammy Kowalik shares what her concerns are as a striking nurse at Buffalo’s Mercy Hospital. Also, hear the latest on talks between the CWA union and Catholic Health.Also Nanette Massey, author of “Moving Beyond White Fragility”, talks with WBFO’s Thomas O’Neil-White about the need to have whites move out of their comfort zone and talk about the hard issues of race. And from Albany, correspondent Karen DeWitt report on the state’s ethics commission’s review of whether they need to re-examine former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s book deal and the alleged use of NYS staff to help produce it.And in brief, Buffalo City Council honors for the two exonerated members of “The Buffalo 5”, changes at the Cascades paper plant in Niagara Falls to cut back on smells in the neighborhood, and some progress toward the retail sale of cannabis in NYS.

On today's WBFO Brief, New York farms are hoping to gain from supply chain problems affecting many local school districts' food service; Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz releases a proposed budget which includes what he calls the lowest property tax rate since 1960; Talks were set to resume among both sides in the continuing CWA strike against Catholic Health at Mercy Hospital; HEAP opens for applications in Erie County; A new report identifies where tourism stands to improve in Niagara Falls, and the state's Democratic Party chair personally endorses Governor Hochul and urges interested candidates to hold off on primary challenges.

In today’s WBFO Brief, Grandmaster Flash has begun his term as an artist in residence at the University At Buffalo and SUNY Buffalo State. Hear why he thinks hip-hop history has relevant lessons today. Also, Albany Correspondent Karen DeWitt has a look at the possible challengers lining up to primary Gov. Kathy Hochul for a spot as the Democratic candidate on the ballot next year. And hear more from the picket lines where nurses and other workers are on strike at Mercy Hospital and some outside analysis of how long the strike might last.

On today’s WBFO Brief, if it’s Friday, it’s Theater Talk. Today, it’s the return of the Tony Awards (and no, they aren’t named after Anthony Chase). Albany correspondent Karen DeWitt looks ahead to more vaccine mandates coming from the Governor.Also, hear about a parade of people in Niagara Falls to honor lives lost at Indian schools in the United States and Canada, the latest from the picket line outside Mercy Hospital in South Buffalo, and Grandmaster Flash on hip-hop at the start of his residency in Buffalo at U

In today’s WBFO Brief, some WNY moms share a heartbreaking look at the lingering grief over a miscarriage, an ignored part of post-partum depression.In COVID News, hear Dr. Nancy Nielsen MD tell Jay Moran that when it comes to vaccinations fear is a greater motivator than mandates or the desire to see football games. She also looks at testing in schools that is about to launch in Oct. Albany correspondent Karen DeWitt looks at the debate over the statewide mandate for vaccination of health care workers. Also, Ontario correspondent Dan Karpenchuk reports how Ontario is now suggesting that young people take the Pfizer vaccine rather than Moderna, in light of increased cases of myocarditis and pericarditis.Also, a challenge to one of Mayor Byron Brown’s political ads, an update on the struggle as unionized Tops Markets merges with non-union Price Chopper, and a way for veterans to get legal help and other support across WNY.

In today’s WBFO Brief, Hear about the increasing indications that Mercy Hospital will face a strike by CWA workers starting on Friday — and learn what the hospital is already. Also, hear the latest on a Buffalo fundraiser for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his possible presidential bid. And learn about why there are fewer search and rescue missions in the Adirondack mountains these days- but fewer rangers to take care of them.

In today’s WBFO Brief, the possibility of having the National Guard fill in at health care facilities where a statewide COVID vaccine mandate could mean firings. Albany correspondent Karen DeWitt has the latest from Gov. Kathy Hochul and those opposed to her mandate. And reporter Ryan Finnerty looks at some of the 50 legal challenges the mandate – and others like it- face nationwide.Also, WBFO’s Emyle Watkins has an in-depth look at the University of Buffalo’s Learning Institute and what it means for how neurodiverse students and those with ADHD learn.