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Sep 11

2014

Some perspective on Pegula’s purchase of Bills

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My buddy Jerry Sullivan, reacting to the news that Terry and Kim Pegula purchased the Buffalo Bills, wrote that Tuesday was “a day for people to cry and embrace … in communal joy, relief and celebration.” Well, I was happy to hear the news, but mostly for different reasons than what Sully had in mind. Pegula’s purchase means we’ll no longer be bombarded with stories speculating whether the Bills will leave town. The hand wringing has been going on for more than a decade, speculation passing as reporting, and it’s behind us now. Which frees the press to report on[...]

Posted 11 years ago

Sep 9

2014

Investigative Post launching event series

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You’ve seen us on screens of all sizes: laptops, televisions, cell phones. Now there’s an opportunity to interact with Investigative Post face to face. Western New York’s only news organization dedicated exclusively to watchdog journalism is hosting 15 events through next June. The series, entitled “At Issue,” is geared towards providing the public with thought-provoking events focused on important issues. Events include: Investigative Post journalists discussing their work and engaging experts and audiences on the issues they cover. A film series dealing with important issues confronting journalism, held at the Burchfield Penney Art Center, and followed by an informative discussion with[...]

Posted 11 years ago

Sep 4

2014

Progress on Scajaquada Creek pollution

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After years of inaction, local and state officials are acting to stem the flow of sewage overflows into the badly polluted Scajaquada Creek. Following a series of stories by Investigative Post last month that aired on WGRZ and published in Artvoice: The Buffalo Sewer Authority, which treats Cheektowaga’s sewage, proposed several options to reduce the flow of untreated sewage into the creek after heavy and moderate rains. The most promising option could cut the volume of overflows by about half, according to town Supervisor Mary Holtz. Town of Cheektowaga has retained an engineering firm to develop a new blueprint to[...]

Posted 11 years ago

Aug 13

2014

Scajaquada Jack revisited

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About that five feet of sewer sludge in sections of Scajaquada Creek. Yeah, I know, it’s gross, but I did find someone who has walked in it.  However, the details didn’t get into the main story about the badly polluted creek. Enter Frank Poincelot, a former Buffalo animal control officer. I tracked him down and here is what was cut from the final edit of the main story: Poincelot and his former colleagues were led on a wild four-day hunt for Scajaquada Jack, a four-foot caiman released into the creek in the summer of 2001. The caiman hunt garnered a ton[...]

Posted 11 years ago

Aug 8

2014

Toxic algae blooms not in eastern Lake Erie

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The toxic algae blooms in western Lake Erie that led to a shut down of the public water supply in Toledo, Ohio for a weekend have not reached the Buffalo area. That’s according to the Erie County Health Department, which this week tested a dozen spots, including four samples at two public water intakes. The health department says that microcystin, the toxin released from some algae blooms, was not detected at any of the 12 spots. Sites tested were: Sturgeon Point intakes (2), Buffalo intakes (2), Hamburg Beach, Woodlawn Beach, Evans (Lake Erie Beach, Evans Town Park, Bennett Beach, Wendt Beach), Brant[...]

Posted 11 years ago
Investigative Post