Categories for Organization News

Mar 4

2022

iPost sues over suppressed stadium records

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Investigative Post filed a lawsuit Monday in state Supreme Court seeking the release of an engineering report that assessed the condition of Highmark Stadium. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz and Pegula Sports and Entertainment have asserted the stadium is in need of replacement. But the county, which commissioned an engineering study completed in 2021, has refused to provide details. The study, conducted by the engineering firm DiDonato Associates, identified problems with the upper deck and water and electrical systems while concluding that the 50-year-old stadium “remains in overall fair to good condition.”  Investigative Post requested a copy of the report[...]

Posted 3 years ago

Feb 22

2022

Scott Levin interview with Jim Heaney

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Editor Jim Heaney discussed the past, present and future of Investigative Post in an interview earlier this week with WGRZ news anchor Scott Levin. Investigative Post marked its 10 year anniversary Tuesday. Heaney, in his seven-minute interview with Levin, described Investigative Post’s place in the local media landscape, outlined his plans to continue to grow his nonprofit news organization, and noted the challenges reporters face these days – namely, stonewalling politicians and bureaucrats contemptuous of the public’s right to know. In addition to watching the interview above, you can read Heaney’s history of Investigative Post at this link.

Posted 3 years ago

Feb 21

2022

Celebrating a decade of muckraking

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A billionaire is pouring money — $15 million the first year of operation alone — to launch a nonprofit news organization in Baltimore.  Five foundations are putting up $20 million to start a similar venture in Houston. Me? I started Investigative Post with my credit card and an understanding wife. It was the fall of 2011. I had just taken a buyout from The Buffalo News, where I had worked for 25 years. I’d had enough. The paper was in the early stages of a downward spiral that continues to this day. I figured I had 10 years left in[...]

Posted 3 years ago

Feb 21

2022

Subscribe to our newsletter for free

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Editor’s note: WeeklyPost is an email newsletter written by Jim Heaney and published Sunday mornings. It recaps our coverage of the previous week and highlights other local, state and national stories that Heaney finds of interest, along with a bit of commentary. If you don’t already subscribe, you can do so at this link. To give you a flavor, here’s a sampling of the “What I’m Reading” section of yesterday’s newsletter. The Buffalo News published some very good pieces last week. Matt Spina reported on how former Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard continues to sponge off taxpayers. Mark Sommer reported on the[...]

Posted 3 years ago

Jan 2

2022

The top iPost story of 2021

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Our best story of 2021, according to an online poll of readers, documented the contamination of local waterways by a nasty strain of bacteria. The waterways, polluted with E. coli, include the Black Rock Canal, the Buffalo River and Cazenovia Creek. Sewage overflows are the source of the problem, according to a report by Phil Gambini, who covers environmental and public health issues for Investigative Post. Other top vote getters included: Geoff Kelly’s report on a rally staged by City Hall patronage employees in support of Byron Brown after the mayor lost the Democratic primary in June. Mark Scheer’s story[...]

Posted 3 years ago

Dec 23

2021

iPost suit prompts release of stadium reports

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Since August, Investigative Post has been pressing Kathy Hochul’s administration to release two studies related to a proposed new stadium for the Buffalo Bills.  The state’s response: We couldn’t possibly. The governor’s people told us the documents, “if disclosed, would impair present or imminent contract awards.” Our response: We filed a lawsuit seeking their release under the state Freedom of Information Law. In the face of that litigation, the Hochul administration Thursday released what appears to be one of the two studies, along with two other documents that may be a portion of the other report we’re suing to obtain.[...]

Posted 3 years ago

Dec 12

2021

Vote for your favorite iPost story

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We’ve been busy muckrakers this year.  We added two reporters, started an education beat, reinstated our environmental beat, reinvigorated our economic development coverage and produced a lot of enterprise reporting on the mayor’s race. As we do every year, we’re asking our readers to vote for their favorite Investigative Post story of 2021. Twelve stories are up for consideration: Analysis of 911 calls finds requests for service in Buffalo have declined, save for a surge in traffic stops, primarily in minority neighborhoods. Link. Deal to bring the first tenant to a rural industrial park in Genesee County involves subsidies that[...]

Posted 3 years ago

Dec 1

2021

iPost sues to obtain Bills stadium studies

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Investigative Post filed a lawsuit in state Supreme Court today seeking the release of two studies that are central to negotiations involving a proposed new stadium for the Buffalo Bills. Both studies were commissioned by Pegula Sports and Entertainment, which is affiliated with the Bills, and shared with Empire State Development, the state’s primary economic development agency.  One study considered the feasibility of building a new stadium or renovating Highmark Stadium, the cost of doing so, and the possible location of a new venue. The other study evaluated the economic impact of the Bills and other sports and entertainment holdings[...]

Posted 3 years ago
Investigative Post