Anchored by Tom Schuh
A Marine from Buffalo is among the most recent fallen soldiers in Afghanistan. Twenty-five-year-old Sergeant Frank World died yesterday when an improvised explosive device detonated. World’s family says he joined the Marine Corps after graduating from Riverside Institute of Technology. He leaves behind a wife, a three-year-old son and a two-month-old daughter that he had never met.
Hundreds of families on Buffalo’s East Side got special gifts yesterday. A pair of semi-trucks packed with food and supplies from Feed The Children made deliveries. Each family received food, household items and a box of Avon products. Members of the Faith Bible Tabernacle helped to organize the event and distribute goods.
Buffalo police are asking for the public’s help in a fatal drive-by shooting. 27-year-old Thomas Garland Jr. was gunned down Thursday afternoon on Fillmore Avenue. Investigators say a car pulled up next to the man and someone began firing. Police are searching for a late 1990’s car, possibly a green Pontiac Bonneville with spoilers on the back. Anyone with information is urged to call the tipline at 847-2255
A Buffalo man has been convicted of killing another in what authorities say was a lover’s triangle. 36-year-old Hector Gonzalez was found guilty of shooting 23-year-old Edwin LaSalle in the head on Auburn Avenue last July. U.S. marshals tracked Gonzalez down to his native Puerto Rico two weeks after the shooting. Gonzalez was convicted in a non-jury trial. Prosecutors say they will recommend the maximum of 25 years to life when Gonzalez is sentenced April 29th. Defense attorneys plan to appeal the conviction.
As talk of dissolving local governments sweeps across Western New York, officials in the town and village of Orchard Park joined forces this week to talk. At a joint meeting Wednesday, the town and village boards discussed what might happen if residents were to vote to dissolve the village. The village water supply would need to be modified to join up with the Erie County Water Authority. Other issues include use of union and non-union employees, and leaf and brush removal services. Some board members question if dissolving the village might be more costly considering the expense of combining services.
Governor David Paterson is taking on the state’s government workers with the state facing a nine-billion-dollar deficit. The governor is asking the state employees to forego a four-percent raise that is scheduled to take effect later this month. 120-thousand state workers would accept a wage freeze under the proposal. But union leaders plan to sue if the governor implements a pay freeze. The governor is also raising the possibly of laying off workers. This is the fourth consecutive year New York has not passed an on-time budget.
Hard times for state park enthusiasts: New York is raising fees at state beaches, parks and golf courses in order to raise an additional four-million dollars in revenue. Parking fees at beaches will increase by two dollars, parking fees at state parks will increase by one to two dollars, and a round of golf will rise by as much as three dollars. Plus, 57 parks and historic sites will be shut down.
A blast from the past hits the roads this month in New York. Retro “Empire Gold” license plates will have dark yellow and blue colors from the 1970s and 1980s. The state Department of Motor Vehicles is phasing out the current white plates with an image of the Statue of Liberty and Niagara Falls. The DMV is also raising the price for a new two plate set to 25 dollars, up from 15.
Governor Paterson, and all other state officials, are now working without pay. The state budget deadline expired yesterday. By law, state lawmakers won’t get a paycheck until a budget is approved. Paterson signed an emergency provision to keep the government operating for two weeks.
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Governor Paterson may not call a special election after all for the 29th Congressional District. Aides say the cost of holding a special election may put a burden on the counties affected, and military voters overseas may not have enough time to cast absentee ballots. Republicans say the Governor is playing politics because Democrats don’t have a strong candidate. The seat was vacated by Eric Massa, who resigned following allegations of inappropriate behavior with staff members. If a special election is not called, the seat would remain open until the November election.
