Samantha Christmann

Different rules govern Erie County's fleet of vehicles. The Legislature might change that An Erie County audit found big problems with how the county assigns and monitors use of taxpayer-funded vehicles. Now the Legislature is tasked with creating a new policy.

The big barrier to reforming government policies regarding employees being given take-home cars, access to free gas etc. isn't just updating a policy; it's ensuring the policy applies to everyone. How the Erie County, NY Legislature is wrestling with that:

Massive data center project in Genesee County revising incentives request After withdrawing a previous proposal, Dallas-based Stream has said it wants to build a data center campus in the town of Alabama that would double the project's square footage, to 2.2 million square feet, and would use twice as much power.

After withdrawing a previous proposal, Dallas-based Stream has said it wants to build a data center campus in the town of Alabama that would double the project's square footage, to 2.2 million square feet, and would use twice as much power.

Sentence of time served and $250,000 fine ends Buffalo Billion bid-rigging case against Ciminelli The corruption case against Louis P. Ciminelli – which spanned a decade and spawned a legal challenge that reached the U.S. Supreme Court – has ended with no additional prison time, but a $250,000 fin...

Time served and a $250k fine.

Tempur-Pedic, Warby Parker, North Face shops set for Amherst's Station Twelve The retailers, along with a relocated Black & Blue Steak and Crab restaurant, are the latest tenants announced for the Station Twelve development in Amherst.

The retailers, along with a relocated Black & Blue Steak and Crab restaurant, are the latest tenants announced for the Station Twelve development in Amherst.
buffalonews.com/news/local/b...

Servers sue Hyatt Regency Buffalo over alleged wage theft A class-action lawsuit filed by two Hyatt banquet servers claims the Hyatt Regency Buffalo improperly kept almost half of banquet servers' tips for the past nearly seven years.

The state has very strict rules on how service charges are presented and divided. Hyatt ran afoul of those rules for years, the suit says.

buffalonews.com/news/local/b...

Judge Restricts Immigration Agents’ Actions Toward Minnesota Protesters A federal judge ordered agents not to retaliate against people “engaging in peaceful and unobstructive protest activity” in the state and not to stop drivers who are not “forcibly obstructing” officers.

Breaking News: A federal judge ordered immigration agents not to retaliate against people engaging in peaceful protests in Minnesota, among other restrictions.

Erie County study costing $481,000 finally to be released – long after first requested and paid for It has taken more than three years to deliver a costly Erie County disparity study that was supposed to take 12 months. But county leaders say it's finally ready.

The Erie County Legislature wanted to make it easier for women and minority-owned businesses to be awarded county contracts. The county spent nearly $481,000 on a study to figure that out three years ago. So why isn't it done yet? That story: buffalonews.com/news/local/a...

Employee surveillance has been linked to decreased morale and lower job satisfaction, which can lead to lower productivity and turnover.

The Wegmans Debate And The Rise Of Surveillance In Workplaces Wegmans’ biometric data practices point to a larger surveillance shift, raising urgent questions about privacy, equity, and the future of work.

Wegmans - consistently a "Great Place to Work," is threatening that title with its use of bioemetric surveillance that monitors workers, Forbes suggests www.forbes.com/sites/janice...

Macy's closing will make Boulevard Mall redevelopment even harder Now that Macy's is closing its Boulevard Mall store, it throws a wrench into plans to transform the sprawling property into a town center, a planned walkable community with retail and residential offe...

In case you missed it, new bumps in the road for Amherst's planned town center.

buffalonews.com/news/local/b...

Macy's to close at Boulevard Mall in Amherst Macy's is closing its store in the Boulevard Mall in February, leaving just its Walden Galleria location for a department store chain that once had a big presence in Western New York.

It's not clear what this will do to Benderson's plans for a town center and they declined to comment as they don't yet own the mall.

buffalonews.com/news/local/b...

Why are people so fired up about biometrics? Wegmans is facing a growing backlash after confirming Tuesday that it uses biometric data in some of its stores. But what is biometrics and why should shoppers care?

Biometric data collection happens all over New York, and not just at Wegmans. Here's what all the fuss is about.

buffalonews.com/news/local/b...

Remember when they told us they were only interested in removing (ie censoring) books that are “obscene” and “harmful” to children?

They lied. 😑

Poloncarz calls for laws regulating biometric data use in Erie County Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz is pushing for a county law that would regulate the use of biometrics by stores and businesses, days after reports that Wegmans was using the technology at a store...

The fallout from Wegmans' biometric data collection disclosure continues.

buffalonews.com/news/local/b...

Here’s the document giving ICE 80 million Medicaid patients’ data FPF and 404 Media won access to it in our joint FOIA lawsuit

Recently, @freedom.press and @404media.co obtained a data-sharing agreement between the Department of Homeland Security and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that would include ICE receiving the personal data of nearly 80 million Medicaid patients. freedom.press/the-classifi...

"Marco Rubio, we salute you!"

A real thing that was said by the CBS Evening News anchor tonight.

Costco is coming soon. But just how soon? Costco just updated its website for stores that will be opening soon. That update offered some new insight into how soon the store it's building in Amherst could open.

I made your favorite: a Costco update

buffalonews.com/news/local/b...

This photographer is documenting old newspaper newsrooms while they’re still around - Poynter Ann Hermes' images show what's left and what we stand to lose

“This is for me a love letter to journalism,” said photojournalist Ann Hermes. “But I do want it to do more than that.”
Meet some of the photojournalists documenting disappearing local newspaper newsrooms:
www.poynter.org/local-news/2...

tom Brady saw his wife marry that karate man and decided to wear one glove about it.

The Fizzy Joy of Cheap Costco Champagne Stocking up on bottles of Champagne ahead of New Year’s Eve doesn’t have to empty your bank account.

"What makes Costco’s Champagne so great is that it isn’t made by Costco," our Wirecutter tester writes. "This Champagne is really, really good for the price."

Market Arcade AMC theater to close at year's end The AMC movie theater at the Market Arcade downtown will close by the end of the year, as ticket sales and patron traffic still haven't recovered from the pandemic and aren't high enough for the compa...

There's still time to say goodbye.

buffalonews.com/news/local/b...

“I miss blockbuster video” the library has every dvd totally untouched and I never see you there

The Very Official 2025 FOIA Advent Calendar

STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING EVERYONE (or everyone who is a FOIA nerd): There's a public records request advent calendar.

h/t Cam Rodriguez docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

Saying 'So long' to George & Co., a Buffalo institution for more than a century George & Co − a novelty store that has been delighting magicians, actors, pranksters and other consumers in the Buffalo market since 1901 − will close its brick-and-mortar store in the Transitown Plaz...

George & Co. used to supply my favorite store when I was little, Four Jokers Magic Shop on Main Street in the City of Tonawanda.

buffalonews.com/news/local/b...

Exclusive: Ben & Jerry's board chair does not plan to resign as pressure mounts from Unilever unit Magnum is inheriting a deepening corporate feud between Unilever and Ben & Jerry's.

"The so-called audit of the foundation was a manufactured inquiry — engineered to attempt to discredit me. It is important to understand that this is not simply an attack on me as chair. It is Unilever’s attempt to undermine the authority of the Board itself."

After 12 years, Buffalo area will get its second Trader Joe's The region's second Trader Joe's grocery store will open in Clarence on Friday.

ICYMI: Can you believe it took more than a decade for Trader Joe's to put a second store here?

buffalonews.com/news/local/b...

Vacant properties are a problem in Buffalo. Some city officials think a new tax could help Buffalo lawmakers are exploring a new tax as one way to force the hand of property owners and speculators who sit on real estate while their lots and buildings cause blight and reduce property values ...

Buffalo lawmakers are exploring a progressive tax or fees and fines for property owners who sit on property without maintaining or improving it. My latest: buffalonews.com/news/local/g...

It was Buffalo Niagara's first cannabis dispensary. Now it's among the first to close Western New York's first legal cannabis dispensary is going to be among the first to close.

In case you missed it, Dank will soon close permanently. Here's why.

buffalonews.com/news/local/b...

A trip to the mall might be mostly a thing of the past. But a visit with Santa Claus endures Santa Claus may not have as many malls for his helpers to call home this holiday season, but new professional opportunities are helping Santa performers expand their earning potential with

Have you ever wondered what happens to Santas when their malls close? Fortunately, it looks like they're doing just fine.

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