The News, Eats & Events Shaping Western New York

Charles M. Blow, well-known for his time at The New York Times, is sounding the alarm over the sharp decline of local journalism in America.

More than 3,200 print newspapers have shut down since 2005, and newsroom jobs have dropped a staggering 60% since 2000.

Public radio and TV stations are facing major threats too, as federal funding has been drastically cut.

Blow partnered with the MacArthur Foundation and Press Forward, traveling nationwide for nearly two years to tell this urgent story and create a documentary that explores the impact.

Everywhere he went, Blow discovered how local news outlets not only keep officials accountable but also connect neighbors by sharing life milestones, covering sports, and spotlighting local achievements.

Communities lose trust and unity when their papers disappear—while local news remains one of the few institutions that draws people together.

Amherst, NY is taking bold steps to boost road safety and ease congestion with two new traffic signals set for North Bailey Avenue this October.

Supervised by Brian Kulpa, installation will begin the week of October 20, bringing signals to Romney Road and the Best Buy driveway.

North Bailey Avenue is also seeing upgrades north of Romney Road, including fresh pavement, active striping, and new turning lanes into the Dick's Sporting Goods/Costco plaza at both new signal intersections.

Drivers should watch for crews and heed the “New Traffic Pattern” signage.

The town is integrating cutting-edge Miovision technology with 360-degree cameras at these intersections, aiming to cut congestion—mirroring results from other updated lights that saw travel times drop by 11%.

Funded in part by $3.576 million from the state, these projects underline Amherst’s commitment to safer, smarter roads as the community grows.

The Buffalo Sabres triumphed over the Florida Panthers with a commanding 3-0 win at KeyBank Center, taking their season record to 2-3-0.

Josh Doan starred with his first two goals for Buffalo, both coming on the power play — the first redirected in off a Tage Thompson shot, and the second neatly tipped in from a Jason Zucker pass.

The team’s penalty kill unit excelled, stopping all seven of Florida’s power-play chances to reach a league-best 95.7% success rate this season.

Rookie Zach Benson added another assist, his fifth in two games, while defenseman Owen Power notched his first goal, assisted by Alex Tuch and Peyton Krebs.

Goaltender Alex Lyon made a memorable statement against his former team, earning a shutout with 32 saves for his fifth career blank sheet.

Defenseman Jacob Bryson left early with a head injury, leaving his status uncertain.

Buffalo now turns its focus to a Monday night matchup against Montreal.

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