Local News
NIAGARA FALLS: Still waiting for a city attorney
Filling of city’s top legal post remains on hold
The selection of a new city corporation counsel remains on hold.
City Council members convened for a special meeting on Mayor Paul Dyster’s proposed 2009 budget on Wednesday but did not take action on the filling of the city attorney’s position.
Following his presentation of the budget to the council, Dyster said he is not yet prepared to submit a resolution on his choice for the post. Dyster said his administration is still working with the preferred candidate on the terms of an employment agreement.
City Council Chairman Sam Fruscione and Councilman Steve Fournier said they are now expecting to vote on a new corporation counsel at their next scheduled meeting, Oct. 14.
Dyster’s candidate of choice is expected to be Robert Restaino, the former City Court Judge who was removed from the bench by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct after he jailed 46 people who were inside his courtroom when he became irate over his inability to locate the source of a ringing cell phone.
Thomas O’Donnell has served as acting corporation counsel since Dyster took office, Jan. 1. A national recruitment search to fill the position apparently yielded no qualified applicants or candidates willing to accept the job.
Fruscione has said that the mayor’s preferred candidate has the full support of the City Council.
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SLIDESHOW: New Niagara USA Visitors Center
Slideshow of the New Niagara USA Visitors Center.
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AP Sources: Silver, Sampson plan SUNY compromise
A state official involved in the negotiations says Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate leader John Sampson are crafting a bill that would empower the state’s public universities to grow unfettered by Albany and allow them greater control over raising tuition.
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Ethics panel accuses Rangel of 13 violations
A House investigatory panel is alleging 13 violations of congressional ethics and federal law statutes by veteran New York Rep. Charles Rangel.
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Track set for new Falls train station
The project has been in various stages of discussion in Niagara Falls since the late 1980s.
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Violante pleads the Fifth on DWI case
Niagara County District Attorney Michael Violante won’t explain why he allowed the daughter of an elected official to avoid a DWI charge last week in a rare plea deal in North Tonawanda City Court.
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State judge defends court’s handling of case
State Supreme Court Judge Richard Kloch on Wednesday defended the decision of North Tonawanda City Court Judge William Lewis last week to accept a plea deal that spared the daughter of a North Tonawanda councilwoman a DWI trial.
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District Attorney Michael Violante's statement on Donovan case
The following is an exact transcript of Niagara County District Attorney Michael Violante’s press release issued Wednesday in response to public criticism of a plea deal he offered to the daughter of North Tonawanda Alderwoman Nancy Donovan. Sara E. Donovan was arrested for DWI earlier this month after a one-car accident but instead pleaded guilty to a parking ticket and a speeding ticket.
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Olive Garden plan approved for Falls
Niagara Falls is one step closer to getting an Olive Garden restaurant.
Members of the city’s planning board on Wednesday approved a site plan for a proposal to build a new Olive Garden near the main entrance to the Walmart plaza off Military Road in LaSalle. -
Questions remain over LaSalle library historic designation proposal
Members of the Niagara Falls Library Board want to discuss a few more details before they agree to lend their support to plans for designating the LaSalle Library building as an historic site.
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Unusual Special Olympics event set for Seneca Niagara Casino
If everything goes as planned, those little things dangling over the edge of the Seneca Niagara Casino today will be brave volunteers raising funds for the Special Olympics.
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