Following a ruling from the Vatican that prevented funds from All Saints parish in Lockport from going toward the Diocese of Buffalo’s $150 million sexual abuse settlement, the organization helping Catholic churches remain open is reporting similar outcomes in other cases. Lawyers representing the shooter in the racist mass shooting at the Tops on Jefferson Avenue in 2022 are suing the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, alleging that the office withheld records pertaining to the shooter’s state prosecution. A drunk driver, 29 year old Alexander Kozak, has pleaded guilty to charges related to killing his passenger in a crash in Buffalo’s Riverside neighborhood in 2024. A four-year contract has been reached between Catholic Health and Communication Workers of America affecting over 2,800 staff members at Kenmore Mercy Hospital, Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, and Sisters of Charity Hospital St. Joseph Campus. Five community organizations in Western New York are each receiving a $100,000 grant from the New York State Office of Cannabis Management.

Wednesday night, 22 year old Ceani Barnes of Atlantic City was charged with first-degree Aggravated Manslaughter in connection with the death of Christina Burdette, 34, also from Atlantic City.
On Saturday, at approximately 10:08 a.m., the Atlantic City Police
Department responded to a residence on the 2000 block of Sheridan Avenue for a report of an
unresponsive female. Officers arrived and located the unresponsive victim, identified as
Burdette, inside the residence. Medical personnel arrived and pronounced Burdette deceased
on scene. The Southern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy on
Burdette. The manner of death was determined to be a homicide. The cause of death was
complications of multiple blunt force trauma injuries with chronic abuse.

Two people were rescued on Wednesday from the water near the Peace Bridge and the Buffalo Yacht Club. The Buffalo Fire Department responded to a report of a boat taking on water around 1:20 p.m. A private boat assisted in the rescue as the water was too shallow for the fire department’s water rescue vessels to respond.

A four-year contract has been reached between Catholic Health and Communication Workers of America affecting over 2,800 staff members at Kenmore Mercy Hospital, Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, and Sisters of Charity Hospital St. Joseph Campus.

Digipower X, the Canadian company that operates the cryptomining facility on Erie Avenue, is officially the sole defendant regarding noise complaints issued by the city. The plant manager has been removed from the suit.

The Buffalo Common Council voted to approve the board of the new Buffalo Parking Authority. In a vote on Tuesday, October 15, the Common Council approved the five member board which was recommended by Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon. Neil Aquino will serve as the board’s first chair, his term is set to run through 2029.

Sabres with an 8-4 win Wednesday night at home against the Ottawa Senators.

Atlantic County’s 10 libraries will be closed Saturday as the library system prepares to launch a new software platform, the county said. The branches will reopen Monday with regular hours. According to the Press of Atlantic City the new Koha/Aspen system will help the county save more than $82,000 a year while providing access to library resources and additional features, the county said Wednesday in a news release. A new library system app will allow users to find, hold and renew books, movies and audiobooks; explore databases and digital media services; and search and check out ebooks and audiobooks.

The Ocean City Board of Education was unable to conduct business at its Sept. 18 meeting for lack of a quorum, but board President Kevin Barnes did allow certain information-sharing activities at the meeting, with the understanding that the board members present could not take any official action on issues.Barnes did announce that the board was moving ahead to fill a vacancy created when Dr. Charles Roche III resigned over the summer. He said the vacancy had been advertised and there are five candidates. He added that the five individuals would be interviewed and a decision on the vacancy made at the Oct. 16 board meeting.

A Vineland woman was sentenced to eight years in prison Friday for a 2023 crash that killed two people, the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office said.Malexus Coleman, 30, pleaded guilty July 14 to two counts of violating a law intended to protect public health and safety in the deaths of Gary Lawson, 76, and Diane Lindquist, 73, both of Millville.The crash occurred Feb. 10, 2023, at South Delsea and College drives in Vineland.

This Saturday, the 18th, the annual Lake County Health & Wellness Expo will be held at Xabatin Community Park in Lakeport. The free, family-friendly event, formerly known as the Heroes of Health and Safety Fair, runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be health-focused activities, demonstrations, and resources for all ages. Free health screenings, wellness workshops, and fitness demonstrations will also be available, along with dedicated activities for children. The expo will feature local vendors, food trucks, and live entertainment.

After a summer pause, the city of Ukiah has resumed discussions on annexing unincorporated lands, a proposal that has generated months of intense community debate. Last week, the city met with local organizations that had initially opposed the plan. According to a press release, the meeting was a “valuable opportunity to exchange information, address misconceptions, and gather feedback on specific ideas that could inform revisions to the city’s potential annexation maps.”

A Clearlake man, faces murder charges and remains in custody. Martin Jimenez-Patricio, 55, has a jury trial set for January 2026, following a defense motion to continue. Earlier, Dr. Thomas Rodriguez and Dr. Taylor Fithian deemed him competent to stand trial, leading to the reinstatement of criminal proceedings. Earlier in the year, there was a question as to whether Jimenez-Patricio was competent to stand trial and evaluations were ordered. The charges relate to a December incident where Clearlake Police found a deceased person on James Street; Jimenez was later identified as a suspect and arrested.

A beach hazards statement will be in effect starting Friday evening and running through Saturday night for Mendocino County. And increased threat of sneaker waves is expected as a northwest swell reaches state beaches. Large, unexpected waves can sweep across the beach without warning, sweeping people into the sea from rocks, jetties, and beaches.