New: Gov. Kathy Hochul says she wants NY to ban all tax breaks for large data centers, including those issued by local IDAs. In response to questions from IPost, Hochul said she supports a ban on property, sales and mortgage tax breaks for the projects. investigativepost.org/2026/07/21/h...

New: In this week's Off the News, Editor Jim Heaney looks at the wildfire smoke that hung over Buffalo this past week, the climate forces behind it, and Trump's threats to hit Canada with tariffs. investigativepost.org/2026/07/20/w...

Join the IPost team. We've hiring a part-time digital media manager who can shoot photo and video content for our investigations + coordinate production across our social media channels. Full description below: investigativepost.org/2026/07/15/i...

In case you missed it: Law-enforcement agencies have installed as many as 395 license plate reading cameras to track drivers’ movement across Western New York. We mapped out where they're located, who's using them, & how the data's being shared: investigativepost.org/2026/07/17/l...

Yesterday we reported on the wide-scale use of license plate readers in Western New York. But where are all those cameras? Investigative Post was able to track & map hundreds of them. See our map — and details of a Flock drone program — here: investigativepost.org/2026/07/17/l...

Drivers beware: Police license plate readers are tracking your movements all around WNY. Investigative Post counted hundreds of cameras and found police have searched the Flock system more than 218,000 times since January 2025. Read the full story: investigativepost.org/2026/07/16/d...

The future of a massive data center proposed in Genesee County is now uncertain following an executive order from Gov. Hochul and a new lawsuit. The order halts permitting of data centers and the lawsuit challenges the very existence of STAMP. Details: investigativepost.org/2026/07/15/f...

Come work with us at IPost. We're looking for an experienced digital media manager who can shoot and edit photo + video, oversee our social media accounts and create graphics for our investigations. Flexible, part-time schedule. More details below: investigativepost.org/2026/07/15/i...

Have we identified the worst landlord in Buffalo? The LLC owned by Menachem Zippel is the city's most prosecuted property owner in recent years. His properties feature gruesome scenes. He owes the city a lot of money. He appears to have fled New York. investigativepost.org/2026/07/14/5...

In case you missed it: The new chairman of Lee Enterprises, whose holdings include The Buffalo News, is hellbent on saving print newspapers. His plan to hire new reporters at The News, and more stories from this week: investigativepost.org/2026/07/13/b...

New: David Hoffmann — chairman of the company that owns The Buffalo News — was recently portrayed as "the man who's on a mission to save your newspaper." In this week's Off the News, Editor Jim Heaney explores what Hoffmann's vision is for the paper. investigativepost.org/2026/07/13/b...

We're a few weeks out from our annual benefit concert. Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Tom Toles and his band, the Junkman's Choir, will be playing live. Tickets on sale now: secure.qgiv.com/for/investig...

Buffalo could soon establish a police oversight board in an attempt to hold the police department accountable. The committee wouldn't have the ability to discipline officers. But it would be able to gather evidence of police misconduct & advise on reforms. investigativepost.org/2026/07/09/b...

Join us October 22 for an event featuring journalist Steven Brill, author of 'The Death of Truth.' Our event will explore the rise of disinformation, the decline in trust in media and where we go from here. Tickets on sale now: investigativepost.org/2026/07/08/i...

New: In 1970, the cartoonist Garry Trudeau created "Doonesbury," a series known for its sharp political & cultural commentary that runs to this day. In this week's Off the News, Editor Jim Heaney writes about its legacy & a new biography on its creator: investigativepost.org/2026/07/06/t...

Monroe County’s sheriff last year accused Michael Zamiara of felonies & misdemeanors. That includes illegally accessing confidential medical & internal affairs files over 130 times. Six months later, Erie County Sheriff John Garcia hired him anyway. investigativepost.org/2026/07/01/s...

Happy 4th of July, Buffalo! Enjoy the fireworks and your day off. We'll return with more investigative reporting tomorrow. 🇺🇸

Last year, the Monroe County Sheriff charged a jail sergeant with more than 130 counts of illegally accessing files. But Sgt. Zamiara was never punished. Instead, he resigned and now works as a jail guard in Erie County. Read our latest investigation: investigativepost.org/2026/07/01/s...

Less than a week after a nearly blind refugee died in Buffalo, a Haitian migrant died in Pittsburgh. The cases bear eerie similarities. Daphy Michel, after being released from ICE custody, ultimately died of hypothermia. Her death was ruled a homicide. investigativepost.org/2026/06/30/m...

New: Editor Jim Heaney breaks down two major political defeats in Buffalo politics last week: the end of election reform efforts in the charter commission and Zellner's loss in the state Sen. race. Heaney's full recap, via Outrages & Insights, below: investigativepost.org/2026/06/29/t...

We reported on two major political developments last week: the defeat of Jeremy Zellner at the ballot box and election reform in a City Hall board room. In this week’s Outrages and Insights column, Editor Jim Heaney offers his take on both: investigativepost.org/2026/06/29/t...

In case you missed it, we took a closer look at the two seismic victories from this week's Democratic primary— Adam Bojak in the Assembly contest & Jonathan Rivera in the state Sen. race. How each candidate pulled it off & what insiders have to say: investigativepost.org/2026/06/24/r...

New: An effort to transform how Buffalo voters choose their leaders appears to be dead. A commission has been considering adding ranked-choice voting and semi-open primaries to the city charter. But now, they're running out of time. investigativepost.org/2026/06/25/e...

New: Democratic leadership in Erie County is lost at sea. Party boss Jeremy Zellner was trounced in his bid to hold onto his state senate seat. And voters are poised to send a socialist to Albany over Zellner's pick. Read our full analysis here: investigativepost.org/2026/06/24/r...

SpaceX has gone public. And Elon Musk is now a trillionaire— despite the company's billions in recent losses. As one expert said: “From a strict corporate finance perspective, the valuation makes no sense. But Elon is great at getting people to dream." investigativepost.org/2026/06/22/e...

New: In this week's Off the News, Editor Jim Heaney comments on SpaceX's trillion-dollar stock sale, the continuing decline of local news and much more. investigativepost.org/2026/06/22/e...

News organizations are contending with a new bill from Albany meant to rein in AI. Some lawmakers think it'll save journalism. Media & law experts say the government could easily weaponize the bill to control all news outlets. investigativepost.org/2026/06/15/a...

You've gotten mailers & seen commercials. Typical election stuff. You may have also seen Karen Hoak's silent videos. That's red-boxing — a loophole candidates use to give outside spenders campaign material without violating state law. investigativepost.org/2026/06/04/r...

A years-in-the-making environmental bill had the votes to pass in the state Legislature. But it never made it to the Assembly floor for a vote. A lobbying blitz killed it. At least three lobbyists had close ties to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. investigativepost.org/2026/06/17/b...

The three-way Democratic primary for the 149th Assembly District is just four days away. Here's our guide to the race, the candidates and the donors behind them: investigativepost.org/2026/06/04/t...

Since November, over $2 million has been spent on the primary race between Jonathan Rivera & Jeremy Zellner. Who's spending more? Zellner's campaign has raised 2.5x as much as Rivera's, and spent nearly 3x as much. We've got all the details here: investigativepost.org/2026/06/18/w...

More than a year has passed since a UB student died after a fatal fire in University Heights— at a property inspectors deemed "unfit for human occupancy." Last week, in lieu of fines, Housing Court gave the landlord another chance to correct course. investigativepost.org/2026/06/16/n...

Who's funding who in the Zellner-Rivera contest? Politics guru Geoff Kelly crunched the numbers. investigativepost.org/2026/06/18/w...

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Speaker Carl Heastie let a plastics bill die, with more than enough support to pass in his Assembly. Why? He claimed it didn't have the votes. Then it came to light that three people in his circle, including his girlfriend, lobbied intensely against it. investigativepost.org/2026/06/17/b...

New: State Sen. Jeremy Zellner and Assembly Member Jonathan Rivera have spent more than $2 million on the 61st District seat since November. It's the most candidates have spent on this primary ever. Here's what you need to know: investigativepost.org/2026/06/18/w...

Should newsrooms be required to tell readers if they've used AI? It's a question at the heart of a new bill — one that state lawmakers passed in the final hours of legislative session without a public hearing. Critics say it violates the First Amendment. investigativepost.org/2026/06/15/a...

One year after a fire killed one of his tenants— in a rental deemed illegal by inspectors— landlord Joseph Parlato has come out of it unscathed. That is, he hasn't been fined a cent in Housing Court and he's been given 30 more days to correct violations. investigativepost.org/2026/06/16/n...

New: An environmental bill that on paper had enough support to pass the Assembly failed to secure a vote. How? A lobbying blitz led, in part, by people close to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. That includes Heastie's girlfriend, lobbyist Rebecca Lamorte. investigativepost.org/2026/06/17/b...

Primary Day is just a week from today. One big race is for the 149th Assembly District seat. We profiled the candidates and reported out their top five donors. Here's our primer before you head to the polls: investigativepost.org/2026/06/04/t...

A new bill wants newsrooms to spell out exactly how they use AI. The argument is that it'll rein in rogue newsrooms spreading disinformation. But critics say the bill currently has no guardrails to protect legitimate outlets from government overreach. investigativepost.org/2026/06/15/a...

A year after a fire in an unpermitted attic rental claimed a UB student's life, landlord Joseph Parlato has yet to face consequences in Housing Court. “I have faced the biggest loss of my life. It’s just another day over there,” said the student's sister. investigativepost.org/2026/06/16/n...

State lawmakers just passed a new bill requiring newsrooms to disclose their AI use. Those who don't would face fines from the state AG. Critics say it goes too far. "No newspaper would be safe from investigation under this legislation,” one wrote. investigativepost.org/2026/06/15/a...

In 2023, Bill Hager drank himself to death in the county jail. With water. Months ago, two inmates told iPost they watched medical staff ignore him until he died before their eyes. Now state investigators have concluded that his death was preventable. investigativepost.org/2026/06/11/s...

New: The First Amendment prohibits government regulation of speech and news dissemination. State lawmakers say otherwise. A new bill mandates news sites disclose their use of AI or face penalties. Critics say the bill is unconstitutional & dangerous. investigativepost.org/2026/06/15/a...

Don't miss another scoop. Our two weekly newsletters deliver news and analysis you can't find anywhere else. And they're free. Sign up today: investigativepost.org/subscribe/

Ranked choice voting and a police oversight committee made up of citizens. New protections for cash-strapped homeowners. These are a few of the major reforms being drafted by a citizens commission. And they could all be on the ballot this November: investigativepost.org/2026/06/10/b...

Landlord Joseph Parlato has a history of unpaid taxes & violations. And one property — which inspectors deemed "not legal habitable space" — was the site of a devastating fire that claimed the life of a UB student. The city has yet to rein Parlato in. investigativepost.org/2026/06/08/s...

Early voting starts today in Erie County. One of the key races is the Democratic primary for the 149th Assembly District seat. We interviewed each of the candidates. Here's a primer on their politics & who's paying for their campaigns: investigativepost.org/2026/06/04/t...

Bill Hager had a history of schizophrenia. A side effect of one of his medications was extreme thirst. Jailed at Alden, Hager drank himself to death with water three years ago. A state commission now says the sheriff's office could have prevented his death. investigativepost.org/2026/06/11/s...