Even though there was a lot of support for the request by @markpoloncarz.bsky.social to release $1 million to @feedmorewny.org to help people who've suddenly lost food stamp benefits, it still took some wrangling to get approved. Story UPDATED with video.

Have an Erie County issue to bring before County Legislature? Starting Thursday, for the first time, you'll get the chance to address the governing body directly. Here's how that will work.

For those who didn't live for the minute-by-minute results of Erie County government races, here's the recap. First, incumbent Kevin Hardwick is victorious in his bid for a second term as county comptroller: buffalonews.com/news... 1/2

Voting Tuesday? Here's what to know about Erie County races. First, all 11 Erie County Legislature seats are technically up for election this year, but only a few have real opponents. Here's what to know: buffalonews.com/news... 1/2

Yesterday was full of highlights, lowlights and some yelling at the Erie County Legislature. Two stories worth reading if you haven't seen them yet. First, Sheriff John Garcia spends 2.5 hrs answering questions in the Granville case for the first time. buffalonews.com/news... 1/2

Here's a quick video about why Erie County Sheriff John Garcia will finally be addressing the County Legislature today and answering questions about the Granville case. More to come in @buffalonews.com.

Everything from an overdue Home Depot credit card to embezzlement audits is coming up in this race for Erie County Comptrolelr. Here's what Republican challenger Christine Czarnik and Democratic incumbent Kevin Hardwick are bringing to the table.

I actually had Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin describe this story as a "puff piece" for @markpoloncarz.bsky.social. He later said he didn't mean this story "in particular." No idea what to make of that.

Here's how it Erie County Sheriff John Garcia agreed to speak with the Erie County Legislature regarding the Granville case after a lengthy silence.

So Erie County is getting its own designated luxury box in the new Buffalo Bills stadium. Who gets to use it? There's no policy now but legislators say there should be one. This story is corrected and updated:

Erie County Executive @markpoloncarz.bsky.social submitted his 2026 budget proposal Wednesday. But he says the really tough financial planning will come in 2027 and 2028. His warnings for the future and others' reaction to his 2026 budget plan: buffalonews.com/news... 1/2

The @ErieCountyNY proposed budget for 2026 is being formally unveiled now. But you can read all the highlights here. buffalonews.com/news/local/g...

There are rules in place to protect taxpayer money when it comes to government purchases. One of them is the standard that purchasing and services contracts go to the "lowest responsible bidder." But that standard may be changing.

Why has it taken three years to complete one of the most expensive studies commissioned by the Erie County Legislature? Find out here.

No criminal charges coming against Buffalo Police Department officers in the Granville case. UPDATED with comments from Sheriff Garcia and others. Story by @aaronbesecker@bsky.social

Excellent reporting by @wgrztv.bsky.social reporters. Defense lawyer says Erie County narcotics chief D.J. Granville planted evidence in a 2020 drug raid. Judge finds Granville violated search and seizure laws, refers to "staged photograph" from raid. www.wgrz.com/article/news...

I don't normally write about Erie County Legislature actions that have virtually no impact on what is decided by Congress. But everyone knows and understands AM radio. And they notice when it goes missing.

I'm always grateful when someone from the public sees something I've written and reaches out to tell me the deeper, fuller story. Thank you to the friends and family of Elizabeth Calaty for coloring in the lines of one woman's life, when I only had a bare outline.

ICYMI: For Buffalo Bills fans who are wondering, plans are in the works to enable fans to buy a piece of the current Highmark Stadium after the season ends. That includes letting season ticket holders to buy the seats they're sitting in now.

Ever since an Iowa-based newspaper chain bought @buffalonews.com in 2020, they have only taken from The Buffalo News and this community. We need ownership that invests in local journalism. But we don't have one. That must change.

An outside forensic audit of the Erie County Clerk's Office found no additional public money missing from the Clerk's Office. BUT auditors refused to conclusively state that no other money was taken. The full scoop:

When Erie County Executive @markpoloncarz.bsky.social started leaking tears out of only one eye, and suddenly found it harder than expected to eat, he thought he might be having a stroke. Turned out to be something else.

Tomorrow night's discussion should be interesting. A resident's ability to stay informed about what's happening in their own community should be a basic right. But it's become more challenging than never. Please join us for this free event.

Following the Granville case? Read this early exclusive on D.J. Granville's plans to return to work, his intent to make restitution, and the latest on whether the Erie County Legislature is going to investigate anything after saying in March that they would.

ICYMI: Is the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Erie Canal being properly celebrated or deliberately downplayed? Check out this story by @jepsteinbuffalo:

As the media landscape changes, what local journalists do every day continues to mean a lot to our community. What lies ahead for WNY will be the topic of our event next week, which is free and open to the public. Please join us.

A woman who stole $32 worth of merchandise from Tops two years ago has died after a single day in custody at the Erie County Holding Center. After providing no comment yesterday, Sheriff Garcia expressed condolences to the family today.

In light of short staffing, forced overtime and recruitment hurdles, the Erie County Sheriff's Office is looking a new way to work the clock in the Holding Center and Erie County Correctional Facility.

Reconfiguring the new Buffalo Bills stadium includes rethinking security. Dealing with rabble rousers and threats at the new stadium might be less of a chore than at the existing one. Story with colleague Mike Petro.

ICYMI: The push for term limits in @eriecounty.bsky.social continues to go nowhere fast.

Erie County Legislator St. Jean Tard is adding her name to the call for an outside investigation into the Granville case.

It was dense reading, but I learned a lot from these audits about what's supposed to happen to the money that people who are jailed bring in with them or receive while incarcerated. The Erie County Sheriff's Office was cited for "sloppy bookkeeping" that demands reform:

Why are so many NY state inmates still being held in local jails when the state corrections officers strike ended back in March? Here's all you need to know. Check out the chart. The @eriecounty.bsky.social Holding Center and Correctional Facility are feeling it.

Check them out! While @TheBuffaloNews.com paywall is still down for the remainder of Labor Day, here are a few stories on my beat in recent weeks that have grabbed public attention. (PS: Proud member of the @buffaloguild.bsky.social!) First up: buffalonews.com/news... 1/3

County legislators aren't terribly happy but say they won't stand in the way of the new Marine Drive Apartments construction project. Here's the latest dust-up over the use of union labor. Here's the latest:

Erie County Comptroller Kevin Hardwick is using the "C-word" – "coverup" – to describe the Granville case.

The fatal bus crash that killed 5 and injured many more is going to ensnare the bus company involved in major legal troubles for quite some time.

Erie County government may be a sprawling bureaucracy employing 5,000 people across dozens of departments and offices, but most rely on the same software system do to their work. Here's what happens when that @eriecounty.bsky.social software gets old.

The Erie County Sheriff's Office may have concluded its internal investigation into D.J. Granville on Monday, but the controversy is nowhere near over. The latest: buffalonews.com/news/local/a...

Maybe you didn't know John Spears, the head of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library system who died last month, but he had a national reputation. The @buffalolibrary shared this 13-minute video from a moving memorial service, held at the Central Library yesterday. www.youtube.com/watc...

There will be a service in the Central Library auditorium tonight commemorating the life of John Spears, director of the @buffalolibrary.bsky.social, who died last month at 51. Spears did transformative work in his few short years as leader. Our story on his passing:

Erie County Sheriff John Garcia has concluded his investigation and decided the punishment his narcotics chief, D.J. Granville, will face for his actions when he crashed his county pickup truck into seven parked vehicles on the Lower West Side last year.

There aren't many people who can make county sewage treatment sound interesting. But I know a guy. buffalonews.com/news/local/a...

This happened at a very busy Thruway rest stop near Angola, between the Pennsylvania line and Buffalo, so I expect there were plenty of witnesses to this accident. Fortunately, no one is reported to have died. buffalonews.com/news...

Weight-loss miracle drugs are helping public employees battle obesity, but administrators warn that local government and school employees battling the bulge have become huge budget-busting burdens costing millions. buffalonews.com/news...

We have stories going back 20 years of @eriecounty.bsky.social trying to sell its sprawling Erie County Home nursing complex in Alden. So why have two men have finally decided to take the property and turn it into a cannabis growing operation? Find out here: buffalonews.com/news...

The financial burden of lawsuit settlements and trials against @eriecounty.bsky.social is getting a lot heavier these days. Here's the problem and the legal actions with the potential for major payouts. buffalonews.com/news...

Outside of public hearings, the Erie County Legislature doesn't typically offer the public any opportunity to address the 11 legislators during regular sessions. But that's changing. The latest from intern colleague Mylien Lai. buffalonews.com/news...

The Erie County Legislature has earmarked the last amount of funding needed this year to takeover and transform the former Westwood Country Club in Amherst into the Willowdale Park and 9-hole golf course. Here's the update on funding and work plans. buffalonews.com/news...

The Erie County Legislature has adopted a local law to ban the sale of sky lanterns. That story by Natalie Hausmann. buffalonews.com/news...