Four minutes in a jail cell. One dead man. Two silent witnesses. And two charged with murder. Here's the The Buffalo News complete and updated story about the Erie County Holding Center death of Antonio Pizarro:

Holding Center inmate Antonio Pizarro was strangled to death in his jail bed. Two men are being held on muder charges for it. This The Buffalo News story is breaking and being updated:

Antonio Pizarro didn't just die in the Erie County Holding Center. It appears he was targeted by two other inmates and killed. Here's what we know in The Buffalo News:

This story tries to lay out the facts -- and the grief -- surrounding a young man who was apparently killed by others in the Erie County Holding Center on Saturday. So many questions still remain and await disclosure from the Sheriff's Office.

Another local not-for-profit has been flagged for financial missteps. Story about the latest one, and the broader context (as in, it's not that rare):

When endorsed, establishment Democrats lose primary races they had the resources to win, it's an issue. When the person who loses is the Erie County party chairman, Jeremy Zellner, it's an even bigger issue. Story with Justin Sondel in The Buffalo News:

ICYMI: The day after local primary races, we have a follow up that looks at why winners won, particularly when the endorsed, establishment candidates lose. So here's that story:

Adam Bojak, a lawyer and democratic socialist, won a three-way race that unseated an established, party-backed Democrat, adopting the same kind of campaign style that similarly won Jon Rivera his 61st District NY Senate seat. The story from last night:

Sometimes I can forecast who will win a race, but when folks asked me yesterday who I thought was going to win the Rivera-Zellner contest for the 61st District NY Senate seat, I said, "I am placing no bets." Here's how it turned out.

ICYMI: Should local retailers be barred from using data from your personal buying habits to set "personalized" prices for the things you buy online or in stores? Lawmakers have concerns.

There is no public appetite to build a new, consolidated Erie County, NY jail at a pricetag of hundreds of millions. But there's also no avoiding the fact that the two old jails have serious, ongoing problems that will require big bucks to fix and maintain.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz and his fiancee, Lindsey Lauren Visser, tied the knot Friday. A story about their wedding, their relationship and what they said matters most.

A sneak preview of tomorrow's story. Find it in @buffalonews.com.

Wonder where The Buffalo News journalists get their scoop or find their angle? Now is your chance to ask! Join us for a free and casual "Meet the Journalists" event at Britesmith Brewing in Buffalo on Wednesday evening, June 17. Enjoy light fare, cash bar and short, fun program!

What happens when an New York assemblyman challenges a Democratic party chairman and four-month incumbent for a state senate seat:

Getting a handle on the expense of Erie County government vehicles over time has proven to be difficult. Here's why:

Who gets access to Erie County's luxury box to watch Buffalo Bills games this season and what are the rules about who can receive tickets? The County Legislature just approved a policy about this. Check out the story and read the policy for yourself:

In a rare event, the Erie County Legislature has overridden a veto by County Executive Mark Poloncarz to permit youth ages 12 and 13 to hunt deer with guns.

Happening today. The Buffalo News has written many stories on the use of biometric data by retailers and other commercial businesses. Find them all here and check back for updates on this story.

If you're wondering why you're having such a hard time getting any food or drinks at local parks and golf courses this year, this story is for you.

A former EriecCountycClerk's Office employee fraudulently gave an unrestricted pistol permit to someone not allowed to own guns, but ended up buying four of them. Today the former administrator pleaded guilty to an "official miconduct" charge. This story is being updated.

A former prosecutor who helped put John H. Walker and late Darryl A. Boyd in prison after a 1976 murder is now urging Erie County not to pay settlements of more than $21 million to Walker and to Boyd’s estate.

State Sen. April Baskin is proposing a law that would require jail officers to notify next of kin when an inmate is having a medical or mental health emergency, named for India Cummings, who died in the Erie County Holding Center in 2016. by @robertgavinbn.bsky.social buffalonews.com/news/local/a...

D.J. Granville doesn't work for the Erie County Sheriff's Office anymore, but he's still finding himself in trouble, this time by leaving his loaded gun in a car owned by Buffalo Biodiesel, according to city police. Story by Aaron Besecker

Housing a county DMV office in an old Rite Aid? Erie County Clerk Mickey Kearns wants to make it happen, but county legislators aren't happy about it. buffalonews.com/news...

ICYMI: As expected, Mark Poloncarz vetoes the County Legislature's youth hunting law. Story by Matt Glynn:

STORY UPDATED: Erie County, NY legislators allocated $21 million to settle a single lawsuit Wednesday as part of a bigger spending plan. Some have more questions about the case, but the county attorney says the settlement needs no further Legislature approval.

It's looking far less likely that anyone will be arrested and charged with the February vandalism of the new Buffalo Bills stadium suites. Here's why.

ICYMI: How one little card is creating all kinds of headaches for the top leaders in Erie County.

Giving the high cost of gas, some Erie County, NY legislators want to cut the gas tax, like they have in the past. But county administrators say that cut made no difference in gas prices then, and it won't make any difference now. The debate:

Several Democrats believe they have the leadership qualities to serve as the next @ErieCountyNY executive. While they haven't formally announced, they all told me why they think they are equipped to serve. The full story:

I post about stories about Erie County news across four social media platforms, but my public Facebook page is typically where I drop behind-the-scenes story nuggets and background you are unlikely to find elsewhere. Consider following:

ICYMI: The latest with the new Erie County Sheriff's helicopters - a prospective buyer for the old one, still in use, plans for the new ones, and pushback to criticism for these costly multimillion-dollar aircraft:

Relationship between a Buffalo cop and Erie County assistant DA is leading the Legal Aid Bureau to accuse the since-fired prosecutor of "egregious" misconduct, which @DAErieCountyNY has tried to keep it all under wraps. Story by Aaron Besecker:

.Erie County, NY legislators voted today for a law to let young hunters ages 12 and 13 to shoot deer. But the law may still have another big hill to climb before going into effect.

Local businesses like Wegmans Food Markets may be collecting and using your biometric information, such as facial features, but Erie County legislators are slated to vote on a law today making that illegal.

Need to visit the DMV this weekend? Two Erie County auto bureaus are open on Saturdays and take appointments and walk-ins. But when and where is changing. Check out the full story:

The civil rights and wrongful conviction cases of two men, which originated with a 1976 beating death, are shaping up to be extraordinarily costly for Erie County, NY Starting with this proposed $21 million settlement for John Walker.

County Executive Mark Poloncarz and Buffalo Mayor Sean Rayn may be friends, but that doesn't mean Poloncarz is hiding his contempt for past city budgeting failures and his conviction that the county should never give Buffalo unrestricted county money now.

Erie County legislators say there needs to be more protections against the abuse of the Erie County, NY's luxury suite in the new Buffalo Bills stadium. That includes keeping a list of everybody who shows up to use it. The full @TheBuffaloNews story:

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz's State of the County address, to be delivered at 4:15 pm today, wlll cover a lot of ground but focus on affordability. Get a look at the highlights in advance, in this The Buffalo News story:

ErieNet, the county's high-speed broadband network, should be done by year's end, and has signed contracts with two companies to make "last mile" connections, says Mark Poloncarz That announcement will be part of his State of the County address tomorrow.

Governments, like retailers, are struggling with the dwindling supply of pennies as they make change for people who pay with cash. Here's what to know about how Erie County, NY – and lots of other places – are dealing with it and what it means for you.

New rules govern who can use the Erie County, NY luxury suite in the new Buffalo Bills stadium. Story UPDATED with additional video and a copy of the full policy.

Leadership overhauls, opinions and frustration unfold as the Assigned Counsel Program that provides lawyers to low-income criminal defendants continues to make changes. Story in The Buffalo News

An audit of the @ErieCountyNY division that authorizes millions of dollars in county purchases every year found problems like missing paperwork, improperly bypassing County Legislature oversight, and red flags associated with helicopter purchases.

The much anticipated renewal of Jefferson Avenue's street and sidewalks – a projected $35 million undertaking – has finally begun.

Have an opinion on how Erie County government is doing in meeting the needs of the people, and what priorities deserve resources going forward? Well, answer this 23-question survey and be heard. Mark Poloncarz announced "Envision Erie" survey Tuesday.

.The Buffalo News exclusive: Seneca-Babcock Community Association submitted a false IRS form to the county when it applied for Social Services grants that it ultimately gained. Former director said original plans to file the form with the IRS were abandoned:

Erie County is close to voting to allow children as young as 12 to hunt deer with firearms. Currently, Erie County is the only upstate county to ban the practice. Enough votes appear to exist to override a veto by Mark Poloncarz