Mike Desmond
Multimedia ReporterMike Desmond is one of Western New York’s most experienced reporters, having spent nearly a half-century covering the region for newspapers, television stations and public radio. He has been with WBFO and its predecessor, WNED-AM, since 1988. As a reporter for WBFO, he has covered literally thousands of stories involving education, science, business, the environment and many other issues. Mike has been a long-time theater reviewer for a variety of publications and was formerly a part-time reporter for The New York Times.
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Arts & CultureDuring a state visit to Canada in 1973, Queen Elizabeth II attended a performance of "You Never Can Tell" in the new Festival Theatre, with Prince Philip. She met with the cast afterward.
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With Democratic control of Congress at stake in the mid-term elections, Vice President Kamala Harris is on the road saying the Inflation Reduction Ace will ease inflation. She told a University at Buffalo audience that students and faculty can change the world with science fighting climate change.
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Fewer people wanting school bus driver jobs, changed in the labor market and the federal requirement to drug test drivers is making it harder to get someone behind the wheel.
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After the U.S. Supreme Court threw out New York State's gun control rules, Albany went back in and passed new legislation. It limits where a weapon can be carried and sets a midnight deadline tonight for an application before new rules start up requiring 16 hours of training and two hours actually shooting. There's a rush to beat the deadline.
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Erie County bought 12,500 Austin Air filters for every classroom in the county and they have been made and delivered.
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New York State Republican Chair Nick Langworthy declared a slim victory over Carl Paladino early Wednesday morning in an unusual primary race that saw two candidates close to former President Donald Trump duking it out for the most conservative district in the state.
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Olcott has had a couple of weak years, partly due to COVID-19 and partly high water in Lake Ontario, which flooded the relatively small beach. This year, COVID isn't seen as a factor, lake level is routine and people want to travel, especially those with small children.
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The Chautauqua Institution has long been pushing Albany for peace officer status for its security officers, something probably more urgent in the wake of the attack on world-renowned writer Salman Rushdie. After that attack, the Institution tightened security on the grounds, including a photo ID requirement at the gates.
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Activists now say Mayor Byron Brown’s analysis factors in people of color under the age of 18 and immigrants, both of whom can’t vote yet. When counting only those who can vote, activists say, the Council’s map includes just three majority-minority districts.
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Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown has signed the Common Council’s controversial new district map into law, despite outcry from community members and a contentious public hearing.