Ryan Zunner

Buffalo

Assistant Managing Editor at Buffalo Toronto Public Media

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Articles

Grand jury issues subpoenas in probe of N.Y. Attorney General

4 days ago | wamc.org | Ryan Zunner

A grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia has sent out subpoenas related to real estate transactions made by New York State Attorney General Letita James, related to an ongoing investigation by federal authorities, according to the Washington Post.
New York's Native American mascot ban under federal probe, as activists and academics highlight harm

1 week ago | wamc.org | Ryan Zunner

The battle over Native American mascots as logos for schools sports teams in New York has taken a turn, as President Donald Trump has directed the U.S. Department of Education to investigate the state over its 2023 mascot ban. We’re on it, Mr. President! Today, we launched an investigation into the NY Department of Education over its handling of Massapequa.
Buffalo bed tax and parking authority included in tentative state budget

1 week ago | btpm.org | Ryan Zunner

Two of Acting Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon's solutions to address the city's fiscal crisis have seemingly cleared a major hurdle. A 3% Buffalo hotel bed tax and creation of a parking authority to sell four city-owned parking lots, is included in Governor Kathy Hochul's tentative budget, per Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. "I would say it's the two issues the city requested which was the establishment of the parking authority and the bed tax," Heastie said to reporters on Monday.
Scanlon and city officials dismissive of proposed debt financing to solve budget woes

1 week ago | btpm.org | Ryan Zunner

City of Buffalo elected officials are voicing their opposition to State Senator Sean Ryan’s proposal that would allow the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority to issue deficit bonds of up to $150,000,000 — plus extend the life of the authority until 2046. Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon, who’s an opponent of Ryan’s in the June Democratic Mayoral Primary, said the proposed legislation “flies in the face” of taxpayers.
Cause revealed in 4-alarm Church Street fire

1 week ago | btpm.org | Ryan Zunner

We’re learning more about Thursday’s fire at 36 Church Street that triggered a response of about 100 Buffalo firefighters, which sent plumes of smoke across downtown. Suspicions have been confirmed by investigators in Thursday’s fire at Paul William Beltz law firm. Buffalo Fire Commissioner William Renaldo said the blaze originated in a second-story kitchen. “One of the burners on the stove was in the on position, looked like there was some materials on top of the stove," said Renaldo.
Large firefighter response to downtown Buffalo fire at law firm

2 weeks ago | btpm.org | Alex Simone |Ryan Zunner

A four alarm fire at 36 Church Street has triggered a large response from the Buffalo Fire Department. The first emergency vehicles arrived to the scene around 12:30 p.m. Emergency crews are battling the blaze, which was creating a yellow-brownish color smoke. Parts of Church and Franklin streets surround the building are closed to traffic, as first responders set up on the scene.
Remembering St. Luke's Mission of Mercy Director Amy Betros, dead at 71

2 weeks ago | btpm.org | Ryan Zunner

Amy Betros, who sold her popular restaurant Amy's Place to fund decades of service to others, died at the age of 71 this week. In partnership with Norm Paolini, the two co-founded St. Luke's Mission of Mercy in the 1990s. The mission has been a lifeline for people experiencing homelessness or poverty, providing meals, clothing and shelter for those in need. “I have this kind of philosophy that I don’t care who you are,” Betros told BTPM in an interview from 2016.
Peace Bridge Duty Free shop faces possible liquidation amid travel slump

2 weeks ago | btpm.org | Ryan Zunner

A judge for the Ontario Superior Court of Justice earlier this month has placed Peace Bridge Duty Free Inc. — the operator of the duty free shop in Fort Erie, Ontario — into receivership. The receivership status means a third-party can take control of the shop's assets, and possibly liquidate them to repay creditors. Those creditors include the Buffalo and Fort Erie Peace Bridge Authority and the Royal Bank of Canada.
Buffalo Police detective accuses Buffalo Public Schools of cover-ups, district responds

2 weeks ago | btpm.org | Ryan Zunner

A Buffalo Police detective and longtime social media influencer, Richard Hy, is alleging several instances of obstruction and coverup by Buffalo Public Schools. Hy, on the ‘Unsubscribe Podcast,’ detailed several cases he’s been a part of with the BPD’s Special Victims Unit, where he said employees of Buffalo Public Schools deleted evidence, were slow to report alleged cases of abuse, and failed to hand over important information during investigations of sexual assault.
Poloncarz and county budget division warn of shortfalls in Buffalo budget

2 weeks ago | btpm.org | Ryan Zunner

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz is raising the alarm to leaders in Buffalo such as Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon, common council and the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority (BFSA). All in response to the proposed 2025-2026 fiscal budget unveiled by Scanlon in early April.