April 28, 2026  Second
grade teacher Patricia Wilson works with her students on an assignment at St. Joseph University School. The Buffalo Diocese’s Department of Education aims to reinvigorate local Catholic schools through a centralized system. Joshua Bessex, News File Photo |
Plan to unify WNY Catholic schools under central system moves forward; September goal in mindA plan to create a centralized system of Catholic elementary schools in Western New York is moving forward again, and parishes that currently operate schools have been
asked to transfer their educational programs to the Buffalo Diocese’s Department of Education. The plan was first announced in January 2025, but its implementation was put on hold for about a year to allow new Superintendent of Catholic Schools Joleen Dmitroff time to meet with school representatives and make some changes to the plan based on feedback. The Education Department now aims to have the centralized system in place by September. Dmitroff, a former public school teacher and administrator, was principal of Cardinal O’Hara High School in the Town of Tonawanda prior to starting as superintendent on June 1. The diocese eliminated more than $4 million in funding for Catholic elementary schools after filing for Chapter 11 in 2020, but Bishop Michael W. Fisher has repeatedly said that he aims to ensure the long-term stability of Catholic education in the region through the reorganization process. Dmitroff is overseeing an effort to reinvigorate area Catholic schools through a centralized system that will handle the administrative tasks of operating schools, including finances, human resources, grant writing and data management, and will allow the school sites to focus on teaching and learning. – Jay Tokasz READ MORE
WHAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUTMike Harrington: Happy handshakes, a rarity in these parts, are everyone's goal as Sabres come home: The Sabres have wrapped up a series just twice on home ice since calendars turned to the year 2000, those having come in 2001 vs. Philadelphia and in ’07 against the Ted Nolan-led New York Islanders. Read more Erie County is on the verge of
paying out the largest settlement in its history: Erie County plans to settle a wrongful conviction case involving John Walker for $21 million, which would make it the most expensive county settlement in history. Read more Ryan and Poloncarz have a plan to patch potholes. (It's a metaphor): Mayor Sean Ryan is working to follow through on one of his major campaign promises – improving the city’s response to the perennial rust belt problem of potholes. Read more Three top executives are out at New Era Cap: Three high-level executives are out at New Era Cap following the purchase and integration of the ’47 Brand. That includes Jim Patterson, New Era president, who will be replaced by veteran business executive Bruce Popko. Read more Aspire of WNY to buy church property in Cheektowaga for $815,000: Aspire of Western New York, nonprofit that supports children and adults with developmental disabilities, has an agreement in place to purchase the Maryvale Drive Presbyterian Church property at 425 Maryvale Drive for $815,000. Read more Lawmakers pass seventh budget extension, but some see an end to delays: Democratic lawmakers in both houses indicated that progress has been made in the closed-door negotiations between Gov. Kathy Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, D-Bronx, and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-Yonkers. Assembly Member Gary Pretlow, a Westchester County Democrat who chairs the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, said on the house floor that there was movement on several policy issues that have been delaying the budget that was due April 1. Read more
WEATHERCloudy, but mild: Skies will be cloudy, and the high will be 63 degrees. Read more
FOOD & DRINK The Creamy Grilled Pork Ramen with yuzu oil, served at Haruko Craft Ramen and Umi Tea in Tonawanda. Owner Michael Jiang makes his ramen broth from scratch, by slow-cooking chicken on the stove for 10
hours. Joshua Bessex, Buffalo News |
This spring, try a new restaurant. Here's where to go around BuffaloAt Buffalo's newest restaurants, you'll find ramen broth slow cooked for 10 hours. Mochi made from scratch each morning then added to the bottom of a subtle iced tea. Liege waffles with hard-to-find chunky sugar crystals. Cocktails inspired by Studio Ghibli. Fresh hummus. Pork tartare. Fried chicken. Basque-grilled sea bream. Beer. Cookies. Doughnuts. Salad ... and much, much more. We write about a new restaurant every week. Here's a roundup of our recent coverage.
BUFFALO NEXTAs Viridi prepares to double revenue, East Side company gets $1M from WNY fund: The Western New York Impact Investment Fund is providing $1 million for Viridi to accelerate the company’s production and sales as it prepares to double its revenue from last year, continue developing critical technology and expand into new markets. Read more New East Side health center
expected to open this summer: A new comprehensive healthcare center will be opening this summer at the intersection of Bailey and Kensington avenues, along with a new full-size mural on the side of the building that was commissioned as part of the Buffalo AKG Museum's Public Art Initiative. Read more Premier Place in Amherst sold for $21M: The Premier Plaza on Transit Road in Amherst has been sold in a $20.8 million deal to HBM Properties, a privately
owned real estate investment and management firm based in Miami. Read more
BILLSRoundtable: News sports reporters Jay Skurski and Katherine
Fitzgerald debate the draft's hot topics: The 2026 NFL draft has come and gone, and the rush to judgment has commenced. Buffalo News sports reporters Jay Skurski and Katherine Fitzgerald were at One Bills Drive for all three days of the draft. Read more
SABRESLance Lysowski: Sabres' transformation began with Bowen Byram's arrival: Buffalo has outscored Boston 8-2 at 5-on-5 with Byram on the ice. You could make a strong case that he's been their best player ahead of Tuesday night, when the Sabres can eliminate the Bruins in Game 5 at KeyBank Center. Read more Sabres
notebook: NHL fines Boston's Nikita Zadorov for cross-check to Rasmus Dahlin: The NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Monday that it has fined Boston defenseman Nikita Zadorov for his cross-check of Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin in Game 4 of a first-round Stanley Cup Playoffs series. Read more
PHOTOS Sabres fans watch Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Boston Bruins on a large screen at Canalside on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (Derek Gee/Buffalo News) Derek Gee/Buffalo News |
Buffalo Sabres fans celebrate 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs run throughout WNY: Alumni Plaza
outside KeyBank Center, Canalside and bars throughout Western New York have been filled with raucous Buffalo Sabres fans celebrating the team's return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Check out photos of all the festivities here. #EveryDayAPhoto: Check out our photo series each morning to see our favorite image of the day. View more photo galleries here.
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