Good morning, Buffalo.

Hundreds of kids in Buffalo got new school supplies today at the William-Emslie YMCA from a backpack giveaway organized by the YMCA and former Buffalo Bills receiver Stevie Johnson.

Families enjoyed bounce houses, face painting, and dinner as over 450 backpacks—mostly black—were handed out to help students start the school year right.

A community rally is being held today at 3:30 p.m. at 225 Ellicott St. in downtown Buffalo to push for turning the old Braymiller Market into an affordable grocery store—community advocate Archie Brooks organizes the event.

Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon said he will work on plans to revitalize downtown.

Buffalo saw a 25% drop in shooting incidents with injuries from Jan.

1 through July 31 under New York’s GIVE program—state officials credit record public safety investments for fewer victims and gun-violence deaths.

Orchard Park police said three suspects—Danielle Hennings, Davon Pettigrew and Caji Campbell—turned themselves in after a home invasion on Milestrip Road broke a locked bedroom door, injured a 39-year-old man and led to over $30,000 in stolen property while a warrant was issued for a fourth suspect.

Local attorneys said the defense motion in Payton Gendron’s case, which claims the jury was not diverse enough to represent Western New York, is ironic and unlikely to sway proceedings—Judge Lawrence Vilardo set hard deadlines with the trial expected to begin next summer.

A Buffalo Police detective, Terrance Michael Ciszek a/k/a DrMonster, faces new charges for attempting to buy stolen information from Genesis Market — an illegal online shop selling data gathered from malware-infected computers.

Yesterday, Our Lady of Victory National Shrine and Basilica in Lackawanna revealed a new copper dome that replaces the century-old one.

Father David LiPuma said the dome—measuring 72 feet across and 45 feet tall—is part of a $3 million project funded by the 'Save a Dome, Adopt an Angel' campaign and it will eventually turn green.

Buffalo State held its first Kitchen Confidence Camp, where ten high school students learned kitchen safety and nutrition in a week-long program.

The camp — started after student Alexander Parisi’s petition to bring back a home education class — included a field trip to Tops Friendly Markets and a final demonstration with fresh ingredients.

Buffalo State is expanding its Roar 2 Success program to a two-year model starting this fall, which boosts support for over 500 students through added success navigators, cohort courses and a living community in Bengal Hall—enhancing academic help for both residential and commuter students. The upgrade also includes improved services like walk-in advisement and engagement activities to strengthen retention and success.

A 56-year-old chemical operator who was exposed to toxic gas last May received life-saving treatment using an ECMO device at Mercy Hospital in south Buffalo—his family visited Thursday to thank the care team.

This treatment marked the first time in the U.S. that ECMO helped a toxic gas survivor by supporting his heart and lungs.

Casting Buffalo Actors Expo 2025

12-7 p.m. — Rich’s Catering & Special Events — Varies — Connect with industry leaders and enhance your acting career at Buffalo's premier actors expo.

2025 Bob Ivory 5K Run

9 AM – 1 PM — St Joseph's Collegiate Institute — Registration fees vary — Participate in a community-focused 5K run in Buffalo.

Bubble Party

1-2 p.m. — Reinstein Memorial Library — Free entry — Celebrate summer with bubble crafts and juggling entertainment.

Meet the Authors: The Erie Canal Bicentennial Discussion

6-8 p.m. — Canalside — Free entry — Engage in a panel discussing the history and legacy of the Erie Canal with contributors from WNY Heritage Magazine.

GoldFord Concert in Buffalo, NY

7-11 p.m. — Buffalo Iron Works — General Admission $35 ($30 with friends) — Experience soulful anthems and connection during GoldFord's Orange Blossoms World tour.

UB40 Live in Concert

7:00 – 8:30 PM — Artpark — Tickets available — Experience reggae/pop legends UB40 with hits like 'Red Red Wine' and special guest Inner Circle.

National Buffalo Wing Festival

8 AM – 3 PM — Sahlen Field — Cost varies — Celebrate the Buffalo wing with delicious eats and festive fun in the birthplace of this iconic dish.

Ani DiFranco Live Performance

6-8 PM — Terminal B — Ticket prices vary — Experience an intimate evening with the iconic singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco in Buffalo.

Deftones Live Concert

7:00 – 8:30 PM — KeyBank Center — Tickets available — Experience an electrifying night with Deftones in Buffalo.

Blackbird Concert at The Caz

7:30-10:30 p.m. — The Caz — $24 — Experience the powerful Alter-Native Fusion of Blackbird, blending Native flute with contemporary rock.