Shredd & Ragan of the Edge 103.3

(photo: courtesy of The Edge)

Our readers tell us that among the region’s Most Under-reported Stories is the danger posed to the city by the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino. We think so, too—though we note that, to its credit, the Buffalo News is devoting more energy to exploring the issue in recent weeks.

Our readers tell us that the danger posed by a downtown casino is also among the Most Over-reported Stories. Ah, well—we plead guilty. And, given the inconclusive feedback, we’ll just keep writing about it. Other stories Buffalo is tired of hearing about: the Bass Pro deal, the parking ticket blitz—god, so are we—and the Erie County budget crisis.

The voting for Best Local Blog and Best Local Web Site engendered a fruitful conversation about where one draws the line between the two—Buffalo Rising, for example, won a substantial number of votes in both categories. But Buffalo Rising is not really a blog, at least not anymore. Buffalo Pundit clearly is, but at some point the increasingly popular blog is likely to become, in essence, a news portal for some readers—despite the intentions of its author, to be sure—at which point, we ask, will it have become something else? We’re glad to be in the newspaper business—gratified, however, that our Web site placed among the finalists.

Two of our television categories proved the essentially shallow nature of the medium: You’ll note that the finalists for Best Local TV Personality and Best-dressed Local TV Personality are practically identical. Note also that Andy Parker, a finalist for Best Local Weather Person, is the only broadcaster to make all three lists. This suggests, unscientifically, that most meteorologists and all the region’s Best Sportscasters need help from the wardrobe department.

As for Best Local TV Programs, we were heartened by some of the quirkier and less popular answers: “public access roller-skating,” “kung-fu movies set to rap music” and “Amherst school board meetings.” Those of you who provided those answers: Artvoice has a desk for you in our newsroom.

Best Local Blog

www.wnymusic.com

www.elmwoodstrip.com

www.community.livejournal.com/buffalo_dorks

www.buffalopundit.wnymedia.net

www.allentowngardener.com

Best Local Radio Personality

Val Townsend

Tom Bauerle

Ragan

Janet Snyder

Bull

Best Local Radio Show

WBFO Blues w/Jim Santella

Tom Bauerle

Shredd & Ragan

Sandy Beach

Dale & Clay Breakfast Club, WYRK

Best Local TV News Personality

Susan Banks

Mary Alice Demler

Keith Radford

Jodi Johnston

Jackie Walker

Andy Parker

Best-dressed Local TV News Personality

Victoria Hong

Susan Banks

Mary Alice Demler

Jodi Johnston

Jackie Walker

Andy Parker

Best Local TV Program

Sabres’ hockey

PM Buffalo

Offbeat Cinema

Channel 2’s Saturday Daybreak

Artscope

Best Local Weather Person

Kevin O’Connell

Don Paul

Chesley McNeil

Andy Parker

Aaron Mentkowski

Best Local Web Site

www.wedg.com

(The Edge 103.3)

www.buffalorising.com

www.buffalogaybars.com

www.buffalobarfly.com

www.buffalo.com

www.artvoice.com

Best Sportscaster

Rick Jeanneret

John Murphy

Ed Kilgore

Dennis Williams

Adam Begnini

Most Over-reported local Story

The Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino

The parking ticket crackdown

The Amherst deer lady

Erie County budget crisis

Bass Pro

Most Under-reported Local Story

Negative impacts of a casino downtown

Local poverty and illiteracy

Local entrepreneurs developing new housing, restaurants and businesses in the city

Anti-casino sentiment