Prudish Developers

On July 30—nine years after the flirtation with Bass Pro began—Brian Higgins’ 14-day put-out-or-get-out ultimatum finally ended Buffalo’s fruitless courting of the fishing mega store. Sure it was a bad deal, but is our waterfront ever going to get laid?

Dirty Laundry

Mayor Byron Brown’s 19-year-old son is in trouble again, facing charges of petit larceny for allegedly leaving a store on July 31 without paying for $60 of merch. In all fairness, the mayor did address the charges—unlike last time—and pledged cooperation.

Death Wishes

Five passengers who boarded a small plane with the intention of jumping out of it—crazy, I know?—miraculously walked away without injury (one remains in critical condition) after it crashed horrifically in Wilson on Aug. 1. Seriously guys, time to take a hint.

Privacy Rights

Buffalo/Niagara Airport received its first millimeter wave body scanner on Aug. 2, joining 28 other airports across the country using the device. While an alternate to a physical pat-down, the scanner still allows the screener to view the subject sans clothing.

Higher Education

UB’s 2020 initiative took a serious hit on Aug. 3 with the passing of a new state budget that failed to allow individual SUNY schools the control to set their own tuition. Hey, at least UB can still take pride in that #6 party school ranking they achieved back in 2003.

Days late the New York State Legislature passed its $136.5 billion fiscal year 2011 budget. Orginially due at the start of the fiscal year on April 1, the Aug. 3 measure brought an end to months of bickering between Republicans and Democrats on how to close the $9.2 billion deficit. The budget came within seven days of the record for latest budget in an election year, achieved in 2004.