Jim Heaney

Editor and executive director of @ipostnews, the only nonprofit investigative reporting center serving Buffalo and Western New York.

[Investigative Post @ipostnews]

Last month, Buffalo police discovered an abandoned Tesla in Niagara Square. Inside was a gun registered to former Sheriff's chief DJ Granville.

We now know who'd been driving: Ex-cop Tom George, COO of Buffalo Biodiesel.

https://t.co/rstRVHpPy6

[Investigative Post @ipostnews]

When Border Patrol agents dropped off Rohingya refugee Nurul Amin Shah Alam at a closed coffee shop, they notified no one.

A new bill from Rep. Kennedy would mandate ICE and Border Patrol call a point of contact before releasing migrants in the future.

https://t.co/P6YI894r1l

[Ken Girardin @PolicyEngineer]

Why is NYS paying $5 million for a "cryogenics facility" outside Buffalo?

[Ken Girardin @PolicyEngineer]

Looks like NYS taxpayers are getting hit with another $115 million in costs for Micron's still-unbuilt plant outside Syracuse, this time to cover sewer upgrades.

[Investigative Post @ipostnews]

Breaking: Rep. Tim Kennedy has introduced a bill in Congress that could prevent migrant deaths like Nurul Amin Shah Alam's.

The bill would require ICE and Border Patrol to call a migrant's "point of contact" before releasing them "to ensure their safety."
https://t.co/P6YI894r1l

[J. Dale Shoemaker @JDale_Shoemaker]

Should the bill pass (unlikely with Republicans in charge of Congress & Trump in WH):

DHS would have to work with each migrant to set a point of contact. Then, before they're released, DHS would call that contact at least 2x to ensure safe dropoff/pickup.
https://t.co/Bdxh6LeXsj

[J. Dale Shoemaker @JDale_Shoemaker]

Breaking: Rep. Tim Kennedy has introduced a bill that would mandate ICE & Border Patrol notify a migrant's 'point of contact' before releasing them from custody.

In the case of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, that never happened. He ended up missing & dead downtown
https://t.co/Bdxh6LeXsj

[Investigative Post @ipostnews]

Breaking: Two weeks ago, a Tesla was found abandoned in Niagara Square. In the car: A gun belonging to former Sheriff's chief DJ Granville.

We now know who'd been driving: Former cop and Evans town official Tom George.

https://t.co/rstRVHpPy6

[J. Dale Shoemaker @JDale_Shoemaker]

New: Former Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown has secured control of patronage operation Off-Track Betting.

He and his deputy mayors are in charge.

Meanwhile fmr CEO Henry Wojtaszek is banned from the board.

Why? An incident involving his wife may be to blame:

https://t.co/yLHRscoyZA

[Hell Gate *subscribe today!* @HellGateNY]

A group of reformers think they're ready to break through and change how we select judges—from a cesspool of grime and self-dealing to a more enlightened, straightforward democratic process.

How did it get this bad, and do these reformers have a chance?

[Investigative Reporters & Editors @IRE_NICAR]

Fifty years after Don Bolles’ death, we honor his courage and his enduring legacy in investigative journalism.

Bolles gave his life pursuing corruption and holding power to account. His murder shocked the journalism world and helped inspire the Arizona Project — a powerful reminder that attacks on one journalist are attacks on the public’s right to know.

In the latest IRE Journal article, Jeremy Duda, an Axios Phoenix reporter and the author of “Murder in the Fourth Estate: The Assassination of Investigative Journalist Don Bolles”, reflects on Bolles’ legacy and why his investigative work still matters today.

Investigative journalists owe it to Don Bolles to continue accountability reporting with courage and tenacity: https://t.co/LtDWNmHFWf

[J. Dale Shoemaker @JDale_Shoemaker]

From my notebook: While reporting on the case of farm worker advocate Dolores Bustamante, I met & spoke to her briefly in the lobby of 250 Delaware, where ICE has offices.

A Uniland security guard promptly kicked me out.

Reporters aren't allowed in the building, she said.

[Investigative Post @ipostnews]

New: In this week's Off the News column, Editor Jim Heaney revisits the Common Council's battle against Mayor Sean Ryan's new budget.

We've got a full recap of what went down at City Hall — plus more news from the week — below:

https://t.co/l3IdMkQ7k3

[Investigative Post @ipostnews]

A longtime apple picker and workers' rights advocate was freed from ICE detention Wednesday night on a judge's orders.

Dolores Bustamante has supported migrant workers and citizens alike in upstate NY for years.

Read about her life and case:

https://t.co/nOyfdcAgIt

[Investigative Post @ipostnews]

After prison, many ex-cons struggle to find stable housing.

Boarding houses, where they can rent a room, are one option.

But many are unregulated, and in states of disrepair — including bedbug infestations.

https://t.co/miZ0r7Oga1

[Investigative Post @ipostnews]

Breaking: Dolores Bustamante, the apple picker and longtime advocate for upstate farm workers, was freed from ICE detention last night.

Bustamante had been arrested at a check-in appointment in Buffalo last month. She was nearly deported to Mexico.

https://t.co/nOyfdcAgIt

[Investigative Post @ipostnews]

New: Once again, the New York AG has found fault with the actions of a Buffalo cop after a formal review. Officer Ronald Ammerman was cited for an unjustified search & other incidents. He's been party to several lawsuits filed against the city.
https://t.co/XDEHKemEb9

[Investigative Post @ipostnews]

Buffalo is seeking to sell its parking ramps to a new entity called the Buffalo Parking Authority, a move that will help the city balance its budget.

It will also leave the Parking Authority with $1 million annually to help revitalize downtown.

https://t.co/722o2FiBA7

[Investigative Post @ipostnews]

New: A new deal for public sector unions is set to hit taxpayers hard.

It'll cost taxpayers $557 million annually — straining the budgets of school districts, cities & towns statewide.

Editor Jim Heaney explains how it works in this week's Off the News:

https://t.co/g51XdGK8Mf

[Investigative Post @ipostnews]

Finding a place to live after prison can be extremely difficult.

In Buffalo, many end up in boarding houses. In some cases, that means dealing with infestation, fights & thefts.

We interviewed several current and former parolees. Here's what we learned:

https://t.co/miZ0r7Oga1