🌱🧾 Charity CEO Commits Tax Fraud + Gas Prices Decrease + Mental Health Care Shortage

Hello, everybody. Keep reading to find out all the most important things happening in our community, including updates on:

• ⛽ Gas prices
• 🧑‍⚕️The mental health care shortage
• 🩸Blood donations

🌧️ But first, today's weather: Cloudy with a shower or two. High: 44. Low: 40.

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Here are the top stories today in Buffalo:

1. The founder and CEO of charity organization Helping Families and Children in America, 66-year-old Jacqueline Mines, used over $61,000 from business accounts for personal expenses. She also did not file for federal income tax return in 2018. The total tax loss was $18,842.71. Mines now faces up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine. Learn more at WIVB 4.
2. Prices at the pump are continuing to decrease, making the NYS average $3.70. This is down 9 cents from a week ago. The Buffalo average is below the state average at $3.67. The national average is currently calculated at $3.40. Read more at WKBW 7.
3. The mental health care shortage in WNY has come to light after the mass shooting and shared pandemic experience. The shortage is due to under-funding and leads to entirely booked professionals, and is especially affecting black communities. According to the American Psychological Association, only 2% of psychiatrists and 4% of psychologists are black. Third year psychiatry ECMC resident, Dr. James Thompson, says, "There aren't enough faces that look like mine in psychiatry or medicine at large." This can affect black people making the hard choice to seek mental health help, as they cannot find a professional with the same cultural understandings as them. Visit WKBW 7 for more information.
4. The Buffalo club, Club Marcella, speaks out about their security methods in response to the fatal Colorado shooting in a gay club. “Everyone in here has gotta get pat down, metal detector, you come in,” the owner Joe Marcella said. “We know there’s no weapons. I can deal with fights but not weapons — reality check.” Club Marcella is located in the Cobblestone District. Read more at WIVB 4.
5. ConnectLife, the city's only community-ran blood bank, is urging WNY residents to donate blood this holiday season. Those who give blood through the month of December are entered into a 27 Days of Giving raffle. Prices include Bills tickets, autographs, and gift cards. To learn more, visit WKBW 7.

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Today in Buffalo:

• Buffalo Holiday Market! Loaded Lumber Creative Studio. December 6th, 10:00 A.M. - 8:00 P.M. Details!
• Currents: Ecce Sublimina! Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University. December 6th, 11:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. Details!
• Tech Art for Girls! Squeaky Wheel. December 6th, 4:30 P.M. - 6:30 P.M. Details!
• Queen City Worker's Center! Buffalo and Erie County Public Library and other library locations. December 6th, 5:00 P.M. Details!

Buffalo Chatter:

• First Seed Bills Meme: "First Seed Feelings🥰 ⁠ ⁠ Let us know how you're feeling after this news!👇️⁠ ⁠ Tw: @merekatkat" (Step Out Buffalo via Instagram)
• Josh Allen Ornament: "Day 5 of the 17 Days of Josh Allen: Josh Allen Hallmark Ornament Decorate the tree with a little QB1, when you win this Josh Allen Hallmark Ornament. To enter to win, leave a “Go Bills!” in the comments and make sure you’re following us..." (Visit Buffalo Niagara via Instagram)
• Buffalo Dog Celebrates Sabres Win: "💛💙Sabres Win!!💙💛 🏒 @digitails.by.dea 🐕 #dogsofbuffalo #buffalosabres #sabreswin #sabresgarden @buffalosabres" (Dogs Of Buffalo via Instagram)
• PS 197 Math Science Technology Preparatory School: "A big thank you to PS 197 Math Science Technology Preparatory School for a warm welcome! It was so nice to hear the stories and experiences that happened at MST. We're so proud of all the students and staff there!" (Buffalo Schools via Facebook)

You're officially in the loop for today. I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with a new update!