🌱 Electricity Plans + Hamlin is Home + Sex Trafficking Awareness

Hello, y'all! Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about what's going on around town. Today we'll cover...

• Damar Hamlin is back in WNY.
• The city animal shelter is in a depressing state.
• The Broadway Aldi, in a food desert, is reopening after the blizzard.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy. High: 35. Low: 29.

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Here are the top five stories in Buffalo today:

1. The proposed energy plan for New York State could mean all-electric buildings in Buffalo. This alarms some citizens in the wake of a snowstorm where many relied on gas to stay warm without power. Lisa Marshal, director of organizing and advocacy with New Yorkers for Clean Power, told 7 News that the city would have actually been better off in the blizzard because pipes couldn't freeze. The new plan would allow for energy-efficient electric heat pumps and buildings with high-efficiency standards, which Marshal also thinks would be a benefit in weather extremes. (WKBW 7)
2. As Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin continues to improve rapidly, he has been released from the ICU in Cincinnati and will continue his treatment back home in Buffalo. “He’s just very tired but he seems happy and happy to be back in Buffalo and around a familiar area to him. I know he’s taking it just one step at a time here,” Coach Sean McDermott said. (YourErie)
3. This National Sex Trafficking Awareness Month, news outlets are highlighting Project Mona's House. Project Mona's is a restoration home, meaning the women who enter the shelter are working towards rebuilding their lives and becoming part of society. Kelly Galloway, founder and executive director, commented to WKBW 7, "there is such a great need because individuals sometimes think that human trafficking only happens overseas, but it actually happening in our own backyard." (WKBW 7)
4. The City of Buffalo's Animal Shelter is unfortunately flooded with dogs. To house all the animals, some are being kept in the garage and in vans at the shelter. While there has been money dedicated to a new facility for the overfilled animal shelter since 2018, the location still has not been decided upon. (WGRZ 2)
5. Amidst rumors that it may not re-open, the Broadway Aldi has confirmed it will reopen after being looted during the blizzard. It remains undisclosed when it will open its doors again. It is one of the few grocery stores on the east side of the city. (The Buffalo News)

Today in Buffalo:

• Gorge-ous Trees! Devil's Hole State Park, 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
• Dinosaur World Live! Center for the Arts, 6:30 P.M.
• New Play Reading Series: Brilliant Works of Art by Donna Hoke! 4625 Harlem Rd, 7:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.

From my notebook:

• Giant Anteaters: "Everyone likes money on their birthday! We recently celebrated our old man, Haji's 24th birthday. 🐜💸🐜" (The Buffalo Zoo via Instagram)
• Delaware District Homes: "Clarendon Place - Delaware District" (Buffalo Homes via Instagram)
• Greatest Bills Comeback: "As the @buffalobills embark on another postseason run, we thought we'd look back on the Greatest Comeback Game in NFL playoff history." (The Buffalo History Museum via Instagram)
• MLK Day at The Science Museum: "On Monday, January 16, celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with joyful exploration of science." (Buffalo Museum of Science via Instagram)
• Buffalo Schools Supplemental Programs: "Are you interested in being considered for supplemental programs or services in the Buffalo Public Schools?" (Buffalo Schools via Facebook)

You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you around.