🌱 Erie County Libraries Get $90K + Buffalo VA Nurses On Strike

Hi all. I'm here with your fresh copy of the Buffalo Daily, filled with all the things you need to know about what's happening in town. Here's the lowdown...

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and warmer. High: 87 Low: 73.

Here are the top three stories today in Buffalo:

1. Erie County libraries are receiving $90,000 to improve their services. The funds, intended for library materials and services, are in addition to the $100 million designated for local libraries in the state budget. The Buffalo & Erie County Public Library system is receiving $50,000 and the Grand Island Memorial Library, City of Tonawanda Public Library, the Kenmore Branch Library, and the Kenilworth Branch Library in the Town of Tonawanda will all receive $10,000. (WIVB.com - News 4)
2. Registered nurses are protesting the working conditions at the Buffalo VA due to safety concerns. The nurses say there is short staffing, 20-hour shifts, and inaction by management. The union represents roughly 380 registered nurses at the Buffalo VA. Nicole White, the leader of the union said, “As nurses, we pride ourselves in taking care of our patients, but we can’t provide the care they need and deserve when we’re short-staffed.” In their response, the VA said they are working to address the nurses' concerns. (WIVB.com - News 4)
3. Cameryon Nelson, a 24-year-old Buffalo man, has been sentenced for killing another driver in a crash on Bailey Avenue. Nelson was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to five to ten years in prison. The crash occurred on Jul. 8 back in 2020. The Erie County District Attorney's Office says Nelson was speeding northbound and crossed into the southbound lane, crashing head-on with a southbound vehicle and killing Dorian Monique Baines, 24. (WGRZ.com)

Today in Buffalo:

• Mahjong Club At Lancaster Public Library (10:00 AM)
• Story Hour With Ms. Shannon At Marilla Free Library (10:30 AM)
• Summer Craft Week: Bath Bombs At Angola Public Library (12:00 PM)
• Free Mental Health Support & Healing At Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Branch (12:15 PM)

From my notebook:

• Buffalo's first vegan market has opened on Grant Street, just in time for Black Business Month. Donisha Gant, the owner of Plantae, wants to help the community access healthy and affordable plant-based options. (Spectrum News)
• The squiggly road lines on Forest Avenue are just temporary. Kevin Heffernan, Communications Director for GObike Buffalo, said the middle lanes were added hastily to help differentiate them from the bike lane. The condition of the road made it very difficult to draw a straight line in the rush. (WIVB.com - News 4)
• The next Behind-the-Scenes Tour: Cabinet of Curiosities will take place on Aug. 17. Tickets are available now to peek at the Museum of Science's Vertebrate Zoology Collection. (Buffalo Museum of Science via Instagram)

Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll see you around.

— Dan Casarella

About me: Dan Casarella is a writer, podcast producer, and small business development specialist who formerly worked in late-night television. He’s produced many talk segments, including with President Joe Biden, Kobe Bryant, and Chadwick Boseman. Dan studied Media Studies and Production at Temple University. He also enjoys running, painting, and the highs and lows of Philadelphia’s sports teams.