Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: What Buffalo’s new police deal means for safety, oversight, and taxes

Coming up on the Buffalo Patch calendar: Buffalo Theater: A Christmas Carol at Alleyway Theater

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Good morning Buffalo! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • What Buffalo’s new police deal means for safety, oversight, and taxes
  • How bad is this record-breaking flu wave hitting Buffalo families?
  • How New York’s new social media warnings could affect Buffalo teens

Also on today's calendar: Candlelight: Christmas Classics and 8 more events.

Find out what's happening in Buffalofor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: How many sheep does it take to make a sweater? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Buffalofor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Saturday: Cloudy, with a high of 29 and low of 23 degrees.
  • Sunday: Not as cold with rain, temps: high: 41, low: 36.
  • Monday: Winds becoming strong, with a high of 45 and low of 21 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Buffalo police to activate dash cameras, extend health benefits under new agreement (wkbw.com) — Buffalo’s new agreement with the police union will finally activate dash cameras in patrol cars, extend officer health benefits through 2029, and require tasers as standard equipment. City leaders hope the deal will ease staffing shortages, reduce costly overtime, and improve oversight just as a new mayoral administration prepares to take office.
   

• 'It's happening everywhere!': New York State reports most flu cases ever recorded in one week (wkbw.com) — Buffalo families are being hit hard as New York records its highest-ever week of flu cases, with more than 71,000 infections reported statewide. Local doctors say ERs are crowded but illness severity is typical, and they strongly urge anyone in Buffalo who hasn’t had a recent flu infection to get vaccinated, noting this year’s strain brings especially high fevers and more vomiting in kids.
   

• New York enacts warning labels on social media features to combat teen mental health crisis (wgrz.com) — New York State is rolling out mandatory warning labels on addictive social media features like infinite scroll and autoplay, and the story is framed from Buffalo with insight from a UB bullying-prevention expert. The goal is to make teens stop and think about how long they’re online, as leaders link heavy use to higher risks of anxiety and depression.
   

📸 Around Buffalo

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Buffalo

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🗓 Events Nearby

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • VFW Warns Buffalo Veterans – Don’t Leave Benefits Money on the Table —Sturges Word Communications Read on Patch
  • Please share & repost to help reunite this lost cat!
    Ziggy was LOST on December 22, 2025 in Buffalo, NY 14208 near Near meech st Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to contact the… (Nextdoor Niagara Grant)
  • I need help my cat escaped.
    He is black with a little white on his chest and white paws. I live on Cumberland Ave. I think he is in the neighborhood. Please call 716-997-6466… (Nextdoor Cumberland Ave)
  • Another powerful storm system that could soak Southern California with its wettest Christmas in years rolled into the region on Thursday, potentially... (X: SPECNews1BUF)
  • The summer of 2025 brought unprecedented flash flooding across the., with the central and eastern regions hit particularly hard.... (X: news4buffalo)
  • Unifi posted a job opening for Airport Ramp Agent in Buffalo. Apply here.
  • Burlington Stores posted a job opening for Seasonal Retail Stocking Associate - Part Time in Buffalo. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Buffalo here.

🗞 Nearby News

Kenmore

  • 15 Recent UFO Sightings Reported Across Upstate New York (wbuf.com)

Cheektowaga

Ok Buffalo! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I have no idea. I didn’t even know sheep could knit.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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