🌱 Taking It To The Streets Festival + Buffalo Man's COVID Fund Fraud

Hello and happy Monday. I'm back in your inbox this morning with everything you need to know about what's happening these days in town.

First, today's weather:

A shower and thunderstorm; humid. High: 74 Low: 64.

Here are the top three stories today in Buffalo:

1. Over the weekend, the long-running gospel festival "Taking it to the Streets" returned after a two-year hiatus. The event began on Saturday and continued on Sunday morning, bringing food, music, vendors and even COVID shots at MLK Park. Popular gospel singer Lemmie Battles performed on Sunday. (WGRZ.com)
2. A Buffalo man was recently arrested and charged with wire fraud by receiving millions in COVID-19 funds. 49-year-old Brian A. Smith of Buffalo and owner of B Smith and Companies, LLC, allegedly provided false documentation to institutions to receive two Payment Protection Program loans and one Economic Injury Disaster Loan during the COVID-19 pandemic. (WIVB.com - News 4)
3. Two Buffalo teenagers have been charged with the murder of a 16-year-old girl. The 14 and 17-year-old boys allegedly shot a 16-year-old girl during an attempted robbery. The girl died from her injuries after being taken to ECMC for treatment. (WIVB.com - News 4)

Today in Buffalo:

• The Broadway Market On Broadway Between Gibson & Lombard Streets (8:00 AM)
• JazzMondays With My Cousin Toné At Tappo Rooftop Patio (6:30 PM)
• '68 And Of Night And Light At Mohawk Place (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• The New York Lottery announced that a winning top-prize ticket worth $37,369.00 was sold at the Niagara Falls Boulevard Wegmans in Buffalo on Saturday, Aug. 20. The winner has one year from yesterday's TAKE 5 EVENING drawing date to claim their prize. (WGRZ.com)
• Prosecutors and public defenders will be hosting two upcoming marijuana conviction expungement clinics at Elim Christian Fellowship on 70 Chalmers Ave. The first will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 25, and the second will be from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sep. 24. (Niagara Frontier Publications)
• The Salvation Army is helping 500 kids in Western New York gear up for the new school year with backpacks full of essential school supplies. Learn more about this inspiring effort on WIVB. (WIVB.com - News 4)

Thanks for following along and staying informed. 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.