🌱 🧑‍💼 Unemployment Rates in NYS + Changing BPS Start-time + Casino Game Fraud

Good morning, y’all! Happy Friday! Here's everything you need to know about what's happening in town.

• 🧑‍💼 Unemployment rates in Buffalo
• 🚏 Potential to change school starting time
• 📅 Events for this weekend!

It has been National Suicide Prevention Week. National hotline is 988, learn more about how Buffalo is spreading awareness at WKBW 7.

First, today's weather: Sunny to partly cloudy. High: 80 Low: 65.

Here are the top stories in Buffalo today:

1.) The Buffalo News compiles most recent jobs, unemployment, and workforce data for Buffalo and New York State. Unemployment rates for Erie County are down 1.5%, for a 4% unemployment rate in the county as of July 2022. The state unemployment rate is 4.8%, highest in Bronx County (9.1%) and lowest in Hamilton County (2.6%).

View all 13 charts via The Buffalo News.

2.) Buffalo Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Tonja Williams, suggest a three-tiered starting time system to address bus driver shortages. The current system has public schools starting at either 8:00 or 9:00. Dr. Williams is currently looking at 7:30, 8:30, and 9:30 start times. This proposal, however, goes against the current contract with the Buffalo Teachers Federation, that states teachers are not to have a start time before 7:50. The union is not likely to accept this plan, and is concerned about how late students will arrive home, especially in the winter, if starting school at 9:30.

More information available via Eileen Buckley’s article at WKBW 7.

3.) Two players and one blackjack dealer have been arraigned for game fraud at the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino. Allegedly, the dealer, Emily M. Torres (20 years old), committed game fraud by showing Mark M. Watson Jr. (28 years old) and Rahat Hossain (34 years old) the face cards before the final play. All three will return to court in early October for a felony hearing.

Learn more via WGRZ.

4.) Work begins on “Unity Mural,” a collaboration between well-known artist David Jones and several other local artists. The mural is in dedication to the lives lost in the May 14th Tops Shooting, and will face the Jefferson Tops. David Jones told reporter Mike Randell about the project, saying, “I think of the people that lost a mother, a grandmother or father. Family is the most important thing. That's why I'm here.” The project is now accepting donations.

Learn more about the project and donating at WKBW.

5.) Buffalo man, Tyler Collins (27 7ears old), is facing up to 20 years in prison after being charged by grand jury with assaulting an FBI agent. The assault occurred at the FBI Buffalo Division, where Collins punched one agent who was allegedly trying to calm him.

Read more at WIVB.

This Weekend in Buffalo:

• 64th Annual Niagara County Peach Festival! Academy Park. September 9th-September 11th, All Day. Details!
• 75 Years of Creative Excellence: A Celebration of the Department of the Visual and Performing Arts! Daemen University. September 9th, 5:00 P.M. Derails!
• Theresa Caputo (Long Island Medium)! Shea's Buffalo Theatre. September 9th, 7:30 P.M. Details!
• New Found Glory Concert! Town Ballroom. September 9th, 7:30 P.M. Details!
• Magic Tree House: Space Mission! Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium. September 10th, 12:00 P.M. Details!
• Music is Art Festival! Buffalo Riverworks, Buffalo RiverFest Park, and Michigan/Ganson Grain Elevators. September 10th, 11:00 A.M.- 12:00 A.M. Details!
• 2022 Kenmore Pub Crawl! Starting at Fattey Beer Co. September 10th, 4:00 P.M.- 12:00 A.M. Details!
• Morning Recalibration Yoga Class with Marco Rojas! Larkin Square. September 11th, 9:00 A.M. - 10:30 A.M. Details!
• Abstract Art Mobiles! Nickel City Wax and Wane. September 11th, 11:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. Details!
• Add your event to be featured!

Buffalo Chatter:

• Bills Game at the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter: "The season opener is here!!! 💙🐶❤️🏈 Meet your 2022 Buffalo Animal Shelter starting line up! All these players have worked hard all summer and are ready to show their off what they're made of in the spotlight of your home! Learn more ab..." (City of Buffalo Animal Shelter via Facebook)
• People Inc. is Hiring: People Inc. to conduct interviews for new staff members (WKBW 7 News Buffalo)
• Bills Game at the The Buffalo Zoo: "Who else is this excited that football is back? 💙🏈❤️ Go Bills! #BillsMafia #LetsGoBuffalo" (The Buffalo Zoo via Instagram)
• Beer Recc: "In the market for a new Bills Season tailgating beer? Tap our link in bio for all the best Buffalo Bills-themed brews available right now 🍻" (Step Out Buffalo via Instagram)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you back in your inbox Monday with a new update! Have a good weekend! 😊