CATARACT CITY TO BE HOME TO 500 NEW JOBS ::Wednesday, May 21st::

Five hundred jobs will be coming to Niagara Falls as a result of a decision by the New York Power Authority to give Globe Specialty Metals 40 megawatts of cut rate power. Congresswoman Louise Slaughter says Globe told her they would reopen their closed Highland Avenue facility and invest $60-million in the abandoned factory if their request was granted. The reopening will create 500 local jobs - many of which are expected to be well paying union manufacturing positions. The company also plans to build a state of the art facility within the Niagara Power Plant's premises to produce solar grade silicon. It's a raw material used in devices that run n solar energy. The production of silicon is expected to entice solar product manufacturers to open facilities in Western New York. Slaughter lobbied NYPA for the designation and said the return of manufacturing companies to the Falls is just what we need to breath new life into the local economy.

SCHOOL VOTE RECAP ::Wednesday, May 21st::

All three incumbent school board members may have been reelected in the Barker and Newfane school districts last night, but two new members also won seats, with one even getting the top vote in Newfane. Meantime, the budgets of all six school districts also passed with flying colors. In Newfane, incumbents Cynthia Ames and Carl Stieffenhoffer were elected to a 3 year and 1 year term, respectively, but it was newcomer Patrick Kilcullen who topped everyone with 874 votes to win the other 3 year term. Ames finished with 849 votes, Stieffenhoffer had 679, and resident Brian Hellner brought up the rear with 611 votes an finished out of the money. In Barker, incumbent Louis Mead was reelected with 250 votes, and resident Fred Bennes won the other 3 year seat with 224 votes. Resident Mary Jo Clemmns-Harris finished 3rd with 210 votes. In other election news, Lockport City School District's budget was passed by a 791-354 vote. It features an estimated 6 cent increase per thousand dollars of assessed land value on the property tax rate in the district. In Starpoint, it was a ig night for Ann Marie Reeb - the school board watchdog - who at one point was barred from attending any meetings. She ran unopposed, and came in 3rd behind Joseph Miller and Lisa Taylor.

GOVERNOR'S EYE PROBLEMS COME TO FOREFRONT ::Wednesday, May 21st::

Governor David Paterson was treated yesterday for acute glaucoma in a Manhattan hospital - just hours after checking himself in - suffering from what doctors called 'migraine-like' symptoms. The governor - who turned 54 Monday - underwent an outpatient laser procedure to relieve the pressure in his left eye. Paterson remained concious during the surgery, and is expected to make a full recovery.

ASSEMBLYWOMAN PLANS MEETING WITH FALLS WATER BOARD ::Tuesday, May 20th::

Assemblywoman Francine Del Monte announcing a public discussion will be held Thursday night with the staff and members of the Niagara Falls Water Board. She says it's an opportunity for residents to voice concerns and ask questions. The executive director and the chairman have indicated they will attend along with the director of infrastructure operations and a board member. The meeting starts at 6 at the John Duke Senior Center.

JURY STILL OUT IN LOCKPORT HOME BREAK IN ::Tuesday, May 20th::

No verdict yet in county court in the trial of two men accused of carrying out a home invasion at a Locust Street apartment last year. 17 year old Rakeem Golson of Evans Street, and 20 year old Antonio Clark of Prospect Street, allegedly stormed into the apartment last April with a gun and knife. A man and a woman were pistol whipped during the invasion and one of them is a key witness for the prosecution. That's admitted drug dealer Shawn Pitler who said he recognized the two by their voices, clothing, and build. The two men who broke in were wearing masks and hoods. Golson and Clark are each charged with 18 counts of robbery, burglary, conspiracy, and assault. The jury deliberated five hours Monday and resumed Tuesday at 9.

GENESEE COUNTY FIRE KILLS FOUR ::Tuesday, May 20th::

Tragedy in the Genesee County town of Byron Monday, where investigators say a mother and her three children were killed when flames tore through their home early yesterday morning. Family members identified the dead as 51 year old Sherrie Reese, her daughters 21 year old Virginia and 19 year old Emily, and 17 year old son Tim. Last night hundreds of mourners gathered at the scene of the tragedy to console each other. Firefighters were called to the cluster of four duplex apartments at around 4:30am Monday, and took about two hours to bring the fire under control. The cause of the fatal blaze is still under investigation. The apartment complex was destroyed leaving 10 people who escaped homeless. The Red Cross is assisting the families affected by the fire.