Buffalo News Live

Video: Saluting Our War Heroes -- Edward M. Kolek

World War II veteran from Lockport served in Army Air Forces as pilot/flight commander. Read Lou Michel's story in today's News.

Vacancy at One Bills Drive chat with Tim Graham at 2 p.m.

The News' Tim Graham will discuss his Sunday Spotlight cover story, "Vacancy at One Bills Drive," a look at what would happen if the Bills ever left town, at 2 p.m. today.

Live blog from West Seneca Town Board meeting

Join T.J. Pignataro, the Buffalo News' West Seneca reporter, live from West Seneca Town Hall at 7 p.m. Monday.

The West Seneca Town Board will consider a request from Upstate Cellular Network, doing business as Verizon Wireless, for a special permit and site plan approval for 2801 Seneca St. Upstate Celluar is seeking to construct a 100-foot cellular phone tower and an equipment shed.

Town board members will also be asked to vote on Supervisor Sheila M. Meegan's proposed
transfer of Linda M. Kauderer, an account clerk mini-computer operator from the finance
department to the police department.

Breaking down the USDA plant hardiness zone map

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has recently released a new "plant hardiness zone map" that shows some areas of Western New York can now be considered a zone warmer, for planting purposes.

Read Charity Vogel's complete story here.

The USDA describes the map as follows:

"The 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones."

Below, from the USDA's map website, is a look at New York:

Find the hardiness zone for your specific area by punching in your ZIP code:
http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/Default.aspx

Here is an interactive map featuring the entire nation, again courtesy of the USDA:
http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/InteractiveMap.aspx

Live video chat with neurologists about Le Roy situation

Drs. Lazlo Mechtler and Jennifer McVige from the Dent Neurologic Institute will join reporter Sandra Tan in The News' studio for a live video chat at 5:30 p.m. Thursday on BuffaloNews.com.

The two neurologists have treated many of the students from Le Roy who have developed the Tourette-like illnesses that have attracted national attention.

The chat provides you an opportunity to pose your questions.

DOT Meeting on Closed Rte. 219 Bridge - Feb. 7

The state Department of Transportation closed the old Route 219 bridge linking Erie and Cattaraugus counties last month due to safety concerns. The DOT is moving forward with plans to repair the bridge and get it open this spring.

DOT officials will meet with the public at 7 p.m. at Concord Town Hall in Springville.

Join Buffalo News reporter T.J. Pignataro who will be reporting live from the meeting.

Live blog from Cheektowaga Town Board meeting at 6:45 p.m.

Dogs are expected to get the green light tonight to be walked legally in every Cheektowaga town park but John C. Stiglmeier and Town Park when the town board considers making permanent an temporary town law that went into effect last year.

Join The Buffalo News' Cheektowaga reporter, T.J. Pignataro, who will be reporting live from Cheektowaga Town Hall, 3301 Broadway, at 6:45 p.m.

West Seneca Town Board Special Meeting - Feb. 3

Join West Seneca Reporter T.J. Pignataro who will be live at the Burchfield Nature and Art Center, 2001 Union Road, at 11 a.m. Friday for the Special Meeting of the West Seneca Town Board.

Supervisor Sheila M. Meegan and Councilman Eugene P. Hart are expected to be present to meet with town department heads as well as members of the Buffalo Niagara Realtors Association about the controversial - and currently suspended - new ordinance requiring the replacement of sewer lateral pipes upon property sales in West Seneca.

West Seneca Developmental Center - Feb. 1

West Seneca Reporter T.J. Pignataro will be reporting live from the West Seneca Senior Center at 7 p.m. Wednesday where the second of four sessions will be held about the future use of more than 200 acres of property on the site of the former West Seneca Developmental Center.

Richard Henry, West Seneca's town engineer, and John Gullo, the town's code enforcement officer, will discuss the current land use and zoning there and will present a detailed analysis of the property.

YouTube videos: More on the Asian carp

Here is a collection of videos that profile the Asian carp and its potential effect on Lake Erie:

Great Lakes Commission: Restoring the Natural Divide

CBS: Asian Carp Lake Invasions

Short documentary: Preventing a Hostile Takeover -- Asian Carp and the Great Lakes

Short documentary: Asian Carp Invasion