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  March 7, 2026

  A team of former Lakeshore Hospital employees, and an outside investor, are converting the hospital into a $42 million inpatient center for people experiencing mental health challenges or substance use disorders.

  Western NY Observer

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  March 4, 2026

  Following a critical audit — and an IPost investigation — Save the Michaels announced this week it had lost public funding.

  Western NY Observer

• 

  February 20, 2025

  The state Office of Cannabis Management and legislative leaders will fight a proposal in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s budget to allow police to use the smell of cannabis as evidence that a person is driving while impaired.

  Western NY Observer

• 

  February 18, 2025

  Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive budget provides $1.25 billion for OASAS, the Office of Addiction Services and Supports, a net increase of $22.3 million from last year.

  Western NY Observer

• 

  February 5, 2025

  Federal authorities have charged two New York City men with distributing over a million counterfeit pills in Western New York, some of which contained fentanyl.

  Western NY Observer
• January 31, 2025

  Lockport man Javonte Holloway, 23, admits to selling fentanyl following death of child

  Western NY Observer
• January 29, 2025

  A former waiter from the New York City area faces a narcotics charge after a federal investigation indicated he trafficked pain pills using several post offices in Western New York.

  Western NY Observer

• 

  December 26, 2024

  In a letter to the governor, advocates from Buffalo to the Bronx urged her to allow “every FDA-approved opioid reversal agent” to be available under a standing prescription order that since 2016 allows only naloxone to be obtained without a prescription.

  Western NY Observer

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  November 26, 2024

  Cheap Ozempic? How millions of Americans with obesity may get access to costly weight-loss drugs

  Western NY Observer

• 

  November 24, 2024

  Obesity experts say that roughly 20% of patients — as many as 1 in 5 — may not see robust results with the new medications.

  Western NY Observer
• November 20, 2024

  Buffalo man Rashaun Crule charged with selling fentanyl resulting in 2 deaths

  Western NY Observer