We fared better in 2023 – a year with less trauma.
Thankfully, the most impactful stories of the past 12 months did not include a racist mass shooting or a Christmas weekend blizzard that claimed 47 lives, although community leaders and residents dealt with the aftermath of those 2022 horrors.
In 2023, The Buffalo News published stories over 18 consecutive days about the unsolved murder of O’Connor after two reporters and their editor were given unprecedented access to the Buffalo police homicide file.
But 2023 brought its share of tragedy. A Buffalo firefighter died in the line of duty. And a national television audience watched in shock as medical personnel worked to revive Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin on the field after his cardiac arrest. The recovery and comeback that followed inspired the nation.
The year also saw a changing of the guard, with Phil Rumore’s retirement as the Buffalo Teachers Federation chief. His won’t be the only big departure, as Brian Higgins announced he will leave Congress. Some will stay put. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, who won an unprecedented fourth term in November, says he won’t pursue the 26th Congressional District seat that Higgins will vacate.
The museum district welcomed a new jewel: the…
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