Articles by Carolyn Thompson

New York Readies Bill Giving Parents Some Control Over Kids’ Social Media Feeds

New York lawmakers on Tuesday said they were finalizing legislation that would allow parents to block their children from getting social media posts curated by a platform’s algorithm, a move to rein in feeds that critics argue keep young users …

Bill Cosby Accuser Files New Lawsuit Under Expiring New York Survivors Law

A woman who said Bill Cosby sexually assaulted her when she was a young comedy writer more than 50 years ago filed a lawsuit against the actor Thursday under a soon-to-expire New York law that gave victims of sexual abuse …

Buffalo Supermarket Shooting Victims Sue Facebook, Amazon, Other Tech Giants

Tech and social media giants like Facebook, Amazon and Google bear responsibility for radicalizing the Buffalo supermarket shooter, who was fueled by racist conspiracy theories he encountered online, the victim’s relatives said in a lawsuit filed Wednesday. “They were the …

Lockport Tour Boat Capsized Before; Passenger Recounts Ordeal

Soon after a tour boat flipped over during a tour of a dimly lit cavern system, leaving one passenger dead, members of another group recalled a similar experience while taking the same tour eight years ago and questioned whether anything …

Why Buffalo Couldn’t Handle Last Winter’s Extreme Snowstorm That Took 31 Lives

Buffalo’s snow-removal fleet was no match for the historic Christmas week blizzard that left 31 people dead in the city, and officials fell short in issuing warnings and providing shelter, according to a report released Friday. The 175-page review of …

Death Count Rises as Buffalo Digs Out From ‘Worst Storm’ in Lifetime

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo residents hovered around space heaters, hunted for cars buried in snow drifts and looked for more victims Monday, aftermore than 28 people died in one of the worst weather-related disasters ever to hit western New …

Extreme Cold, Travel Chaos to Continue Into This Week

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The deep freeze from a deadly winter storm that walloped much of the United States will continue into the week as people in western New York deal with massive snow drifts that snarled emergency vehicles and …

Parents Sue Carmaker Over Crash of Stolen Kia That Killed 4

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — A 16-year-old accused of driving a stolen SUV involved in a high-speed crash that killed four teenage passengers was arraigned Tuesday on manslaughter and other charges. The parents of two of those killed, meanwhile, have filed …

Massive Snowfall Buries Western and Northern New York

BUFFALO, N.Y. Nov. 19 (AP) — A dangerous lake-effect snowstorm paralyzed parts of western and northern New York on Friday, dumping over 5 feet in some spots with more expected to fall through the night into Saturday. The storm was …

Buffalo Diocese Agrees to Clergy Oversight Plan as Part of Abuse Settlement With State

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo has agreed to strengthen its oversight of clergy accused of sexual misconduct to settle a lawsuit brought by New York’s attorney general alleging the church mishandled abuse claims and protected predatory priests, authorities said …