PM Roundup: Tuesday, February 7

New rules for food trucks are now the law in the city of Buffalo. Mayor Byron Brown signed legislation Monday that dictates where the rolling restaurants can operate. Food trucks must stay 100 feet away from existing restaurants and licensed hot-dog vendors. The new law goes into effect after months of squabbling between food-truck owners and brick-and-mortar establishments. A veterinarian hired by the Niagara SPCA to oversee animal care in the wake of the agency’s euthanasia scandal will not take his post after all. Former colleagues of Dr. Grant Hobika as well as animal owners had filed complaints against him regarding mistreatment of animals. The doctor has denied the charges. Still more investigation of the mysterious syndrome affecting LeRoy students. The school district has hired a firm to conduct environmental testing at the site of the junior-senior high. Meanwhile, five of 18 afflicted students underwent MRI testing at Dent Neurological Institute, where doctors believe that the patients’ Tourette’s-like symptoms have a psychological basis. A pair of historic Protestant churches in Buffalo may be consolidating. First Presbyterian on Symphony Circle might shutter its church on Symphony Circle, in favor of sharing facilities and staff at Trinity Episcopal on Delaware Avenue. A letter was recently shared with the Trinity congregation explaining the proposal. Both churches have seen declines in membership. Just as Sabre players finally seem to be recovering from a season-long injury bug, now their coach is hurt. Defenseman Jordan Leopold collided with Lindy Ruff at practice Monday. Ruff was flipped to the ice, suffering three broken ribs. The head coach was taken to the hospital for x-rays. His status remains uncertain for the Sabres’ next game Wednesday night.  

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GOP senator of poverty-stricken state walloped with $8M IRS tax lien: report



The junior U.S. senator representing a state with one of the highest rates of childhood poverty in the country has been slapped with an $8 million IRS tax lien, Politico reported Monday.

Sen. Jim Justice (R-WV), the former governor who assumed former Sen. Joe Manchin's seat, is tardy on making good on assessments dating back to 2009 -- debt that has followed him long before he was elected as governor in 2016.

Justice’s fortune comes from farming, resorts and ownership of coal mines that he sold to Russian interests for $568 million in cash and stock, also in 2009. He later repurchased them at a discount.

According to Politico, information about the lien came out over the weekend when the press was consumed with the nationwide “No Kings” rally against Donald Trump.

The report noted, “It wasn’t immediately clear why the IRS decided to move forward with the lien at this time. The IRS filed two documents. Both indicate they were prepared and signed Sept. 30, and stamped Oct. 2 by a clerk for Greenbrier County,” adding, “One of the assessments from the IRS is dated Nov. 25, 2015, appearing to put the agency near the end of its 10-year window for taking action.”

While running for the Senate seat he now inhabits, the 74-year old Justice pushed back at reports of his tax woes, telling reporters, “I’ve told everyone that if you’ll tend to the business of the state of West Virginia as I’m tending to the business of the state and you’ll just stay out of my family’s personal stuff, you’ll find the final outcomes will be exactly what I’ve told you they’ll be. They’ll be worked out.”