(WNY News Now) The NYS Conservation Council presented Mike Todd, a committed environmental specialist with DEC Region 9, with the coveted specialist Conservationist of the Year award in recognition of his outstanding work in public education and conservation.Congratulations to Mike Todd, who was named the NYS Conservation Council's (NYSCC) Professional Conservationist of the Year. This honor was given to him in recognition of his leadership in preserving our environment by implementing wise conservation measures.After graduating from SUNY ESF, Mike began working for DEC in 2003 as a Fish and Wildlife Technician in the Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit. Following a couple jobs in Western and Central New York, Mike joined the Fisheries program as an Aquatic Biologist in the Region 9 office...

(WNY News Now) In an effort to battle poverty and offer affordable housing in the struggling city of Jamestown, a $2 million state grant will be used to renovate abandoned, condemned rental properties.New York's Jamestown The New York State Homes and Community Renewal Vacant Rental Improvement Program has granted $2 million to the City of Jamestown's Department of Development in collaboration with Citizens Opportunity for Development and Equality (CODE Inc.).In an attempt to turn abandoned and condemned housing units into reasonably priced long-term rental homes, the Department of Development and CODE Inc. submitted joint applications for more than $2.9 million in October of this year. The Department of Development and CODE Inc. were able to supervise the rehabilitation of up to or aroun...