Newberg, Rich]]> Television journalists--United States--Biography]]> Television journalists--New York (State)--Buffalo--Biography]]>
Mr. Newberg’s video memoir is co- produced and edited by his long-time colleague and friend, Mike Mombrea Jr., WIVB-TV’s chief Photographer.]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host)]]> Mombrea, Mike, Jr. (Producer, Editor)]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist)]]> Jeromos, Kelly (Director)]]> Mullen, Sara (Special Projects Manager)]]> Morales, David (Contributing Editor)]]> Roy, Josh (Contributing Editor)]]> eng]]> Buffalo (N.Y.)--History--Newspapers.]]>
This News 4 television special hosted by the late Bob Koop looks back on the reasons why the newspaper could no longer compete with The Buffalo News and the impact of the Courier’s folding on its former staff members and its readers.

Staff members of the Courier Express voted down the opportunity to work under Rupert Murdoch’s News America. It would have meant transitioning to a tabloid newspaper as well as staff cuts of between 30 and 40 percent. When the paper shut down, eleven hundred people were out of work. Buffalo’s depressed economy at the time made it difficult for many of those workers to find jobs. Some had to go on welfare.

The demise of the Courier Express followed the closings of other major newspapers throughout the country, including the Cleveland Press, which shut down three months earlier. It had been operating for 103 years.

The roots of The Courier Express date back to 1828 according to SUNY Buffalo State, which has possession of the Courier Express archives. As the E.H. Butler Library at Buffalo State points out, “From 1828 to 1926, twelve separate newspapers merged during those years, ending with the formation of the Buffalo Courier-Express…” Mark Twain once was a columnist for one of those papers, the Buffalo Morning Express.]]> Newberg, Rich (Reporter, Archivist)]]> Koop, Bob (Program Host)]]> Smith, Doug (Former Courier Express Entertainment Editor/News 4 “Fun Ranger")]]> Baker, Jim (Former Courier Express Radio-TV Critic)]]> Lapping, Ed (Veteran Newspaper Editor)]]> Jasen, Carol (WIVB-TV Reporter)]]> Newberg, Rich (WIVB-TV Reporter)]]> Sacks, Karen (Producer)]]> Vandivort, Dave (Director)]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist)]]> Wigginton, Chris (Photographer, Editor)]]> Cantwell, Bill (Photographer)]]> Santana, Dave (Photographer)]]> Ayers, Don (Technical Staff)]]> Clemons, Mickey (Technical Staff)]]> Johnson, Len (Technical Staff)]]> Johnson, Rex (Technical Staff)]]> Kerner, Kathy (Technical Staff)]]> Novelli, John (Technical Staff)]]> Pels, Godon (Technical Staff)]]> Rozek, Dan (Technical Staff)]]> eng]]> Television Broadcasting of news--New York (State)--Buffalo--History.]]> Television Journalists--New York (State)--Buffalo--History.]]> Social Justice--United States.]]> Black lives matter movement.]]> Love Canal Chemical Waste Landfill (Niagara Falls, N.Y.)--History]]> Radioactive waste disposal--New York (State)--West Valley. ]]> Buffalo Bills (Football team)--History.]]> McVeigh, Timothy.]]> Oklahoma City Federal Building Bombing, Oklahoma City, Okla., 1995.]]> John Paul II, Pope, 1920-2005.]]> Waterfronts--New York (State)--Buffalo.]]>
The two major segments in the first half of the program deal with the pursuit of racial and environmental justice in the Buffalo-Niagara region. Buffalo’s legendary role in the civil rights movement and the notorious Love Canal disaster are revisited through key archival news and documentary footage.

The second half features Buffalo’s prominence as a television market for news and its ties to many historic developments and events of national and international significance. Examples include the terminus of the Erie Canal, the Buffalo woman shot along with Pope John Paul II during an assassination attempt, and the four consecutive Super Bowl appearances by the Buffalo Bills in the 1990s.

The one hour program highlights efforts by the Buffalo Broadcasters Association (BBA) to preserve the images on early news film and videotape before they deteriorate and are lost forever. It is written and hosted by WIVB-TV’s retired senior correspondent Rich Newberg. He was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the BBA’s Archive Project sixteen years earlier.

Newberg’s fellow producer and editor Tom Vetter also worked at WIVB-TV as a news photographer. Newberg and Vetter created the station’s documentary unit in 1999. Some segments of their New York Emmy Award winning pieces appear in this documentary.

Veteran WIVB anchor Jacquie Walker co-produced the program along with WIVB graphic arts director Kurt Murphy.

“The Buffalo Story: History Happens Here” is more than just a history lesson or a tribute to the local broadcast journalists who provided an extraordinary chronicle of life-changing events. It is a call to action to preserve the news footage that helped define a region and in some cases, a nation.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host)]]> Vetter, Tom (Producer, Photographer, Editor)]]> ]]> Walker, Jacquie (Co-producer)]]> Murphy, Kurt (Co-producer, Graphic Arts Director)]]> Holland, Dan (Contributing Photographer)]]> Mombrea, Mike Jr. (Interviewee, Documentarian)]]> Ziemer, Heidi (Consulting Archivist)]]> Mombrea, John (Digital Archivist)]]> Terranova, Michael (Digital Archivist)]]> Newberg, David (Logo Designer)]]> Dworsky, Molly (Logo Designer)]]> Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of Rich Newberg, Tom Vetter, WIVB-TV and the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes.]]> eng]]> 1970-2020]]> Testament to Courage, Commitment and Compassion]]> Fire fighters--New York (State)--Buffalo--History]]> Buffalo--Official and employees--History]]> Herbert, Donny--Health]]> September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001.]]> The Rescue and Awakening of Don Herbert
A month after Buffalo firefighter Don Herbert was rescued from an attic of a burning house, WIVB-TV senior correspondent Rich Newberg and photographer Tom Vetter reported on the dedication and sacrifices of those who fight fires for a living.

On December 28, 1995, Herbert became trapped after the roof collapsed. He ran out of oxygen before fellow firefighters could locate him. They saved his life but he suffered from brain damage and blindness.

Rich Newberg visited the veteran firefighter whose speech was impaired but who was determined to do anything necessary to regain his strength and communication skills. Despite his strength of character and will to survive, Herbert later lapsed into a decade-long coma.

On April 30, 2005, Don Herbert suddenly awakened and made international news when he began talking to family members and friends as if it were yesterday. He had been given drugs normally used to treat Parkinson’s disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and depression.

Anderson Cooper, reporting for CBS’s 60 Minutes, produced a major story on what many were calling a “miraculous awakening.” Herbert broke into tears when a fellow firefighter told him he had been unresponsive for about ten years.

Subsequently, Don Herbert took a fall out of bed, which again weakened his condition. He developed pneumonia and passed away on February 21, 2006.

Herbert left behind a wife and four sons. Two became firefighters. The amazing story of his awakening gave hope to families with brain damaged loved ones in a coma. Herbert will always be remembered for his bravery and courage as part of a rescue team, and for his desire to do the very best he could under debilitating circumstances.

SEGMENT 2
The Ultimate Sacrifice on North Division Street
On December 27, 1983, a propane tank explosion at a four story radiator warehouse in Buffalo claimed the lives of five Buffalo firefighters. It remains the largest single day loss of life in the history of the Buffalo Fire Department. In addition, two civilians living near the warehouse were killed in their home.

The explosion occurred shortly after the firefighters arrived on the scene, responding to the call of a propane gas leak. All five crew members from Ladder 5 were killed instantly. Eleven others were injured when the blast occurred. There were more injuries during rescue efforts. More than 150 civilians were taken to hospitals.The warehouse was destroyed as were buildings within a four-block radius. It was later determined that the 500 gallon propane tank had been illegally housed in the warehouse.

A memorial service honoring the memory of the fallen firefighters takes place every year on December 27th at 8:23 p.m., the time of the explosion. It is held at fire call box number 191 at the intersection where the explosion took place.

SEGMENT 3
Buffalo Firefighters Respond to 9/11 Attacks at Ground Zero
When the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were attacked and destroyed by terrorists on 9/11/2001, Lt. Tony Liberatore, now a captain in the Buffalo Fire Department, said at the time, “A group of us felt we had to go there and we had to go there now. So we got there as quick as we possibly could.”

WIVB’s Lisa Flynn and photographer Steve Beauchamp produced a segment for the hour special, “Day of Sorrow: Year of Change,” featuring the role Buffalo firefighters played in recovery efforts at Ground Zero. They called the story, “Forever Changed.”

In the year following the attack, Liberatore returned to New York City, helping to train firefighter recruits. Flynn reported that the recruits were “desperately needed to fill the loss of 343 firefighters and a host of others who retired…”]]> Newberg, Rich (Reporter, Archivist)]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic artist)]]> Vetter, Tom (Photographer, Editor)]]> Cooper, Anderson (60 Minutes Reporter)]]> Richert, George (Reporter)]]> Mongiovi, Rachele (Reporter)]]> Flynn, Lisa (Reporter)]]> Beauchamp, Steve (Photographer, Editor)]]> eng]]> Holocaust survivors]]> Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Personal narratives]]> World War, 1939-1945--Concentration camps.]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host)]]> Summerville, Dan (Photographer, Editor)]]> Vandivort, Dave (Director)]]> Mombrea, Mike Sr. (Contributing Photographer)]]> Ader, Joe (Contributing Photographer)]]> Wigginton, Chris (Production Editor)]]> Root, Kim (Production Editor)]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Arts Director)]]> Christian, Roger (Music Coordinator)]]> Barbour, Al (Technical Staff)]]> Case, Hal (Technical Staff)]]> Johnson, Len (Technical Staff)]]> Novelli, John (Technical Staff)]]> Pels, Gordon (Technical Staff)]]> Rowell, Earl (Technical Staff)]]> Rozek, Dan (Technical Staff)]]> Back, Toby (Historical Consultant)]]> Kuperstein, Asaiah (Historical Consultant)]]> Bucholz, Arden (Historical Consultant)]]> eng]]> Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)]]> World War, 1939-1945--Concentration camps--Poland.]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host)]]> Mombrea Jr., Mike (Producer, Photographer, Editor)]]> Kaufman, Ken (Composer of original score)]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Arts Director)]]> Newberg, Lori (Field Assistant)]]> Mombrea, John (Imix Editor)]]> Bacon, Yehuda (Artist, Holocaust Survivor)]]> eng]]> Mentally ill--New York (State)]]> Mental health services--New York (State)]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host)]]> Vetter, Tom (Producer, Photographer, Editor)]]> Musial, Chris (Executive Producer)]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Arts Director)]]> Vanhorn, Mike (Graphic Artist)]]> Mombrea, Mike Jr. (Creative Consultant, Contributing Photographer)]]> Schrodt, Roy (Non-linear Editor)]]> Kaufman, Ken (Composer of original score)]]> Mombrea, John (Contributing Photographer)]]> Csortan, Peter (Contributing Photographer)]]> Hutchinson, Dave (Contributing Photographer)]]> McIntyre, Don (Contributing Photographer)]]> eng]]> Carpenter's Hand]]> Developmentally disabled--New York (State)--Buffalo]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host)]]> Vetter, Tom (Producer, Photographer, Editor)]]> Musial, Chris (Executive Producer)]]> Baxter, Tim (On-line Editor)]]> Mombrea, John (On-line Editor)]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Arts Director)]]> Kaufman, Ken (Composer of original score)]]> Newberg, Rich (Lyricist and Composer of lullaby _Let Me Cradle Your Dreams_)]]> Sunday, Bonnie (Lyricist)]]> Moriarty, Kathy (Musical Performer)]]> Giovenco, Joseph (Field Assistant -- Ukraine)]]> Buscaglia, Jennifer (Research Assistant)]]> Dadey, Kelly (Director)]]> Foster, Joseph D. (Tape Operator)]]> eng]]> Drug addiction--Treatment]]> Drug addiction--Rehabilitation]]> In an effort to better understand the nature of addiction, WIVB-TV reporter Rich Newberg presents a series of reports featuring addicts speaking intimately about their drug habits and how their lives are controlled by substance abuse.

Out of Control
(:00 - 8:38) Air Date: June 29, 1989

These reports by Rich Newberg and Mike Mombrea, Jr. are unique in that some addicts allow themselves to be recorded as the illicit drugs enter their bloodstreams and take effect. The viewer learns first hand why it is so difficult for these individuals to straighten out their lives.

Delving even further into the dark side of drug abuse, Newberg and Mombrea record addicts Julie and Randy as they suffer through the pain of withdrawal. They are documented desperately seek help at the county hospital only to be told they must come back in two days because there are no beds available.

During their two day ordeal, Julie and Randy turn to alcohol in an attempt to steady their nerves. They also take part in a group therapy session, candidly sharing the feelings they are experiencing. They long for “a nice, healthy, normal life.” Two weeks after detoxification, the couple appears to be energized and eager to continue on the road to recovery. They are determined to beat the odds, which are generally against addicts leaving detox centers.

Living on Drug Row
(8:45 - 19:09) Air Dates: May 9, 10, 11, 1989

Reporter Rich Newberg and photographer Scott Alexander explore the ease in which heroin and cocaine are obtainable within Buffalo’s inner city. Citizens bemoan the fact that when a low level dealer is arrested, another fills his place almost immediately.

Drug abuse is so prevalent in the city’s housing projects, that children are exposed to hypodermic needles where they play.

We meet two five year old girls whose mothers are deeply concerned that their daughters might suffer long term effects due to their contact with discarded needles. One child drank the contents of a syringe. The other girl pricked her finger on a needle.

A cocaine dealer speaking candidly says five thousand dollars a day can be made on the streets. He adds that “young kids” are recruited to sell because there is less risk to the dealer. He claims it is easy for those arrested to “beat” the family court system.

Saving the Kids
(19:15 - 23:08) November 15, 1989

A shortage of long-term drug treatment centers and clinics in Western New York requires families of means to send their addicted children out of the region for help.

Rich Newberg presents the case of Matthew, outwardly the “All American Boy” from suburban Amherst, New York, who hid his drug problems from his loved ones until he became alienated from his family. Matthew attended one of the area’s most highly rated high schools, but disclosed that drug abuse “before, during, and after school” was a hidden but festering problem.

Matthew’s father was in denial until his son completely cut himself off from the family. Matthew, along with about a dozen other Amherst children who were abusing drugs, became enrolled in the Straight Program in Plymouth, Michigan. The success rate is seventy-five percent and relies on a combination of rigid exercise and an open sharing of feelings to wean teenagers off of drugs.

Matthew’s program lasted twenty-two months and cost $12,000 dollars. Most of the drug treatment programs in the Buffalo area at the time lasted twenty-eight days. While programs like the one in Plymouth offered hope to upscale families who could afford the tuition, there appeared to be a sense of hopelessness in the inner city, where drug dealers ruled the streets and controlled the lives of those who became dependent on them to feed their addictions.

]]> Newberg, Rich (Reporter)]]> Mombrea, Mike, Jr. (Photographer)]]> Alexander, Scott (Photographer)]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Arts Director)]]> eng]]> Homelessness--New York (State)--Buffalo]]> Homeless persons--New York (State)--Buffalo]]>
Only half a block away from the place where bread was being distributed, a poverty-stricken, laid-off shipping clerk tried to offer his services to load and unload trucks in a desperate attempt to provide milk and other essentials for his two children.

2 For some of Buffalo’s homeless, living quarters are concrete spaces under the New York State Thruway. Some use cardboard to shield themselves from the elements. 67 year old Harvey Bryant was one of them. He was a “hobo” who was barely surviving on food from trash cans. His health was failing when a Buffalo family came to his aid. The City of Buffalo’s Human Resources Department and Catholic Charities were made aware of the case and immediately provided Mr. Bryant with shelter, while also addressing some of his other basic needs.

3 Buffalo soup kitchens faced increased demand in the 1980s during a period when the city experienced economic decline. Families suddenly found themselves in dire need. The federal government set aside money for cities hoping to do more for the homeless and the hungry. Buffalo’s Department of Human Services vowed to cut through red tape in order to help the neediest.

4 Sunny Miano, a modern day Robin Hood, stole money to provide for the needy of Buffalo. He served time for writing bad checks. He then established a soup kitchen called Helping Hands. He became a beloved life-saver for the poor. His operating philosophy: “If we can’t help somebody along the way, what good are we? We’re nothing!”

5 As we entered the new millennium, there were still more than hundred homeless people in Buffalo living in tunnels, under bridges, in abandoned homes, and on the streets.

One of the most compelling and heartbreaking stories was about a man named “Jeff.” He lost both legs to frostbite. Various agencies came to his aid. He was provided a furnished apartment, but sadly, according to reports, he reverted back to heavy drinking and passed away.]]> Newberg, Rich (Reporter, Archivist)]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist)]]> Terranova, Michael (Digital Editor)]]> A Life in the Balance: Struggles of the Mentally Ill]]> eng]]> Slepian, Barnett]]> Operation Rescue (Organization)]]> Common Ground (Organization)]]> Pro-choice movement--New York (State)--Buffalo]]> Pro-life movement--New York (State)--Buffalo.]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host)]]> Vetter, Tom (Producer, Photographer, Editor)]]> Musial, Chris (Executive Producer)]]> Baxter, Tim (Post-production Editor)]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Arts Director)]]> Van Horn, Mike (Graphic Artist)]]> eng]]> Tubman, Harriet, 1822-1913]]> Nash, J. Edward (Jesse Edward), 1868-1957]]> Michigan Street Baptist Church]]> Underground Railroad--New York (State)--Buffalo--History]]> Fugitive slaves--New York (State)--Buffalo--History]]> African Americans--Civil rights--New York (State)--Buffalo--History]]> African Americans--New York (State)--Buffalo--History]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host)]]> Dawkins, Don (Producer, Photographer, Editor)]]> Vetter, Tom (Producer, Photographer, Editor)]]> Musial, Chris (Producer)]]> Hairston, Mylous (Reporter)]]> Mombrea, Mike Jr. (Contributing Photographer)]]> Van Horn, Mike (Graphic Artist)]]> Mombrea, John (Post-production Editor)]]> Baxter, Tim (Post-production Editor)]]> Battilana, Tony (Director)]]> Foster, Joseph D. (Tape Operator)]]> Benzel, Gary (Audio Engineer)]]> Brown, Dave (Chyron Operator)
]]> eng]]> Pan-American Exposition (1901 : Buffalo, N.Y.)]]> African Americans--New York (State)--Buffalo--History]]> Abolitionists--New York (State)--Buffalo--History]]> Underground Railroad--New York (State)--Buffalo--History]]> Fugitive slaves--New York (State)--Buffalo--History]]> African Americans--Civil rights--New York (State)--Buffalo--History]]> New York (State), Western--African Americans--History]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host)]]> Vetter, Tom (Producer, Photographer, Editor)]]> Dawkins, Don (Producer, Photographer, Editor)]]> Musial, Chris (Executive Producer)]]> Hairston, Mylous (Reporter)]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Arts Director)]]> Mombrea, Mike Jr. (Contributing Photographer)]]> Root, Kim (Contributing Photographer)]]> Dee, Joe (Contributing Photographer)]]> Greene, Terry (Contributing Photographer)]]> Mombrea, John (Post production Non-linear Editor)]]> Battilana, Tony (Director)]]> Clemons, Michael (Technical Director)]]> Benzel, Gary (Audio Engineer)]]> Griswold, Jason (Tape Operator)]]> Brown, Dave (Font Operator)]]> Serio, Sam (Master Control Operator)]]> Sanders, Greg (Master Control Operator)]]> Dawkins, Don (Researcher)]]> Newberg, Rich (Researcher)]]> Vetter, Tom (Researcher)]]> Hairston, Mylous (Researcher)]]> Musial, Chris (Researcher)]]> Buscaglia, Jennifer (Researcher)]]> eng]]> African Americans--New York (State)--Buffalo--History]]> African Americans--New York (State)--Buffalo--Social conditions]]> African Americans--New York (State)--Buffalo--Economic conditions]]> African American churches]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host)]]> Vetter, Tom (Producer, Photographer, Editor)]]> Hairston, Mylous (Producer, Co-host)]]> Ersing, Rich (Producer, Photographer, Editor)]]> Musial, Chris (Executive Producer)]]> Dawkins, Don (Photographer)]]> Schrodt, Roy (Post-production Editor)]]> Mombrea, John (Post-production Editor)]]> Battilana, Tony (Director)]]> Clemons, Michael (Technical Director)]]> Brown, Dave (Technical Crew)]]> Ayers, Don (Technical Crew)]]> Lawrence, John (Technical Crew)]]> Sanders, Greg (Technical Crew)]]> Newberg, Rich (Researcher)]]> Hairston, Mylous (Researcher)]]> Vetter, Tom (Researcher)]]> Ersing Rich (Researcher)]]> Musial, Chris (Researcher)]]> eng]]> Du Bois, W. E. B. (William Edward Burghardt), 1868-1963]]> Talbert, Mary]]> Niagara Movement]]> African Americans--Civil rights--New York (State)--Buffalo--History]]> African Americans--New York (State)--Buffalo--History]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host)]]> Hairston, Mylous (Producer, Writer, Reporter)]]> Ersing, Rich (Producer, Photographer, Editor)]]> Mombrea, Mike, Jr. (Producer, Contributing Photographer, Editor)]]> Schlaerth, Joseph (Producer)]]> Musial, Chris (Executive Producer)]]> Swenson, Scott (Contributing Photographer)]]> Schrodt, Roy (Post-production Editor)]]> Mombrea, John (Post-production Editor)]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Arts Director)]]> Newberg, Rich (Researcher)]]> Hairston, Mylous (Researcher)]]> Ersing, Rich (Researcher)]]> Mombrea, Mike Jr. (Researcher)]]> Schlaerth, Joseph (Researcher)]]> Musial, Chris (Researcher)]]> eng]]> Brown, Byron]]> Du Bois, W. E. B. (William Edward Burghardt), 1868-1963]]> Talbert, Mary]]> Niagara Movement]]> National Association for the Advancement of Colored People--History--20th century]]> African Americans--New York (State)--Buffalo--History]]> African Americans--Civil rights--New York (State)--Buffalo--History]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host)]]> Hairston, Mylous (Producer, Writer, Reporter)]]> Mombrea, Mike, Jr. (Producer, Photographer, Editor)]]> Root, Kim (Producer, Photographer, Editor)]]> Schlaerth, Joseph (Executive Producer)]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Arts Director)]]> Vinciguerra, Jerry (Graphic Artist)]]> Williams, Lillian (Historical Consultant)]]> Dee, Joe (Contributing Photographer)]]> Ersing, Matt (Contributing Photographer)]]> Hutchinson, Dave (Contributing Photographer)]]> Ivancic, Paul (Contributing Photographer)]]> Newberg, Rich (Researcher)]]> Hairston, Mylous (Researcher)]]> Parrotte, Mark (Researcher)]]> Schlaerth, Joseph (Researcher)]]> eng]]> Smith, Bennet Walker]]> African Americans--New York (State)--Buffalo--History]]> African Americans--Civil rights--New York (State)--Buffalo--History]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Writer, Reporter)]]> Schultz, Laurie (Writer, Reporter)]]> eng]]> King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929-1968]]> African Americans--New York (State)--Buffalo--History]]> African Americans--Civil rights--New York (State)--Buffalo--History]]> African Americans--New York (State)--Buffalo--Economic conditions]]> African Americans--New York (State)--Buffalo--Social conditions]]> Buffalo civil rights leaders reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King's dream vs. reality. Revisits the urban riots of the turbulent 1960s. The series raises the question: Are Buffalo's African American citizens better off now than they were during those times? Segments feature reflections from William Gaiter, George Arthur, Jim Pitts. There is archival footage of black leaders of the B.U.I.L.D. organization confronting Mayor Frank Sedita about the need to create jobs. Black Buffalo police Lt. John Eberhart says he joined the Buffalo Police Department in the 1960s as an act of self-defense, “to keep myself from the police.” Former Buffalo police officer Ted Kirkland reflects on his federal lawsuit against the city over the lack of black officers on the force. Former Buffalo School Board president Florence Baugh recalls the condition of the schools before desegregation. She calls desegregation “the most exciting social revolution occurring in the City of Buffalo.” School Superintendent Eugene Reville said English and math scores are up, while the drop out rate is down. The suspension rate for black students, however, was twice as high as that of white students.

]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Reporter)]]> Root, Kim (Photographer, Editor)]]> eng]]> Tutu, Desmond]]> Eve, Arthur O.]]> Apartheid -- South Africa]]> Racism -- United States]]> African Americans -- New York (State) -- Buffalo]]> African Americans -- Civil rights]]>
Apartheid, which means “apartness” in the language of Afrikaans, was the name given to the official separation of the race. The practice was enforced by a government dedicated to principals of white supremacy. The National Party came to power in 1948.

The National Party, through legislation in 1950, classified South Africans according to race. Based on racial classification, the government decided where people could live and work, what type of schooling they could receive, what facilities would be open to them, who they could associate with, and whether or not they could vote.

Archbishop Tutu called the practice “evil.” His 1989 visit to Buffalo came at a time when an anti-apartheid faction within the National Party was beginning to make significant changes.

Tutu, who won the Nobel Peace Prize, told Buffalo audiences they could help in the fight against apartheid, even if it was just by saying a prayer. He compared the policy of apartheid to Nazism. He preached non-violence in the tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

WIVB-TV anchor Jacquie Walker interviewed Archbishop Tutu for a special program that documented his appearances in Western New York and his thoughts on civil rights. He said he believed he would see an end to apartheid in his lifetime.

In a report by WIVB’s Rich Newberg, African American inner-city residents living on Buffalo’s East Side shared thoughts about their own struggles for equality and the consequences of systemic racism. Violent crime was affecting their quality of life. There were also demonstrations against police brutality.

Deputy Assembly Speaker Arthur O. Eve told Mr. Newberg that conditions had worsened since the urban race riots of the late 1960s. He said there were more homeless people of color, that the Buffalo infant mortality rate among Blacks and Latinos was the highest in the nation, and drugs and Aids were wreaking havoc in the inner-city.

The campaign to end apartheid achieved success in 1994 with the formation of a democratic government in South Africa. The white minority’s rule through fear and intimidation had finally ended. ]]> Walker, Jacquie (Anchor, Reporter)]]> Newberg, Rich (Reporter)]]> Sawabini, Wadi (Reporter)]]>
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital)]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Arts Director)]]> eng]]> Curtin, John T., 1921-2017]]> Affirmative action programs]]> Race discrimination]]> U.S. District Court Judge John Thomas Curtin (August 24, 1921 - April 14, 2017) was interviewed by WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg on April 18, 1995. The subject was affirmative action.

Judge Curtin issued rulings establishing minority hiring quotas in Buffalo’s police and fire departments and within the Buffalo School District. He believed minorities lacked opportunities for jobs and a quality education, resulting in what he once called “a poorly trained underclass” that became reliant on welfare.

Born in Buffalo, Curtin served as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York from 1961 to 1967 before being nominated by President Lyndon Johnson for a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of New York. He had been recommended by New York Senator Robert Kennedy. John Curtin was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 14, 1967.

In 1976 Judge Curtin ordered that Buffalo public schools be desegregated. He ruled that minority students in Buffalo had been denied equal protection under the law, and that a segregated school system in Buffalo had been intentionally maintained.

His rulings led to the hiring of more minority teachers and the creation of academically strong magnet schools that would encourage students of all races to accept being bused to these high level schools.

Though Judge Curtin was targeted for criticism and sometimes even death threats by those who felt his rulings were overreaching, he consistently ruled in favor of removing barriers that had been built on “unfairness, bigotry (and) bias” against minorities, women, children, and those with special challenges.

]]> Newberg, Rich (Reporter, Interviewer)]]> Root, Kim (Photographer, Editor)]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Arts Director)]]> eng]]> Colored Musicians Club (Buffalo, N.Y.)]]> Jazz--New York (State)--Buffalo--History and criticism]]> African Americans--New York (State)--Buffalo]]> Tinney, Al.]]> African Americans--New York (State)--Buffalo--Social conditions]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host)]]> Vetter, Tom (Producer, Photographer, Editor)]]> Dawkins, Don (Producer, Photographer, Editor)]]> Hairston, Mylous (Producer, Reporter)]]> Musial, Chris (Executive Producer)]]> Mombrea, Mike Jr. (Photographer, Editor)]]> Mombrea, John (Post-production Editor)]]> Baxter, Tim (Post-production Editor)]]> Dady, Kelly (Director)]]> Clemons, Michael (Tape Operator)]]> Benzel, Gary (Tape Operator)]]> Young, Matt (Audio Engineer)]]> Dawkins, Don (Researcher)]]> Newberg, Rich (Researcher)]]> Vetter, Tom (Researcher)]]> Hairston, Mylous (Researcher)]]> Musial, Chris (Researcher)]]> eng]]> Colored Musicians Club (Buffalo, N.Y.)]]> Jazz--New York (State)--Buffalo--History and criticism]]> African Americans--New York (State)--Buffalo]]> Tinney, Al.
]]> African Americans--New York (State)--Buffalo--Social conditions
]]>
The club was organized in 1918 and chartered in 1935. The building on Broadway and Michigan Avenue was purchased in 1944. It provided rehearsal space and social opportunities for Buffalo’s Black musicians who belonged to Local 533 of the American Federation of Musicians. Club members recall being denied entry into the white musicians union, Local 43. The two locals merged in 1969 but the Colored Musicians Club is still thriving. The building now features an interactive museum and is scheduled to undergo a multi-million dollar renovation and expansion.

The first video is a compilation of segments by Rich Newberg, drawn from the 2003 WIVB-TV documentary, “Buffalo Soul: The Legacy Plays On.” The second piece is a WIVB-TV report by Jordan Williams marking the 80th anniversary of the Colored Musician’s Club. It aired on July 24, 2015.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host)
]]> Vetter, Tom (Producer, Photographer, Editor)
]]> Mombrea, Mike Jr. (Photographer, Editor)]]> Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital)]]> Mombrea, John (Post-production Editor)]]> Baxter, Tim (Post-production Editor)]]> Dady, Kelly (Director)]]> Clemons, Michael (Tape Operator)]]> Benzel, Gary (Tape Operator)]]> Young, Matt (Audio Engineer)]]> Dawkins, Don (Researcher)]]> Newberg, Rich (Researcher)]]> Vetter, Tom (Researcher)]]> Hairston, Mylous (Researcher)]]> Musial, Chris (Researcher)]]> eng]]> Shea's Buffalo Theatre]]> Shea, Michael.]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host)]]> Mombrea Jr., Mike (Producer, Photographer, Editor)]]> Musial, Chris (Executive Producer)]]> Ersing, Rich (Contributing Photographer)]]> Dee, Joe (Contributing Photographer)]]> Swan, Ray (Contributing Photographer)]]> Beauchamp, Steve (Contributing Photographer)]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Arts Director)]]> Vinciguerra, Jerry (Graphic Artist)]]> Bray, John (Announcer)]]> Mombrea, John (Post-production Editor)]]> Diavastes, Jim (Post-production Editor)]]> Schrodt, Roy (Post-production Editor)]]> Newberg, Rich (Researcher)]]> Mombrea, Mike Jr. (Researcher)]]> Musial, Chris (Researcher)]]> Kocher, Michael (Researcher)]]> eng]]> Paige, Lenny]]> Vaudeville--New York (State)--Buffalo]]> Entertainers--New York (State)--Buffalo]]> New York (State)--History]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Reporter)]]> Beauchamp, Steve (Photographer, Editor)]]> eng]]> Jasen, Carol]]> Walker, Jacquie]]> Postals, Don]]> Miller, Van]]> Paul, Don]]> WIVB-TV (Television station : Buffalo, N.Y.)--History]]> Television stations--New York (State)--Buffalo.]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, News Anchor, Host)]]> Baker, Vic (Producer)]]> Musial, Chris (Producer)]]> Schlaerth, Joseph (Producer)]]> Jasen, Carol (News Anchor, Co-host)]]> Walker, Jacquie (News Anchor)]]> Postles, Don (News Anchor)]]> Miller, Van (Sports Director)]]> Paul, Don (Chief Meteorologist)]]> Baxter, Tim (Photographer-editor)]]> Mombrea, John (Photographer-editor)]]> Schrodt, Roy (Photographer-editor)]]> Root, Kim (Photographer-editor)]]> Summerville, Dan (Photographer-editor)]]> Vetter, Tom (Photographer-editor)]]> Swan, Ray (Photographer)]]> Goldschlag, Dave (Photographer)]]> Beauchamp, Steve (Photographer)]]> Gabalski, Ron (Photographer)]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Arts Director)]]> Mike Van Horn (Graphic Artist)]]> Kaufman, Ken (Music Composer)]]> Wolter, Carrol (Researcher)]]> McCall, Kawanza (Researcher)]]> Tamutus, Andrew (Researcher)]]> eng]]> Woodstock Festival]]> Rock music]]> Woodstock (N.Y.)]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host)]]> Root, Kim (Photographer, Editor)]]> Summerville, Dan (Photographer, Editor)]]> eng]]> Operation Desert Shield, 1990-1991]]> Iraq-Kuwait Crisis, 1990-1991]]> United States--Armed Forces]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host)]]> Mombrea, Mike, Jr. (Producer, Photographer, Editor)]]> Nolf, Neil (Public Affairs Officer -- Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station)]]> eng]]> Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- United States.]]> United States -- History -- 1969-]]> Veterans -- Mental health -- United States.]]> War -- Psychological aspects.]]> Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Psychological aspects.]]>
These were some of the stories brought to public light by WIVB’s Rich Newberg in his series of reports dealing with the lasting wounds of war.

Delayed Stress Syndrome
A condition called delayed stress syndrome surfaces as Vietnam War veterans suffer the psychiatric after effects of combat. Five years after the war ended on April 30, 1975, sudden noises can trigger fearful reactions. Some vets have developed a distrust of people, while others cannot tolerate angry responses in a conversation. Outreach centers begin cropping up to deal with these issues.

Max Cleland
Max Cleland, a severely wounded Vietnam War veteran who headed the Veterans Administration under President Jimmy Carter, expresses concerns that President Ronald Reagan will cut funding for outreach centers.

Cleland, who lost both legs and an arm in Vietnam, has written a book called “Strong at the Broken Places.” He believes war veterans need counseling to help them develop positive outlooks toward life.

William Duxbury Suffers Without Much Relief or Compensation After Being Exposed to Agent Orange
William Duxbury of Wilson, New York was nineteen years old when the Marines assigned him to handle Agent Orange in Vietnam. Now he says his joints are deteriorating and that he has a nervous condition that cost him his job. His wife gave birth to a stillborn child and their five children suffer from bone and muscular disorders.

Duxbury says he knows of only one Vietnam veteran in Erie County who is being compensated for his toxic exposure to Agent Orange. He says the veteran is dying of liver cancer.

William Duxbury Receives a Surprise Visit from a Marine Buddy He Thought was Killed in Vietnam
Mike Metcalf walked into Bill Duxbury’s life eighteen years after each had thought the other was killed during a shelling attack by the enemy in Vietnam. By chance, Metcalf had seen the story of his friend on WIVB-TV. Metcalf had become a trained mental health counselor and was now in a position to help his fellow veteran deal with issues related to his experiences in Vietnam.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington Gets Mixed Reviews
(2 pieces)
A national salute to Vietnam Veterans will take place in the nation’s capitol. The names of the 57,939 American soldiers killed in the war will be read. There is concern that the ceremony will conjure up suppressed anxiety and stress for some who lost friends in combat.

A black granite wall in Washington DC bearing the names of those killed in the Vietnam War gets mixed reviews. There is “unresolved scar tissue that still remains over Vietnam,” according to Jan Scruggs, founder of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation.

The war ended about six years earlier but now is brought back in a way that forces visitors to the memorial to confront their own memories. The faces of spectators reflect minds that are “searching, reflecting, pondering, mourning,' according to this CBS News report.

Vietnam Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange Seek Compensation
Vietnam Veterans exposed to Agent Orange testify about the impact on their health. New York State lawmakers are learning that some veterans are suffering from cancer and painful lumps under their skin. Children of exposed vets are being born with birth defects. Eleven million gallons of the herbicide containing deadly dioxin were used to defoliate the jungles of Vietnam.

Three thousand Vietnam veterans have sued five chemical companies claiming they knew Agent Orange could be deadly but failed to warn the government or its troops of the dangers.
Exposed veterans say they cannot receive free treatment at VA hospitals because it difficult to prove their ailments were caused by dioxin.

Vietnam Ten Years Later
(Series)
April 29, 30, & May 1, 1985
Ten years after the end of America’s most unpopular war, WIVB-TV reporter Rich Newberg looks back at the televised conflict that divided the nation. Veterans of the war are still suffering from flashbacks and nightmares.
New programs are being created by fellow Vietnam veterans who understand the nature of the lasting wounds of war.
Close to 2,500 American soldiers and civilians are still missing in Vietnam.

Western New York families of POW’s or those missing in action keep the memories of their loved ones alive. The stories of Col. Robert Dyczkowski and Jimmy Rozo are featured.

The Case of Col. Robert Dyczkowski—Missing in Action
In 2001 the United States Air Force closed the case of Col. Robert Dyczkowski. His remains, personal artifacts and parts of his fighter plane that crashed near Hanoi in April 1966 during the Vietnam War have been discovered. He was a husband and father of three children. His widow never remarried. Thousands of people had taken on Robert’s cause, wearing his POW-MIA bracelet. Thirty-five years of uncertainty finally came to an end. On April 6, 2001 Robert Dyczkowski’s remains were buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Remains of Col Robert Dyczkowski are Buried in Arlington National Cemetery
While one mystery is solved, more than 1,900 families in 2001 were still waiting for answers about their missing loved ones.]]> Newberg, Rich]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist)
]]> Kim Root (Photographer)]]> eng]]> Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- United States.]]> Veterans -- United States.]]>
Witnessing the ravages of war in Vietnam Tom decided to leave the Brothers of Mercy and join the Navy as a hospital corpsman (medic). He served three tours of duty beginning in 1966. He flew 221 combat missions with Marines and treated their wounds on the front lines of battle. Eagles was wounded twice.

While in Vietnam Tom also tended to Vietnamese civilians whose villages had come under attack.

During the war he married Karin Tran, a Vietnamese native. They had two sons. On April 29, 1975 Eagles and his family were among the last Americans to be evacuated from the war-torn country. They were airlifted off the roof of the U.S. Embassy.

After the war, Tom managed to bring eighteen of Karin’s nineteen family members to the United States. He served in the Navy until 1993 and developed emergency medical equipment still carried in Marine Corps first aid kits.

Tom Eagles passed away in 2016 at the age of 71. His family says he had suffered from exposure to the deadly herbicide Agent Orange, used by the United States to clear jungle areas where the enemy in Vietnam was hidden. At the time of his death he was the most decorated enlisted man in the Navy. He medals include The Legion of Merit, a lifetime career award for distinguished service.

One retired Marine said of “Doc” Eagles, “We have lost a true American hero...God now has one of the best care givers in the world. A true Lifesaver then and Caregiver always.”

The Navy has an award in Eagle’s name given to a corpsman who distinguishes himself in combat.

Eagles was once quoted as saying, “I don’t really know how many Marines and sailors I helped save. I do remember everyone one I lost.”
]]> Newberg, Rich]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist)]]> ]]> World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--France--Normandy]]> World War, 1939-1945--Regimental histories--United States.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host)]]> Smith, Doug (Producer, Writer, Host)]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist)]]> Panama—History—American Invasion, 1989]]> Drug control -- Latin America.
]]> Drug control -- United States.]]> Military assistance, American. ]]>
The mission took place about three years after U.S. forces invaded Panama, removing dictator Manuel Noriega from power. Some members of the 914th had participated in the invasion, called Operation Just Cause.

Noriega was brought to the U.S. where he was tried and convicted of drug trafficking, racketeering, and money laundering.

WIVB-TV reporter Rich Newberg and photographer Paul Woodson accompanied the 914th on the mission and produced a four part series for the station. ]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Reporter)]]> Woodson, Paul (Photographer, editor)]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist)]]> Nolf, Neil (Niagara Falls Airbase Public Affairs Officer)]]> eng]]> Solidarity (Polish labor organization)]]> Labor unions--Poland]]> Poland--History]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host)]]> Yearke, Don (Photographer, Editor)]]> Battilana, Tony (Director)]]> Case, Hal (Technical Crew)]]> Clemons, Michael (Technical Crew)]]> Elkan, Mike (Technical Crew)]]> Foster, Joseph D. (Technical Crew)]]> Kocic, Mike (Technical Crew)]]> Rusk, Brian (Trip Organizer)]]> Solecki, Richard (Trip Organizer)]]> eng]]> John Paul II, Pope, 1920-2005]]> Popes--Biography]]> Catholic Church--History]]> Polish Americans--New York (State)--Buffalo]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host)]]> Mombrea Jr., Mike (Producer, Photographer, Editor)]]> Musial, Chris (Producer)]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Arts Director)]]> Van Horn, Mike (Graphic Artist)]]> Mombrea, John (Digital Editor)]]> Baxter, Tim (Digital Editor, Post-production Editor)]]> Musial, Chris (Executive Producer)]]> Giovenco, Joe (Director)]]> Clemens, Michael (Technical Director)]]> Benzel, Gary (Audio Engineer)]]> Brown, Dave (Chyron Operator)]]> Foster, Joseph D. (Videotape Operator)]]> Masse, Dave (Master Control Operator)]]> Goldschlag, Dave (Contributing Photographer)]]> Ayers, Don (Louth System Operator)]]> eng]]> John Paul II, Pope, 1920-2005]]> Popes--Biography]]> Catholic Church--History]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Reporter)]]> Mombrea, Mike, Jr. (Producer, Photographer, Editor)]]> eng]]> Communism--Cuba--History]]> Cuba--Economic conditions]]> Cuba--Social conditions]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host)]]> Yearke, Don (Photographer, Editor)]]> Musial, Chris (Executive Producer)]]> Baxter, Tim (Post-production Editor)]]> Rusk, Brian (Trip Organizer)]]> Solecki, Richard (Trip Organizer)]]> eng]]> Communism--China--History]]> China--Economic conditions]]> China--Social conditions]]> China--Social life and customs]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host)]]> Mombrea, Mike, Jr. (Producer, Photographer, Editor)]]> eng]]> Dougherty, Thomas J. (Thomas John), 1933-2018]]> Cancer--Research--United States]]> Cancer--Treatment--United States]]> Cancer--Research--China]]> Cancer--Treatment--China]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host)]]> Mombrea Jr., Mike (Producer, Photographer, Editor)]]> Vandivort, Dave (Director)]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Arts Director)]]> Christian, Roger (Music Coordinator)]]> Cunningham, Mike (Video Production Editor)]]> Root, Kim (Video Production Editor)]]> Binis, Mike (Audio Engineer)]]> Case, Hal (Technical Staff)]]> Elkan, Mike (Technical Staff)]]> Novelli, John (Technical Staff)]]> Pels, Gordon (Technical Staff)]]> Rozek, Dan (Technical Staff)]]> Walkowski, Brian (Technical Staff)]]> Schneider, Lawrence (Historical Consultant)]]> Nersinger, Janice (Historical Consultant)]]> Bergman, Randy (CBS News Researcher)]]> eng]]> Buffalo (N.Y.)--Emigration and immigration]]> Immigrants--New York (State)--Buffalo--History]]> Ellis Island Immigration Station (N.Y. and N.J.) -- History.]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Reporter)]]> Mombrea, Mike Sr. (Photographer, Editor)]]> eng]]> McVeigh, Timothy]]> Terrorists--United States--Biography]]> Oklahoma City Federal Building Bombing, Oklahoma City, Okla., 1995.]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host)]]> Vetter, Tom (Producer, Photographer, Editor)]]> Musial, Chris (Executive Producer)]]> Mombrea, Mike Jr. (Contributing Photographer)]]> Carroll, John (Contributing Photographer)]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Arts Director)]]> Van Horn, Mike (Graphic Artist)]]> Baxter, Tim (On-line Editor)]]> Giovenco, Joseph (Director)]]> Clemons, Michael (Technical Director)]]> Benzel, Gary (Audio Engineer)]]> Foster, Joseph D. (Tape Operator)]]> Brown, David (Font Operator)]]> Griswold, Jason (Master Control Operator)]]> eng]]> September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001.]]> Victims of terrorism -- United States.]]> Five months after the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in Lower Manhattan, Western New Yorkers were still lending support at Ground Zero.

One of the environmental cleanup experts, Steve Sherman, had found a wallet in the debris containing the Buffalo driver’s license of Sheri Leach. She had been on the 78th floor of Tower One when one of the wings of the plane that had penetrated the building made contact with her floor.

Sheri’s survival and her meeting with Steve Sherman is the basis of the first story in this collection of reports by Rich Newberg.

“Western New Yorkers Lend a Hand”
In February 2001, bodies were still being recovered from under the debris at Ground Zero.

Buffalo Salvation Army workers Barbara Janicki and Maj. June Carlson were among those giving help and encouragement to responders still on the scene.

Ron Papa of Buffalo helped assess damages to the Century 21 department store on the site. He recalls barely making his way through the cement dust following the September attack.

“Governor Pataki at Ground Zero”
In his final report in this series, Rich Newberg meets with New York Governor George Pataki at Ground Zero. The Governor was in Manhattan on 9/11 and shares his feelings after New York City firefighters brought him to the scene of mass destruction.]]> Newberg, Rich]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist)]]> eng]]> September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001.]]> Terrorism -- United States -- Prevention.]]>
Efforts quickly got underway to prepare for a worst-case scenario, including heightened training for emergency responders and those involved with intelligence gathering. A new center for homeland security in Buffalo was also created.

The following collection of reports by former WIVB-TV senior correspondent Rich Newberg documents the stepped-up efforts to protect the citizens of Western New York through cooperative efforts among many municipalities and agencies across the Niagara Frontier.

1 WIVB-TV Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg presents an exclusive report on plans for a local Homeland Security Department in the soon-to-be-built Public Safety Campus on Buffalo’s East Side.

The 250,000 thousand square foot campus will house Central Police and Emergency Services, and state of the art forensic lab facilities.

There are also plans for Erie County to join forces with the state for the nation’s largest wireless government communications system. The new system would allow police, fire and emergency medical services personnel to talk to each other.

Hard lessons were learned when New York City firefighters and police officers could not communicate with each other during the Twin Towers attacks.

2 1:01:12 - 1:03:26
The Erie County Medical Center conducts a drill for a radiation exposure emergency. Mobile units are training to respond to a terrorist attack. Concern here is for a potential dirty bomb or bio chemical attack that could affect the health of eighty to a hundred thousand people.

Fifty-thousand tons of antidotes are now in place and could be deployed by air or ground. More protective gear is also on its way to Buffalo. Plans are also in the works to develop a system of mass immunization.

3 Close to a million dollars in new federal money has been dedicated to improving anti-terrorist training and response programs in Erie County. Response to a dirty bomb incident would require declaring the radioactive area off limits for quite some time, depending on the strength of the radioactive material used in the device.

4 The post 9/11 era calls for greater security and more sophisticated background checks of employees at airports.
“Ultra-scan, a new device developed in Western New York, identifies people through finger imaging. Its accuracy is believed to approach one hundred percent.

5 A new state-of-the art Emergency Operations Center at an undisclosed location in Western New York is near completion. (The location is later revealed to be in Cheektowaga).

New York Governor George Partaki, urges New Yorkers not to fall victim to fear.

Deputy Erie County Executive Carl Calabrese, one of the local Homeland Security leaders, says an effective response to terrorist threats rests on “having the right information at the right time in the right peoples’ hands.”

Erie County Emergency Services Commissioner Mike Walters says, “There has to be a spot where major decisions are made, and we have that capability here better than we’ve ever had it before in this community.”

6 More details are revealed about the new $2 million dollar Emergency Command Center where life saving decisions would be made during a terrorist incident or natural disaster. The facility can accommodate 105 emergency coordinators who have direct access to immediate lines of communication, including video conferencing and satellite downlink capability.

A new “800 Megahertz Wireless System” statewide would allow emergency responders from different agencies to talk to each other.

7 A major response exercise is conducted using actors as would-be victims of a terrorist attack is carried out on the campus of Buffalo State College. The drill creates a hostage situation following a terrorist hijacking of an NFTA bus. The Buffalo SWAT Team goes into action.

NFTA spokesman Douglas Hartmayer says first responders believe there may be some explosives onboard the bus. The drill is carried out using smoke bombs, the Erie County Sheriff’s helicopter, and a Buffalo SWAT Team storming of the bus.

The drill is deemed to be successful, due to effective cooperation between agencies and a unified command situation.

8 More details on the drill that started on the streets of Buffalo. WIVB-TV senior correspondent Rich Newberg said “it looked so real it was somewhat frightening.”

The exercise includes a scenario where the terrorists who hijacked an NFTA bus and took hostages, had radioactive material onboard.

Rich Newberg reveals that the Transit Police who gave chase to the would-be hijacked bus, had not been told this was a drill.

9 Another drill is carried out involving first responders from Western New York and Southern Ontario. They dealt with the need for emergency chemical containment should terrorists attack the region. Western New York is third in the nation in the amount of hazardous material shipped through an area.

Buffalo Hazmat Team leader, firefighter Captain Tommy Fitzpatrick, says there toxic industrial chemicals could become a target for terrorists. Six agencies were represented in this drill including the FBI, airport rescue and fire and Twin City Ambulance.

10 More details on the above mentioned Buffalo Hazmat drill that took place at the Training Center in Cheektowaga. Special attention is paid to the potential disruption of a rail line or pipeline carrying hazardous chemicals.

11 The US Coast Guard is bolstering homeland security on Western New York’s border with Canada. Coast Guard Buffalo is about to be equipped with machine gun capability. Since 9/11, there are more patrols on the water.

A new 25 foot fast and powerful response boat is ordered for homeland security in Buffalo. There is also a higher level of cooperation between the Coast Guard and US Border Patrol. Citizen boaters are also being asked to report anything suspicious.

12 More details on the beefing up of US Coast Guard stations. Chief Steven Barr of Coasts Guard Buffalo says the new security boat will be able to turn at high speeds and will be “cabonized” for greater crew protection.

13 FBI Director Robert Mueller, who took over the agency seven days before 9/11, visits Buffalo’s FBI office.
The Lackawanna Six was the major topic of discussion.

Mueller says the men charged with providing material support to al-Qaeda by attending a terrorist training camp in Afghanistan can be considered, in his opinion, a “sleeper cell.” He says the Muslim community in Lackawanna was a big help in brining the case to a successful conclusion.
Mueller also said the US war effort in Iraq was aided by Iraqis in the Buffalo area and across the country.

Relating to another case, Mueller praised the Buffalo FBI office for its work on the James Kopp case. Kopp was arrested for the murder of Buffalo abortion provider Dr. Barnett Slepian.

He also gives credit to the Joint Terrorism Task Force comprised of twenty agencies assisting in anti-terrorism efforts.

14 New York State Police Superintendent James McMann, a Rochester native, is named by Governor George Pataki as coordinator of the state’s counter-terrorism efforts.

The Buffalo-Niagara region is named as one of 30 strategic regions in the country and will receive a federal $10 Million dollar counter-terrorism grant. $8 Million will go for planning, training and equipment. $2 Million for overtime costs in relation to Code Orange terrorist alerts.

15 Dr. Fred Cowie, an anti-terrorism expert, conducts as seminar in Buffalo. He is wearing orange prison garb and is handcuffed. He looks just like the Unabomber Ted KaczynskI and was once arrested by a police officer who mistook him for the suspect responsible for killing three people and injuring twenty-three others during bombings in various parts of the country between 1978 and 1995. He is from the same Montana town where Kaczynski was jailed.

Cowie gets the attention of emergency planners attending the session to learn the latest in anti-terrorism training techniques.

Former FBI Agent In Charge Bernie Tolbert also addresses the group. He is now running security for the NBA. He says big sports venues such as arenas and stadiums need to step up security.

16 More on the homeland security seminar mentioned above. Dr. Fred Cowie says, ”We have to find new ways, exciting ways to deliver the message and say ‘hey, that flammable liquid that took down the World Trade Center, that’s the same one your cop car is going to be pulling up to in a gasoline truck.”

17 The “nerve center” of Erie County’s emergency response operations is officially put into service. The Emergency Operations Center offers a high tech response to the worst of disasters. The center is located on Broadway in the Buffalo suburb of Cheektowaga. The center is equipped with a 105 seat training auditorium.

18 More on the Erie County Emergency Operations Center which will help coordinate responses by the county’s five thousand volunteer fire fighters and EMS providers.

19 The position of Buffalo Disaster Coordinator falls victim to budget cuts. Jack Sneiderhan was in working on an $880,000 thousand dollar grant for the city’s disaster efforts when his job was eliminated.

Plans are in the works for Erie County to take over Buffalo Police and fire dispatch functions. It will all be housed under one roof in the soon-to-be built new public safety campus on Buffalo’s East Side.

John Gibb, head of the New York State’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Task Force says the Western New York region has become a model for inter-agency, inter-regional cooperation. He is the point man for two $10 Million dollars grants to the Buffalo-Niagara region.

20 More on plans to put regional police and fire dispatchers under one umbrella in a Homeland Security campus being developed.

21 Erie County works to link up core buildings under one surveillance system. A new control center has the capacity to monitor 500 cameras. Erie County’s Public Works Commissioner Maria Lehman calls it “one stop shop surveillance for everything that’s going on in the buildings.”

22 A new million dollar alarm and communication system pinpoints the fire on any given floor in Buffalo’s major high-rise buildings. On every floor, firefighters have direct contact with the Control Center and are no longer dependent on cell phones.

23 New York State Homeland Security Chief Jim McMahon announces that $5.5 Million dollars in anti-terrorism funding is on its way to Erie County.

Some of the funds are earmarked for anti-terrorism training. Some of the training will take place on a new Public Safety Campus on Oak Street. The building is nearing completion. A top priority in spending will also go toward a new Rescue One truck for Buffalo. It will be equipped to respond to a terrorist attack. Money will also be spent on new protective gear for Buffalo firefighters responding to hazardous situations.

24 More on Homeland Security funds for Erie and Niagara counties. The state will pick up $2 Million dollars in labor costs for dispatchers.

25 Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg gives Western New York its first look at plans for a new $31 Million dollar Regional Training Center at Oak and Elm streets in Buffalo.
The first building designed to house local Homeland Security departments and a state-of-the-art forensic lab.

The new Training Center will bring in ECC criminal justice students and potentially offer anti-terrorism training for officers across the Northeast. An outdoor training facility simulating terrorist situations is another high priority.
A quarantine center is tops on the Erie County Health Department’s list.

Erie County is also looking to partner with the University at Buffalo to make Western New York a “Region of Excellence” for terrorism research.

26 New York State is ready to award a contractor to install America’s most advanced emergency communications network. It would allow first responders from different agencies to communicate with one another. Erie County Deputy Erie County Executive Carl Calabrese says the new Public Safety campus could potentially serve as the “brain center” for the new system.

27 A new approach to tracking victims of a biological attack is being developed in Erie County. A system using mobile computers at hospital bedsides would feed information into a central site for instant analysis.

Mike Moskal of the Calspan UB Research Center says it would be possible to prevent the spread of a disease further or start treating patients faster.

Paramedics would also be able to electronically record information while a patient is being transported to a hospital.

Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Anthony Billittier says health officials need information to determine if there is a disease spreading or victims are suffering from a terrorist event.

28 Western New York’s most spectacular tourist attractions, including the Maid of the Mist boat ride at Niagara Falls, have become a major security concern.
All ports and vessels must soon comply with new safety regulations.

Training sessions are held warning venue owners what to look for as tourists enter their attractions. Checking passengers for weapons on cruise vessels and tourists boats and security cameras are among the security measures taken.

29 More on anti-terrorism training sessions for tourist operators of major attractions on the Niagara Frontier.
Emphasis is placed on monitoring suspicious behavior of tourists, not their skin color, cultural attire or ethnic background. Training should be made available to the ticket-taker to the deckhand.

All of the nation’s ports and vessels must soon comply with tighter security measures. The belief is that terrorists will try to find the venue that is not protected.

30 Another major federally-funded drill has a hundred emergency responders from Western New York training for major “dirty bomb” attacks. The exercise includes the scenario of an attack on the Canadian side of the Peace Bridge. The drill takes place at the Emergency Operations Center in Cheektowaga.

Public Health agencies are notified. A decision is made to shut down traffic on the Thruway. The drill is conducted by federal emergency experts from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency).

In the drill, the Boulevard Mall is targeted by terrorists. There is also another threat on the New York State Thruway.

The exercise provides an opportunity for emergency responders from different agencies get to know each other. Representatives from Canadian agencies, including the Niagara Region Public Health Department, took part in the session. The exercise took a year to plan.

31 More on the above drill, testing the ability of emergency responders to handle a terrorist “dirty bomb” attack on the Peace Bridge in Buffalo and Boulevard Mall in the Town of Tonawanda. A decision is made to keep people sheltered in their homes and businesses.

The exercise includes a mock TV news anchorman who presents updates as the drill unfolds. The idea is to help define the information that citizens would need to know for protection. The lines of communication during a crisis situation is a critical element that must be considered.

32 A plan is put forward to consider a state-of-the art training center at the Niagara Falls International Airport.
The piece opens outside of Rochester, New York where a drill is underway, challenging firefighters from the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority to respond to a mock-up 737 plane whose cabin is on fire. It simulates a terrorist attack.

Deputy Erie County Executive Carl Calabrese attends the drill. He is considering a joint proposal that would have Erie and Niagara Counties building a training center on land at the Niagara Falls Airport. A feasibility study is underway. There is a long history of mutual aid.
34 More on the above story that includes graphic video showing response training for a terrorist attack on an airplane. It is pointed out that computers often drive training programs like this one. In this exercise, sensors show whether the firefighting techniques employed are effective.

WIVB-TV senior correspondent Rich Newberg shows viewers what it looks like inside the cabin of the mock-up plane after flames were extinguished.

The NFTA firefighters are given a good review by a training instructor.]]> Newberg, Rich]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist)]]> eng]]> 2001-]]> September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001.]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host)]]> Vetter, Tom (Producer, Photographer, Editor)]]> Musial, Chris (Producer)]]> Schlaerth, Joseph (Executive Producer)]]> Lent, Pamm (Contributing Producer)]]> Schlaerth, Joe (Contributing Producer)]]> Flynn, Lisa (Contributing Reporter)]]> Richert, George (Contributing Reporter)]]> Beauchamp, Steve (Photographer, Editor)]]> Ersing, Rich (Photographer, Editor)]]> Baker, Boe (Contributing Photographer)]]> Root, Kim (Contributing Photographer)]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Arts Director)]]> Vinciguerra, Jerry (Graphic Artist)]]> Baxter, Tim (Imix Editor)]]> Mombrea, John (Imix Editor)]]> Battilana, Tony (Director)]]> Dadey, Kelly (Director)]]> Clemons, Michael (Technical Director)]]> Masse, Dave (Videotape Operator)]]> Benzel, Gary (Audio Engineer)]]> Brown, Dave (Chyron Graphics)]]> Serio, Sam (Master Control Operator)
]]> eng]]> Erie County (N.Y.)--Defenses]]> Niagara County (N.Y.)--Defenses]]> Terrorism--Prevention]]> September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001]]> Originally aired on WIVB-TV.]]> Newberg, Rich (Producer, Writer, Host)]]> Vetter, Tom (Producer, Photographer, Editor)]]> Musial Chris (Executive Producer)]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Arts Director)]]> Ersing, Rich (Contributing Photographer, Editor)]]> Mombrea, John (On-line Editor)]]> Flynn, Lisa (Contributing Reporter)]]> Rice, Marie (Contributing Reporter)]]> Le, Lani (Contributing Reporter)]]> Beauchamp, Steve (Contributing Photographer)]]> Root, Kim (Contributing Photographer)]]> Woodson, Paul (Contributing Photographer)]]> Goldschlag, Dave (Contributing Photographer)]]> Mombrea, Mike Jr. (Contributing Photographer)]]> Swan, Ray (Contributing Photographer)]]> Dawkins, Don (Contributing Photographer)]]> Greene, Terry (Contributing Photographer)]]> Ersing, Matt (Contributing Photographer)]]> Battilana, Tony (Director)]]> Masse, Dave (Audio Engineer)]]> Palmatier, Scott (Videotape Operator)]]> Brown, Dave (Chyron Operator)]]> eng]]> Terrorism--New York (State)
]]> Yemeni Americans --New York (State)--Lackawanna]]>
They had attended a al-Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan in the Spring of 2001, just months before the attacks on the United States.

In his State of the Union address in 2003, President George W. Bush referred to the six as being part of an “al-Qaeda cell.” He said that along with other alleged cells broken in Hamburg, Milan, Madrid, London and Paris, “We have the terrorists on the run. We’re keeping them on the run. One by one the terrorists are learning the meaning of American justice.”

The men had grown up in the second largest Yemeni community in America and were all native born or naturalized U.S. citizens. One was a soccer star in high school. Another was voted “friendliest” in his graduating class.

There was never proof that the six had been plotting terror attacks on American soil or that they were, in fact a homegrown terrorist cell.

However, in December 2003, faced with possible long prison sentences if found guilty during a trial, all pleaded guilty to “providing material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization.” They were given sentences ranging from seven to ten years.

Author Dina Temple-Raston, who wrote the book “The Jihad Next Door: The Lackawanna Six and Rough Justice in an Age of Terror,” says the men left the training camp early when they realized America would be a target.

During a 2007 interview on National Public Radio’s “Talk of the Nation,” Temple-Raston, NPR’s FBI correspondent, said the men were addressed by Osama bin Laden, who told them there were suicide bombers ready to take action against the United States and Israel.

After returning to Lackawanna, she said the men were not truthful to the FBI about their activities in Afghanistan and were later arrested.

As part of the plea bargain agreements, the defendants agreed to cooperate with federal terrorism investigators.

A seventh suspect from Lackawanna, Jaber Elbaneh, escaped from a Yemeni prison but later turned himself in to Yemen authorities in 2007. He had been placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists list.

The alleged recruiter of the Lackawanna Six, Kamal Derwish, was killed by a drone in Yemen on November 3, 2002.]]> Newberg, Rich (Writer, Reporter)]]> Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital)
]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist)]]> Terrorism--United States
]]> Yemeni Americans--New York(State)--Lackawanna
]]> Muslims--Civil rights--New York (State)--Lackawanna]]>
Discussions centered on whether or not the six friends from Lackawanna, New York, just outside of Buffalo, were actually part of a terrorist “sleeper cell.” Questions were raised about the practice of what has been called “preemptive justice,” meaning the arrest of individuals who were considered possible threats for violent acts that were never committed.

Prosecutors argued that attendance at a terrorist training camp and failure to disclose the fact to the FBI, were grounds for the arrests. All the defendants ended up pleaded guilty to “providing material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization.” They were given sentences ranging from seven to ten years.

Defense attorneys maintained that their clients were lured into attending the training camp and realized too late what they had gotten into. They accepted plea bargain agreements that limited their prison terms. They agreed to cooperate with the U.S. government regarding information they had obtained during their time in the Middle East.

During their stay at the camp in Afghanistan the men from Lackawanna had been addressed by al-Qaeda leader Osama bin-Laden who said the United States would be a target of terrorist activity. Most of the defendants, according to their attorneys, decided they wanted to leave the camp early and have nothing to do with any attacks on America.

Assistant U.S. Attorney William Hochul said the defendants were told by bin-Laden that “forty to fifty men (would be) enroute to attack America,” but chose to remain silent when they returned home in the summer of 2001.
He questioned whether that information might have helped avert the attacks on 9/11.

Defense attorney John Molloy said all six had remained silent “out of fear.” He said they “were petrified” on 9/11 and that “they were afraid that they were next.”

]]> Newberg, Rich (Guest on “At Large with Geraldo Rivera”) ]]> Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital)
]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist)]]> Terrorism--United States--Prevention.
]]> Yemeni Americans--New York(State)--Lackawanna.
]]> Muslims--Civil rights--New York (State)--Lackawanna.
]]> Civil rights--United States.
]]> Bush, George W. (George Walker), 1946-]]>
President Bush maintained that The Patriot Act had been instrumental in the arrests of the so-called “Lackawanna Six,” a group of friends from a small city outside of Buffalo, New York who attended a al-Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan just months before the 9/11/2001 terror attacks on the United States.

While President Bush had referred to these men as belonging to a “terrorist cell,” their defense attorneys said the six had been lured to attend the camp, not realizing what it was all about. After being addressed by al-Qaeda leader Osama bin-laden, most tried to leave the camp early. According to their attorneys, they wanted nothing more to do with al-Qaeda.

Faced with a trial and potentially lengthy prison sentences, they all pleaded guilty to “providing material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization.” They received sentences of seven to ten years in prison and agreed to share information with the US government.

WIVB-TV senior Correspondent Rich Newberg reports on President Bush’s visit to Buffalo and the Patriot Act support he received from US Attorney Michael Battle and Buffalo FBI Agent In Charge Peter Ahearn.

Four days after the president’s visit, Fox News journalist Geraldo Rivera conducted a debate on the Patriot Act during a live Fox News Channel cablecast originating from Buffalo’s City Hall. “At Large with Geraldo Rivera” took a second look at the case of the The Lackawanna Six.

In reviewing the case, Rivera reports that the FBI had been tipped off by an anonymous letter that a group of Arab Americans that had traveled to Afghanistan was there to “meet bin-Laden and stay in his camp for training.” Rivera states that the men had told their neighbors they were going to Pakistan for religious instruction.

President Bush had stated that the Patriot Act “helps us to be able to connect the dots.” However, University at Buffalo constitutional law professor Dr. Lee Albert maintained that The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 had already allowed the CIA and FBI to cooperate in the Lackawanna Six case. “I don’t think the Patriot Act had a lot to do with this case,” he said.

FBI Special Agent Peter Ahearn disagreed and said, “The dots were connected” through the Patriot Act. He said shared information between the CIA and FBI led to the connection to a foreign terrorist organization. He said it had started as a criminal investigation but that the “spin of this case” changed. He added that seeing “the whole picture” helped reveal “how al-Qaeda operated overseas.”

During the debate, Patriot Act proponent Heather MacDonald of the Manhattan Institute maintained that there had been “utter paralysis in the country’s intelligence community before 9/11.” She added, “For months after 9/11 the political community, the media, was railing against our failure to connect the dots. The Patriot Act solved that.”

Patriot Act critic, former US attorney Bob Barr, said there has never been a federal law that prohibits intelligence agents and prosecutors to talk with each other. He said there is a danger that the Patriot Act could be used “as a subterfuge to undermine the Bill of Rights.” He added, “If we say, well prosecutors should be able to get anything, anytime, anywhere that they want simply because they say it’s to fight terrorism, then we might as well just throw the Bill of Rights, and especially the 4th Amendment (the right against unreasonable searches and seizures) out the window, and I don’t think we ought to do that as a country.”
]]> Newberg, Rich (Guest on “At Large with Geraldo Rivera”) ]]> Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital)
]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist)]]> Dwyer, Cynthia.]]> Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981.]]>
Mrs. Dwyer, a freelance writer and book editor, had obtained an Erie County Sheriff’s press card and had a long history of taking up causes of the underdog. Despite warnings that travel to Iran could be dangerous, she made the journey, only to be arrested on May 5th, 1980 and charged with being a spy for the CIA.

She may have been set up for arrest by possible agents of the revolutionary government who had spoken to her of a plan to free five American hostages separated from the larger group. There had earlier been an aborted U.S. rescue attempt that ended with a helicopter crash and the loss of eight American service personnel.

Inside the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran, Mrs. Dwyer said she was subjected to about 50 hours of interrogation. She was quoted as saying she “heard executions of many Iranians accused of treason.” She later said she had lived in “constant fear of death” during her nine months of incarceration.

On February 4, 1980, two weeks after the 52 hostages were released, Cynthia Dwyer was tried and convicted of espionage. She had been denied a lawyer and called the proceedings a “kangaroo trial…complete nonsense.” However, five days later, thanks, in part, to intervention by the Swiss government, Mrs. Dwyer was released by the Ayatollah Khomeini and expelled from Iran.

She arrived at Kennedy Airport in New York on February 11, 1981 and was immediately reunited with her family. Her husband, John Dwyer, Chairman of the English Department at Buffalo State College, had kept Cynthia’s story in the headlines. WIVB-TV news reporter Rich Newberg had established a trusted relationship with the family and provided Buffalo, CNN, and CBS Newsfeed with updates during Mrs. Dwyer’s ten-month odyssey.]]> Newberg, Rich (Writer, Reporter)]]> Mombrea, Mike Jr. (Photographer, editor)]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist)]]> Yearke, Don (Photographer)]]> eng]]>
Anderson was held for six years and nine months, the longest of a group of Americans taken hostage at the time. The abductions were an attempt to drive U.S. military forces from Lebanon during the Lebanese civil war. Anderson was released on December 4, 1991.

From the time of his abduction, his sister Peggy Say worked tirelessly for his release. Her efforts were covered extensively by the Buffalo news media and often made national and world headlines. She was perhaps the most covered of all the hostages’ relatives.

On December 4, 1991, Terry Anderson was finally released by his captors. His 2,455 days as a prisoner included about a year and a half in solitary confinement. WIVB-TV anchor, the late Bob Koop, traveled to Wiesbaden, Germany for Anderson’s first meeting with the press. His report includes Peggy Say’s joyful embrace of her brother, one of the most moving moments of his newly found freedom.

This series of reports begins with a CNN recap of Anderson’s ordeal and later life activities. A sequence of reports follows, beginning with the time leading up to his release, his reunion with his sister, first statements as a free man, reaction in Batavia, and finally, Anderson’s return to Batavia in 2011 while on a “mission of peace.” ]]> Newberg, Rich (Reporter, Archivist)]]> Rich Newberg Reports Collection]]> Murphy, Kurt (Graphic Artist)]]> Michael Terranova (Digital Editor)]]> Koop, Bob (Reporter)]]> McClintick, Michele (Reporter)]]> CNN (from YouTube)]]> Rich Newberg Reports Collection]]> eng]]> 1990-2015]]>