Buffalo Bills fans digging out their snow-buried stadium appear to be having a winter blast



Buffalo Bills fans were hooting and hollering at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, on Sunday, despite mountains of snow, whiteout conditions, and an absence of players on the field.

The Buffalo Bills were supposed to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday in the AFC wild-card game, but Mother Nature had plans of her own. A winter storm, characterized as "potentially dangerous and life-threatening" by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, swept the region, burying the city — and its stadium — in snow.

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"Blizzard-like, whiteout conditions are possible, especially Saturday night and much of Sunday, and wind chills are forecast to dip into the single digits on Saturday night and remain there through mid-week," said the governor's office. "Travel in these areas will be difficult to impossible at times, and New Yorkers are urged to pay close attention to the weather and make plans accordingly to stay safe, especially those planning to attend Sunday’s Buffalo Bills' game."

As of Monday morning, Buffalo had received nearly a foot of snow, whereas other spots in Erie County, including Orchard Park, where the Bills' stadium stands, received far more, reported WGRZ-TV.

Hochul called the NFL and recommended the rescheduling of the Bills-Steelers game.

"I've been in communication with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell regarding the dangerous conditions in Buffalo this weekend," Hochul said during a press conference Sunday. "In consultation with our emergency response teams, Buffalo Bills leadership, and the NFL, the Bills game will be postponed."

Snow may be cited as justification to indefinitely postpone competitions in kindler and gentler sports, but not in football. Despite the state of emergency, the Bills-Steelers playoff game was rescheduled for 4:30 p.m. Monday.

To ensure that there will be room for frozen bodies in the stands amidst all the snow and ice, the Bills began paying fans to shovel the stadium, capping the number of volunteers at 200.

The Bills put out the call Sunday evening "asking anyone age 18 and over (or under 18 with proper working papers) interested in shoveling snow inside the stadium" to show up at midnight to begin work for $20 an hour. The team also promised complimentary beverages and breakfast in the morning.

To sweeten the deal, Erie County and the state authorized prospective shovelers to travel to the stadium before it opens to the public.

It appears some shovelers are having a winter blast.

A viral video shows one fan tearing off his shirt then sliding down a culvert intended for snow down to the field.

"Oh hell no," says a nearby observer, chuckling over the display. "That's crazy! That's f***ing crazy!"

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Others involved in the cleanup effort did not appear so keen to expose flesh to the elements.

Snug in multiple layers, storm chaser Logan Eschrich noted in a video Sunday that shovelers were having trouble keeping up with the storm.

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While most of the travel ban in Erie County had been lifted by early Monday morning, County Executive Mark Poloncarz indicated Orchard Park remained a "no man's land," reported the Buffalo News.

Given the low visibility, icy conditions, and high winds, Monday's game will likely be decided by runs and fumbles.

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NHL commissioner considers scrapping 'pride' nights entirely as yet another player refuses to wear jersey



After another NHL player refused to wear a "pride"-themed jersey during warm-ups, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said the league will evaluate whether or not to continue hosting any "Pride Night" events in the future.

Moscow-born defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin became the latest player to decline wearing a rainbow-themed jersey when the Buffalo Sabres skated during warm-ups, as reported by CTV News.

Lyubushkin cited a Russian law against promoting "nontraditional sexual relations," the same reason the Chicago Blackhawks gave for not sporting the jerseys, as they have several Russian players.

The Russian joins two Canadian brothers, Eric and Marc Staal of the Florida Panthers, who refused to wear the unique jerseys just a week before.

In an interview with CTV News, the NHL's commissioner addressed the ongoing controversy.

"This is the first time we've experienced that, and I think it's something that we're going to have to evaluate in the off-season," Bettman said.

"This is one issue where players for a variety of reasons may not feel comfortable wearing the uniform as a form of endorsement," he added.

\u201cRocking Pride tape tonight! \ud83d\ude0d\n\nBid on our warmup sticks starting at 7: https://t.co/wJits1UlSq\u201d
— Buffalo Sabres (@Buffalo Sabres) 1679957698

Bettman described the media coverage as a "distraction," reiterating that the players' personal choices need to be respected as well.

"I think that's become more of a distraction now, because the substance of what our teams and we have been doing and stand for is really being pushed to the side for what is a handful of players basically [having] made personal decisions, and you have to respect that as well," the commissioner remarked.

The list of teams and players opting out of the themed jerseys is ever growing; however, teams still celebrate a "Pride Night" in general despite not wearing the jerseys.

The Chicago Blackhawks, Minnesota Wild, New York Islanders, and New York Rangers all opted out of wearing the themed uniforms for the 2022-2023 season, while players Ivan Provorov, James Reimer, and the aforementioned Staal brothers along with Lyubushkin have all declined individually.

Bettman was initially in Canada's capital to discuss the potential sale of the Ottawa Senators hockey team.

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Video: Thieves target charity, quickly realize they underestimated a 76-year-old nun and the power of prayer



A 76-year-old nun thwarted an attempted robbery at a charity in Buffalo, New York.

In the early hours of Jan. 14, two thieves used a ladder to climb onto the roof of a charity in Buffalo. Thieves targeted the Response to Love Center – a faith-based charity that assists the impoverished in Buffalo. The robbers allegedly wanted to steal copper pipes.

Sister Mary Johnice Rzadkiewicz, the director of the center, woke up early to pray. She heard the commotion outside the charity and went to investigate.

Sister Johnice told WKBW-TV, "So, I opened the door and saw a ladder — here's a ladder over here, and I walked out, and I looked up, and said, 'Get out of here. How dare you do this to God's property — this is his mission!'"

The elderly nun summoned all of her strength to yank the ladder off the building, leaving the crooks stranded on the roof.

She told the Buffalo News, "I threw the ladder down, which was huge as could be, and lo and behold, they ran away."

The nun added, "When I took that ladder and knocked it down — I amazed myself when I see it now."

Sister Johnice said she was "fearless" because her "adrenaline was going." The nun noted that she could "feel the evil."

The Response to Love Center shared photos of the suspects on its Facebook, and asked for the public's help to identify the would-be thieves.

The Facebook post called the suspects "morons" because the thieves likely tried to steal copper downspouts from the Response to Love Center. However, the center's downspouts are made of aluminum and "worth only pennies."

Mike Gilhooly, the assistant director at the Response to Love Center, described Sister Johnice as a "tough cookie."

The fearless nun said of the suspects, "But it has to be somebody who's greedy — selfish — somebody who is very broken — I'm sure desperation did it. You know it's only gutters — it's only pipes, but what if it's a life? But God does not want this to be a battlefield for people — a fearful place."

"They could have come here for food or clothing. They could have come for a kind word, some guidance, but they chose a different route," she said. "That is not of God, that is evil. I just wish I could meet them."

Sister Johnice said, "Every day I've been praying for these two thugs."

The nun is keeping the ladder. She calls it "Jacob's ladder," after the story in the Bible about Jacob dreaming about a ladder stretching from heaven to earth.

Last week, "divine intervention" prevented a thief from stealing a St. Michael the Archangel from a church.

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76-Year-Old Nun Yanks Ladder Away From Would-Be Thief www.youtube.com

Video: Buffalo man who saved 24 people during blizzard surprised with Super Bowl tickets from Bills



A Buffalo man who courageously saved 24 people stranded in a blizzard that hit Western New York on Christmas weekend was recently given Super Bowl tickets by the Buffalo Bills for his brave actions.

On Friday, former Buffalo Bills running back Thurman Thomas surprised local hero 27-year-old Jay Withey with two tickets to next month's Super Bowl LVII in Arizona.

Thomas told Withey, "We love you. We know what you did on Christmas Eve was very heroic, and you're our hero."

The Buffalo Bills posted a video of the surprise on Twitter, thanking Withey for his bravery.

\u201cHe rescued 24 people from their cars during the Buffalo blizzard and sheltered them in a nearby school.\n\n@ThurmanThomas, @PThomas3434, and @BCBSWNY thanked Jay Withey for his acts of heroism with two tickets to Super Bowl LVII! \u2764\ufe0f\ud83d\udc99\u201d
— Buffalo Bills (@Buffalo Bills) 1673634030

What are the details?

On December 23, Withey found himself stranded in a blizzard after his truck got stuck in the snow. Unsuccessful at finding shelter in town, Withey spent the night in his vehicle with two other stranded motorists.

The next day, with his truck running low on fuel, Withey realized he had to seek shelter elsewhere. On Christmas Eve morning, he noticed a nearby school and decided to break in to escape the cold.

In an interview with WBEN radio, Withey stated, "I knew the power would be on, there would be heat in there, and I was guaranteeing there would be food in there."

After successfully gaining entry into the school, Withey returned to the frigid blizzard to rescue other stranded motorists. In total, Withey led 24 people and two dogs to safety.

On Christmas morning, after the worst of the storm had passed, Withey used the school's snowblower to dig out the strangers' vehicles.

The group of strangers took only what they needed from the school's supplies to survive and put everything back in its place before they left.

Withey even left a note apologizing for breaking into the school.

"To whom it may concern," Withey's note read. "I'm terribly sorry about breaking the school window and for breaking in the kitchen. Got stuck at 8pm Friday and slept in my truck with two strangers just trying not to die. There were 7 elderly people also stuck and out of fuel. I had to do it to save everyone and get them shelter and food and a bathroom."

Local police located Withey and thanked him for his brave actions. Cheektowaga Police Chief Brian Gould stated, "He definitely saved some lives that day."

On Sunday, Withey told CNN, "Buffalo is a city of good neighbors, great neighbors actually."

"We're all just a big family. Everyone just sticks together and we're resilient. You can't put us down," he added.

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Debunking One of CNN’s Longest Running Green LIES | Ep 635

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Video shows the moment a Buffalo man opens fire on looters during deadly blizzard



Looters have taken advantage of the deadly blizzard in Buffalo. However, one gun owner took up arms to prevent the theft of a local business.

There have been numerous looting crimes in Buffalo during a lethal blizzard that is connected with 39 deaths.

The blizzard was brought on by a bomb cyclone and is said to be the deadliest lake effect snowstorm on record. Almost 600 National Guard members were dispatched to conduct wellness checks during the monster snowstorm that prompted a driving ban that lasted nearly a week.

Looting has been so prevalent during the blizzard that local authorities enacted an anti-looting detail to combat crime.

As of Wednesday, there were 10 people who were arrested for looting crimes in Buffalo, New York.

One Buffalo man was seen on video attempting to quash the looting with a gun.

A looter attempted to break into a store in the Pine Hill neighborhood.

In the video, some people are seen wielding brooms and sticks in an effort to dissuade criminals from breaking into stores. However, one man was packing heat to prevent a robbery.

A male voice on the video stated, "They about to shoot somebody. They trying to shoot somebody."

A man in a gray shirt is seen in the video using his firearm to prevent a break-in at the Sky's the Limit Hair & Beauty.

Someone in the crowd screamed, "Shoot 'em! Shoot 'em!"

Then the gunman fired off two shots.

A manager at Sky's the Limit told the New York Post that nobody was injured from the shooting and that the identity of the shooter is a mystery.

"That was one of the neighbors that probably had business in the area," the anonymous manager suggested. "As far as I know, he shot in the air to scare them off. Because I guess he was sick of them breaking into one of the businesses across the street or something. He just don’t want them to break anything anymore."

Buffalo police did not comment on the incident.

\u201c#NewYork\n#Buffalo\n#looting\n\nStore owners protecting their business \nOne begins firing toward the end of the video\n\n https://t.co/L3iIqoH9QS\u201d
— The Daily Sneed\u2122\ud83d\udd57 (@The Daily Sneed\u2122\ud83d\udd57) 1672067944

'Lowest of the low': Looters pillage Buffalo while police are distracted saving lives and digging up bodies



For many, the blizzard that recently struck Buffalo, burying the city in 43 inches of snow and leaving tens of thousands without power, meant tragedy, particularly for the families of the 27 who perished in freezing whiteout conditions. For others, the wicked storm has meant opportunity.

Stores have been ransacked, businesses looted, and homes burgled by roving looters whom Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown has called the "lowest of the low."

Whereas some have suggested that looters were driven to crime as a result of necessity, WGRZ reported that in most cases, essential items were forgone and luxury items prioritized.

What are the details?

Since the storm hit in full force on Friday, police have been focused on saving lives, recovering the bodies of victims, and tackling the immobilizing snow, suggested Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia.

Looters evidently seized upon the distraction provided by the deadly blizzard, which Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz called the "worst storm probably in our lifetime."

Numerous videos of the looters' alleged exploits have been shared to social media.

Video has been released of the Nickel City Liquor store's break-in. The owner reportedly noted that the looters responsible have "cheap and bad taste."

\u201cLast night Nickel City Liquor in Buffalo was broken into & robbed. $500 worth of alcohol stolen. \n\nOwner had to sleep there, unable to board it up. He said \u201cthey have cheap & bad taste.\u201d\u201d
— Michael Schwartz (@Michael Schwartz) 1671996686

In another video shared to Twitter, looters weighed down with ill-gotten goods can be seen pouring out of a Family Dollar store:

\u201cBlizzard in Buffalo today and......................looting.\u201d
— Veterans Taking Back (@Veterans Taking Back) 1672036047

A 7-Eleven convenience store was smashed, stripped of its products, and unwittingly turned into a bird sanctuary:

\u201cThe aftermath of mass looting today in Buffalo, NY following a storm:\u201d
— End Wokeness (@End Wokeness) 1672030470

Looters also reportedly raided Rick's Sports Apparel, smashing its windows and emptying it of items of value.

Patrick Cichocki, one of the owners of Camellia Meats, told WGRZ that looters were "breaking into the Rent to Own, they're taking TV sets."

An employee at Camellia Meats said, "It's heartbreaking. When this is all over the community will have nowhere to go to get the things they need."

Pastor Al Robinson of the Spirit of Truth Urban Ministry confirmed the community impact of this thievery, telling WKBW that the very businesses vulnerable families rely upon have been pillaged, leaving them in the lurch.

"These people, I just don't understand why they just don't care about their neighbor," said Robinson.

Police began resuming their normal duties on Monday, indicated Gramaglia, although search and rescue operations will continue.

"We have made a few arrests. We have intervened in some of those. We've assisted with at least one location that I am aware of in getting a store boarded up, so our officers are out there," said Gramaglia.

BPD spokesman Mike DeGeorge noted that police will be monitoring social media and "reviewing video and posts in an effort to make arrests."

Buffalo's mayor minced no words when calling out those responsible.

Brown said, "People who are out looting when people are losing their lives in this harsh winter storm, it's just absolutely reprehensible. I don't know how these people can even live with themselves, how they can look at themselves in the mirror."

Brown noted that the "people taking advantage of a natural disaster to take what they want from retailers" are "also potentially putting those services at risk in the communities where they are looting."

According to Daniel Neaverth Jr., commissioner of the county's Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, the looting of gas stations has left a number of them inoperable. As a result, the fueling pumps are not working and first responders will be unable to fuel up, reported the Buffalo News.

"So that ambulance that is maybe just going to go a block to refuel now has to go to a facility sometimes outside of the city of Buffalo to be refueled," said Neaverth.

Poloncarz said he was "absolutely devastated to see that many deaths and then to find out that there's looting going on in our community at the same time we're still recovering bodies is just horrible."

Whereas the mayor and other community leaders have denounced the looters, Advocates for Justice attorney Nate McMurray suggested that those questioning the motives and ethics of the looters destroying local businesses should "shut up," intimating that the rampant theft of nonessential items is socio-economically justifiable.

\u201cI just saw a wealthy white guy online say about the looting in Buffalo\u2026\n\n\u201cWhy don\u2019t they take pride in their communities?\u201d\n\nDo me a favor. Move there. Live on the average income in the East Side. Survive a snowstorm without a grocery store nearby, let alone a plow. \n\nOr shut up.\u201d
— Nate McMurray (@Nate McMurray) 1672071255

Mayor Brown made clear that the criminal elements taking advantage of the tragedy that has befallen Buffalo are "not looting food and medicines, they're just looting items that they want so these aren't even people in distress; these are people that are taking advantage of a natural disaster."

Looting a problem after the blizzard youtu.be