🌊 Sunday, March 1, 2026
All the news that's fit to get wet
☁️ Weather — NY Side
Good morning, and happy first day of meteorological spring! Don't let that fool you. Today is looking mostly cloudy with a few flurries or snow showers possible, with a high of just 21°F and winds out of the NNW at 10–15 mph. Tonight dips to a brisk 9°F — which is basically the universe's way of saying "no, it is still winter, sit down."
The five-day outlook is... a journey:
| Day | Conditions | High | Low |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Mar 1 | Cloudy, flurries possible | 21°F | 9°F |
| Mon Mar 2 | Mostly cloudy | ~25°F | ~16°F |
| Tue Mar 3 | Partly cloudy | ~39°F | ~25°F |
| Wed Mar 4 | Mix of sun & clouds | ~42°F | ~22°F |
| Thu Mar 5 | Mix of sun & clouds | ~25°F | ~19°F |
Highs will briefly surge into the low 40s midweek, then drop back to the low 20s by Thursday — so enjoy those two days of relative warmth, maybe wear a light jacket, then immediately regret it.
🔗 National Weather Service Buffalo
🍁 Weather — Ontario Side
Bonjour du côté canadien. Today our friends across the Niagara River are dealing with a bracing mix of sun and cloud with a 40% chance of flurries, and a high of –2°C. Tonight clears out but drops to –11°C — the kind of cold that makes you question all your life choices, including the one where you didn't move to Cancún.
The five-day forecast, in properly metric Canadian units:
| Day | Conditions | High | Low |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Mar 1 | Sun/cloud, 40% flurries | –2°C | –11°C |
| Mon Mar 2 | Mix of sun and cloud | –4°C | –9°C |
| Tue Mar 3 | 60% Chance snow/rain | +2°C | 0°C |
| Wed Mar 4 | Cloudy | +5°C | 0°C |
| Thu Mar 5 | 30% Chance of showers | +5°C | — |
Snow is set to begin early Sunday evening and end before morning, with an accumulation of about 2 cm. Winds tonight will be southwest at 20 km/h gusting to 40, increasing to 40 gusting to 60 this evening — basically a very enthusiastic goodbye from February. At least it was brief and technically polite.
🗽 NY Side News
Sabres Bludgeon Lightning 6–2, Move Within Four Points of Division Lead
Josh Norris scored twice to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 6–2 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Benchmark International Arena on Saturday. Zach Metsa had a goal and an assist, Alex Tuch and Tage Thompson also scored, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 36 saves to help Buffalo move within four points of the Atlantic Division-leading Lightning.
The Sabres improved to 16-2-1 in their past 19 on the road, ending Tampa Bay's 10-game home winning streak. The same Tampa goalie who had gone 17-0-1 with a .925 save percentage and 1.90 goals-against average in his last 18 games was chased from the net early in the second period. Consider that a message delivered in puck form.
The Sabres — alone in second place in the Atlantic Division — trail the first-place Lightning by four points with two head-to-head matchups remaining, both in Buffalo. The Sabres are set for a 25-game race to the finish line in a crowded Eastern Conference playoff race as they try to end a 14-year postseason drought.
"Gold Medal Homecoming" for Tage Thompson Set for Tuesday at KeyBank Center
The Buffalo Sabres and KeyBank are honoring gold medalist Tage Thompson at the March 3 game against the Vegas Golden Knights as part of a "Gold Medal Homecoming." Thompson tied for second on Team USA with three goals during the run, which culminated in an epic 2-1 overtime victory over Canada in the gold medal game.
Fans who attend will receive a TNT gold medal rally towel, while Thompson and Team USA gold medal merchandise, as well as a commemorative puck, can be purchased at the Sabres Store.
While it'll be a well-deserved moment in the spotlight for Thompson, the most intriguing aspect of the night will be how Sabres supporters react to Jack Eichel — Eichel infamously left Buffalo on a sour note, and the club's diehard fanbase has greeted him with a chorus of boos in every visit since his November 2021 trade to Vegas. Buckle up, KeyBank Center. That's going to be loud.
(WGRZ)
Lew-Port Boys Basketball Punches Ticket to Section VI Finals
The Lewiston-Porter boys basketball team picked the right time to have their best outing of the season. Lewiston-Porter boys basketball defeated South Park, 50–36, in a Section VI Class A1 semifinal on Friday at Buffalo Sports Arena.
The Lancers, who entered that semifinal game as a team focused on defense, delivered a complete performance against the South Park squad. The Section VI final is now on the horizon for a Lewiston-Porter squad that has grown into one of the region's strongest teams down the stretch of the 2025–26 season.
(Buffalo News) | (Niagara Gazette)
SUNY Niagara Thunderwolves Sending 10 Wrestlers to Nationals
For the third time in 14 years, SUNY Niagara wrestling is sending 10 to nationals. With a team score of 119 points, the Thunderwolves won their 28th NJCAA Region III championship. They also claimed their 25th Northeast District championship in program history Saturday at Jamestown CC, finishing 28.5 points ahead of runners-up Nassau CC.
This continues a remarkable run for the Thunderwolves program, which finished as national runner-up last year. That silver-medal sting? Consider this the motivational fuel. SUNY Niagara is heading to nationals with plenty to prove — and 10 wrestlers ready to prove it.
Niagara University Purple Eagles Steal Overtime Win Over Quinnipiac
Will Shortt scored 22 points and Reggie Prudhomme made a shot in the lane just before the overtime buzzer to give Niagara a 78–76 victory over Quinnipiac on Friday night. The Gallagher Center crowd in Lewiston had plenty to cheer about as the Purple Eagles secured a crucial late-season win.
The victory is a timely boost for a Niagara squad looking to finish strong in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. For a program fighting for every win in a crowded conference, a buzzer-beater overtime victory is the kind of result that can change a team's momentum heading into the postseason.
(ESPN)
Niagara County Political Season Heats Up as Campaign Announcements Roll In
Several political campaigns are taking shape in Niagara County, with Mooradian launching a campaign for the Niagara County Legislature, McKimmie seeking reelection to the Legislature's Third District seat, and Democrats talking teamwork at a McMurray campaign kickoff.
Code Blue remains in effect through Monday morning (March 2) in the City of Lockport due to forecasted overnight below-freezing temperatures. So: politics is heating up even as the temperatures are not. Welcome to pothole season and primary season arriving simultaneously.
As the Niagara Express noted back on February 15th, "Pothole season is here" — and the city's Granicus system reportedly isn't helping things run any smoother. The roads on both sides of the border are taking their annual beating, but at least the political chatter gives us something to fill the potholes of our conversations.
(Niagara Gazette) | (Niagara Express)
The $1.5 Billion Data Center Drama Continues Downtown
Niagara Falls Redevelopment LLC, owned by Manhattan billionaires Howard and Edward Milstein, has proposed a $1.5 billion data center campus on 53 acres they already own — the Niagara Digital Campus would feature nine buildings totaling 1.2 million square feet.
The campus was first proposed in early 2021 but has been held up in a prolonged dispute, as the city is in a lengthy eminent domain fight to try to take over about 11 acres from NFR to create a park and arena. Economic consultant Michael N'Dolo estimates that over a 20-year period, total revenue to just the city and the school district would be almost $300 million.
Most U.S. cities are rolling out the red carpet for AI data centers. Niagara Falls is trying to turn one away. No word on whether the potholes on the streets around the proposed site have weighed into the negotiating position.
(WGRZ) | (Niagara Reporter)
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Ford Tosses the Amalgamation Hot Potato to Niagara's Mayors
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he will leave the possibility of amalgamation of cities and towns in the Niagara region up to local mayors, though he believes something must be done. The Regional Municipality of Niagara has a two-tier governance structure with an upper-tier government as well as 12 lower-tier municipalities with 126 councillors in total. The new provincially appointed chair of the region, Bob Gale, has told the province the region has far too many tax increases, a growing capital backlog in the billions and an inability to be fiscally prudent.
Niagara Region Chair Bob Gale is advancing a proposal to amalgamate Niagara's 12 municipalities into either one single city or four larger cities. Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati said he is in favour of amalgamating down to four cities, saying the two-tier government has led to bloated property tax increases and "too many politicians."
Niagara-on-the-Lake is "strongly opposed to any proposal that would see our Town absorbed through amalgamation," Lord Mayor Zalepa wrote, noting NOTL "is the first capital of Upper Canada and a community with a distinct identity, proud history, and strong local governance." Two senior PC sources told The Trillium that they believe Niagara's municipalities will be amalgamated by legislation tabled this spring, in time for the upcoming municipal elections. Buckle up, Niagara-on-the-Lake. Ford's got his eye on your wine country.
(CBC News) | (CP24) | (Niagara Now)
NOTL Mayor Says Amalgamation is "Existential" — Reaction Pours In
Reactions are pouring in from across Niagara in response to letters sent this week from regional government chair Bob Gale backing the amalgamation of Niagara's municipalities. "We need all parts of the town coming together. This is existential," said Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa.
West Lincoln Mayor Cheryl Ganann issued a statement saying she was disappointed in how this matter was brought forward for discussion, noting "each municipality in the region is unique in its composition and its needs, especially regarding infrastructure and economic focus."
Amalgamation is a topic long on the agenda for the Niagara region, says former Brock University political science professor David Siegel. "There's no significant amount of money saved there," Siegel told CBC News. "You can abolish the area municipalities if you want, but the work that they're doing still has to be done." In other words: fewer elected officials doesn't mean fewer actual roads to pave.
(Niagara Now) | (Niagara Independent) | (BTPM NPR)
Niagara Falls, ON Named a Hamilton-Niagara Top Employer for 2026
The City of Niagara Falls is proud to announce it has been selected as one of Hamilton-Niagara's Top Employers for 2026. Considering that the city is simultaneously being asked to potentially merge out of existence by the provincial government, this award arrives with an unusually ironic bow on top.
The recognition reflects ongoing investment in city services and staff. The City of Niagara Falls and City Council are also offering a unique opportunity for local singers and musicians to perform O Canada at Council meetings throughout 2026 — which, in the current political climate, might feel a little more emotionally charged than usual.
Niagara Falls ON Pothole Season: Same Story, Worse Roads
In a preview of what's to come this spring, Niagara Falls officials are receiving pothole complaints as this winter's freeze-thaw cycle continues to wreak havoc on roads. Drivers in Niagara Falls, ON, are also complaining about a rougher than normal ride; residents rank McLeod and Dorchester Road as two of the worst in the city for potholes.
More freeze-thaw cycles mean more potholes in the spring. We have officially arrived. The city's target response time is to triage a pothole within approximately 48 hours of reporting it — so if you hit one on the way to work Monday, you may have it patched by Wednesday. You're welcome. Sort of.
(Niagara Falls Review) | (City of Niagara Falls)
Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory Now Open; Winter Attraction Season Underway
The Butterfly Conservatory opened February 14th and is now open 9:00am – 5:00pm daily. Tickets are adults $25.00, children 3–12 $16.50. Meanwhile, the Niagara Parks Power Station & Tunnel Tour is open 10:00am – 5:00pm daily, with adult self-guided tour tickets at $33.00 and children 3–12 at $21.50.
Several seasonal attractions remain closed until spring. The Whirlpool Aero Car is closed until spring 2026, and Hornblower Niagara City Cruises is open seven days a week beginning April 2026. Until then, you'll have to admire the falls from a sensible, dry, frostbitten vantage point like the rest of us.
During the off-season months of November through April, Niagara Parks offers the "Wonder Pass" — Adults 13+ $65.00, Youth $45.00 — which includes the Niagara Parks Power Station self-guided admission, Journey Behind the Falls, Niagara Takes Flight, and the Butterfly Conservatory, plus two days aboard WEGO bus service.
📅 Events — Both Sides of the Border
Sun Mar 1 | Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit — OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino, Niagara Falls, ON. 7:00 PM. One of Americana's finest songwriters brings his acclaimed band for a show at one of the region's premier venues. (Ticketmaster)
Tue Mar 3 | Sabres "Gold Medal Homecoming" vs. Vegas Golden Knights — KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY. 7:00 PM (pregame 6:30 PM on MSG). Tage Thompson gets a hero's welcome back from the 2026 Winter Olympics; all fans receive a commemorative rally towel. Also: Jack Eichel returns. Wear your earplugs if you're a Lightning fan. (Buffalo Sabres)
Thu Mar 5 | Boy George & Culture Club — OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino, Niagara Falls, ON. 8:00 PM. Yes, karma karma karma karma karma chameleon is happening right next to the world's most famous waterfall. Life is surreal and beautiful. (Ticketmaster)
Fri Mar 6 | Charley Crockett — OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino, Niagara Falls, ON. 8:00 PM. Tickets from $86. The Texas honky-tonk troubadour brings his road-worn country blues to the casino stage. (SeatGeek)
Sat Mar 7 | "The My Generation Tour" (featuring The Lovin' Spoonful, Terry Sylvester of The Hollies, and others) — OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino, Niagara Falls, ON. 7:00 PM. A night of British Invasion and '60s pop nostalgia. Perfect for anyone who still does the hand-jive unironically. (Ticketmaster)
Tue–Thu Mar 10–12 | Chubby Checker — Avalon Theatre at Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort, Niagara Falls, ON. Multiple shows (3:00 PM matinees and an 8:30 PM evening show on the 12th). The man who taught the world to Twist is back. Do your stretches first. (Ticketmaster)
Fri Mar 13 | Glass Tiger & Trooper — OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino, Niagara Falls, ON. 8:00 PM. Two Canadian rock institutions on the same bill? This is what they mean by "national treasure." (SeatGeek)
Sat Mar 14 | Kenny Wayne Shepherd: Ledbetter Heights 30th Anniversary Tour — OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino, Niagara Falls, ON. 8:00 PM. Celebrating three decades of blue-flame blues guitar. (Ticketmaster)
Daily | Niagara Parks Power Station & Tunnel Tour — Niagara Falls, ON. 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Adults $33.00, Children 3–12 $21.50. (Niagara Parks)
Daily | Butterfly Conservatory — Niagara Falls, ON. 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Adults $25.00, Children 3–12 $16.50. Open now through the season. (Niagara Falls Live)
Wed–Sun | Old Fort Niagara — Youngstown, NY. 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed Mon–Tue). Adults $21.00, Youth 6–12 $13.00, under 5 free. Free parking. (Old Fort Niagara)
Daily | Niagara Falls Illumination — Both Sides, Niagara Falls. 5:30 PM – 1:00 AM nightly. Free to view from any vantage point on both sides of the border. Fireworks resume in summer. (NiagaraFallsLive)
🌉 Across the Border
This first day of March arrives with a full plate of shared regional drama: pucks and politics, restructuring and record wins, flurries and free agent negotiations. On the NY side, the Buffalo Sabres are on a remarkable surge — the Sabres continue to pace toward skating in the NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2011 — and on the Canadian side, the entire region is reckoning with whether 12 municipalities might soon become four. Not a quiet Sunday on either riverbank.
The amalgamation question deserves a moment of sober recognition beneath the newsletter's usual levity: Niagara's current governance model is "failing families, with nearly 25 per cent tax increases in a single term and a $2.7 billion infrastructure backlog pushing costs on to future generations," according to regional chair Bob Gale. Whatever side of the debate you fall on, the infrastructure woes are very real — and the potholes on McLeod Road don't care what municipal boundary they sit in.
Meanwhile, both sides of the river share something pure today: winter is technically over, meteorologically speaking, and the falls keep falling regardless of who governs the land around them. For the third time in 14 years, SUNY Niagara wrestling is sending 10 to nationals, Lew-Port is in a sectional basketball final, and Jason Isbell is playing the casino tonight. March, as always, arrives a little cold, a little chaotic, and somehow full of promise. That's pretty on-brand for both Niagara Falls cities, honestly.
🌊 The Falls — "We cover both sides so you don't have to cross in this weather."
📸 Feature photo by Andre Portolesi on Unsplash