Governor Hochul, Buffalo Bills and Erie County Mark Major Construction Milestone at New Highmark Stadium With Steel Topping Out Ceremony

Over 1,000 Guests and Hundreds of Union Construction Workers Watch Final Beam of Structural Steel Lifted into Place at New $2.1 Billion State-of-the-Art Stadium That Will Keep the Team in Buffalo for Next 30 Years

Economic Impact Will Exceed the Public Contribution to Western New York’s Largest Construction Project

Governor Kathy Hochul, the Buffalo Bills and Erie Countys celebrated the topping out of the new $2.1 billion Highmark Stadium at the construction site in Orchard Park. A major building milestone, topping out celebrates the lifting and placing of the last major roof module for the stadium structure. The state-of-the-art stadium design includes cutting-edge technology, inspiring art and an array of amenities designed to enhance the customer experience — making it a world-class entertainment venue that will boost the economy of Western New York for decades to come. The project is about 50 percent complete and is slated to be finished prior to the 2026 NFL season.

“This marks a major milestone for the future home of the Buffalo Bills and one of the largest construction projects ever in Western New York,” Governor Hochul said. “This world-class stadium would not be possible without our skilled union workers and partners, and I look forward to cheering along with them at the first Bills game being played here in the 2026 season.”

Buffalo Bills Owner Terry Pegula said, “This is about you hard workers. We're going to put this piece of steel up. We’re calling this the topping off ceremony. I call it the first piece of building the rest of the stadium.”

With more than 1,400 guests and hundreds of proud members of organized labor in attendance, one of the super cranes on site was used to erect the highest beam 156 feet in the air. The topping out ceremony commemorated the tremendous efforts of construction professionals and the men and women of organized labor to maintain safe and on-time construction. The final beam is adorned with an American flag and an evergreen tree, standing as a talisman for good luck and prosperity for the future occupants of the building. It bears the signature of hundreds of partners, employees and stakeholders who are contributing to the development of the new stadium.

This milestone comes just 20 months after the groundbreaking for the new 60,000-seat facility, designed by the Bills in conjunction with Legends and the architectural firm Populous. To date, the construction team has put in place more than 22,000 individual pieces of steel weighing more than 25,000 tons. The scope of work necessitated the participation of 16 fabrication companies, with 60 percent of the steel being produced in New York State and almost all of it produced in the United States. In addition to the structural steel work, the project has included the removal of 742,000 cubic yards of dirt and the installation of more than 46,000 cubic yards of foundation concrete, and miles of piping among other materials. As many as 1,500 workers will be on the site at the peak of construction — including people working on masonry, electrical and plumbing. Workers have already contributed over 1.7 million craft-hours to construction, with that number expected to double by completion.

With the topping out milestone, construction continues on the interior of the building, as well as the roof and exterior enclosure. Construction manager Gilbane/Turner is in the midst of putting the canopy structure on the stadium’s top level, which tops out at 116 feet above grade — nearly double the height of the current stadium, and installing precast materials, which will make up the exoskeleton of the building. This spring, the skin of the building will be installed including the precast architectural, perforated metal and glass panels that capture outside views of Lake Erie and downtown Buffalo.

The future world-class home of the Bills will also host a variety of other sporting and non-sporting events and will feature an array of premium amenities throughout all levels, including:

• A 360-degree canopy covering 65 percent of the seats
• Heated concourse and seating in several areas
• World’s largest snow melt system, utilizing roof sensors to monitor and liquify snow piles
• Two state-of-the-art video boards and an acoustic system to maximize patron’s audio and visual experience
• Upper deck with views of the City of Buffalo, Lake Erie and the Boston Hills
• Inviting welcome plaza highlighted by a sculpture of a family of American Bison
• Mix of concessions, kitchens and retail stores
• Accessibility for people with disabilities

 

Attorney General James Sues Trump Administration for Illegally Cutting Funding for Medical Research

 

AG James and 15 Other Attorneys General Ask Court to Restore Millions in Research Funding for Alzheimer's, Substance Use Disorder, and More

New York Attorney General Letitia James and a coalition of 15 other attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for its unlawful cancellation of National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grants that fund critical medical and scientific advancements. In March, NIH began to terminate millions of dollars in grant funding for previously approved research projects, including projects focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), LGBTQ+ health, and vaccine hesitancy, on the basis that the projects no longer align with NIH priorities. In a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Attorney General James and the coalition are challenging the administration’s abrupt, unjustified, and illegal decision to revoke these funds, as well as NIH’s suspension of the grant approval process, which threaten life-saving research in New York and across the country. 

“Once again, the Trump administration is putting politics before public health and risking lives and livelihoods in the process,” said Attorney General James. “Millions of Americans depend on our nation’s research institutions for treatments and cures to the diseases that devastate families every day. The decision to cut these funds is an attack on science, public health, and medical innovation – and I won’t stand for it. We are suing to restore these critical funds because the people of New York, and the entire nation, deserve better.” 

The NIH is the largest public funder of medical research in the world and is responsible for life-saving vaccines that have eradicated several diseases, biomedical discoveries that have reduced the risk of certain cancers, and life-extending treatments for illnesses that were previously a death sentence, like HIV and AIDS. The NIH has propelled the United States to its position as a global health and life sciences leader – a position that Attorney General James and the coalition argue is now in jeopardy because of the Trump administration’s disruption of NIH grants. The NIH’s grant program has funded many of the world’s most significant innovations. In 2024 alone, NIH’s grant program spurred more than $94 billion in profit. Now, the Trump administration is attempting to claw back funding for projects that do not align with the president’s ideologies, while simultaneously grinding the review and approval of pending grant applications to a halt. 

Since March, NIH has sent hundreds of letters to researchers notifying them that their grant funding is being withdrawn because their projects “no longer effectuate agency priorities.” The only explanation provided is that the research projects are connected to “DEI,” “transgender issues,” “vaccine hesitancy,” or another topic that the president and his administration dislike.  

Attorney General James and the coalition argue that these delays and terminations have caused – and, if left unchecked, will continue to cause – significant and irreparable damage to research efforts across the nation. Collectively, the states involved in the lawsuit are awaiting decisions on billions of dollars in requested research funding, including millions of dollars in funding for projects that have already gotten the green light from NIH reviewers. This strain has only been exacerbated by NIH starting to cancel grants previously issued to research institutions, clawing back millions of dollars in already-awarded money. The funding cuts have already disrupted ongoing studies at leading research institutions, threatening years of medical progress.   

In New York, NIH has terminated more than $4.5 million in research grants for the State University of New York (SUNY). The cancelled grants include projects on Alzheimer’s disease in Asian and Latino Americans, substance abuse risks for LGBTQ+ youth, cardiovascular disease in LGBTQ+ individuals, and HIV treatment in Ghana. NIH has even terminated the remaining funding for a $3.5 million project that established a groundbreaking training center for health equity researchers studying health disparities in and around Buffalo. In termination letters, NIH arbitrarily claimed these were “DEI studies” and stated that the projects were “incompatible with agency priorities, and no modification of the project could align the project with agency priorities.” The letters provided no factual basis for these claims nor any insight on new agency priorities. Several of these studies had the potential to achieve significant breakthroughs that would have advanced public health for the country but are now shut down indefinitely. Meanwhile, delays in NIH funding have delayed ongoing and future studies, forced researchers to abandon studies and lose key personnel, and prevented SUNY from launching several community health initiatives. 

Attorney General James and the coalition argue that NIH’s grant terminations violate federal law, including the Administrative Procedure Act, as the agency has failed to acknowledge, or provide any rationale for any changes in agency policy that would justify the terminations. In addition, the attorneys general argue that the cuts go against congressionally mandated directives for NIH, including statutory requirements that the NIH Director work to improve research on LGBTQ+ health, expand research on women’s and reproductive health, and diversify the biomedical research workforce. The attorneys general also assert that NIH is violating its responsibilities under federal law by delaying the review, approval, and provision of funds for pending grant applications. The attorneys general are asking a court to restore the improperly revoked grants and ensure that the federal government follows lawful procedures when making funding decisions. 

This is the latest action Attorney General James has taken to protect New Yorkers and the services they rely on from the Trump administration’s illegal attacks. Yesterday, Attorney General James sued President Trump for his unconstitutional attempt to seize control of elections. Also yesterday, Attorney General James won a court order temporarily blocking the Trump administration from slashing $11 billion in vital health funding for state and local governments. On March 14, Attorney General James and a coalition secured a court order reinstating federal workers subject to mass firings at 18 agencies. On March 13, Attorney General James led a coalition of 20 attorneys general in suing the Trump administration to stop the dismantling of the Department of Education. On March 10, Attorney General James secured a court order blocking the Trump administration from cutting critical grant programs for teachers, and on March 6, Attorney General James secured a court order blocking the Trump administration’s freeze of essential federal funds to states. On March 5, Attorney General James and a coalition of attorneys general won a court order stopping the Trump administration from withholding vital funding to the National Institutes of Health. On February 24, Attorney General James led a coalition of attorneys general in securing a court order preventing Elon Musk and members of DOGE from accessing Americans’ private information through the U.S. Treasury, and on February 13, Attorney General James and a coalition of attorneys general secured a preliminary injunction stopping the administration’s illegal revocation of birthright citizenship. 

Joining Attorney General James in this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawai’i, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin. 

United States Files False Claims Act Complaint Against Vohra Wound Physicians Management and Its Owner Alleging False Claims for Wound Care Services

 

The United States filed a complaint under the False Claims Act against Vohra Wound Physicians Management LLC (Vohra) and its founder and majority owner, Dr. Ameet Vohra, for allegedly causing the submission of false claims to Medicare for overbilled and medically unnecessary wound care services. Vohra is one of the nation’s largest specialty wound care providers and contracts with hundreds of nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities throughout the country to provide wound care services to those facilities’ patients at their bedside.

“Providers that overbill the government for services, or bill for services that are unreasonable or medically unnecessary, undermine the integrity of the Medicare program and waste taxpayer dollars,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael D. Granston of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will hold accountable providers who prioritize their own enrichment over the medical needs of their patients.”

“This office is committed to protecting our nation’s seniors and the important federal programs that support them,” said U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida. “When providers seek to misappropriate public funds for private gain, we will work with our partners to pursue those responsible.”

“Healthcare fraud is harmful to all consumers, artificially and unnecessarily increasing the costs of care for everyone,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Tara M. Lyons for the Southern District of Georgia. “Identifying and ending fraudulent billing activity is essential to keeping healthcare costs manageable for patients and for taxpayer-funded healthcare programs.”

According to the United States’ complaint, Vohra and Dr. Vohra knowingly engaged in a nationwide scheme to falsely bill Medicare for surgical debridement procedures to maximize revenue.  Debridement is a procedure to remove impediments to healing from a wound, such as dead or unhealthy tissue, and can be accomplished in several ways including nonsurgical and surgical methods.

The complaint alleges that the defendants pursued their fraudulent scheme in three primary ways. First, Vohra created a proprietary Electronic Medical Record (EMR) software that was programmed to bill debridements as surgical procedures even when they were not. Second, Vohra hired physicians without wound care expertise and provided training that omitted relevant Medicare payment rules and intentionally conflated the definitions of surgical and nonsurgical debridement procedures. Third, Vohra set corporate debridement targets based solely on revenue goals and pressured its physicians to meet those targets. As a result, Vohra allegedly caused the submission of claims for surgical debridement services that were not medically necessary and used billing codes that represented more complex procedures than were actually performed (commonly referred to as “upcoding”).   

The complaint also alleges that the defendants programmed Vohra’s proprietary EMR software to improperly apply the Modifier 25 billing code and charge Medicare for exams that were not separately billable from surgical debridement procedures performed on the same day. Because surgical debridements are billed as global surgical packages and include payment for an examination, evaluation and management (E&M) services are only payable on the same day if a significant service is performed that is separately identifiable from the surgical debridement as signified by Modifier 25. According to the United States’ complaint, Vohra’s proprietary EMR software automatically added Modifier 25 to its E&M claims without regard to whether the modifier was appropriate, thereby causing the submission of claims for E&M services that were not payable.

This matter is being handled by the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Florida and Southern District of Georgia.  Investigative support is being provided by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and is captioned United States v. Dr. Ameet Vohra; Vohra Wound Care Management, LLC; and VHS Holdings, PA, No. 25-cv-21570 (S.D. Fla.).

Trial Attorney Kirsten Mayer of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Grover for the Southern District of Georgia, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Cheek for the Southern District of Florida are handling the matter.

The investigation and prosecution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

The claims asserted in the government’s complaint are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

BRAC - April 2025 Newsletter

 

BRONX RIVER ART CENTER

Celebrating 37 Years of Bringing Arts & Cultural Programs to the Bronx

April 2025 at BRAC

Art Education

Registration for Spring Classes

Registration is open now!

Classes run from April 22 - June 21

Registration for our spring classes is now open! Sign up for youth, teen, and adult art classes in subjects ranging from painting, to drawing, to ceramics, and much more!

Prices start at $75 for five sessions and $115 for nine sessions. Discounts are available for residents of select Bronx zip codes. Classes begin on April 22 and will run until June 21.

Check our website for more detailed pricing information and class descriptions, and stay tuned for information about Friday art workshops, open studios, and other events!

Register for Spring Classes

Teen Project Studio

Registration is open now!

Classes run from April 20 - June 21

After a short hiatus, Teen Project Studio is back for an electrifying 9-week program diving into the world of graffiti and mural painting, taught by artist Karen Pedrosa!

Meeting on Tuesdays and Fridays at 4:30pm beginning on April 20, this FREE intensive art experience is designed for teens ages 15-to-19 who are passionate about visual arts. Participants also receive a stipend at the end of the program: get paid to create! TPS is limited to just 15 students and admission is by application only — so don’t miss your chance!

Apply for Teen Project Studio

MSCreate featuring JJGrant Registration is open now! Classes run from April 21 - June 23 Get paid to create! MSCreate is a FREE after-school arts program for middle school students (Grades 6 - 8). Students will explore creative expression, build confidence, and develop new artistic skills under the tutelage of BRAC's teaching artists, as well as through fashion designer JJGRANT's I SEE ME program on Mondays and Thursdays. Apply for MSCreate Ft. JJGRANT Drink & Draw Workshops April 11th at 6pm Join us for a monthly open drawing session for adults, with a model and live music. We will provide the snacks, paper and charcoal. Register for Evening Workshops Bronx River Film Diaries April 19th, 23rd, and 25th Join us for a FREE workshop and film challenge exploring the Bronx River through personal storytelling! Learn about film diaries, get inspired by experimental and nature-focused films, and create your own short piece. No experience needed—just your creativity and a recording device   Key Dates: Saturday, April 19 | 10:30 AM — Kick-Off Workshop Wednesday, April 23 | All Day — Film Diary Deadline Saturday, April 25 | 7:00 PM — Public Screening & Celebration Register for Film Workshops Gallery

Panel with the Artists:

Resilient Roots: Ecofeminism in Video Performance

April 15th, 2025 at 6pm

Join us for Resilient Roots, an online panel hosted by the Bronx River Art Center, on April 15 at 6 PM (EST). This conversation brings together artists and curators whose work engages with ecofeminism through critical and experimental perspectives. Natacha Voliakovsky, Argentine queer Performance Artist and activist, will also join the panel.

Exploring themes of sustainability, interspecies relationships, and curatorial models that challenge extractivist structures, the panel will examine how roots—both literal and symbolic—serve as metaphors for resistance, community, and regeneration in the face of environmental crises.

Don’t miss this opportunity to delve into the intersection of art, ecology, and social justice. Register here.

Curated by Alexandra Trujillo Tamayo

Resilient Roots will be on view through April 18, 2025

Featured Artists: Maya Ponce, Regina José Galindo, Alexia Miranda, Rocío Soria, Alexandra Moshenek, Tzitzi Barrantes 

Sign Up to Attend the Artists' Panel

Events

BRAC Open House

Saturday, April 26th at 12:30pm

FREE EVENT!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Join us on Saturday, April 26 for an Open House event at the Bronx River Art Center, as part of a community-wide Earth Day celebration. Starting at 12:30pm, take part in some free community art-making, portraits, storytelling, and live music by BombaYO!

RSVP for Open House

Toomai String Quintet

Saturday, April 26th at 4pm

FREE EVENT!

Toomai String Quintet, an ensemble dedicated to expanding the Latin American chamber music repertoire, will perform music from their new album, Passos Brasileiros (Brazilian Steps) in BRAC's Event Space on Saturday, April 26th at 4pm.

Celebrating Brazil’s vibrant musical legacy, Passos Brasileiros embraces works from several beloved traditions — choro, samba, Brazilian jazz, classical music, and Música Popular Brasileira (MPB) — and reimagines them for string instruments.

RSVP for Musical Performance

And More...

Welcome to our new Gallery Associate !
Meet Jhanique Lovejoy, a born and raised Queens native! A Jamaican visual artist whose practice explores themes of familial connections and Afrofuturism, she has spent the last couple of years pivoting to exhibition planning, curatorial, and archival work. She received her Bachelor’s in Fine Art and Ethnomusicology from Swarthmore College in 2023. She has worked at contemporary art galleries in the city and as a graphic designer for the Baldwin United Fund—a non-profit promoting James Baldwin’s legacy. Through this work, she has developed a strong commitment to using the arts as a means of cultural preservation and community engagement. With a deep passion for expanding access to the arts, she’s excited to foster creative expression at the Bronx River Art Center!

Pledge Your Support!

Donate to BRAC!