After a year off because of budget issues, the Empire State Summer Games return, starting with the opening ceremony Wednesday night at the University at Buffalo Stadium.

Julie Gentner-Murphy is a woman who wears many hats: wife, mother and for the next three days — second baseman.

SARATOGA SPRINGS Three soon-to-be seniors at Saratoga Springs High School are set to represent their team at the Empire State Games, starting Wednesday in Buffalo.

When the Empire State Games hold their opening ceremonies Wednesday night, it will be the first time since 1998 that the man with the widest of smiles, strongest of gaits and firmest of waves won’t be leading the way.

Dean Blanchard, a self-proclaimed king of shrimp, spent seven days a week running his Louisiana seafood empire. When the oil disaster shut everything down, he walked around in circles, feeling the powerlessness of a deposed monarch.

Reesey Byers, left, and Jacque Taylor are the Empire’s track and field athletes of the year.

Empire Bank announced today it plans to purchase Citizens National Bank of Springfield, after Citizens National has written off significant loan losses in the last year or so.

BOSTON To Boston fans, he ruled a real-life Evil Empire, buying championships with his unlimited resources, luring the best players and taunting the Red Sox when he scored yet another big-money free agent.

Hugh Hefner wants to buy out the portion of the Playboy empire he doesn’t already own in a bet that the iconic brand can still bring in profits even if the ink-on-paper magazine is past its prime.

Shares in Empire Oil and Gas leapt after the company said it had begun production testing at its Gingin West-1 wellhead 80km north of Perth.