Morning News Briefing
Written by WBTA STAFF on April 2, 2019
Investigation rules deadly fire on Evans Street accidental.
Investigators from the City of Batavia Fire Department have ruled a fatal Evans Street fire accidental in nature.
According to investigators the deadly fire started on the stove of 41 year old John Sherman Senior Sunday morning before he became trapped in his Evans Street home.
After fighting back flames fire crews eventually extracted Sherman from the home but shortly after he succumbed to his injuries.
Seven other occupants along with several pets managed to escape the home without injury after being alerted by a working smoke detector.
A single dog was lost to the blaze as well.
Fire fighters are reminding residents to ensure they have working smoke and a carbon monoxide detectors in their homes.
Brockport resident busted following a serious injury accident in Byron.
37 year old Richard White of High Street Brockport was arrested and charged with Vehicular Assault, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation, DWI and various other counts following investigation into a motor vehicle crash in Byron.
Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputies took white into custody for allegedly driving while intoxicated by drugs and alcohol and following too closely during the February 15th crash on North Bergen Road.
White’s passenger sustained serious injury in the crash as well and White was ultimately released on his own recognizance.
The state Senate has passed a bill increasing the minimum age for New Yorkers to buy tobacco products and e-cigarettes.
You’ll now have to be at least 21 years old to buy those items instead of 18.
The hope is to lower the number of Empire State residents who start smoking each year.
Governor Cuomo said in a statement he’ll sign the legislation.
Both Governor Cuomo and state lawmakers are getting a boost to their bottom lines.
As part of the budget process, they approved a $10,000 bump to their salaries, while the governor will go from making $179,000 a year to $200,000 annually.
That total will reportedly hit $250,000 in 2021, making Cuomo the highest paid governor in the country.
Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul will also see her salary increase.
Testimony begins this morning in the trial of former Rochester City Court Judge Leticia Astacio.
Prosecutors say she tried to buy a shotgun at a sporting goods store last year while she was on probation.
Her attorney says the gun wasn’t loaded and wasn’t a dangerous weapon.
The case is being tried in Onondaga County after Astacio’s lawyer argued she couldn’t get a fair trial in Monroe County.
