Morning News Briefing
Written by WBTA STAFF on April 16, 2019
Photo by our news partner The Batavian
Rolling domestic leads to car crash into house in Batavia.
County Lawmen say that a car crash into a house on Oak Orchard Road in the Town of Batavia was caused by an apparent rolling domestic incident between two Elba residents.
Deputies responded to the vacant residence owned by Offhaus farms after call came in for the crash at around quarter after 3 yesterday afternoon.
The 2014 Chevy Cruze operated by Rodney Harmon Jr. reportedly crossed over the center line, off the east shoulder of the Route 98 and traveled another 200 feet before striking the home.
Both Harmon and the passenger Josette Harmon were believed to have been engaged in a domestic altercation leading up to the accident and both were transported via ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital for their injuries.
The crash remains under investigation with possible charges pending.
Investigation into stolen drugs leads to arrest for a former Corrections Officer in Batavia.
30 year old Justin Gugel was accused of stealing medication prescribed and allotted to an inmate while he was employed as a Correctional Officer in the Genesee County Jail in January of this year.
He was taken into custody after investigation into missing pills from the Jail and is facing charges of Petit Larceny and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance
Gugel was released with appearance tickets for May 7th in City Court.
The City of Batavia is proud to announce that the Government Finance Officers Association of United States and Canada has announced that the City of Batavia has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting – Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) Award for the second year in a row.
The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting.
State officials have launched a campaign to slow the spread of synthetic cannabinoids.
The drugs, commonly referred to as K-2 or Spice, have been known to cause severe health problems including hallucinations, respiratory problems and even death.
The new initiative will focus on education, treatment and prevention.
Synthetic cannabinoids were banned by Governor Cuomo back in 2012.
Family members of those killed in the crash of Flight 3407 are heading to Washington, DC this week.
They’ll be meeting with Congressman Chris Collins and Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao tomorrow.
The group is expected to ask that anyone who operates an aircraft be required to put information into a pilot records database.
Right now, that database is being tested.
Governor Cuomo has released his 2018 tax returns to the public.
The returns show his adjusted gross income was roughly $211,000.
The governor also paid $51,000 in taxes, down from $54,000 the year before.
Cuomo also doesn’t pay property taxes since he splits time living at the Governor’s Mansion and the home of his girlfriend Sandra Lee.
