Morning News Briefing
Written by Dan Fischer on May 18, 2020
Horse racing in New York State could be ready to resume on June 1st.
Harness racing at Batavia Downs isn’t scheduled to begin until July 22nd – which would be the start of the Downs regular season.
Western Region OTB President Henry Woytaszek said there is no projected opening date for Batavia Downs Gaming.
He noted that some parts of the gaming operation fall into Phase 3 of the “un-pause” plan while others are in phase four.
Wojtaszek said he is hopeful gaming at the Downs could be back sometime in June.
Weekend coronavirus statistics: only two new positive cases reported in Genesee County while new positive cases soared to 12 in Orleans County – nine of them at the Villages of Orleans nursing home in Albion.
There was also one additional death reported there bringing to 21 the number of residents of residents to die since the outbreak of COVID-19.
A nurse at the Villages of Orleans – who was fighting for her life after testing positive for COVID -19 is now back home and recovering.
On Sunday, Albion honored Diane Conrad with a motorcade parade.
Diane says she contracted the coronavirus while on the job, and had expressed concerns over the lack of PPE at the nursing home.
Diane had been in the ICU for 12 days and was released on Friday.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is calling for a crackdown on businesses that promote fake coronavirus cures. The New York Democrat says the Federal Trade Commission needs to put a stop to phony treatments like high-dose vitamin C injections and even music therapy.
Western New York drivers are still finding consistent prices at the gas pumps. According to Triple A, the average cost for a gallon of regular is two-19. That’s the same as it was last week. Gas Buddy-dot-com reports Batavia’s average at 2.30 a gallon…a dollar 55 on the Indian reservation in Basom.
Bills 2nd year defensive tackle Ed Oliver was arrested for DUI and weapons possession in Houston.
The 22 year old Oliver is being held in a Texas jail.
The Bills issued a statement on Sunday morning saying “we are aware of the situation and we are gathering more information.
We will have no further comment at this point”
