Morning News Briefing
Written by Michael Baldwin on December 23, 2020
The National Weather Service says a Winter Storm Watch is in effect from Christmas Eve through Saturday for Genesee County. Heavy lake effect snow is possible. Total snow accumulations of more than a foot possible in the most persistent lake snows. Winds could also gust as high as 35 mph.
Seventy-five…that’s the number of new COVID cases in Genesee County. The total number of confirmed cases now tops 1,900. 16 of the positive individuals are hospitalized. 7 of the new positive cases are residents at LeRoy Village Green. 3 of the new positive cases are residents at Genesee Senior Living. 1 of the new positive cases are residents at Premier Genesee. Orleans County received 44 new positive cases of COVID-19.
President Donald Trump, in the final month of his one term, has issued 15 new pardons, including a pardon for former western New York congressional representative Chris Collins, who entered a guilty plea more than a year ago to federal crimes stemming from insider trading activity. Collins also admitted to lying to the FBI about using information that wasn’t available to the public about Immunotherapy to tip his son and other associates that led them to dump stock in the company before news of a failed trial reached other investors. Even while under federal indictment for the crimes, Collins ran for re-election and won. Collins was the first member of Congress to endorse Donald Trump for president in 2016 and served on the transition team after Trump beat Hillary Clinton.
New legislation has been signed to suspend the use of facial recognition technology in New York Schools. New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed new legislation on Tuesday to suspend the use of facial recognition technology in schools and directed a study of whether the technology is appropriate in schools. As of December 22, the legislation places a moratorium on schools purchasing and using biometric identifying technology until at least July 1, 2020, or until the study is completed.
With the holidays in full swing and the COVID-19 pandemic causing financial stress on many individuals, National Grid is alerting customers about recent reports of scams where imposters are promising refunds or discounts. If the caller does not know your account number, hang up the phone.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley has received his committee assignments for the upcoming legislative year, and will be serving on the committees for Agriculture, Insurance, Rules, Veterans’ Affairs and Ways and Means. Additionally, Hawley has also been reappointed as Deputy Minority Leader of the Assembly Republican Conference. He says he is honored.
