Afternoon News Brief

Jennifer Sprague-Clark

Robbery, criminal possession of a weapon, grand larceny, coercion and menacing; that’s the list of charges against 39-year-old Jennifer Sprague-Clark of Batavia. She was arrested after a traffic stop, during which she fled on foot. Police used a taser to subdue Sprague-Clark, and took her into custody. She was arraigned in Batavia City Court and is scheduled to return there tomorrow. (Photo: LinkedIn)

21-year-old Robert Doud of North Chili has been charged with a felony, including two counts of grand larceny, following theft from a vehicle in the Town of Batavia. Additional felony charges were later added when it was discovered he was in possession of stolen property, including credit cards, with which he attempted identity theft. Following his arrest in Bergen, Doud was released on his own recognizance.

Following mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde, Texas that left dozens of people dead, changes may be coming to the country’s gun laws. The framework of a bipartisan deal was announced yesterday and if approved, legislation would limit the ability of people to quickly obtain assault rifles by establishing an enhanced background check process for gun buyers under age 21. Federal penalties would also be established for gun traffickers and funds would be used to address the country’s mental health crisis. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says once an agreement is finalized, he’ll bring the bill to the Senate floor for a vote.

You may have recently started noticing a small fee on your receipt when you purchase paint. It’s a Paintcare fee; they are a non-profit organization that represents paint makers in states with similar programs. Think of them as a middleman. What they do is set up drop-off sites to handle paint waste and recycling. In New York, the fee runs anywhere from $0.45 to $1.95 depending on how much architectural paint you’re buying. The fee is not a deposit or a tax; the money doesn’t get returned to you when you drop off paint nor does go to the state. Instead, Paintcare uses the funds to self-sustain because they do not receive monetary support from the state. They currently offer more than 200 drop-off sites here in New York, with at least one in Batavia. You can look locations up online: https://www.paintcare.org/

The New York State Department of Health reminds residents that COVID-19 booster vaccinations for kids between the ages of five and 11 years old are still available. Children in that age group should receive their booster shot five months after completing their initial two-dose Pfizer vaccine series. The vaccines are offered at no cost.

It’s becoming the ‘same old story’. This morning oil prices are at about $118 per barrel. Crude prices surged last week in response to global supply concerns amid expected demand increases, particularly as China emerges from lockdowns. The pain at the pump regionally keeps getting worse for Western New York drivers. Gas prices have reached another record high. According to Triple A this morning, the average cost for a gallon of regular fuel is now sitting at $4.98. That’s up 20 cents in the past week, 33 cents in the last month and is nearly $2.00 ($1.92) more than this time one year ago. The state average is currently $5.04 a gallon while nationally its $5.01. In Batavia, the average price per gallon is the same as it was over the weekend, $4.92.

Ryan Miller

The Buffalo Sabres have announced plans to retire the jersey of one of the best players in franchise history next season. The number 30 is going to be raised to the rafters in honor of goalie Ryan Miller. He was selected by the franchise during the 1999 NHL Entry Draft and ended up playing 11 seasons for the Sabres. He earned a team record of 284 victories and retired with the most wins of any American-born goaltender. There’s no word yet when Miller’s jersey retirement ceremony will take place.