Afternoon News Brief

39-year-old Jose DeJesus, a Buffalo firefighter, has been indicted and charged with one count of promoting and possessing a sexual performance by a child; he’s accused of having videos and images of child pornography and sharing the images online. DeJesus will return to court on May 26. If convicted he faces up to 7 years in prison.

 

 

 

Medina and Lyndonville school districts were among about 50 in New York State that received a generic, non-specific bomb threat through email this morning. The threats were investigated by law enforcement and deemed not credible. The Medina Police Department was able to quickly determine there was no threat in Medina, so the schools didn’t need to be cleared out. Both districts are currently on break anyway but some students come to school daily for spring sports. Lyndonville cancelled athletic practices and sent staff home. Their offices will be open and activities will resume tomorrow.

 

 

State lawmakers have agreed to pass a stopgap-funding bill as negotiations on a final state budget plan continue. The measure is scheduled to expire on April 10th, but it will allow more than 50,000 state workers to get their next paychecks on time. However, members of the legislature won’t get paid until a budget is passed. The deadline to reach a budget deal was April 1st. There are still discussions ongoing involving several topics such as bail reform, minimum wage and affordable housing.

 

 

The New York State Cannabis Control Board has voted to approve a laboratory permit in Rochester. That lab will be used to test the safety of certain products before they become available to the public. The board also approved four provisional dispensary licenses that’ll be available to people and organizations in Western New York. There currently aren’t any licenses being awarded in the Finger Lakes region due to an ongoing lawsuit.

 

State Police are again reaching out to the public for help with solving the murder of a Rochester girl that happened 50 years ago. Troopers say 11-year-old Wanda Walkowicz left her home on Avenue D in April 1973 to get some things for her mother at a store, but disappeared while walking back. Her body was later found in the Town of Webster. Anyone with information on this case can call 585-398-4123.

 

 

 

 

The man accused of shooting and killing a coworker in Niagara Falls almost two years ago has pleaded guilty to committing that crime. Prosecutors say Matthew Figura, Jr. shot Patrick DeLuca at Niagara Metals back in June 2021. Figura was taken into custody after opening fire and charged with murder. He’s now facing 20 years to life in prison when he’s sentenced in June.

 

The Buffalo Sabres will be in the Sunshine State tonight as their push towards possibly securing a spot in the postseason moves forward. The Sabres are set to battle the Florida Panthers at FLA Live Arena. Buffalo is coming off a 6-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday, and currently sits outside of a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Face-off this evening is scheduled for 7:00.

 

Starting today, people who are interested in playing the Mega Millions lottery game will have a little bit less time to buy a ticket. That is because sales on draw days, which are Tuesdays and Fridays, will end at 10:00pm instead of 10:45pm. The change is being made so the New York Lottery can have more time to conduct its closing procedures for each draw. Tonight’s jackpot is $385,000,000 (million). Please play responsibly.

 

 

 

The All-American Rejects are going on tour for the first time in years, and local fans of the group are getting the chance to see them in-person. The band will be at the Darien Lake Amphitheater for a show on Monday, August 21st. The group is known for several smash hits such as “Move Along,” and “Dirty Little Secret” and will be joined at the concert by New Found Glory, The Starting Line and The Get Up Kids. Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10:00am through Live Nation.

 

OF REGIONAL and NATIONAL INTEREST…

Today marks the 55th anniversary of the assassination of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. The civil rights leader was shot to death at the age of 39 on a balcony outside his second-story room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. He left behind his wife, Coretta Scott King, and four children.

 

 

The legal process following former President Trump’s arraignment could take months or even years to play out. After his arraignment today, the prosecution must turn over all evidence gathered as part of its investigation to the defense team. Some experts say it could take more than a year before the case makes it to trial.

 

 

 

On April 2, 1973 at about 5:15 pm, 11-year-old Wanda Walkowicz (middle child in picture) went to the grocery store for her mother. She made it to the store, purchased several items and was last seen walking home, but did not return home. On April 3, 1973, at 10:15 am, a New York State Trooper, while on patrol, located Walkowicz’s body at a rest area off State Route 104 in Webster. This homicide and two other unsolved homicides were dubbed the Alphabet Murders and Double Initial Murders by the media, as all three cases occurred in the Rochester area. Pictured, from left to right: Carmen Colon, age 10, was found on November 16, 1971 in the Town of Riga, and Michele Maenza, age 11, was found on November 28, 1973, in the Town of Macedon. These cases have not been officially connected; however, all three cases remain open.  If you have any information, please call: New York State Police,  Troop E, Major Crimes Unit, Canandaigua, New York  (585) 398-4100