Thursday News Brief

 

Lawmakers in Albany have reached an agreement with Governor Hochul to expand the child tax credit in the state to include children under the age of 4. Expanding the tax credit is expected to be included in a finalized budget agreement, which could be struck this week. Inclusion of the measure in the budget would come as New York has sought to bolster support for families, including measures meant to expand childcare programs through more funding. The budget is expected to also include an increase in the state’s minimum wage to $17 and then link it to the rate of inflation. Lawmakers have also agreed to fund the state’s system of publicly financed campaigns for this election cycle after considering a delay in the implementation of the program.

 

State lawmakers and Governor Hochul have reached a deal to phase out gas hookups as part of the New York State budget being negotiated in Albany. The deal calls for the end of natural gas hookups in newly constructed buildings that are seven stories or less by the end of 2026 with a few exemptions. By 2028, all new construction would no longer be allowed to have gas hookups. New Yorkers will still be able to replace an old gas stove with a new gas stove.

 

Police across New York State did their part today to make sure kids got on and off their school buses safely. This was part of the annual Operation Safe Stop Day. It is estimated that 50,000 state residents illegally pass stopped school buses each day that school is in session. Penalties for a first-time offense include a fine of up to $400, 5 points on a person’s driver’s license and possibly 30 days in jail. Data shows that students are 70 times safer riding a school bus to school versus riding in a private vehicle.

 

 

Rochester police are continuing their investigation into the death of an 11-year-old boy. Officers arrived at a home on Hague Street last night after receiving a medical call and found the child. The name of the boy hasn’t been released yet. Police also haven’t revealed the circumstances of his passing.

 

 

Genesee County Parks, Recreation & Forestry is offering free birding walks this spring. The next one is scheduled for this Saturday from 7:00am to 10:00am at DeWitt Recreation Area. You’ll learn things like how to identify birds by sight and sound. The walk is about one mile long over easy terrain. Call 344-1122 to sign up or for more information.

 

A former waitress is going to be spending up to five years behind bars for her role in a ticket scheme. The Erie County District Attorney’s Office says that 31-year-old Danielle Bush admitted to stealing gaming tickets and placing fraudulent bets while working at a restaurant on Lake Shore Road in Hamburg. Between June 2019 and February 2020, it is estimated the scheme cost the business $50,000. The scam was uncovered when the restaurant owner conducted an audit and as part of her sentence, Bush must pay restitution.

 

 

A man is facing a murder charge after being accused of killing a Rochester woman by intentionally setting her on fire. Investigators say Troy Parker doused 38-year-old Fantasia Stone with a flammable liquid at her apartment on Jefferson Avenue on April 11th. He then allegedly ignited that fluid, which triggered a fire that resulted in Stone’s death. Officials say Stone was involved in an argument with Parker before she was killed. Parker was arraigned yesterday and pleaded not guilty. (Provided photo)

 

The Buffalo Bills will be looking to improve their roster tonight during the first round of the NFL Draft. The defending AFC East champions have the 27th overall selection in the draft which is taking place in Kansas City, Missouri. The Bills are coming off of a season where they won 13 games but were eliminated in the playoffs by the Cincinnati Bengals. The NFL Draft begins at 8 p.m. this evening.

 

Wegmans and the American Heart Association are working together to distribute CPR education kits to people across the region. The supermarket chain says hundreds of CPR training and first aid youth sports kits will be handed out in areas where there is a Wegmans store. The American Heart Association believes these kits can save lives because in many cases, people who experience sudden cardiac issues need help immediately. For more information on this program go to heart.org.

 

ELSEWHERE…..

Legendary talk show host Jerry Springer is dead at 79. Springer’s family said he died peacefully at his home in suburban Chicago Thursday. He also served as the 56th mayor of Cincinnati in 1977.

 

 

 

A lot of “Wheel of Fortune” fans were likely confused Wednesday when host Pat Sajak disappeared at the end of the show. Earlier in the show, the contestant who made it to the final bonus round revealed she was a huge fan of the show’s announcer Jim Thornton. Thornton decided to take over hosting duties during the bonus round for the first time in the show’s history.

 

 

About 230,000 people filed first-time jobless claims last week, fewer than analysts predicted. Figures out today from the Labor Department show that’s a decrease of 16,000 claims from the week before and below a forecast 249,000.

 

Americans who feel discriminated against at work have a higher risk of developing high blood pressure, according to a new study. People participating in the study published this week told researchers they did not have high blood pressure at the start of the 8-year study and most said they didn’t smoke and drank little or no alcohol. People who experienced intermediate levels of workplace discrimination at the beginning of the study were 22% more likely to develop high blood pressure after 8 years, compared to those who reported low levels of discrimination at work.

 

A drug widely used to treat Type Two diabetes is on track to be approved for weight loss. Eli Lilly, the company that makes Mounjaro, said today that FDA approval could come by the end of the year. Studies have shown that obese people without diabetes on the drug have experienced weight loss as high as 21%.

 

 

Officials are trying to capture a peacock that escaped from the Bronx Zoo and bit a man. Local residents have been checking out the peacock, which has been hanging out in a tree despite efforts yesterday by police and fire officials to capture it. It’s unclear how it escaped, but they are allowed to roam free on zoo property.