Friday News Brief

A man will spend two to four years in prison for a hit-and-run that killed a child. 38-year-old Kevin Mendola was without a license when he ran over 10-year-old Michael Conklin with his car back in August 2021, and then fled the scene. He pleaded guilty to all counts and was sentenced as a second felony offender yesterday.

 

 

The Batavia Police Department has charged two individuals, a 12 and 13-year-old with Making a Terroristic Threat. This stems from the incident that occurred on April 20. The juveniles, who have not been identified because of their age, were attending Notre Dame High School and made a phone call to a suicide hotline. During the call, a threat was made to shoot up a school immediately. Police officers responded to all schools in the county, placing each school in ‘lockout’ status. Under that condition, schools are secure, no one is permitted to enter or exit the building, but instruction can continue as normal. On-scene detectives were able to quickly determine that the threat was not credible and the ‘lockout’ status was discontinued.

 

34-year-old Jade Smart of Buffalo has been sentenced to serve 51 months in prison for starting a fire in which a firefighter was injured. In January 2020, a building located at 79 Kilhoffer Street in Buffalo ultimately burned to the ground; investigators recovered a firebomb and a red gas can nearby and ruled the fire an arson. Video footage confirmed Smart’s involvement. The building was owned by the Buffalo Peacemakers and was under renovation by Habitat for Humanity.

 

SUNY Buffalo State University is making some cuts to its athletic program. Effective immediately, the school announced yesterday that it would be cutting all NCAA Division III women’s and men’s swimming and diving programs. According to BSU Athletic Director Renee Carlineo, the decision was based on a number of factors and was on the table as a possibility since 2011.

 

 

The son of a legendary “Meet the Press” host is coming to Buffalo this weekend. Luke Russert is a former NBC News reporter and son of the late Tim Russert. He recently published a memoir about finding peace after his father’s death called “Look for Me There: Grieving My Father, Finding Myself.” He will be signing copies at Blackthorn Pub on Sunday at 6:00pm

 

 

The Buffalo Bills are looking for people interested in auditioning to sing the National Anthem. All submissions must be digital and sent through a form on the team’s website. CDs and/or mailed applications will not be considered. Entries must be received by June 2, and only a select group of finalists will be invited to Highmark Stadium in June to audition live.

 

 

It is a done deal for a new Buffalo Bills stadium. The Erie County Legislature voted unanimously yesterday to approve the proposal for a new venue on Abbott Road, across the street from Highmark Stadium. Following the approval, the Bills announced that construction on the stadium will begin “immediately” and that excavation will start next month. The multi-year project is expected to be finished in 2026 and cost roughly $1.54 billion, an increase of $140,000,000 (million) from the original cost estimations. The Bills will cover the excess amount.

 

ELSEWHERE…

 

Surgeons in Boston have performed groundbreaking brain surgery on a baby still in the womb. It’s the first time the recent surgery has been done in the U.S. It’s been seven weeks since the operation and mother and baby are doing well. (Provided photo)

 

 

Today is Cinco de Mayo, a day of celebrations for Mexican-Americans. Cinco de Mayo marks the Mexican army’s victory over the French invaders at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. The observance of Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a colorful cultural event in many communities across the nation, centering on the rich heritage of Mexican music, food, and dance.

 

 

COVID-19 is no longer considered a global health emergency. The World Health Organization made the decision to downgrade the pandemic after discussing it yesterday. In a conference today, the WHO’s director general said the pandemic has been on a downward trend for over a year and this has allowed nations to return to life as they knew it before the pandemic.

 

 

 

The late Carrie Fisher now has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The star honoring the actress best known for her role as Princess Leia was unveiled on Thursday, May 4th, unofficially Star Wars Day. Fisher’s star is near those of her Star Wars co-stars, Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill, and across the street from the star of her mother, Hollywood legend Debbie Reynolds.

 

 

 

The 149th running of the Kentucky Derby gets underway this weekend. The one-and-one-quarter mile race features 20 horses battling on Saturday at Churchill Downs. Derby week has been overshadowed by the deaths of four horses in recent days. Two of them were trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., who was suspended indefinitely Thursday, due to the “highly unusual sudden deaths of two” horses.

 

Why is the mint julep the official drink of the Kentucky Derby? The mint julep became the official drink during the 1930s, when Churchill Downs started serving it in souvenir julep cups, which it ordered for the first time in 1937.

 

 

 

 

May 5 in history…

 

In 1821, former French ruler Napoleon Bonaparte died while living in exile on the island of Saint Helena off the coast of Africa.

 

 

 

 

In 1922, construction began on Yankee Stadium in New York City.

 

 

 

 

 

In 1925, John T. Scopes, a teacher in Dayton, Tennessee, was arrested in Tennessee for teaching Darwin’s theory of evolution in violation of state statute. His trial became the play and movie “Inherit The Wind.”

 

 

 

 

 

In 1956, Jim Bailey became the first runner to break four-minute mile in the United States. He finished in three-minutes, 58-and-a-half seconds.

 

 

 

 

 

In 1968 Buffalo Springfield performed their final show in Long Beach, California.

 

 

 

 

In 1973, jockey Ron Turcotte rode Secretariat to victory in the Kentucky Derby. The legendary horse would go on to claim the Triple Crown.

 

 

 

 

In 1994, American teenager Michael Fay was caned in Singapore for vandalism. Fay’s controversial sentence was reduced from six lashes to four after U.S. pleas.

 

 

 

 

In 2004, a federal judge in New York rejected domestic diva Martha Stewart’s bid for a new trial. U.S. District Judge Mirriam Goldman Cedarbaum said Stewart received a fair trial when she was convicted in March of lying to investigators about her suspicious sale of ImClone stock.

 

In 2006 The 1,000th issue of “Rolling Stone” magazine arrived on newsstands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 2009, Connie Culp, after being shot in the face by her then-husband, became the first person to receive the first face transplant surgery ever performed in the United States, unveiled her new face at a press conference in Cleveland, Ohio. She died in 2020 at age 57. At the time, Culp lived longer than any other full-face transplant recipient.