Morning News Brief

Former Buffalo Bills kicker, Matt Araiza, who was accused of participating in a gang rape at a San Diego State party has been cleared of criminal charges.  Investigators said that the accuser had been recorded during the party and during the alleged rape but that everything appeared consensual and most importantly, Araiza was not present.  He had attended the party but had left a significant time before the sexual encounter between the girl and multiple men.  Araiza was picked by the Buffalo Bills in 2022 and selected as punter after training camp.  He was kicked off the team when the charges were made in August.  Bills General Manager Brandon Beane said at the time that “this is bigger than Football.”

Sunday, May 14 marks one year since a white supremacist came to Buffalo and killed 10 people and injured three others in a racist attack at the Tops Friendly Markets on Jefferson Avenue.  The City of Buffalo announced that “5/14 Remembrance Weekend: Reflection, Healing & Hope” events will begin Friday to honor the lives lost and impacted by the mass shooting.  The events will include a panel discussion focused on combating white supremacy and social media radicalization; a luncheon for faith-based leaders; an educational program for school-aged children; a community gathering featuring food, music, and family-friendly activities; a moment of remembrance at the Tops on Jefferson and a memorial church service featuring Reverend Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA.

The Batavia School District sent out a message to families after a bomb threat on Tuesday.  The Genesee County 911 Center received a call reporting there was a “bomb on a school bus” and placed the location of that bus in the City of Batavia. The Batavia Police Department and New York State Troopers immediately responded to locate the bus. The bus was found on State Street, and there were no longer any students on the bus after completing the afternoon route. Out of an abundance of caution, the New York State Police and their K9 unit performed a sweep of the bus in question and found no evidence of a credible threat.  The Batavia Police patrol officers and detectives investigated the call and determined it came from the home of a John Kennedy Intermediate student. The student confessed the call was a prank, and the BPD determined there was no additional threat to the district. The case has been turned over to the Batavia Police Department’s Juvenile Detective. Wednesday pickup will proceed as normal.

Over 120 cubic yards of concrete was poured at the South Lyons Street bridge project.  Union Concrete is wet curing the newly poured concrete with burlap sacks and sprinklers for the next 2 weeks.  The next step is to set slabs between the roadway and the bridge to keep the project on schedule.  The bridge is set to be completed in June.

Highland Park in Rochester is gearing up for the 125th Lilac Festival, set to kick off Friday. Thousands of people are expected to attend the festival, and safety measures are being taken behind the scenes to keep the crowds safe.  Ed Schram, security manager for The Springut Group, the festival producer, said in a statement “The safety and security for the Rochester Lilac Festival is an effort overseen and managed in partnership with Monroe County, the City of Rochester, and first responders.” Schram said law enforcement officers will patrol the fenced perimeter with a minimum of two New York state-licensed security personnel monitoring each of the festival’s five entrances. Within the festival grounds, both uniformed and plain-clothed security personnel will patrol and conduct necessary inspections. There will be a visible police presence in the area during the 10-day event. And given the recent increase in car thefts and break-ins, he said officers will do everything they can to prevent cars from being stolen and broken into during the event.

Two Rochester colleges are getting into the swing of things as excitement builds for next week’s PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club. The mascots of St. John Fisher University and Nazareth College teamed up for the Birds of a Feather Drive Together event Tuesday at Oak Hill.  Swoop and Cardinal took turns hitting drives, totaling 2,250 yards on three shots each. That total will be translated into a donation challenge for alumni from both schools to donate to PGA Reach, which aims to grow the game of golf in underrepresented and underserved communities.