Thursday News Brief

Cain Caito of Batavia has been arrested and charged with grand larceny. It’s alleged that Caito stole a wallet while at Batavia Downs. He was transported to the Genesee County Jail and released on an appearance ticket. Caito is scheduled to return to Batavia Town Court on July 11th.

 

47-year-old Nekia Newton of Rochester was stopped by patrols, initially just for a motor vehicle violation. However, during the course of the traffic stop, Newton admitted he possessed a controlled substance. He was charged with criminal possession of such as well as insufficient use of turn signal and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Newton was released on an appearance ticket, returnable to the City of Batavia Court at a later date.

 

 

With the reduced air quality today, the Genesee County Department of Health recommends everyone should limit outdoor activities to reduce exposure. Masks are available to the public during regular business hours while supplies last, at the following locations: The Old Courthouse, 7 Main Street; County Building 2, 3837 West Main Street Road; the Office for the Aging at 2 Bank Street and at the Emergency Management Office, 7690 State Street Road.

 

Smoke from wildfires that are still burning in Canada will once again impact our air quality today. An air quality health advisory is in effect throughout the day and Governor Hochul says emergency cell phone alerts will be used to warn people if the air quality index passes the 200 threshold. The alerts will be sent via Wireless Emergency Alert System. If you must spend time outdoors when the air quality is this unhealthy, the State Department of Health recommends wearing a well-fitting face mask, such as an N95 or KN95. Unfortunately, meteorologists at the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration tell us that the weather pattern responsible for the wildfire smoke and poor air quality is ‘stuck’ and shows no indications of a major shift soon. You can check the air quality anywhere at anytime by entering a zip code at airnow.gov.

 

No injuries or damage were reported after a rhinoceros was able to get loose at the Buffalo Zoo. The incident happened yesterday and zoo officials say the 3000 pound rhino named Mohan was able to escape its primary enclosure. The rhino was quickly secured and returned back to its home in about 10 minutes. The zoo says there was never any threat to the safety of visitors.

 

 

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles has launched a tool to help out people who have moved to the Empire State. Anyone with an out-of-state license can now access the DMV’s online pre-screening service to get assistance with preparing to get their New York license. Customers can find out if they’re eligible to get a New York license and what they need to bring to a DMV office with their application. Drivers with an out-of-state license must exchange it within 30 days of becoming a resident.

 

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Department has issued a warning about an ongoing phone scam. Sheriff’s officials say people have reported receiving calls from an individual claiming to be with the agency and saying they have an active warrant out for their arrest. The scammer then requests money to resolve the warrant. The department says they may contact people to advise them of an outstanding warrant but would never ask for money or payment on the phone. Anyone who receives a call like this should call the Sheriff’s Office at 585-343-5000 for verification.

 

 

The Hilton Central School District has changed its policies following the conviction of a former elementary school principal on sex abuse charges. The Board of Education president released a letter yesterday outlining what’s been done in the aftermath of Kirk Ashton’s arrest. Changes include an emphasis on the fact that workers can be fired for retaliating against whistleblowers and additional training with a focus on child safety. Ashton was sentenced to 63 years in prison but due to state law he’ll serve just 20 years.

 

Members of the Buffalo Bills training staff are going to be honored at the upcoming ESPY Awards in Las Vegas. They’ll be getting the Pat Tillman Award for Service for helping save the life of Bills safety Damar Hamlin. He went into cardiac arrest and collapsed during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals back in January but is already planning to play this upcoming season. The ESPY Awards are taking place on July 12th.

 

Domingo German threw the 24th perfect game in Major League Baseball history last night as the New York Yankees blanked the Oakland A’s 11-0. German needed just 99 pitches to record the first perfect game since Felix Hernandez in 2012.

 

 

 

 

ROADWORK will be completed on the following roads:

Read Rd – Rt 5 to Pembroke Townline
School St – Entire Road
East Ave – Entire Road
Stegman Rd – Rt 5 to Miller Rd
Mill Rd – Entire Road
Kelsey Rd – Pratt Rd to Galloway Rd
Lehigh Rd – Entire Road
Dorman Rd – Creek Rd to Alexander Townline
East Rd – Creek Rd to Putnam Rd
Shepard Rd – Putnam Rd to Batavia/Bethany Townline Rd
State Street Rd – Cityline to Saile Dr

Residents on these roads will be permitted access to their property but may experience delays. If you have questions concerning this work, please contact the Town of Batavia Highway Department at 343-1729 (extension 218).

 

Governor Hochul has suspended construction-related lane closures for the July 4th holiday period. This means that temporary lane closures for road and bridge construction projects on New York State highways will be suspended from 6:00am on Saturday to 6:00am on Wednesday July 5. The goal is to ease travel and keep traffic flowing throughout the long 4th of July holiday weekend. The construction suspension aligns with New York State’s Drivers First Initiative, which prioritizes the convenience of motorists to minimize traffic congestion and travel delays due to road and bridgework. Motorists should be aware that some work might continue behind permanent concrete barriers or for emergency repairs.

 

 

13WHAM Weather Authority Forecast from Meteorologist Marty Snyder…

Today: Sunshine will make a return. But once again, it will be hazy sunshine due to the wildfire smoke from Canada. The high will reach near 80. Winds will be light and variable.

The sun will set this evening at 8:54.

Tonight: Partly cloudy skies. Low: 60 Winds remain light and variable.

Tomorrow: Hazy sun, more humid, noticeably warmer. Some showers or thunderstorms are possible by the afternoon. High will reach into the mid 80’s with south winds at 5 – 15 miles per hour.

 

ELSEWHERE…

 

Colleges and universities can no longer use race as a factor in their admissions decisions. That comes after the Supreme Court today ruled in favor of challenges to affirmative action programs at the University of North Carolina and Harvard. The high court ruled that the universities admissions policies were unconstitutional.

 

The Chinese spy balloon that passed over the U.S. early this year used US technology to spy on Americans. The balloon was equipped with American-made equipment that collected photos, videos, and other information — but didn’t appear to transmit them. In February, the U.S. shot down the balloon, which had flown over sensitive military sites sparking a diplomatic crisis.

 

 

Debris found from the imploded Titan submarine is believed to contain human remains. The U.S. Coast Guard made the announcement Wednesday, after a ship carrying pieces of wreckage recovered from the bottom of the ocean returned to port. A crane offloaded the debris that looked to include the nose of the Titan.

 

 

 

Your Fourth of July barbecue will cost a little less this year. Families planning for the Fourth can expect to pay on average $67.73 for a party of ten, down 3% from last year’s record high, according to a survey from the American Farm Bureau Federation. This year’s cookout cost is the second highest on record, following last year’s record-setting number. The cookout includes twelve staple items. Hamburger buns, beef and potato salad were up in price this year while chicken breast, lemonade and chocolate chip cookies saw price drops. Cases of the avian flu, which swept the country earlier this year, have fallen, giving the chicken population time to recover and reducing the cost of chicken by nine-percent. The biggest drop in price is for lemonade — down 16% from last year.

 

AirBnB is giving guests the chance to stay in a real life Malibu Barbie Dream House. The company announced it will be giving away two one-night stays inside the Dream House next month to celebrate the release of the “Barbie” movie. The California mansion is actually located in Malibu and is painted hot pink from floor to ceiling, inside and out. The massive home includes Barbie-inspired decor, an infinity pool with a slide, and a wraparound balcony. Booking opens at 10:00am Pacific Time on July 17th for anyone hoping to get a slot.

 

 

Unionized UPS drivers are warning of an “imminent” strike that could start as soon as next week. UPS Teamsters are demanding the delivery company produce its “last, best, and final offer” to the union by Friday. After a failed negotiation meeting this week, Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien warned “The largest single-employer strike in American history now appears inevitable.” Over 340,000 UPS employees could walk off the job in the potential strike, causing massive disruptions to the US supply chain.

 

A 13-year-old Australian girl is the first female skateboarder to pull off a Tony Hawk “720” in competition. And she did it in front of the skateboarding pioneer. Arisa Trew landed two airborne rotations in winning the women’s competition at Hawk’s Vert Alert last weekend in Salt Lake City.

 

 

Today is Thursday, June 29th, the 180th day of the year.

June 29 in history…

 

…In 1613, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London, burned down during a performance of “Henry VIII.” (The history: Shakespeare never actually set foot in The Globe, despite it often being referred to as ‘Shakespeare’s Globe’. The Globe is a meticulously constructed replica of the original Globe Theatre, which opened in 1599 on a site a few hundred meters away from its modern equivalent. The original theatre had a colorful history; constructed from the timbers of The Curtain (London’s second ever theatre), it was set on fire by an errant cannon on June 29, 1613 during a production of Henry VIII in 1613, rebuilt the following year, and eventually torn down by the notoriously fun-averse Puritans in 1644.) The pictured theatre was completed in London in 1997; this file photo is from 2020.

 

…In 1956, the interstate highway system was born with the passage of The Federal Highway Act. The legislation authorized the construction of more than 42,000 miles of freeways from coast to coast.

 

 

 

 

…In 1994, in a British TV documentary, Prince Charles said he had been faithful in his marriage to Princess Diana, until the marriage broke down.

 

 

 

 

…In 1998, the National Basketball Association announced it would impose a lockout at a midnight deadline over salary and management issues.

 

 

 

 

 

…In 2003, the “First Lady Of Cinema,” legendary screen actress Katharine Hepburn, died at her home in Connecticut. She was 96. Hepburn received four Academy Awards for Best Actress throughout her career which spanned six decades and included films such as “Morning Glory,” “Adam’s Rib,” “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” and “On Golden Pond.”

 

 

…In 2009, A U.S. District Court Judge sentenced 71-year-old disgraced financier Bernard Madoff to 150 years in prison for perpetrating Wall Street’s biggest investment fraud. Cheers and applause came from the New York courtroom as the judge read the sentence to Madoff.

 

 

 

…In 2020, actor, comedian, director, screenwriter, and author Carl Reiner died at the age of 98. He died from natural causes in his home. Reiner is best known for his work with “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” the “Ocean’s” movies, as well as many projects.