Tuesday News Brief

An Elma man has been indicted after being accused of killing a woman with a crossbow. The Erie County District Attorney’s Office claims 61-year-old Frank Littiero shot his girlfriend, 62-year-old Jill Harris, at a home on West Blood Road last month. Littiero owned the residence and the couple had been together for about 15 years. He’s been charged with murder and is due in court again February 13th.

 

 

 

New York State is getting a $228 million boost from the federal government to help improve high-speed Internet service in underserved communities. The ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Program will connect tens of thousands of homes across the Empire State to broadband service. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer believes broadband is a necessity these days so people can stay connected to things like healthcare, school and their jobs.

 

A new survey shows growing approval for Governor Kathy Hochul. The Siena College poll finds the Governor has a 45% favorability rating, up 5% in two months. However by margins of between 21 and six percentage points, a majority of New Yorkers think that Hochul will not make progress on any of the five issues she’s put forth as goals including making New York a more desirable place to live, making New York the Artificial Intelligence capital of the world, making the state safer, fixing the mental health care system, and increasing the housing supply.

 

Opening statements are going to be heard today in the murder trial of Troy Parker. Yesterday, the defense and prosecution were able to seat the jury; that will decide if Parker killed Fantasia Stone at an apartment building on Jefferson Avenue in Rochester last year. It’s being argued that Parker allegedly killed Stone by setting her on fire after an argument. The victim was found with burns to over 80% of her body.

 

An Erie County man is not going to be facing charges despite being found with a gun at Syracuse Hancock International Airport. Authorities say the loaded weapon was spotted in the man’s carry-on bag at the security checkpoint Saturday. The man had a permit for the pistol and said he didn’t know the gun was in his bag. He was allowed to get on his flight and the Onondaga County DA’s Office decided not to pursue legal action against him.

 

The Buffalo Sabres will be back on the ice this evening as they start a three-game West Coast road trip. The Sabres are set to battle the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center. Buffalo has not played since Saturday when they were beaten by the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1. The Sabres have earned 44 points so far this season. Face-off tonight will be at 10:00.

 

 

The Buffalo Bills have cleaned out their lockers following another disappointing end to their season. The AFC East champions were defeated by the Kansas City Chiefs 27 to 24 at Highmark Stadium on Sunday. Yesterday, quarterback Josh Allen and other players expressed support for interim offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who took over play-calling duties from Ken Dorsey back in November. Also, safety Micah Hyde said he’s considering retirement, but has made no decision about his future.

ELSEWHERE…

The youngest son of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has died at the age of 62. The King Center says Dexter Scott King passed away on Monday. His wife, Leah Weber King, says he passed “peacefully in his sleep” at their home in Malibu. He had been battling prostate cancer, according to family members.

 

 

Twin brothers from Long Island are named valedictorian and salutatorian of their high school graduating class. Devon and Dylan Lee are the top performing seniors in their Herrick High School graduating class in New Hyde Park. The 17-year-old fraternal twins’ GPAs are separated by just six-thousandths of a point. Devon, the valedictorian, will attend Cornell, while Dylan, the salutatorian, is set for Yale. The twins are also volleyball champs, marathoners and musicians. They’re also humble, crediting their parents for their success, saying they didn’t push them to get top grades, just to do their best.

 

Concerned scientists are focusing on ancient “zombie viruses” that could be unleashed. They fear the viruses, which are trapped in Arctic ice, could be unleashed due to global warming and fear once they are unfrozen could possibly start a deadly new pandemic. Scientists, from a university in southern France, say the frozen microbes could remain viable for tens-of-thousands-of-years.

 

 

 

Today is Tuesday, Jan. 23, the 23rd day of 2024 with 343 to follow.

The moon is waxing. Morning stars are Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Uranus and Venus. Evening stars are Jupiter, Neptune, Saturn and Uranus.

January 23 in history…

…In 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman in U.S. history to receive a medical degree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1973, U.S. President Richard Nixon announced that U.S. troops would cease fighting in Vietnam at midnight January 27, 1973.

 

 

 

 

…In 1986 Keith Richards was the first ever presenter for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He gave Chuck Berry an award. Elvis Presley, James Brown, Buddy Holly, and Fats Domino were also among the first round of inductees.

 

 

 

 

…In 1992, Howard Cosell retired from sports broadcasting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 2005, Johnny Carson, host of TV’s Tonight Show for 30 years and a powerful presence in American entertainment, died of emphysema at age 79.

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 2021, broadcasting legend Larry King died at a hospital in Los Angeles at the age of 87.