Thursday News Brief

38-year-old Cody Bush of Batavia has been arrested and faces felony charges. City Police investigated an assault that caused the victim to try and get away by jumping from a second-floor window. Bush is charged with attempted assault, aggravated family offense and unlawful imprisonment; along with misdemeanor assault and a charge of obstruction of governmental administration. Police said Bush punched a person numerous times during an altercation at a Columbia Avenue residence on April 1st. He allegedly barred the victim from leaving a second-floor room, resulting in the victim jumping out the window to escape and suffering serious injuries. Bush has previously served three prison terms related to drug offenses.

 

The man who brutally murdered a Rochester teenager decades ago will be spending a long time behind bars. Yesterday, a judge ordered Timothy Williams to serve 25 years to life in prison for killing 14-year-old Wendy Jerome back in 1984. Williams avoided being arrested until DNA evidence was uncovered connecting him to the crime. Jerome’s mother says she’s glad to see Williams finally get what he deserves.

 

Attorneys on both sides of the civil lawsuit that seeks to hold social media companies liable for their alleged roles in the racist mass shooting at the Tops store on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo met yesterday to try and move the case forward. There had been a motion to dismiss the case under Section 230, a law that has historically shielded internet platforms from lawsuits over content posted by their users. However, the motion was denied by Judge Paula Feroleto; the plaintiffs contend that it was not just content but rather the decision by social media to repeatedly expose Payton Gendron to racist ideology, which radicalized him to the point of executing a plan to seek and kill Black people. Another motion was put forth yesterday to stall the case as more documents and evidence were gathered prior to trial. The judge has not ruled on that motion yet but did make it clear that she wants the case to move forward.

 

A Rochester man is now awaiting sentencing. 50-year-old Shon Todd was convicted yesterday of killing the mother of his children last year. He’s been found guilty of murder and arson. Prosecutors say he stabbed 37-year-old Lysandra Bagley multiple times during an argument before lighting the building on fire last May. Investigators said two of Todd’s children were inside the home at the time of the incident and were able to escape without injury. Todd will be sentenced May 16th.

 

The Genesee County Highway Department tells us a bridge replacement project begins today in Bethany, to upgrade the current bridge on Fargo Road over Black Creek, near Route 63 and Little Canada Extension. The bridge will be closed during construction, with a designated detour in place. Construction is expected to continue until the end of August.

 

The annual Alexander Doll Show and Sale is being held on Saturday, April 27, 2024 from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM at the Alexander Firemen’s Rec Hall on Route 98 in Alexander. Admission is $5.00; children under 12 are free. You’ll see old, new, collectible dolls and bears. There will be door prizes and food available. This is the only doll show being held in the region.

 

 

 

The regional economy is going to be taking a hit thanks to job cuts that are being planned by Tesla. The company is planning to lay off 280 workers at its plant located at 1139 South Park Avenue, Buffalo, and five additional employees at 1216 South Park Avenue. Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk claims these reductions are necessary as the company prepares to enter a new phase of growth. Layoffs are expected to begin in July.

 

Canisius University has named the person who will be leading its women’s basketball team into the future. The school has selected Penn State University assistant coach Tiffany Swoffard to become the 11th head coach in program history. Swoffard has over a dozen years of coaching experience at the Division One level. She’ll replace Sahar Nusseibeh, who stepped down last month to take a new job with Eastern Michigan.

 

 

The Amerks beat the Toronto Marlies last night with a final score of 3-1. That’s two wins in a row for Rochester as they look to make it three tomorrow night when they host the Monsters from Cleveland. The puck drops at 7:05.

 

 

 

The cost of attending the Erie County Fair is set to rise once again this year. Kids 12 and under will still get in for free, but anyone above that age group will be paying $22.60 for a ticket at the gate. Organizers say they need to increase prices due to several factors such as growing insurance, entertainment and labor costs. The fair is taking place August 7th through the 18th in Hamburg.