Monday Afternoon News Brief

Western New York drivers continue to hand over less of their hard-earned money when it comes time to fill their vehicles, as gas prices continue to inch their way closer to $3.00. As of this afternoon, Triple A says the national average cost for a gallon of regular fuel is $3.08. The state average sits at $3.11. In Batavia, the average figures out to $3.15 per gallon; that’s the same as it was a week ago; down three cents from a month ago and down a dime from a year ago today.

 

A traffic alert for you: The Town of Batavia Water Department will be replacing a water service line on Shepard Road, near the intersection of Ellicott Street Road on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 18^th and 19th from 7:00am until 4:00pm. Traffic will be closed on Shepard Road in the area the work is being performed. Please plan to use an alternate route. As is always the case, when the water is restored, it may be discolored. Folks in the effected area should refrain from doing laundry until the water runs clear.

 

A former Buffalo Public Schools music teacher has pleaded guilty Wednesday for trying to meet up with a 13-year-old girl. The Erie County District Attorney’s Office said 36-year-old Steven DeMart is facing charges of one count of attempted endangering the welfare of a child. Police said DeMart allegedly communicated and sent sexually explicit videos to the child through an app. The incident happened last May. DeMart was suspended from his job and surrendered his teaching license.

 

Livingston County deputies say an arrest has been made in connection with a man’s death in Avon. Law enforcement were called to a home on West Main Street yesterday and arrived to find the victim, who was rushed to Strong Memorial Hospital but later passed away. Deputies found evidence of an altercation at the home and ended up taking 61-year-old Jonathan Mills into custody before charging him with manslaughter. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

 

Employees with University of Rochester Medicine Home Care have once again voted to go on strike. Last month, many of those workers spent a day on the picket line in front of the company’s headquarters in Webster. They want to reach a deal on a new contract that includes things such as better wages, reasonable caseloads and affordable health care coverage. This next strike could last up to five days and UR Medicine Home Care says it’s committed to reaching a fair agreement.

 

The City of Buffalo set a record-high daily temperature yesterday (Sunday, 3/16/25). Temperatures reached 75-degrees as recorded by the National Weather Service breaking the old record of 70-degrees set back in 1990. However, rain and strong winds washed out the St. Patrick’s Parade, sending revelers to dryer spots indoors.

 

The Buffalo Sabres will be kicking off their four-game road trip tonight in search of a second straight victory. The Sabres are visiting the Boston Bruins in a showdown between the two bottom teams in the NHL’s Atlantic Division. Buffalo last played Saturday when they beat the Vegas Golden Knights in a shootout by a final score of 4 – 3. Face-off this evening is set for 7:00.

 

Tax season is in full swing and the Better Business Bureau is warning the public to beware of scammers.   The latest scam involves a text claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service that advises the recipient they qualify for a $1,400 check as part of the Economic Impact Payment rebate. It also contains a link, but don’t click on it.   The BBB says it leads to a fake but convincing IRS website designed to steal personal and financial information often used for identity theft or fraud.   Anyone eligible for the $1,400 stimulus check will receive it by mail and the IRS will never ask for your personal information through text, email or phone call.

 

Wholesale egg prices are coming down. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is reporting that the national average wholesale price of a dozen eggs dropped $2.70 last week, landing at $4.15. That marks three weeks of declining prices, according to the USDA.

 

With the measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico and isolated cases in 13 other states topping 300 cases, there’s a warning from pediatricians. If your child contracts measles, they could develop a degenerative neurological condition seven to ten years later for which there’s no cure. It’s called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, or SSPE.   Pediatricians say it’s almost always fatal. The CDC says the best protection is the measles vaccine.