Monday News Brief

STREAM U.S. tax incentive request revealed for STAMP data center

Plans for a massive data center at the STAMP site in Genesee County aren’t new — but new documents now reveal the price tag on the tax incentives being requested.
STREAM U.S. Data Centers has formally applied for about 774 million dollars in tax abatements tied to its proposed 11-billion-dollar data center project in the Town of Alabama. The request includes sales and mortgage tax exemptions, offset by a property tax structure that would require the company to pay more than the project’s assessed value.
The proposed facility would span 2.2 million square feet, produce up to 500 megawatts of power, and employ roughly 125 full-time workers, along with hundreds of construction jobs.
Under a proposed 30-year PILOT and host agreement, the project would generate an estimated 285 million dollars for Genesee County, the Town of Alabama, and the Oakfield-Alabama Central School District. Officials also say the center would pay sales tax on electricity, bringing millions more into local coffers over time.
The Genesee County Economic Development Center board is set to review the incentive application at its meeting on February 5th.

Car strikes utility pole in Pembroke

A vehicle left the roadway and struck a utility pole Sunday morning in the Town of Pembroke.
The crash happened around 8:30 a.m. in the area of 8245 Alleghany Road. Emergency crews initially responded to reports of downed wires, but a fire chief on scene later confirmed no electrical lines were down.
Authorities say no injuries or only minor injuries were reported. The cause of the crash has not been released.

Epstein files spark resignations and renewed scrutiny overseas

Newly released U.S. government records tied to Jeffrey Epstein are triggering political fallout overseas and renewed calls for accountability.
In Slovakia, Prime Minister Robert Fico has accepted the resignation of a top national security official after newly disclosed photos and emails showed he met with Epstein years after Epstein served time for sex crimes. The official has not been accused of wrongdoing but stepped aside amid mounting political pressure.
The disclosures are also reigniting calls in the United Kingdom for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor — formerly known as Prince Andrew — to cooperate with U.S. investigators. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggested the former prince should share what he knows about Epstein’s activities. He has so far declined a request from U.S. lawmakers to give a formal interview.
The developments follow the Justice Department’s release of millions of pages of records detailing Epstein’s connections with wealthy and influential figures worldwide, as scrutiny grows over how those records were handled and redacted.

Weekend high school basketball scores from Genesee County

A busy weekend on the hardwood across Genesee County, starting with boys basketball.
Byron-Bergen erased a nine-point halftime deficit and rallied past Attica 56–47, powered by a huge fourth quarter from Joel Lamb. Alexander rolled by Holley 74–38, Oakfield-Alabama topped Lyndonville 65–53, and Pembroke stayed hot with its eighth straight win, beating Kendall 56–39. Le Roy completed a big comeback on the road, outscoring Avon in the fourth to win 70–57.
In girls action, Avon pulled away in the second half to defeat Le Roy 44–31, led by a double-double from Maria Geary.
Other weekend finals included Oakfield-Alabama over Perry 61–47, Livonia beating Le Roy 37–27, and Alexander earning a forfeit win over Global Concepts Charter.

Batavia Middle School peer mediation program earns regional honor

The Batavia City School District is celebrating statewide recognition for one of its student-led programs.
The Peer Mediation Program at Batavia Middle School has received an Excellence in Student Services Award from the Genesee Valley School Board Association. The honor was presented January 24th and included a Certificate of Merit from State Assemblyman Steve Hawley.
Twenty-five students in grades five through eight were selected through an application process to serve as peer mediators. They completed specialized training in de-escalation, communication, and conflict resolution, led by Rochester-based trainers and supported by the district’s social-emotional learning team.
Since completing the training, the students have been helping classmates work through conflicts in a supportive, peer-led setting. District leaders say the program is already making a positive impact on school culture by building leadership, empathy, and accountability among students.
Superintendent Jason Smith called the award a proud moment for the district, noting the skills learned through peer mediation will benefit both the mediators and the students they support.
School officials say the program is helping resolve conflicts before they escalate, creating a safer and more positive learning environment.

Le Roy school staff honored for summer meals program

When school is out, Le Roy’s food service staff is stepping up to make sure kids don’t go hungry.
The Le Roy Central School District lunch team has been named a Summer Hunger Hero by the No Kid Hungry organization, recognizing its work providing free meals during the summer months. Last summer alone, the district served more than 27-thousand meals through the USDA-funded Summer Food Service Program.
The program is open to all children 18 and under, regardless of where they live or attend school. School officials say the recognition highlights the strong connection between the district and the community — and the impact of making sure kids have reliable access to food when school isn’t in session.

Shutdown likely to continue as funding talks stall in Congress

House Speaker Mike Johnson says it will be several days before a government funding package reaches a vote, signaling that the partial federal shutdown will continue into the week.
Johnson says he’s relying on President Donald Trump to help push the measure through the House after the Senate approved a short-term funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security. The two-week extension sets up a broader debate over possible limits on Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.
Democrats are refusing to fast-track the bill, demanding stronger restrictions on ICE, including requiring agents to identify themselves and limiting enforcement tactics. Republicans argue those changes could endanger officers.
Meanwhile, multiple federal agencies remain affected by the shutdown, with some workers facing furloughs or delayed pay as negotiations continue.