Thursday News Brief

Batavia Police Report: Violent Crimes, Threats Highlight Recent Arrests

Batavia Police made a series of arrests in March involving serious charges, including violent crimes, weapons offenses, and threats to the public.
Tyquawn Bethel, 35, of Rochester, faces multiple felony charges including first-degree rape and burglary after allegedly entering a protected person’s home and assaulting her. He remains held in the Genesee County Jail on $100,000 bail.
Michael Hilton, 34, of Batavia, is accused of threatening someone with a knife during an incident on South Spruce Street. He was jailed without bail.
Authorities also report multiple threats of mass harm. William Johnson Jr., 46, of Freedom, allegedly threatened to blow up a building, while Mateo Snyder, 24, of Warsaw, is accused of threatening to shoot multiple people.
Other incidents include Danny Williams, 37, who allegedly punched another person, and Michael Weichman, 31, accused of exposing himself in public.
Police say several additional arrests involved drug possession, theft, and probation-related offenses. Investigations remain ongoing in multiple cases.

Bergen Triangle Club Supports Local Veterans with Donation Drive

The Bergen Triangle Club spent the month of March collecting essential items for Eagle Star Housing, a transitional program supporting veterans facing housing instability.
Donation boxes were set up around the community, and the group delivered hundreds of items last week to the organization’s home in East Pembroke, where several veterans are currently living.
The collected supplies included snacks, hygiene products, cleaning items and recreational materials to help residents day-to-day.
Eagle Star Housing can serve up to 16 veterans and continues working with local organizations to help residents transition into permanent housing.
Organizers say the need remains ongoing, especially for items like food, personal care products and gift cards, which allow veterans more flexibility in meeting their needs.

Supreme Court Signals Skepticism on Trump Birthright Citizenship Order

The U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to reject President Donald Trump’s effort to limit birthright citizenship, following tense arguments Wednesday in a packed courtroom.
Justices from both sides raised serious questions about whether Trump’s order — which would deny citizenship to children born in the U.S. to parents in the country illegally or temporarily — violates the Constitution and longstanding federal law.
Trump himself attended the hearing, marking a rare appearance by a sitting president, but left before arguments concluded.
Several justices pointed to the 14th Amendment, which has long been interpreted to grant citizenship to nearly all people born on U.S. soil, while also questioning how such a policy could realistically be enforced.
Lower courts have already blocked the order nationwide. A final decision from the Supreme Court is expected by early summer.

State Audit: WROTB Must Improve Oversight, Control Costs

A state audit is calling for major changes at Western Regional Off-Track Betting, citing poor oversight and rising costs over the past several years.
The report from State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli found the board failed to properly monitor finances, allowed management too much control, and didn’t consistently document key decisions.
At the same time, wagering revenue dropped sharply — down more than 30 percent — while expenses climbed, including significant increases in salaries and consultant costs.
The audit outlines 16 recommendations, including tighter financial controls, better tracking of spending, and stronger board involvement in major decisions.
New leadership says steps are already being taken to address the issues, with officials pointing to a strong financial year at Batavia Downs and plans to improve operations moving forward.

EC: Pavilion Site Cleanup Complete, No Public Health Risk

State officials say cleanup work at a former industrial site in Pavilion is now complete and no longer poses a threat to public health or the environment.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation confirmed remediation efforts at the former manufactured gas plant site on Ellicott Street Road have been successfully finished.
Crews removed thousands of tons of contaminated soil and debris, replaced it with clean material, and installed a protective cover system to prevent exposure.
While the site will still be monitored moving forward, it has been reclassified to indicate cleanup goals have been met.
The property is currently used as an RG&E operations facility and will remain under long-term management to ensure safety going forward.

Hershey to Return Reese’s to Classic Recipe After Criticism

Hershey says it’s bringing Reese’s back to its original roots after criticism over ingredient changes.
The company announced that starting in 2027, all Reese’s products will return to using classic milk or dark chocolate, moving away from coatings that contain less chocolate in some items.
The move comes after Brad Reese, grandson of founder H.B. Reese, publicly called out the company for what he described as cutting corners on a flagship product.
Hershey says the change is part of a broader effort to improve quality, including using more natural ingredients and updating recipes across its candy lineup.
The company also plans to boost research and development spending as it looks to balance innovation with maintaining the traditional taste consumers expect.

Batavia Athletic Hall of Fame Nominations Now Open

The Batavia City School District is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Blue Devils Athletic Hall of Fame.
Community members can submit nominations throughout the month of April to recognize athletes, coaches, and contributors who’ve made a lasting impact on Batavia athletics.
Eligible athletes must be at least 10 years removed from graduation, while coaches and contributors become eligible after retirement.
Organizers say they’re looking for individuals who not only found success, but also represented the Blue Devils with pride.
Those selected will be honored later this year, with details to be announced.