Afternoon News Brief

The roads are expected to be busy over the next few days for the Labor Day holiday. Triple A’s Robert Sinclair says the agency is ready. They’re predicting the need to respond to more than half a million vehicle breakdowns leading up to Labor Day. Gas prices are still high but have come down considerably since the end of spring. Triple A tells us the average price for a gallon of regular in New York State is now $4.06. In Batavia, the average price per gallon is $4.19, down 31 cents from a month ago.

 

With a lot of people getting behind the wheel over the next couple of days, police across New York State are going to be keeping a very close eye out for drunk drivers. It’s part of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee’s STOP-DWI campaign that runs through September 5th. People who are planning to drink alcoholic beverages are being urged to make sure they have a safe ride home. Anyone who sees suspicious or dangerous activity on the road should dial 911 immediately.

 

 

Governor Hochul today announced that temporary lane closures for road and bridge construction projects on state highways will be suspended until Tuesday, September 6, to ease travel throughout the Labor Day holiday weekend. Suspension of roadside construction during a weekend of increased traffic also helps protect the safety of highway workers. Motorists should be aware that some work might continue behind permanent concrete barriers or for emergency repairs.

 

29-year-old Thea Mauritia Irons of Batavia is charged with petit larceny. She is accused of shoplifting at Walmart earlier this week. Irons was released on an appearance ticket.

 

 

 

The name of the 19-year-old man who died after falling into a gorge off the Inner Loop in Rochester has been released. Yesterday, Rory Lochner was in the area of High Falls with a group of friends when he went through some damaged fencing that allowed entry into the area, which has a steep drop. Lochner ended up in the gorge. He was pronounced dead shortly after first responders arrived. Investigators say this was a tragic accident and that no foul play is suspected.

 

With Covid cases seeing a slight uptick in recent weeks, the federal Centers for Disease Control has put both Orleans and Genesee counties at medium for the community level for Covid. Both counties had been at the low level early last month. In Orleans this past week, the number of cases totaled 55 with 59 in Genesee. The CDC encourages residents in counties in the medium community level to wear a high-quality mask or respirator (N95) when indoors in public. Governor Kathy Hochul suggests individuals stay up to date on the vaccine and booster doses. She also noted people should test before gatherings or travel and check with the doctor following a positive test.

 

 

People who have accounts at M&T Bank won’t be able to access their accounts for part of this weekend. Both mobile and online banking are going to be down for 36 hours starting tomorrow as the chain completes systems integrations of People’s United Bank and M&T. It’s important to note that customers can still use ATM services and their debit cards. Anyone with questions can contact M&T Bank at 1-800-724-2440.

 

No one has won the Mega Millions or Powerball in a while and that means both jackpots are still growing. The prize up for grabs in tonight’s Mega Millions drawing is at least $169,000,000. And whoever is lucky enough to pick the winning numbers for Powerball tomorrow night is going to be $148,000,000 richer. The cost of a ticket for each game is $2.00. Both the Mega Millions and Powerball drawings will be streamed live online. Please play responsibly.

 

Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand have announced over $6,000,000 in federal funding will be going to fire departments across Upstate New York. The money is coming from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant. In Western New York, fire departments in Lewiston, Delavan, Batavia, and Lackawanna are among those who can use these funds to boost training, purchase equipment and provide firefighters with the support they need to keep themselves and others safe. Both Schumer and Gillibrand say it’s essential for firefighters to have every necessary resource available to them when it comes time to respond to an emergency.

 

Ford is recalling nearly 200,000 large SUVs in the U.S. because the heating and cooling fan motors can fail and catch fire. The recall covers Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators from the 2015 through 2017 model years. The company has received reports of 25 fires caused by the motors, which are behind the glove box. One person reported injuries to their hand and fingers, and all fire reports indicated that the vehicles were running at the time of the incidents. Dealers will replace the front blower motor assembly at no cost to owners, who will be notified starting September 12.

 

Food lovers will be making a trip to Highmark Stadium this weekend for the National Buffalo Wing Festival. It’s scheduled to run from noon until 9pm tomorrow and from noon until 7pm on Sunday. The event is going to feature the opportunity to taste a wide variety of wings and there will also be eating competitions and cook-offs. Tickets cost $20.