Afternoon News Brief

Subaru is recalling 271,694 SUV’s because some of them could catch fire. The effected model is the Ascent, manufactured from 2019-2022. The company is advising owners to park them outside, away from garages and other structures and to not leave the vehicles unattended with the engine running. An electrical grounding bolt connected to the SUVs cabin heating system may have been improperly fastened, according to a company statement on the recall of over a quarter of a million cars. This problem can result in the grounding terminal and surrounding parts melting and increase the risk of fire when the vehicle’s PTC heater, or positive temperature coefficient heater, is on, according to Subaru. The PTC heater is part of a back-up heating system that operates until the engine is warmed up enough to heat the passenger cabin. If drivers notice smoke or odors coming from the dashboard or foot-well while driving, they should pull over, turn off the vehicle and call Subaru Roadside Assistance. There have been no known crashes or injuries resulting from this issue and Subaru believes a very small percentage of Ascents actually have this problem. The company will contact owners of vehicles involved in the recall by mail over the next 60 days. In the meantime, owners can contact Subaru or go to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recall website and enter their 7-digit vehicle identification number to determine if they are impacted. Here is a direct link:  https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls

 

The number of Monroe County residents who have passed away after contracting the flu has risen to four. Two of the victims were between the ages of 50 and 64 years old and the other two individuals were above the age of 85. One bit of good news is that flu cases declined slightly between late November and early December. People who haven’t received a flu shot yet should get one immediately to protect themselves and others from becoming seriously ill.

 

32-year-old Brett Holt and 46-year old Kelly Holt both of Medina have been charged with petit larceny. Late yesterday afternoon Batavia Police responded to a call from Sally Beauty Supply on Veteran’s Memorial Drive regarding a larceny in progress. Police eventually located both of the Holt’s inside Kohls who were positively identified as the individuals who stole approximately $400 in products. Brett and Kelly were transported to the Genesee County Jail and issued appearance tickets. They’re scheduled to appear in Batavia Town Court on January 4th.

 

The New York State Board of Elections tells us that non-affiliated registered voters have now overtaken republicans for the State’s second largest voting block. The new statistics show roughly the same increase in non-affiliated voters over the past five years compared to the two decades before it. This may be attributed to a change in election law in 2020 that tripled the number of voter signatures required for a party to get on a ballot — now grouping all minor parties into the “blank” category. And while this rise in non-affiliated voters hasn’t yet seen significant effects in our region, the gap is closing. This means that moving forward, the Republican Party can no longer win an election without the support of the middle.

 

 

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is reminding New Yorkers that assistance is available to help them stay warm during the winter. She tells us the state has received over $400,000,000 in federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds. Gillibrand says that LIHEAP provides a lifeline to low-income families because many of them can’t afford to pay high heating bills. More information on this program can be found at otda.ny.gov/programs.

 

 

There is a new development in the ongoing legal battle over the future of the Great Northern grain elevator in Buffalo. Yesterday, an Appellate Division court ruled against a preservation organization’s request for a temporary injunction that would prevent the building from being torn down. The grain elevator was severely damaged during a windstorm last year. The structure was built back in 1897 and is one of the last of its kind in North America.

 

 

The trial for the woman who is accused of driving a vehicle into a State Trooper over two years ago has been pushed back. Jury selection was supposed to begin yesterday in the case against Deyanna Davis but that didn’t happen because she has once again switched lawyers. Prosecutors say Davis was traveling on Bailey Avenue in June 2020 when she intentionally hit and seriously hurt Trooper Ronald Ensminger Junior while he was at the scene of a protest. Davis has denied that allegation and her trial is now expected to start in February.

 

 

 

Buffalo police say that two arrests have been made in connection with a recent stabbing at a school. According to investigators, 34-year-old Diamond Gray and 35-year-old Dominique Gray were involved in the attack of a 31-year-old woman at the Lydia T. Wright School Of Excellence last Thursday. The victim had gone to the school to pick up her child when she was involved in a physical altercation that resulted in her being stabbed in the back. Both suspects are facing multiple charges including assault.

 

The Buffalo Sabres are hoping the support of their home crowd helps them snap their current two-game losing streak tonight. They host the Los Angeles Kings at KeyBank Center. Buffalo last played Saturday night when the Pittsburgh Penguins came out on top, 3-1. Face-off for tonight’s contest is scheduled for 7:00.

 

The Mega Millions jackpot has ballooned once again and that means there’s going to be a massive prize up for grabs this evening. The jackpot has now grown to at least $400,000,000 after no one correctly picked all the winning numbers for this past Friday’s drawing. There hasn’t been a jackpot winner since back on October 14th. The Mega Millions drawing will be streamed at megamillions.com. Please play responsibly.

 

Organizers say they are finally starting to put the finishing touches on plans for the City of Buffalo’s New Year’s Eve celebration. There will be live entertainment downtown on December 31st and the ball drop will happen at the Iskalo Development Electric Tower. Mayor Byron Brown believes holiday traditions are especially important for people this year in the aftermath of the deadly Tops store shooting in May and the recent snowstorm. There will be free parking for the event at both the Fernbach and Mohawk parking ramps.