Afternoon News Brief

From 7:00 this evening to 7:00am tomorrow morning Genesee, Wyoming and Orleans Counties are under a High Wind Warning. Southwest winds at 30 to 40 mph with occasional gusts of 60 mph are predicted. Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult and people should avoid being outside in forested areas and around trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows.

 

 

New York State wants to get rid of natural gas heating and cooking but it won’t come overnight. According to the recently released New York Scoping Plan, by 2025 all new construction of low rise buildings will need to be electric. By 2028 all new high-rise construction will also need to be electric only as will be the case for all replacement appliances by 2030. Finally, new vehicles in 2035 that are sold in New York State will be electric only.

 

 

In anticipation of the many gatherings for Super Bowl weekend, local law enforcement agencies will once again be participating in a STOP-DWI campaign. Starting tomorrow and through Monday, they will be coordinating efforts across the state to reduce the number of impaired, driving-related injuries and deaths. If you see anyone driving erratically over the weekend or anytime, please call 9-1-1 immediately.

 

 

The man who pulled the trigger in a mass shooting at a Buffalo Tops store is expected to appear in federal court next week. According to WIVB-TV, Payton Gendron is scheduled to face a judge next Thursday, February 16th. In November, Gendron pleaded guilty to state charges for opening fire at the Jefferson Avenue store last May. There were 10 people killed and three others hurt in what was called a racially motivated attack. If Gendron is found guilty on federal charges, he could get the death penalty.

 

 

The number of confirmed Covid cases has more than doubled in our region in the past month. The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments reports today there were 96 confirmed Covid cases during the measured week ending February 7th. That compares to 45 cases this time, one month ago. The seven-day average positivity rate for the two counties is 6.5%; overall, Western New York has the highest rate in the state at 12.48%. Long Island has the lowest at 4.02%. The federal CDC currently lists both Genesee and Orleans Counties at the medium community risk level. Governor Hochul continues to urge people to take basic steps to protect against the spread of viral respiratory infections that are more common in the winter season.

 

Governor Hochul has announced that $100,000,000 (million) in state funds will be used to repave roads impacted by extreme weather. The money will help cover repaving projects in over 60 locations statewide, totaling more than 500 lane miles of pavement. Roads that are going be fixed in our region are in Livingston, Wayne, Monroe, Ontario, Yates, and Genesee counties. The governor says these repair projects are vital to help ensure roads are safe.

 

 

A 20-year-old man is facing criminally negligent homicide charges for causing a crash that left two people dead. Prosecutors say Ryan Stencel was driving on Warner Road in Lancaster last March when the vehicle slammed into a tree and caught fire. Two passengers in the vehicle were killed but Stencel only needed treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. Erie County District Attorney John Flynn says Stencel acted with substantial and unjustifiable risk while behind the wheel. Stencel is facing prison time if convicted.

 

Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills is getting some much-deserved recognition for all of the work that has done off the field. Yesterday, Hamlin was named the 2023 NFLPA Alan Page Community Award winner, which is the highest honor the NFLPA can give to a player. Hamlin made national headlines earlier this year when he ended up going into cardiac arrest during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Hamlin, who is still recovering, was one of five finalists for the award. The NFLPA is going to donate $100,000 to his Chasing M’s Foundation.

 

 

 

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is standing up for the league’s officials. Goodell said he doesn’t believe officiating in the NFL has “ever been better” when speaking at his annual Super Bowl week news conference Wednesday. The national spotlight has been on officiating following some questionable calls in the league’s conference championship games last month.

 

As the NHL All-Star Week comes to an end, and with 32 games left in the regular season, the Buffalo Sabres are heading into playoff contention. This season the Sabres have scored 186 times, averaging 3.72 goals per game, ranking them 3rd in the NHL. Credit goes to Tage Thompson, Dylan Cozens, Jeff Skinner and Alex Tuch. The Sabres go up against the Calgary Flames on Saturday at 12:30 in the afternoon at Keybank Center after a week off.