Afternoon News Brief

37-year-old Latoya Jackson of Batavia has been charged with resisting arrest while being arrested on four bench warrants. She was a passenger in a car involved in a traffic stop; when officers attempted to arrest Jackson, she allegedly refused to comply with verbal commands and resisted being handcuffed. The warrants that had been issued stemmed from harassment charges, criminal contempt, trespass and endangering the welfare of a child. Jackson was arraigned in Centralized Arraignment Part Court and released on her own recognizance.

 

 

A winter Weather Advisory remains in effect for the entire GLOW region. The National Weather Service is predicting periods of freezing drizzle and additional accumulations of a light glaze. Icy conditions will cause slippery travel on the roads and bridges, and safety concerns when walking in untreated parking lots, driveways and sidewalks. The advisory is in place until 10:00 this evening.

 

The winner of the second-largest Mega Millions jackpot in history has finally claimed their prize. The individual bought the ticket worth $1,300,000,000 (billion) dollars in Maine. They’ve chosen to remain anonymous and decided to take the money in a one-time cash payment of over $723,000,000 (million) before taxes. A little closer to home, someone in East Rochester has a third prize winner in the Powerball game; that winning ticket is worth $50,000.

 

The latest data from the state shows more residents in our region are testing positive for COVID-19 these days. Currently, the seven-day average infection rate is sitting at 7.04%. At this time one week ago, that infection rate was at 6.52%. County Health departments encourage everyone to make sure they are up to date on their coronavirus vaccinations and booster shots and they should also wear a mask indoors when in public places to protect themselves from getting sick.

 

This morning, Amherst police revealed the names of the three people who were killed in a crash on the Millersport Highway earlier this week. They say 18-year-old Azathiel Pabon, 19-year-old Isabella French, and 20-year-old Dakota Eldridge were all in the vehicle involved in Monday’s accident. All three of them died at the scene and two other victims were hospitalized for treatment of injuries that aren’t believed to be life threatening. Speed may have been a factor; however, the cause of the accident is still being looked into.

 

The final farm labor overtime regulations have been adopted and are now official.  On January 1, 2024, a phased-in, gradual reduction in overtime pay will begin with the threshold set at 56 hours. The overtime threshold will then reduce by four hours every other year until it reaches 40 hours in 2032. The farm board released a statement saying that the new hours will ensure “equity” for farm laborers. Farmers across the state protested the decision and said that it would drive laborers away from the state. Governor Hochul responded by saying that New York would give farmers more tax credits to help afford labor.

 

Rochester police say they’ve been able to make an arrest in connection with a string of recent burglaries. According to investigators, a 16-year-old boy was involved in smash-and-grab crimes at area businesses including Comedy at the Carlson, the Liberty Family Restaurant, and Universal Liquor. The teen is facing charges and his case is going to be handled in Monroe County Family Court. Anyone with information about these burglaries is asked to reach out to police.

 

State Senator Sean Ryan is calling for an investigation into the recent firings of more than 30 employees at the Tesla gigafactory in Buffalo. Ryan wants the President of Empire State Development and the Vice Chair of the Fort Schuyler Management Corporation to get more details about why the workers were let go. The firings happened after members of Tesla Workers United announced a plan to unionize. Tesla says those employees were fired due to poor performance and that allegations they were terminated because they tried to unionize are false.

 

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection has released some recommendations for New Yorkers who are looking to save money on entertainment and recreation. The agency says people should keep in mind that the state offers free entertainment and a list of events can be found on the I Love New York website. Residents can also check with groups in their community to see if they offer any free programs. Libraries also have a variety of things like books and movies that can be rented for free and they may also offer discounted passes to attractions and museums.

 

 

The Buffalo Sabres are going to be in the Sunshine State tonight for a showdown with the reigning Eastern Conference champions. The Sabres will battle the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena in Florida. Buffalo is coming off a disappointing 6-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs Tuesday, but the team remains in the hunt for a playoff spot. Face-off this evening is scheduled for 7:00.