Afternoon News Brief
Written by Doug Thompson on March 7, 2023
Rhondesia Belton
A Buffalo woman has been identified as one of the two people who were trampled and killed during a concert in Rochester. Police say 33-year-old Rhondesia Belton, a Buffalo City Traffic Violations Agent, ended up being overrun while a huge crowd rushed towards the exit at the Main Street Armory Sunday night after people thought they heard gunshots. Police haven’t found evidence of gunshots or any weapons. Belton was pronounced deceased at the scene. Another woman was taken to Strong Memorial and died yesterday. A third woman is in critical condition. The name of the other person who died has not been released, and several other victims are still recovering. Rochester Mayor Malik Evans said yesterday anyone who played a role in this tragedy will be held accountable. The investigation continues. (Provided photo)
During the pandemic, many New Yorkers lost their jobs for refusing to take the COVID vaccine. But a recent decision made by an Administrative Law Judge could get court workers rehired; they would also receive back pay with interest. It’s estimated at least 200 people lost their jobs as a result of the mandate. Court unions believed getting vaccinated was a choice for individuals to make and filed a charge against the States Unified Court System claiming they violated a civil service law (209-A) from the public employees Fair Employment Act. The Judge agreed and also ordered the court systems to: 1) Stop imposing COVID-19 vaccines & testing; 2) Make bargaining units for employees who lost accrued leave, compensation or employment because of the mandate (with interest); and 3) The Unions still must decide how they want to move forward.
Ahhhhh-chooooo!
Updated data from the New York State Flu Tracker shows the number of new flu cases is continuing to drop across our region. During the week ending February 25th, the area with the highest number of infections was Monroe County with 40; Erie County had 13; Niagara County had 7; Ontario County had 5 during this same time period. Wyoming County had 4, and both Wayne and Livingston counties had one each. Even though flu season is starting to wind down, County Health Departments continue to urge people to get their shot.
Geneva officials say that a petroleum spill that happened in Seneca Lake over the weekend has now been contained. The state Department of Environmental Conservation says the issue was reported Saturday and that crews were quickly sent to the lake to trace the source of the problem. It was later determined that the leak came from a fuel container in the area of Central Avenue and Buffalo Street. There are no precautionary safety measures in effect right now for residents.
File photo of Dylan Cozens from 2/26/23 celebrating his first career hat trick
The Buffalo Sabres fell short of picking up a second straight win after suffering a defeat on home ice. Dylan Cozens and Jeff Skinner each scored, but the Sabres were still beaten by the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 at KeyBank Center last night. Goalie Craig Anderson stopped 34 of the 37 shots he faced for Buffalo who is in 4th place in the Atlantic Division with 68 points. The next game for the Sabres is tonight when they play the New York Islanders. Face-off is at 7:30.
Always be mindful of scams, but especially this time of year
Tax season is underway, and state Attorney General Letitia James has issued some tips to help taxpayers avoid fraudulent tax schemes. James says common scams people should be on the lookout for include being told their legitimate tax refund from the IRS was a mistake and that they have to return it. Scammers also make promises that they will prepare tax returns for free, only to deceive people into paying for those services. And fraudsters have been known to contact people saying they owe past tax debts and request they pay them using a gift card or prepaid credit card. If you think you’ve been the victim of a scam, call 800-771-7755.
Easter is just over a month away, and tickets for the Buffalo Zoo Easter Eggsperience are now available for purchase. The event is happening at the zoo on April 1st and 2nd, which is the weekend before Easter. People will get the chance to check out a candy trail, take a train ride, meet some of the animals and get their photo taken with the Easter Bunny. There will also be 10 golden eggs hidden around the zoo that can be turned in for a prize. For more information, go to visit.buffalozoo.org.
