Afternoon News Brief

19-year-old Raul Cruz will serve two consecutive terms of 25 years to life in prison, one term on each count of first-degree murder in the deaths of Marcelino Gomez Hernandez and Elibander Morales. Both were found dead at a farm on Alexander Road last March. Cruz initially pled guilty but prior to sentencing, and against the recommendation of his attorney, he made a motion to withdraw his plea, claiming he did not understand the justice system. In the plea deal, he would have faced 23 years to life. The judge denied the motion after allowing Cruz to speak, noting that after he admitted to facts of the murder, he was now saying that he lied.

 

 

An inmate, serving a 25 years-to-life sentence for murder, viciously attacked an officer inside one of the housing dorms at the Albion correctional facility. The assault occurred Saturday morning; an officer was making routine rounds when an inmate became verbally abusive to him. The officer notified a supervisor. The inmate was ordered to the officer’s station but then ran towards the bathroom. The officer followed him in, where he was punched in the face. The officer exited the bathroom, but the attack by the inmate continued. Once assistance arrived, the inmate was brought under control and then transferred to the Attica Correctional Facility. The officer suffered broken bones to his face.

 

 

The Village of Medina has voted unanimously to begin the process of acquiring a new ladder fire truck for their department. The current truck is 27 years old and has many mechanical issues. A new ladder truck could require three years before it’s ready for delivery and will cost an estimated $1,500,000 ($1.5 million).

 

 

A request made by Governor Hochul to take part in this year’s Buffalo Pride Parade and Festival has been denied. In a letter sent to the governor, the Pride Center of Western New York and Evergreen Health said they are upset over a policy in the governor’s budget that they claim will make it tougher for LGBTQ-Plus individuals to get health care. In a statement, the governor’s office said she is a steadfast supporter of the LGBTQ+ community and has the record to back it up. This year’s parade is June 4th.

 

Buffalo officials have announced that applications are now open for the next Buffalo Police Department entry exam. The test is happening Saturday, June 17th and the registration deadline is Monday, May 22nd. The salary for a new officer ranges from $49,000 to $82,000 a year and each hire will get a benefits package that includes health, vision, and dental coverage and also a retirement plan. The cost to take the exam is $25 and for more information, go to buffalony.gov.

 

 

The Rochester Police Department has released surveillance videos showing several recent smash-and-grab burglaries in their city. The footage has been posted on the department’s Twitter account and the hope is people will see it and be able to identify the suspects. The targeted businesses were on Emerson Street and on Dewey Avenue. Anyone who has information on these cases is asked to dial 911.

 

 

The New York State Department of Transportation is giving drivers a heads up about an upcoming closure that will affect a portion of Route 33. Starting April 3rd, an eastbound section of the road will be shut down from 10:00pm until 6:00am, Monday through Friday. Crews will be working to fix the Dodge Street overpass, which was recently damaged by a crash involving a tractor-trailer. The repairs are expected to take about two months to complete.

 

 

Organizers of the Fringe Festival in Rochester say people who are interested in performing at this year’s event can still submit their applications. Those applications are now being accepted until Wednesday, April 5th and they can be filled out online at fringefestival.com. The acts that are selected will have the opportunity to help decide what venues they want to perform at. The 12th annual Fringe Festival runs from September 12th through the 23rd.

 

A lot of Empire State residents are planning to travel during the spring and summer months, and there are some things they should keep in mind when booking their trips. The state’s Division of Consumer Protection recommends people consider factors such as price, location, and availability of activities before deciding where they are going to visit. Also, travelers should get all of their confirmations in writing to safeguard themselves from any scams. Finally, folks should use a credit card to pay for any purchases since they offer more protection than paying by cash, debit card or check.

 

 

A rising star in the country music world has been added to the list of performers at the Erie County Fair. Bailey Zimmerman is going to be taking the stage on August 15th and special guest Seaforth will join him. Tickets for this show will go on sale June 9th at 10:00am and can be purchased at ecfair.org. The fair runs from August 9th through the 20th.

 

 

A new study estimates the world’s population could peak at 8.5 billion some time in the 2050s. Scientists with the Earth4All initiative for the Global Challenges Foundation conducted the study. They based their estimate on what they call a “Giant Leap” in investment in economic development, education, and health. The United Nations Population Division reported that the world’s population reached 8 billion last November.