Afternoon News Brief

A Wyoming County man is going to be spending some time in prison after pleading guilty for his role in a deadly home invasion. Prosecutors say 52-year-old Eric Cushman entered a home in Silver Springs last September and attacked one of the residents inside. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment but died a few weeks later of their injuries. Because Cushman is a repeat felony offender, he’s facing 12 years to life behind bars when he’s sentenced in May.

 

STATE POLICE REPORT: 22-year-old Isaac Abrams of Alabama is charged with robbery. State Police arrested him in connection with an incident reported early last month. Abrams was held in jail on cash bail. No additional details were available. ALSO: 35-year-old Andrew Taylor of Batavia is charged with criminal mischief; he’s accused of damaging a metal bed frame in the Genesee County Jail earlier this week. Taylor was issued an appearance ticket. ALSO: 36-year-old David Brege of Medina is charged with criminal impersonation and identity theft. State Police have arrested him in connection with an incident reported late last month in the Town of Batavia. Brege was issued an appearance ticket; the police released no other information.

 

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney toured the City of Batavia Water Treatment plant. Genesee County has undertaken a large-scale, countywide water project to provide water security and resilience to its residents, farms and industries. This project will improve the quality of drinking water, increase the capacity to supply hydrants for emergency response and help to guard the county against water insecurity. Yesterday, Congresswoman Tenney took a first-hand look at this initiative. The water project is now in its second of three phases. (Provided photo)

 

 

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has unveiled his plan to put an end to swatting calls that have been affecting schools across New York State. In Brockport yesterday, Schumer said he is calling for the FBI to utilize all of its available resources to launch a full investigation into these calls. He also wants the FBI to get additional funding that would be used towards buying the necessary equipment to help bring people who make swatting calls to justice. On March 30th alone, there were dozens of false reports of mass shooting incidents that caused police to respond to more than 200 schools statewide. (Provided photo)

 

Rochester police have taken a teenager into custody following two smash and grab robberies that happened in their city. According to investigators, a vehicle was purposely slammed into the front of a gas station on North Goodman Street around 2:15 a.m. yesterday. A short time later, a vehicle was also crashed into a building on Chili Avenue. The 17-year-old was a passenger in a vehicle that later hit a wall the corner of Mill Street and the Inner Loop. Anyone with information on this case can call 911.

 

 

An arrest has been made in connection with a recent vandalism spree at Russell Salvatore’s Patriots and Heroes Park in Williamsville. According to officials, 20-year-old Michael Stasiuk damaged multiple displays as well as flags and light fixtures at the park last month. Stasiuk has been arraigned on multiple charges and is due back in court again next month. The Patriots and Heroes Park was created years ago to honor veterans and other individuals who have served our country.

 

The Buffalo Sabres take the ice in the Motor City tonight as the team looks to keep its postseason hopes alive. The Sabres are playing the Detroit Red Wings. Buffalo is coming off a tough 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night. Face-off for this evening’s contest is set for 7:00.

 

 

April is National Safe Digging Month and National Grid is urging its customers to make an important call before starting any outdoor projects. The utility company wants people to dial 811 before digging so they know what’s below ground. National Grid says not only will that information help keep folks safe; it will also prevent damage to underground utilities. There’s no cost to have a professional locator visit a dig site before a project begins and more details can be found online at 811beforeyoudig.com. (Photo provided by National Grid)

ELSEWHERE…

An auction house in Pennsylvania has broken a record by selling an old baseball bat for nearly $2,000,000 (million). The legendary Babe Ruth used the bat, and the sale was unique in that it offered photo evidence to back up the claim. The bat’s value shot up after an analyst was able to match markings on the bat to a photograph of Ruth swinging it in New York in 1921.

 

 

Final test results show Pfizer’s experimental RSV vaccine was 82-percent effective in preventing severe infections in infants when given to expecting mothers in the second half of their pregnancy. The drug maker said trial details published on Wednesday confirm preliminary data from the study. Pfizer released initial trial results on the vaccine to fight the respiratory virus in November.

 

 

The Masters opens today at Georgia’s Augusta National Golf Club. Tiger Woods is scheduled to tee off at 10:18 a.m. Eastern Time and will play alongside Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler will be paired with Max Homa and amateur Sam Bennett.

 

 

Bed, Bath and Beyond is announcing a $120,000,000 (million) lifeline to stock its bare shelves. The chain hasn’t had the funds to stock shelves as it works to avoid bankruptcy. Its CEO said in a statement in January that while Bed, Bath and Beyond worked quickly to try to attract shoppers back with new merchandising and marketing strategies, lack of inventory is why it failed to achieve its goals. ReStore Capital is putting up that money to increase stock at Bed, Bath and Beyond as well as BuyBuy BABY.