Friday News Brief
Written by Pete Zehler on March 13, 2026
McCarthy Named Genesee County Deputy of the Year
A Genesee County deputy who helped save lives during a fatal Thruway bus crash has been named Deputy of the Year.
Kevin R. McCarthy received the honor during the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office annual awards ceremony at Genesee Community College.
Sheriff Joseph Graff said McCarthy played a critical role in the Aug. 22 tour bus rollover on the New York State Thruway in Pembroke. Five people died in the crash, and many others were injured.
Officials say McCarthy entered the unstable overturned bus and spent about two hours helping triage and treat trapped passengers alongside EMS crews.
The sheriff’s office also recognized several dispatchers with commendation awards for their handling of the crash response. In addition, the Distinguished Service Award was presented posthumously to Rosanne DeMare for her years of service supporting victims and the sheriff’s office.
Batavia Memorial Day Parade Returns May 25
The annual Memorial Day Parade will return to downtown Batavia on Monday, May 25 at 9:30 a.m.
The event is organized by the Downtown Batavia Business Improvement District, the GEICO Batavia office and the City of Batavia. Organizers say the parade honors members of the U.S. Armed Forces while bringing the community together.
Local marching bands, veteran groups, nonprofits, vintage vehicles and community floats are invited to participate. Volunteers are also being sought to help with parade logistics and coordination.
Anyone interested in participating or volunteering can contact parade coordinator Zachary Korzelius for more information.
Trump Administration Launches New Trade Probe That Could Lead to Tariffs
The Trump administration has opened a new trade investigation that could lead to fresh tariffs on foreign goods.
Officials say the probe will use Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to examine whether foreign governments are giving manufacturers unfair advantages over U.S. companies.
The move follows a February ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States that struck down tariffs previously imposed by Donald Trump under an economic emergency declaration.
Jamieson Greer said the investigation will look at issues such as government subsidies, excess industrial capacity and trade surpluses with the U.S.
Countries under review include China, the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Mexico and several Southeast Asian nations. Officials say the review could eventually lead to new import taxes as the administration looks to replace the tariffs overturned by the court.
Stream Donates $50K to Oakfield-Alabama Schools for Programs and Internships
Oakfield-Alabama Central School District and Stream Data Centers have announced a new partnership aimed at strengthening student programs and workforce preparation.
Stream has donated $50,000 to support three initiatives in the district. The funding will restore the elementary school’s enrichment program, which has been on hold since the pandemic, and allow it to resume this summer.
Part of the donation will also help purchase a CNC plasma machine for the high school’s computer-aided design lab, giving students hands-on experience with modern manufacturing equipment.
The company will also sponsor paid agricultural internships for eligible students. School officials say the program will provide real-world work experience while supporting the region’s farming industry and helping keep young people connected to the local workforce.
Acting Superintendent Robert Banzer said the investment will support both academic programs and career preparation opportunities for students.
Stream previously announced plans to build a major data center facility at the STAMP site in Genesee County.
Notre Dame Hosting St. Patrick’s-Themed Meat Raffle Saturday
Notre Dame High School will host its fourth annual meat raffle Saturday night in the school gym.
Doors open at 5 p.m., with the first raffle round starting at 6 p.m. The St. Patrick’s Day-themed event will feature 12 rounds of raffles for prizes including beef, pork, chicken, shrimp and surf-and-turf packages, along with basket raffles.
Tickets are $15 per person or $100 for a table of eight. The event is for ages 21 and older. Organizers encourage attendees to bring snacks, a cooler for winnings and small bills for raffle tickets.
States Consider Rounding Rules as Penny Production Ends
Months after the last U.S. pennies were produced, several states are moving to address how businesses handle cash purchases without the 1-cent coin.
Last year, Donald Trump announced the end of penny production, citing high costs. According to the United States Mint, it cost about 3.7 cents to produce each penny in 2024.
Many proposals focus on a system called symmetrical rounding, where totals ending in one, two, six or seven cents round down to the nearest nickel, while totals ending in three, four, eight or nine cents round up.
Lawmakers in multiple states are considering or passing legislation allowing or requiring businesses to round cash transactions. In Indiana, a new law allows businesses to choose how they round purchases to the nearest five cents.
A bill in Congress would apply the rounding system nationwide, though it has not yet been voted on by the full United States House of Representatives. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of the Treasury says the roughly 114 billion pennies still in circulation will remain valid for payment as long as possible.
