Friday News Brief

Genesee Valley BOCES and Mount Morris BOCES were given $10,000 by Power and Construction Group, the industry leader announced on Thursday. The money will go towards conservation programs and acquiring the essential equipment to teach students the skills necessary to help safeguard and work with the environment. Jason Buchinger is the Vice President of the Power and Construction Group. He noted that the company invests in students to build a strong future workforce. Pictured in BOCES Photo #1: Rachel Slobert (Executive Principal, GV BOCES), Seana Ellis (Executive Assistant, P&CG), Bernadette Harwood (Conservation Teacher, GV BOCES), Schuyler Daugherty (Conservation Teacher, GV BOCES), Jason Buchinger, (Vice President, P&CG), and Tim Flack. (Assistant Principal, GV BOCES)

Pictured in BOCES Photo #2: Kevin MacDonald (District Superintendent, GV BOCES), Rachel Slobert(Executive Principal, GV BOCES), Bernadette Harwood (Conservation Teacher, GV BOCES),Sam Maggio (Teacher Aide, GV BOCES), Schuyler Daugherty (Conservation Teacher, GV BOCES), Seana Ellis (Executive Assistant, P&CG), Jason Buchinger, (Vice President, P&CG), Brian Cousins (President,Genesee County Chamber of Commerce), Tim Flack (Assistant Principal, GV BOCES), Kelly Sattora (Education to Employment Program Associate, Livingston County Chamber & Tourism), Melissa Savino (Member Services Coordinator, Livingston County Chamber & Tourism), and Julie Donlon. (Deputy Superintendent, GV BOCES)

 

Members of the Rochester Union of Nurses and Allied Professionals have voted to authorize a strike at Rochester General Hospital. The vote yesterday was more than 90-percent in favor of authorizing a strike, which would be held next month. The hospital says it has a plan in place if a strike is held. Union members say they’ve been negotiating with the hospital system for most of the last year but have been unable to reach agreement on staffing shortages and wage levels. Hospital officials say they’ve recruited more than 150 nurses so far this year and another 100 are expected to be hired next year.

 

A Buffalo man who admitted to throwing a partially completed pipe bomb through a home in Eden has been sentenced. 41-year-old Adam A. Jones was sentenced to three years’ probation yesterday in State Supreme Court. He pleaded guilty back in March.

 

 

 

 

A life-saving vending machine can now be found at Lockport City Hall. Nonprofit Save the Michaels of the World installed a Narcan machine on Wednesday, offering residents a free resource for those affected by the opioid epidemic. Niagara County ranks second in New York State in overdose deaths and already has 34 this year.

 

State Senator George Borrello has introduced legislation to ban the public use of marijuana in the state unless authorized by local laws. The 57th District Republican says his bill would enable local authorities to regulate whether and where marijuana could be publicly consumed. Currently, he says marijuana smoking is allowed anywhere tobacco smoking is permitted. He says he thinks New Yorkers don’t want to be exposed to marijuana smoke.

 

ELSEWHERE…

 

Tony Bennett has died. The legendary crooner was 96 years old. Bennett was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016, but continued performing and recording through 2021. His last public appearance was at Radio City Hall with Lady Gaga in 2021. “Variety” says Bennett died this morning in New York City. BIOGRAPHY: Bennett had been battling Alzheimer’s for some time, diagnosed in 2016. The singer passed Friday morning in New York City. He began his career as a singing waiter in his native Queens. He was discovered in 1949 by Pearl Bailey who asked him to open for her, then went on to tour with Bob Hope. In 1950, he was signed to Columbia Records and the following year, released his first hit, “Because of You.” That was followed by such classics as “Rags to Riches” and “Stranger in Paradise” from the Broadway show “Kismet” and what many consider to be his signature song, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” His popularity dwindled somewhat with the advent of rock n’ roll, but in 1979 with help from his son, he staged one of the most successful comebacks in entertainment history. His music spanned several decades as well as a variety of genres including big band, jazz and show tunes in addition to traditional and classic pop standards. He won 20 Grammys, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as two Emmys. Bennett was a veteran, and later a pacifist, having served in the infantry during World War II and was an accomplished painter. Tony Bennett, dead at the age of 96.

 

The start date for former President Trump’s trial in his classified documents case is set for next year. Judge Aileen Cannon has scheduled the trial to begin May 20th, 2024. The trial will begin months after the GOP begins its 2024 presidential primary season. Trump is facing more than three dozen federal charges related to his handling of classified documents. He pleaded not guilty to all counts last month.

 

 

New York State has OK’ed marijuana sales at festivals, fairs and concerts. New York’s pot farmers complained about all the marijuana they’ve harvested that’s just sitting around unsold because the state’s been so slow to roll out its legal marijuana dispensaries. Only 20 are open statewide, so the Cannabis Control Board is giving farmers the go-ahead to sell stockpiled weed at concerts, fairs and festivals in locations that have no legal pot shops. They can also partner with a processor who’ll be allowed to sell marijuana edibles and vape cartridges.

 

 

The head of NORAD says the Chinese spy balloon that flew across the U.S. exposed gaps in the military’s ability to detect threats. In an interview with NBC News, General Glen VanHerck said radars were not looking for high-altitude balloons traveling at very slow speeds through American airspace. He added that incident prompted the development of new surveillance technology. Pictured: NORAD Commander General Glen VanHerck speaks with Lester Holt. The interview was done at the NORAD headquarters.

 

Wildfires are being reported across the western U.S. Arizona, California, New Mexico and Oregon all reported new wildfires during this week’s record-setting heat wave. Meanwhile, air quality in the northern U.S. is slowly improving as smoke from Canadian wildfires starts to thin.

 

 

Home sales for June are at their slowest pace in more than a decade. The National Association of Realtors says sales of pre-owned homes last month dropped 18.9% from June 2022, the biggest drop since 2009. Realtors blame lack of available housing, rather than a lack of demand.

 

Today is Friday, July 21st, the 202nd day of the year.

July 21 in history…

…In 1861, the Confederates held off the Union troops in the Battle of Bull Run Creek at Manassas Junction, Virginia. It was the first major battle of the American Civil War.

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1873, Jesse James and his gang robbed the Rock Island Express train at Adair, Iowa. The gang got away with $3,000.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1925, the John T. Scopes “Monkey Trial” ended in the Dayton, Tennessee. Scopes was convicted of violating state law by teaching Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. His conviction was later overturned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1930, The Veterans Administration of the United States was established.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1947, Loren MacIver’s famous portrait of Emmett Kelly as “Willie the Clown” appeared on the cover of “Life” magazine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1987, Mary Hart of television’s “Entertainment Tonight” had her legs insured by Lloyd’s of London for a reported $1 million.

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 2007, at one minute after midnight, the highly anticipated final book in the “Harry Potter” series went on sale at retail outlets around the world. J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” sold an estimated 8.3 million copies in its first 24 hours of release to become the fastest selling book on record.