Friday News Brief

The Batavia Police are seeking your assistance. Late in the afternoon on Wednesday, November 29th, they responded to a shots fired incident in the area of Oak and North Lyon Streets. It was reported the shots came from a black SUV that was last seen heading north on Oak Street. The incident appears to have been targeted and no injuries were reported. No additional details are available at this time due to the ongoing investigation. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Batavia Police at 585-345-6350. The confidential tip line is: 585-345-6370.

 

 

The City of Batavia has issued a warning about the temporary shut-off of water access today to repair a water main break. Homes in the Richmond Avenue area, specifically between Verona Avenue and Oak Street, will not have access to water during the repairs. The city has also informed residents that when the water supply is restored, it may appear discolored. They are advised to refrain from doing laundry until the water runs clear.

 

 

A man in Gainesville has been arraigned on allegations of child sexual abuse against a child under 11 years old. Robert Evans is accused of sexually abusing a child from August of 2017 to May of 2023 and is charged with one count of Sexual Conduct Against A Child. Based upon the fact that Evans has a prior felony child abuse conviction out of the state of Virginia, the maximum sentence he faces on this new indictment is 7 years in prison followed by up to 15 years of Post Release Supervision. The arraignment followed an 8-month investigation.

 

 

Union members who work at the University of Rochester Medical Center have announced when they’ll be going on strike. Roughly 1,800 employees are planning to strike on December 13th between the hours 6:00am and 11:00pm. The union and hospital held another negotiating session yesterday as they try and work out a new contract. The major issues that need to be addressed include staffing levels and improved wages and benefits.

 

Von Miller of the Buffalo Bills has been released on bond after being accused of assaulting his pregnant girlfriend. According to investigators, Miller was involved in an argument with the victim in Texas Wednesday, which led to the woman being attacked. Miller and the woman have been together for seven years and have children together. The Bills said yesterday they’re aware of the incident and are gathering more information. Buffalo’s next game is December 10th against the Kansas City Chiefs.

 

 

Governor Hochul says New York State has been awarded over $5 million towards supporting school-based mental health clinics. The governor said yesterday she has talked with students who say they are still feeling the effects of the COVID-19 crisis and that they’re dealing with the grief of losing a loved one during the pandemic. She also believes it’s up to adults to help kids return to some form of normalcy. A list of the new clinics can be found at governor.ny.gov.

 

Some brand new data shows just how severe the opioid crisis is in our region of the state. Each month, 30 people are dying from drug overdoses after ingesting narcotics like cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin. Last year, there were a total of 406 drug overdoses, which was a 14% increase from 2021. The State Department of Health notes that addiction is often a chronic illness that many people struggle with. Anyone who needs assistance can dial 1-877-8-HOPENY. And in a related story: Erie County officials are sounding the alarm following a fatal overdose that happened a few weeks ago. They say a resident’s death back in September has been connected to a opioid that is 100 times more powerful than fentanyl. It is called carfentanil, and is commonly used to help large animals undergo medical procedures. This year there have already been more than 370 suspected or confirmed opioid-related overdose deaths in Erie County, which is the highest total ever.

 

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown says the city’s snow plan will be provided earlier next year. That means the Common Council will get a look at the proposal on April 1st, after receiving this year’s a few weeks ago on November 1st. That date was criticized by council members, who said that they did not have enough time to look at this plan and make any major changes. Brown says this is the most comprehensive snow plan that’s ever been put together for the city.

 

The Buffalo Sabres fell to the St Louis Blues 6 to 4 Thursday Night. JJ Peterka scored 1 goal and Rasmus Dahlin, Peyton Krebs and Zach Benson each had a goal and an assist for the Sabres who are now 10 and 11 and 2 on the season and were 3-1-1 their previous five games. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen allowed six goals on 20 shots after allowing a total of five in his previous three starts. The Sabres started off down by 3 and then rallied but it wasn’t enough. The Sabres will be on the Hurricane’s ice Saturday at 7:00.

 

ELSEWHERE….

 

The annual statewide toy, coat, and school supply drive to help New Yorkers in need during the holidays is kicking off today. The New York State Office of General Services has set up drop-off locations at the State Police barracks on Scottsville Road in Rochester and Electric Tower, 535 Washington Street, Buffalo. Donations are being accepted through December 15th. Once the items have been collected, they’ll be distributed to families in underserved communities. Packages ordered online can be shipped to the following location:

Empire State Plaza
P1 South Dock J
Albany, New York 12242
NYS Holiday Drive

 

Sandy Hook School in Newtown, Connecticut was locked down yesterday after a threat was made against the facility. The threat was against the replacement building for the school where 20 children and six educators were killed in a 2012 mass shooting. Police searched the building out of an abundance of caution, and found no credible threat.

 

 

Delivery of Tesla’s Cybertruck is underway following an invitation-only event at their Texas manufacturing plant. The cheapest model will cost around $61,000 and won’t be available until 2025. Meanwhile, the top of the line version called the “Cyberbeast” will cost just under $100,000.

 

 

A New York appeals court is reinstating a gag order against former President Donald Trump in his civil fraud trial. Trump and his attorneys are once again prohibited from making public statements about the courtroom staff in the ongoing $250 million civil fraud trial.

 

 

 

 

This is Friday, Dec. 1, the 335th day of 2023 with 30 to follow.

The moon is waning. Morning stars are Jupiter, Neptune, Uranus and Venus. Evening stars are Jupiter, Mercury, Neptune, Saturn and Uranus.

December 1 in history…

…In 1891, the game of basketball was invented when James Naismith, a physical education teacher at the International YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts, put peach baskets at the opposite ends of a gym and gave students soccer balls to toss into them.

 

 

 

…In 1903, the world’s first drive-in gasoline station opened for business in Pittsburgh.

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1953, the first Playboy magazine was published. Marilyn Monroe was on the cover. The magazine temporarily ended the practice of including nudity in its pages in 2016, but reintroduced it one year later.

 

 

 

 

…In 1955, Rosa Parks, a Black woman, was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama, for refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a city bus, signaling, along with its resulting bus boycott and related events, the birth of the modern civil rights movement.

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1957, Buddy Holly and the Crickets made their debut on The Ed Sullivan Show, performing “That’ll Be The Day” and “Peggy Sue.” The evening also featured an appearance from another music star, Sam Cooke, who performed “You Send Me.”

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1964, The Who played their first of 22 consecutive Tuesday night gigs at The Marquee Club in London. The venue was famous for hosting residencies from acts that would go on to change the course of rock music, including The Rolling Stones, the Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin, King Crimson, Yes, Jethro Tull, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Pink Floyd, and more.