Friday News Brief

40-year-old Marlene Cruz of Rochester has pleaded guilty to mail theft by a United States Postal Service employee. Investigation into complaints made by customers that their mail had been tampered with, found that Cruz routinely opened envelopes and parcels, removed items such as ticket stubs, documents, cash, lottery tickets and gift cards, on dozens of occasions. She faces five years in prison and a $250,000 fine; Cruz’s sentencing is scheduled for May 9th.

 

A Warsaw nursing home dealing with a staffing shortage is now seeing an impact on patient care. A long-term resident at East Side Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Warsaw reached out to 13WHAM, explaining the recent decline in care he’s been receiving and how it’s impacted his health. The number of residents receiving care at the nursing home reached their maximum – 80 and typically has 115 support staff providing services. However, this number has fluctuated because of the shortage of health care workers experienced at nursing homes across the region. East Side tries to use outside agencies for staffing but has found it works better for all to have internal staff for provision of direct continuum of services. In interview with 13WHAM, the vice president of operations at East Side noted that the New York State Department of Health does not investigate care complaints filed by residents or their families. However, once annually the state visits the nursing home for about a week to go through medical records and follow up on any complaints that have been received.

 

Charges could be reduced against three Clyde-Savannah High School football players accused of sexually assaulting a boy in the locker room last fall. Three teenagers are charged in the case and a fourth is accused of unlawful surveillance. The defense has filed a motion to reduce the indictment, meaning the charges the defendants are facing could be decreased or dismissed entirely. The investigation began late last October into the alleged sexual assault of a Clyde-Savannah student in the boys’ locker room on school grounds. Presently, the three since-suspended varsity football players are facing charges of aggravated sexual abuse, hazing, and forcible touching. The court’s decision on how the case will proceed will be announced on Friday, February 2.

 

No injuries were reported after a plane skidded off the runway at Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport. The American Airlines aircraft had 50 passengers and three crewmembers onboard when it ended up in a grassy area yesterday. The flight had just touched down from Philadelphia. The cause of the incident is still being looked into.

 

Members of the 5/14 Commission have set a date to get public feedback on a memorial to honor 10 people killed in a mass shooting. A meeting will be held January 23rd from 6:00pm until 7:30pm at the Stanley Makowski Early Childhood Center on Jefferson Avenue. It has been almost two years since Payton Gendron opened fire at a Tops store in a racially motivated attack. The federal government is seeking the death penalty against him.

 

Enhanced security will be in place at the Kodak Center in Rochester when the venue hosts a concert tomorrow night. Back on January 1st, several people were killed when a man intentionally crashed an SUV in front of the building on West Ridge Road. Officers will be keeping a close eye out for any disputes that may end up escalating to violence. Concertgoers are asked to report any suspicious activity immediately.

 

 

The Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs will be renewing their rivalry with a trip to the AFC Championship game on the line. The two teams are set to square off on Sunday at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. The Bills have won six straight games, including a 20 to 17 road win over the Chiefs on December 10th. This will be the third time in the past four seasons the two teams have squared off in the postseason. You don’t need the reminder that Kansas City has eliminated Buffalo twice in recent years. The start time for Sunday evening’s game is set for 6:30.

 

ELSEWHERE…

Researchers at the University of Virginia believe they have solved some of the mystery surrounding the transmission of HIV – the virus that can lead to AIDS. A recently published study suggests that a protein produced by the virus may adapt inside the body, allowing it to be transmitted to others through activities like sex. The adaptation also allows the virus to overcome cellular defenses and reproduce. Researchers feel that studying and understanding their discovery could be a key factor in stopping the future spread of HIV. The CDC reported in 2021 that over one-million people in the United States were living with HIV.

 

New documents show coronavirus’s genetic sequence was submitted to a U.S. database two weeks before China’s official release. The sequence doesn’t show the origin of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, but it does go against the Chinese government’s claims about how much it knew about the virus. Experts say it may have cost important time in vaccine development.

 

 

Lip balm flavors inspired by a basket of chicken wings have already sold out. Burt’s Bees announced that it teamed up with Hidden Valley Ranch to create a line of lip balms that features flavors of Buffalo Sauce, Crunchy Celery, Fresh Carrot and Hidden Valley Ranch. The collaboration started after an April Fool’s post in 2022 of ranch-flavored lip balm. The limited-edition pack of lip balms was launched on Wednesday.

 

In just two days, it is going to cost us more money to send letters in the mail. That is because on Sunday, the United States Postal Service will increase the cost of a First-Class Forever U.S. Postage Stamp from the current 66 cents to 68 cents. Plus, the price of domestic postcard stamps will also rise from 51 cents to 53 cents. And, stamps for international postcards will go up a nickel to $1.55. The postal service says these increases will help provide much-needed revenue.

 

Today is Friday, Jan. 19, the 19th day of 2024 with 347 to follow.

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

January 18 in history…

…In 1953, Lucy Ricardo gave birth to a baby boy on the “I Love Lucy” show. A record 68% of all television sets in the U.S. tuned in for the event.

 

 

 

 

 

…And by coincidence (!), also in 1953, Desi Arnaz, Jr. was born. (Happy 70th!).

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1963 The Beatles made their first national UK television appearance on the ITV program “Thank Your Lucky Stars.”