Tom Tharp
February 3, 2023 
The man accused of fatally stabbing his parents and sister at a home in Henrietta last month has been indicted on three counts of murder. Rajab Banahi, 39, allegedly stabbed his parents, Ali and Mastoora, and sister, Masuda, Jan. 11 inside his parents’ home on Kathy Drive. Banahi’s parents died at the scene. His sister died Jan. 28 at Strong Memorial Hospital from her injuries. Friday’s indictment showed Banahi charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated criminal contempt.
Rochester Police are investigating two more incidents involving vehicles crashing into businesses, apparently in order for the suspects to carry out burglaries. Officers responded to Petit Poutinerie on Elton Street around 5 a.m. Friday for a reported alarm activation. They said it appeared a vehicle drove into the building and items were stolen from inside. Shortly after that call, officers responded to Heroes Brewing on Atlantic Avenue for a report of a crash. Police said a vehicle drove into the front doors and caused damage, but an employee scared off the would-be burglars. Friday’s incidents happened three days after similar break-ins at Comedy @ the Carlson and Record Archive. Police said there have been 15 cases like this across Monroe County.
The New York State Thruway Authority Board of Directors voted in December to move forward with a proposed multi-year schedule of toll increases set to begin in 2024. New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli has released a report and said toll increases should be the last option for the Thruway Authority. According to DiNapoli, the report identifies concerns with the proposal and urges the Thruway Authority to improve operations and maximize non-toll revenues first. The Thruway Authority released a statement responding to the Comptroller. They said they need to increase tolls as hundreds of bridges will need to be replaced in the next decade, they receive no federal funding and that the tolls are 90 percent of the money they receive for maintaining the highway system.
GO Health has announced the date and time for the next free rabies clinic which will be on February 9th from 4 to 6:30pm and will be at the Batavia Town Highway Garage. Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats, and ferrets, but voluntary donations are accepted. Animals must be at least 3 months old. Each animal must be leashed or crated and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal. Limit 4 pets per car maximum.
Semi Pro football may be coming to Batavia. Harry Rascoe, head coach of the Genesee County Spartans, announced that an eight-team schedule has been finalized for the squad, which will feature around 50 players – some of them former Batavia and Notre Dame high school athletes – from throughout Western New York. Rascoe said he is working with Batavia High School officials to have the Genesee County team’s home games at Van Detta Stadium. All home games will be on Saturdays at 7 p.m. Rascoe said he will be coordinating a final tryout for roster spots on Feb. 26 at a practice location in Rochester. For more information about the team, including how to become a sponsor, go to the team’s Genesee County Spartans Facebook page or contact Rascoe at the email address listed on wbtai.com.
The Mammoth sale that now lasts from February through Thanksgiving is opening its doors. It runs Saturdays and Sundays 11 to 4 with different items featured every weekend at the St Joseph’s School on the corner of Summit and East Main in Batavia. All proceeds go to benefit the school.
National Grid tells us their crews are prepared to respond to any emergencies caused by the cold and is offering customers some tips to stay safe. The utility company suggests that folks keep working flashlights and a supply of batteries in their homes in case of a power outage. People who see downed power lines should assume they are live and report the location of those downed lines to National Grid or local law enforcement immediately. Anyone who experiences an outage can call 1-800-867-5222.
A teenager has been sentenced to five years jail for his involvement in five armed robberies that targeted casino patrons and food-delivery drivers. Prosecutors say the 17-year-old committed the crimes between March and August last year. Once the teen is no longer behind bars, he will be under post-release supervision for five years. Orders of protection have been issued for the victims he robbed.
Monroe County will be hosting open interviews today in hopes of finding more people who want to become Child Protective Services caseworkers. The interviews will be conducted at the Gates Public Library, which is located on Elmgrove Road. In order to qualify, a person does not need to have passed a civil service exam, but they must take that test in the future. However, candidates do need to have a bachelor’s degree, valid driver’s license and reliable access to transportation.
Doctors who specialize in treating obese patients say popular but expensive weight loss drugs aren’t available to people whose health might benefit the most from significantly reducing their weight. Obesity specialists say Black adults, as well as uninsured or lower-income women, and other groups with high rates of obesity are least likely to get the costly medications known by the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy. The drugs are in short supply at pharmacies nationwide.
According to the National Weather Service, an arctic cold front will pass through our region this evening. When it does, a 30-minute burst of moderate to heavy snow along with winds gusting at times to 40mph are predicted. This will create near white-out conditions between 8 and 9 pm. Also, a wind chill advisory begins at 4:00am tomorrow morning and will be in effect through 10:00am Saturday.
42-year-old Daniel Bakowski of Batavia has been charged with assault, harassment, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal obstruction of breathing and preventing a request for emergency assistance. He is accused of assaulting another person while children were present. Bakowski was turned over to the Genesee County Jail to await arraignment. ALSO: 27-year-old Keilah Hart of Rochester has been charged with introducing prison contraband and criminal possession of a controlled substance. Hart allegedly had the controlled substance at the Genesee County Jail while being processed for a separate warrant. She was released on an appearance ticket.
57-year-old Margaret Miles of Batavia is charged with petit larceny, resisting arrest and obstruction of governmental administration. This followed an incident on West Main Street Road last weekend. Miles will appear in Batavia Town Court on February 23rd.
The 9th Annual Bikini Rally for the Pink Fund is scheduled for Saturday morning in Oakfield. The fundraiser helps patients undergoing breast cancer treatment to pay household bills. The Pink Fund is a non-profit organization that pays 90 days of medical expenses for those in active breast cancer treatment. Participants will ride six laps in their bathing suits as well as a small lap with a breast cancer survivor; the option is also there to do a lap in honor of someone that lost the battle. They hope to raise $15,000 this year. The Bikini Rally is at the Genesee Sno Packers, located at 102 South Park Street, Oakfield. Registration is from 10 until 11; gates open at 11:00 and the rally starts at noon. The Genesee Sno Riders will have 2023 calendars available for purchase, as well as event shirts, a basket raffle, 50/50 giveaway and food and drinks. (Photo provided by Jane Chaddock)
Governor Hochul has laid out a $227,000,000,000 (billion) spending plan for fiscal year 2024, the total of which is $5 billion more than for 2023. Highlights of the budget proposal she revealed yesterday include money to reduce and prevent gun violence, transform mental health care in the state, and build hundreds of thousands of affordable homes. The governor also proposed a review of bail laws and raising the minimum wage based on inflation. She’s calling this budget a thoughtful plan that furthers New Yorkers’ priorities but also ensures fiscal responsibility.
The Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is issuing a warning to New Yorkers about credit and debit card skimming scams. The agency says thieves place devices on things like ATM’s and gas station pumps to steal a person’s card information. That data is then used to withdraw funds and make illicit purchases. To protect your information from being stolen, inspect card-reading machines closely, and if the buttons on the keypad look or feel different, don’t use them. It is estimated skimming costs consumers and financial institutions over one-billion-dollars a year.
Governor Kathy Hochul has vetoed the Grieving Families Act bill, which was intended to permit the families of wrongful death victims to recover compensation for their emotional distress instead of limiting to just the monetary value of the individual’s work. The bill had been passed with bipartisan support in both chambers of the state Legislature; however, because it was passed last year, the current Legislature cannot vote to overturn the Governor’s veto. One option lawmakers have is to pass the bill again in attempt to force the Governor’s hand. Hochul said she was concerned that the bill went through too quickly and it hadn’t been evaluated for economic impact.
Erie County officials say the emergency alert system is going to be used the next time that a weather disaster is moving towards the area. County Executive Mark Poloncarz says it’s now clear that in the future, further proactive steps need to be taken to protect the public. Erie County has been a part of the emergency alert system for years but officials believed they’d done enough to tell residents about the threat the storm posed without activating it. The December blizzard resulted in nearly 50 deaths.
The 9th Annual Bikini Rally for the Pink Fund is scheduled for Saturday morning in Oakfield. The fundraiser helps patients undergoing breast cancer treatment to pay household bills. The Pink Fund is a non-profit organization that pays 90 days of medical expenses for those in active breast cancer treatment. Participants will ride six laps in their bathing suits as well as a small lap with a breast cancer survivor; the option is also there to do a lap in honor of someone that lost the battle. They hope to raise $15,000 this year. The Bikini Rally is at the Genesee Sno Packers, located at 102 South Park Street, Oakfield. Registration is from 10 until 11; gates open at 11:00 and the rally starts at noon. The Genesee Sno Riders will have 2023 calendars available for purchase, as well as event shirts, a basket raffle, 50/50 giveaway and food and drinks. Photos taken and provided by Jane Chaddock.
Today marks the start of Black History Month, and Tops Friendly Markets is celebrating the occasion by holding an essay contest. The supermarket chain is asking kids in grades three through eight to write about an African-American hero who inspires them on a daily basis. The winner will receive a 50-dollar Tops gift card and their school will get 100-dollars. The deadline to submit an essay is February 17th and more information can be found at 
The extra money that people received in SNAP benefits is coming to an end. At the beginning of the pandemic, recipients were receiving emergency allotments of $95 or more in monthly benefits. Congress temporarily increased these benefits because of Covid-19, but after February’s payment, that emergency allotment will stop. The amount was based on the number of people in the family so some families could see a dramatic drop in how much they receive each month.
The latest data from the New York State Flu Tracker shows that, in our region, Monroe County continues to report the highest number of flu cases. They had 69 new infections during the week ending January 21st. Erie County had the second highest, with 58 new cases; Seneca County came in third with 18; Ontario County had 15. Niagara County reported 12 new cases of flu and Genesee County had 8. Since flu season started in October, 305,354 New Yorkers have tested positive for the illness.
NFL teams will have more money to spend ahead of next season. That’s because the salary cap is increasing to a new record of $224,800,000 (million). That’s a more than $16,000,000 (million) bump from this season.
State Police have released the names of the two people who lost their lives due a crash in Chautauqua County. Troopers say 30-year-old Matthew Berry was driving the wrong way on Interstate 86 in Ellicott Saturday night when his vehicle collided head-on with a pickup truck. The pickup truck was then hit from behind by another vehicle. Berry died at the scene and the driver of the pickup truck, 57-year-old Todd Town, passed away at a nearby hospital. The investigation into the accident is ongoing.
January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, and the New York State Department of Health is stressing the importance of screening appointments and getting the HPV vaccine. The acting health commissioner says screenings are the first line of defense against the disease and that early detection is key. Smoking has been shown to increase a person’s chances of getting cervical cancer and other risk factors include giving birth three or more times and using birth control pills for five years or more. To find out how to get a free or low-cost screening, visit health.ny.gov.
45-year-old Stephen Thompson of Attica is charged with criminal possession and sale of a controlled substance. He is accused of selling methamphetamine to an undercover Wyoming County Task Force officer in Attica. Thompson’s trial date is set for April 10th. He has served two state prison terms in the past for dealing drugs in Wyoming County: First, in 2012 and then again in 2013.
There remains a winter weather advisory for Wyoming County until 11am tomorrow. The National Weather Service is predicting 5 to 10 inches of snow and 40 mile per hour winds with the most accumulations across the western ridges of the county. Snow covered roads in combination with periods of poor visibility will create dangerous driving conditions.
The Buffalo Sabres will continue their road trip tonight as they look to pick up their fifth win in a row. The Sabres are set to take on the Winnipeg Jets at the Canada Life Centre. Buffalo is coming off of a 5-3 win over the Saint Louis Blues Tuesday night and have earned 53 points this season. Face-off for tonight’s contest is set 8:00.
What started as a winter weather advisory for Genesee and Orleans Counties is now a Winter Storm Warning until 10pm this evening, that also includes Monroe and Northern Erie Counties. Heavy snow is now expected, with light snow through midday. This afternoon, snowfall rates over 1 inch per hour between 1 and 5 pm are predicted. The heaviest snow will occur from the Buffalo North towns along and north of the Thruway toward Rochester. Snow will change to light rain this evening. Winds could gust as high as 35 miles per hour tonight. Widespread accumulating snow will create dangerous travel conditions. A winter weather advisory remains in effect for Wyoming County until 10pm this evening.
Indictments: David Leroy of Corfu has been indicted for criminal possession of a weapon, a Class D felony. Leroy is accused of knowingly possessing a switchblade knife in the Town of Pembroke. ALSO: Shannon Marvin of Bergen is indicted on a count of grand larceny, a Class E felony. She is accused of stealing a Discover card belonging to another person.
According to Triple A, the average national cost for a gallon of regular fuel is $3.45. The state average is at $3.53 a gallon. In Batavia, we’re paying an average per gallon price of $3.40, up a penny from yesterday and a nickel from a week ago.
Governor Hochul says three Western New York communities are going to be sharing $19,000,000 (million) in funding. The governor said yesterday some of the $10,000,000 (million) Dunkirk is receiving will be used to create a Strategic Investment Plan. The goal of that plan is to look into economic development, transportation, housing and community projects that’ll improve the community’s downtown area. Lancaster and Wellsville will be evenly splitting the remaining $9,000,000 (million).
Plans to build a brand-new stadium for the Buffalo Bills have taken another important step forward. Yesterday, the directors of the Erie County Stadium Corporation signed off on a deal that would allow an over one-billion-dollar facility to be built near Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park which is where the team currently plays its home games. The state will provide $600,000,000 (million) for the project; the Bills will pay $550,000,000 (million), and the cost for the county will be $250,000,000 (million). The hope is the stadium can be open for the 2026 season.
General Motors has announced it plans to invest $68,000,000 (million) in its plant in Rochester. The automaker says the move will help position them in the forefront of the rapidly-growing electric vehicle market. Officials with G-M say the Rochester plant is uniquely positioned to help enable the company to transition to electric vehicles. Over the next two years, they say they could add another 100 employees to the 750 who already work at the plant.
Costs are up at the Postal Service this week. Yesterday, the cost of a first class forever stamp went up from 60-cents to 63-cents. Other price hikes include the cost of sending a domestic postcard from 44 cents to 48 cents and an international postcard went from $1.40 to $1.45.
There’s still a couple of months left of cold weather, and the Firefighters Association of the State of New York is providing tips to make sure folks heat their homes safely. The agency recommends keeping anything that can burn at least three feet away from a heating source, never using your oven to heat your home and having your chimney inspected by a qualified professional. Also, test smoke alarms at least once a month and turn portable heaters off before leaving a room. Studies show heating equipment is the third leading cause of home fire deaths.
Wireless carrier T-Mobile announced that an unidentified malicious intruder breached its network late in November, and stole data on 37 million customers; including addresses, phone numbers and dates of birth. Based on information gathered through their own internal investigation, the theft did not include passwords, personal identification numbers, bank account or credit card information, Social Security numbers or other government IDs. The company has been hacked multiple times in recent years. Executives at T-Mobile said it’s not expected this latest breach will have material impact on its operations but does raise questions about management’s cyber governance and could alienate customers in addition to invite scrutiny by the Federal Communications Commission and other regulators.
The Powerball jackpot just keeps growing and lottery players are going to be lining up to buy their tickets so they can have a shot at winning a big prize. Because no one won on Wednesday, the jackpot for tomorrow night’s drawing will be at least $473,000,000 (million). The drawing will be streamed live online at 
Wyoming County officials say the closure of the NYS Thruway during major winter storms puts drivers at a higher risk of crashing. They’re asking New York State officials to review the decision to close the Thruway during the November lake-effect snowstorm. This is largely because of steep and rolling hills and turns that are characteristic of county roads there and create scary travel and hazardous conditions. During the storm on November 18th, more than 20 tractor-trailer incidents were documented. County officials say it will take more collaboration from Albany and local authorities to find a solution because it is not one size fits all for each storm.
City firefighters issued a press release this morning, in which they provided their total number of calls for 2022: They responded to 2669 alarms, of which 1940 were for emergency medical services. There were 59 fires and 51 motor vehicle accidents. There were also 308 fire or carbon monoxide alarm activations. Here is an entire summary of the calls:
54-year-old Paul Crawford of Batavia is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and operating a vehicle with a suspended registration on Old Meadow Lane in Batavia last Thursday. He was issued an appearance ticket and is scheduled in Batavia Town Court on January 25. ALSO: 45-year-old John Gronowski of Cheektowaga was arrested for criminal trespass last Thursday afternoon, for allegedly remaining on the property at Batavia Downs, after previously being told he was no longer allowed to be there. Gronowski was issued an appearance ticket and released.
Rochester police are still on the lookout for the suspect who stole a vehicle that had two children inside of it. The mother of the three-year-old and six-year-old left her kids unattended in the running vehicle when she went into a store in the area of Lake and Phelps Avenues yesterday. The vehicle was then taken before later being found on Dempsey Place. Fortunately, the children weren’t hurt.
Wegmans will be hosting a virtual hiring event next week as the popular supermarket chain looks to fill hundreds of entry-level positions at its stores. The event is happening on Wednesday, January 18th, from 10:00am until 6:00pm and both part-time and full-time jobs are available. Among the positions that need to be filled are supervisors, shift leaders, and managers in multiple departments. Anyone interested in signing up for the event can do so online at 
The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce is celebrating its 51st Annual Awards Ceremony, which will be held on Saturday, March 11 at Batavia Downs Gaming. This event honors businesses and individuals for their achievements in business, community service and volunteerism. Tickets are $50.00 per person or a table of 8 for $360.00.
The Supreme Court is allowing New York to continue enforcing new gun control measures during an ongoing legal challenge. That means New York’s ban on guns in sensitive areas like schools, parks, and Times Square will remain in place for now. The state is also allowed to require gun license applicants to show good moral character. The Supreme Court denied a request from a group of gun owners to immediately pause the state’s regulations. But, two conservative justices say the case still has merit even though they didn’t intervene.
Members of the Rochester City School District’s Board of Education have unanimously voted to have police officers stationed outside of some schools. This move comes following an incident where students were nearly struck by gunfire at the Franklin Educational Campus last week. The school board president says that police will not be inside of schools. The cost of this increased security is expected to be about $370,000.
The City Council has approved a new three-year contract with the Police Benevolent Association Union. The agreement includes a 3% salary increase for the first year 2.5% salary increases for the second and third year. A one-time payment of $1500 will be made to union members using American Rescue Plan Act funds. Also, health care premiums will increase from between 15 and 30%. The detailed story is available on the website of our news partner, The Batavian. Here is a direct link to the story:
Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel has announced the lineup for their sixth Rockin’ the Downs concert series, which will take place outside on the racetrack, with eight Friday dates, starting in June and extending into August. The shows will kick off with Almost Queen and Get the Led Out returns this summer, too. Until February 8th, tickets purchased online for the General Admission section will only be $10. And concertgoers will still receive $10 in Free Play on show day with this ticket. Concerts are held Rain or Shine. Additional information may be found at:
Multiple Rochester City School District employees have been suspended after video of a recent shots fired incident was made public. The footage showed students rushing into the entrance of a building at the Franklin Educational Campus last week to avoid being hit by gunfire. Thankfully, none of the students ended up getting hurt. All of the affected workers are on paid administrative leave as an investigation into how the security video ended up being shared moves forward.
State Attorney General Letitia James has announced a plan to hold a hearing on mental health access in Western New York. It’s happening Wednesday, January 18th at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library located at Lafayette Square in Buffalo. James says it is imperative that mental health services are available to all communities. People who wish to speak at the hearing must sign up to do so online by 5:00pm Wednesday, January 11th.
According to Triple A today, the average cost for a gallon of regular gas in New York State is $3.45, which is up 6 cents from a week ago; nationally, it is $3.28. In Batavia, we’re paying on average $3.31 per gallon; the same as it was a week ago but down 20 cents from a month ago today.
Lawmakers returned to the State Capitol today as the brand-new legislative session kicked off. Among the issues the Senate and Assembly could address in the coming months are changes to the state’s current bail reform laws and additional measures to reduce gun violence. Governor Hochul might also request that lawmakers pass certain legislation when she gives her State of the State address next week. This legislative session is scheduled to run until June 8th.
The New York State Police issued 32,934 tickets and arrested 453 people for impaired driving during the National DWI Crackdown, which started on Wednesday, December 14 and continued through New Year’s Day. Troopers also investigated 4,417 accidents, which resulted in 528 people being injured and eight fatalities. During the campaign, State Police utilized sobriety checkpoints, additional DWI patrols, and ticketed distracted drivers who used handheld electronic devices. Troopers also used both marked State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles as part of this crackdown in order to more easily identify motorists who were violating the law. These vehicles blend in with everyday traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated. The Finger Lakes region accounted for 33 DWI arrests and 917 speeding tickets.
The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce the winners of the People’s Choice and Director’s Choice awards for the 21st Annual Wonderland of Trees decorated trees. The winner of the People’s Choice Award is the Stafford Garden Club; and the winner of the Director’s Choice Award is WBTA AM & FM. They congratulate the winners, and thank everyone who participated. They noted more trees this year than in recent years and were all beautifully done, which made the choices very difficult. Also, they wish to thank everyone who donated towards the event, and all who came to see the wonderfully decorated trees.
The National Football League has announced that the Buffalo Bills’ game against the Cincinnati Bengals won’t resume this week. The game was postponed on Monday night after Damar Hamlin of the Bills went into cardiac arrest following a hit in the first quarter. Hamlin was brought to a Cincinnati hospital and was last listed in critical condition. His family has released a statement thanking everyone for their prayers and support. Buffalo’s game with the New England Patriots is still scheduled for Sunday.
The unemployment rate in Orleans County for November was an even 3%, which is the second lowest rate in the county in the 32 years of data collection. The only month it was lower was in October when the rate was 2.5 percent. Genesee County’s unemployment rate has held steady at 2.5%, where it’s been since August after dropping from 3.0% last July. Statewide the unemployment rate was 3.8 percent in November, compared to 4.9 percent the previous November and 8.5 percent in November 2020. The 3.8 percent was up from the 3.6 percent in October. It was at 3.9 percent in September. The highest unemployment rate in the state was in Bronx County, at 6.1%.
Gas prices may begin to nudge back up soon. Last June, State lawmakers included a six-month suspension of about 16 cents per gallon in gas taxes to help individuals out a little bit at the pump; however, that’s not expected to be extended. Retailers are now required to include both state and local sales taxes in the pump price, while distributors must charge the taxes on any sale of previously untaxed motor fuel (according to the state Department of Taxation and Finance’s website). Professionals at AAA say residents should prepare for those price increases any way they can. Suggestions from the Auto club include mapping your route, combining your errands and maintaining good tire pressure, especially this time of year. While the national average for gas prices is down to $3.23, statewide, our average currently sits at $3.42. In Batavia as of this morning, we’re paying $3.31 per gallon, down 28 cents from a month ago.
The roads are expected to be busy this holiday weekend and members of law enforcement across New York State will be keeping a close eye out for drunk drivers. Travelers can expect to see increased police patrols as part of an ongoing STOP-DWI campaign that runs through Sunday. Police say folks can make sure they get home safely by having a designated driver or by using a taxi or rideshare service. Anyone who sees suspicious or dangerous activity while they’re traveling should dial 911 immediately.
A minimum wage increase goes into effect tomorrow, and that means a lot of workers upstate will be getting more money in their paychecks. The hourly wage for employees outside of Westchester County, Long Island, and New York City will go up by $1 from $13.20 to $14.20. Also, the hourly minimum wage for home care aides will rise by $1 to $16.20 in upstate counties. Workers who aren’t getting paid what they’re entitled to can reach out to the Division of Labor Standards at 1-888-469-7365.
A new Empire State law provides reimbursement to living donors of a kidney or liver. Governor Kathy Hochul signed the law on Thursday, which will cover costs incurred by the giver. This will likely reduce delays to receive a transplant by removing financial issues from the decision. Currently, there are approximately 9000 New Yorkers on the waiting list for an organ.
The Buffalo Bills Foundation is among three organizations that have donated money to help with storm recovery efforts in Buffalo and Western New York. The Bills, the NFL Foundation, and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York each handed over 100-thousand dollars. Those funds will be divided between immediate relief efforts in the region and future community needs. Also, all donations made to The Buffalo Bills Foundation through January 10th will benefit relief efforts.
A man was seriously injured in a two-vehicle accident in Oakfield. The call came in early yesterday afternoon; firefighters responded to the intersection of Lewiston and Knowlesville roads, where they found the back of one of the vehicles, a Ford F-150, smashed up against the side of Simple Pleasures Home Decor & Gifts. A total of four people were injured; the seriously injured man was taken by Mercy EMS ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital. The other three people were taken to Rochester Regional Hospital-United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia.
Genesee County has received 477,000 dollars in Healthy Neighborhoods Program money for use by 2027. The grant money is to be used to visit 1000 homes in the Batavia area and help with increasing the overall health of the residents. For example, Batavia has a 28 percent higher asthma hospital visit rate than the surrounding areas. The program will help residents learn more about Asthma and evaluate triggers and treatments to avoid using the emergency room as often. They will assess homes for lead based paint and also help with setting up carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors as well as giving out small fire extinguishers.
Over 90 employees at the Athenex manufacturing plant located in Newstead are going to be losing their jobs in March. The biopharmaceutical company tells The Buffalo News the reason that the Main Street facility is closing down is economic but wouldn’t reveal any more information. Just four years ago, Athenex announced plans to expand the manufacturing plant and was able to get tax breaks from the Erie County Industrial Development Agency after pledging to add hundreds of jobs. As of the end of last year, the company employed nearly 300 people in the region.
The Buffalo Police Department says a task force has been launched to crack down on looters who stole items from city businesses during and after the blizzard. Officers are now looking at video clips that have been posted on social media to try to identify the individuals involved in these crimes. So far, they’ve been able to make at least eight arrests. Police are again asking anyone with information to come forward and contact them at 716-847-2255.
New York State has opened the application process for the Excelsior Scholarship for the Spring 2023 term. The scholarship, combined with other financial aid, allows eligible full-time students to attend a SUNY or CUNY school tuition-free. Students from households with federal adjusted gross incomes of up to 125-thousand dollars are eligible to receive a scholarship. Applications are being accepted through February 9th and more information can be found by visiting hesc.ny.gov.
President Biden has signed an emergency declaration to provide federal help to Buffalo and surrounding areas (including Genesee County) that were impacted by a deadly winter storm. So far, the deaths of over two-dozen people in the region have been linked to the weather disaster, including at least 20 in Buffalo alone. As cleanup efforts continue, residents there are asked to stay off the roads so crews can safely work on removing the snow that fell and first responders can get to people who need help. Utility crews are also making progress towards restoring power to customers who have been without service for days.
The Rochester Fire Department says a burst pipe was responsible for causing a big mess at the University of Rochester’s Clinical Research Center. When crews arrived at the building on Crittenden Boulevard yesterday, they noticed there was water flowing from a four-inch standpipe on the fifth floor. As a result, there was extensive water damage done to multiple floors. Patient care at the building was never affected.
State Attorney General Letitia James has issued a consumer alert to New Yorkers after getting reports of price gouging involving children’s medication. Right now, there are a high number of flu, RSV, and COVID-19 cases in the Empire State and James says medicines for kids such as painkillers and fever reducers are being sold for up to three times their retail value. Under state law, merchants are prohibited from selling goods that are vital to the health of consumers for an excessive price. Anyone who wants to report price gouging can do so by calling 1-800-771-7755.
Genesee County Manager L. Matthew Landers has rescinded the State of Emergency for Genesee County. All roads are open. The travel ban has been downgraded to a travel advisory effective immediately for all of Genesee County.
Genesee County Manager L. Matthew Landers has declared a local state of emergency for Genesee County due to blizzard-like conditions. Effective immediately, Genesee County Sheriff upgrades previously issued travel advisory to a travel ban for all of Genesee County until further notice. A travel ban means no travel for anyone but emergency vehicles which includes police, fire, ambulance, snow plows, etc.
New York legislators have a bill to give themselves a 29-percent raise, which would make them the highest paid state lawmakers in the U.S.
Members of the New York State Legislature will be back at the Capitol building today for a special session. Both the Assembly and Senate are expected to vote on a measure that would increase their salaries from the current $110,000 a year to $142,000 a year. There’d also be limits placed on the amount of money that lawmakers can earn outside of their position as an elected official. If approved, the salary increase would go into effect on January 1st.
Governor Hochul has signed off on a brand new law that will make it mandatory for employers to list the salary ranges for every advertised job and promotion. The goals of this legislation are to provide workers with important information before they apply for a position and to reduce discriminatory wage setting and hiring practices. The U.S. Department of Labor says that in 2020, women made 83 cents for every dollar made by men. The governor believes the legislation will usher in a new era of fairness and transparency for New York’s workforce.
Governor Hochul is approving expanded childcare access for New Yorkers. The new law will remove requirements for parents to work in order to access subsidized programs. Advocates called it a major help for parents who go to school or who are caregivers to other family members. The initiative will be expanded in the coming years with money approved in the state budget.
Nearly 140,000 Chevrolet Bolt cars are being recalled in the U.S. and Canada. General Motors says the 2017 to 2023 model years Chevy Bolt hatchbacks have a seat belt issue that can cause a fire. GM says in rare cases, the fire can be started by exhaust that comes into contact with carpet fibers.
The Rochester City Council has passed a series of measures designed to reform the city’s Police Accountability Board. The measures the city council passed at a sometimes contentious meeting last night include training for the board and its staff. The measures would also invest money from the board’s budget that has not been spent to be invested in addressing homelessness, mental health and public safety.
Starbucks workers gathered this weekend at the Mt. Hope location near New York City, in a strike of solidarity with colleagues across the country. The Mt. Hope Starbucks is one of several locations across the country that has unionized. Workers say they’re lobbying for better pay and safety when they have to deal with problem customers. News 8 in Rochester says the company answered their request for comment by saying it respects their right to have their voices heard.
Genesee and Wyoming Counties are under a lake effect snow warning starting at 7:00 tonight; it will be in place until 1:00 Sunday afternoon. One to two feet of snow is predicted to fall over the weekend with the main accumulations hitting southwest areas of Genesee County. Heavy snow will fall in narrow bands. Travel could be very difficult at times with poor visibility and snow covered roads. If driving, be prepared for rapidly changing road conditions and visibility.
Members of the West Seneca Police Department are going to be doing their part tomorrow to help get people in the holiday spirit. The agency is teaming up with the Home Depot to hand out Christmas trees free of charge. The trees will be available starting at nine a-m at the police garage that is located in the parking lot behind Town Hall on Union Road. They’ll be distributed by volunteers on a first come, first served basis.
A meeting is going to be held next week where customers of Rochester Gas and Electric will once again call for a public takeover of the company. Customers have been upset with RG&E since it announced a proposed increase of its gas and electric prices. They’re also angry about billing issues they’ve had to deal with. The meeting is set for Monday evening from 6 to 8 in the Gleason Auditorium at the Rochester Public Library.
No one has been lucky enough to win the Mega Millions or Powerball lately and now, the combined jackpots of both games have reached $578,000,000. The prize up for grabs for this evening’s Mega Millions drawing is going to be at least $429,000,000. And, should someone win Powerball tomorrow night, they’ll get a minimum of $149,000,000. Both drawings will be streamed live online. Please play responsibly.
A public vote this week in LeRoy resulted in community approval for $1.7 million to be earmarked for the LeRoy Fire Department to purchase an aerial ladder truck. The proposal passed with a vote of 133-99.
Officials with D’Youville University have announced plans to build a $50,000,000 academic building that will expand its healthcare programs. In the school’s site plan application for the project, the new building will house academic programs and focus on world-class education for healthcare professionals. If it wins approval by the city of Buffalo, construction would start next May and finish early in 2025.
The Red Cross is asking for donors to set aside some time to give blood or platelets for patients waiting for care over the holidays. Hospitals have an especially high need for type ‘O’ blood and platelets. Those who come to give from December 16 to January 2, 2023 will get a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last. Upcoming blood drives in Batavia include Friday, December 23rd from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel and also Thursday, December 29th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Robert Morris; in Le Roy, on Thursday, December 22nd, from Noon to 5 p.m. at the American Legion, 53 West Main Street. Anyone interested may schedule an appointment by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting 
This Saturday is the last chance this season to shop at the Batavia City Center Mall Market. They’re open from 8 to 11:30am.
32-year-old Brett Holt and 46-year old Kelly Holt both of Medina have been charged with petit larceny. Late yesterday afternoon Batavia Police responded to a call from Sally Beauty Supply on Veteran’s Memorial Drive regarding a larceny in progress. Police eventually located both of the Holt’s inside Kohls who were positively identified as the individuals who stole approximately $400 in products. Brett and Kelly were transported to the Genesee County Jail and issued appearance tickets. They’re scheduled to appear in Batavia Town Court on January 4th.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is reminding New Yorkers that assistance is available to help them stay warm during the winter. She tells us the state has received over $400,000,000 in federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds. Gillibrand says that LIHEAP provides a lifeline to low-income families because many of them can’t afford to pay high heating bills. More information on this program can be found at 
POLICE BLOTTER: 34-year-old Benito Gay of Batavia has been charged with petit larceny, falsifying business records, criminal use of an access device and unlawful possession of personal identification information. He allegedly used another inmate’s personal identification number to make phone calls at the Genesee County jail in the early morning hours of Monday, December 5th. The calls were charged to the victim’s account. Gay is due to appear in City Court for arraignment early next month. ALSO: 48-year-old Willie Sabb, Jr. of Batavia is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. He was allegedly found to be in possession of cocaine during a traffic stop on Clinton Street Road in Stafford. Sabb was issued an appearance ticket and scheduled to return to Stafford Town Court next month. ALSO: 50-year-old Andrew Crimes of Batavia has been charged with two counts of criminal contempt, after entering Batavia Downs late in the evening on December 7. Crimes allegedly violated an order of protection by entering the Downs at that particular time but also for sending over 100 text messages to an individual over the course of several months violating an order of protection that was in place. Crimes was arraigned in Batavia Town Court and will return to court on December 20th.
Gas prices continue their slow decline…According to Triple A today, the average cost for a gallon of regular fuel nationwide is $3.26. That’s down 52 cents since November 12th. The state average is currently $3.59 per gallon. In Batavia, we’re at $3.47, down 32 cents from a month ago today.
According to the state comptroller’s office, poverty rates have decreased in the GLOW region over the 10 year period of 2010-2020. However, even though the numbers are down, Orleans County ranked 15th statewide for poverty. The poverty rate is based primarily on income, along with family size and composition but do not reflect the existence of unmarried partners, foster children and other non-related household members. They also don’t factor in taxes and medical expenses — which can affect a person or family’s economic security — or non-cash resources such as tax credits, housing support or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Genesee County reported a 10.2 percent poverty rate in 2020, ranking 48th statewide. That compares to 12.1 percent in 2010 and 10.5 percent in 2019.
The latest data from the state shows the spread of the coronavirus has decreased in our region. Right now, the seven-day average infection rate is sitting at 4.38%. At this time last week, the infection rate was at 4.51%. Anyone wishing to make an appointment to get a COVID-19 vaccination or booster shot can do so at vaccines.gov.
POLICE BLOTTER: 46-year-old Jeannine Mobley of LeRoy has been charged with petit larceny. She is accused of stealing from a business on Jackson Street. Mobley was arraigned in City Court and released on her own recognizance. ALSO: 21-year-old Jada Smith of Niagara Falls is charged with criminal trespass. She was located on Genesee Community College property after previously being told she was not allowed on the property. Smith was released on an appearance ticket. ALSO: 32-year-old Joshua Moore of Batavia is charged with harassment and criminal obstruction of breathing. He was arrested following the report of a disturbance early in the morning on November 24th on Chase Parkway. Moore was arraigned in City Court and released on his own recognizance.
A $5,000,000 federal funding grant will help to pay for upgrades for Attica’s water treatment plant. The funding was announced last month as part of the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act, and will cover half of the estimated $11.1 million project planned for the Dunbar Road location. Upgrades will include new treatment units, disinfection and chemical feed equipment. New pumps, piping and valves are also planned, along with structural and mechanical improvements. The equipment is generally meant to last for about 20 years.
Negotiations resumed today between representatives of Buffalo Public Schools and the Buffalo Teachers Federation. Both sides have been working to reach an agreement on a new contract but say that little progress has been made during recent discussions. Teachers have issued a vote of no-confidence in Superintendent Doctor Tonja Williams and also the school board. Issues that still need to be resolved include teacher salaries and adjusting school start times to help out with an ongoing bus driver shortage.
A lengthy investigation by The Genesee County Drug Task Force, which culminated in the use of a search warrant, resulted in the arrests of two women: 38-year-old Jennifer Moton of Rochester and 50-year-old Angela Bateman of Batavia. Moton is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance (a class B felony) and promoting prison contraband (a class D felony). She is currently on probation for previous drug charges, and was allegedly found to be in possession of 150 bags of cocaine and allegedly entered a secure area at the Genesee County jail with it. Bateman is on parole for previous drug charges and was allegedly found in possession of a small quantity of cocaine and also charged with maintaining a place where controlled substances were being sold. Both women were arraigned and held without bail.
Governor Hochul has signed off on a new piece of legislation that’s aimed at cracking down on those annoying telemarketing calls. The bill requires telemarketers to give customers the choice of being placed on a do-not-call list at the beginning of certain calls. Under current law, telemarketers must inform people that they may request to be added to their company’s do-not-call list but most individuals hang up before the list is mentioned. The governor says this legislation will protect New Yorkers from receiving unwanted calls.
The investigation continues today into the accident involving two trucks running into the library wall of an elementary school in Warsaw. As of this morning, the two drivers remain in stable condition. 61-year-old Martin Lodinsky of Gainesville is at Erie County Medical Center awaiting surgery. He claims his vehicle kept accelerating and he could not stop it, resulting in a t-bone accident with another vehicle, driven by a 35-year-old male who has not been identified but was also injured. Both vehicles crashed into the side of the school. The school district is working on a plan for a temporary home for its elementary school library. Their superintendent said that kindergarten students were in the library at the time, but away from the wall that was struck. Aside from the two drivers, no one else was hurt in the incident.
Governor Hochul says $10,000,000 in funding is going to be used to help revitalize Downtown Rochester. The money will go towards things such as adding affordable housing, creating a new hotel, and restoring historic buildings. The governor believes that these improvements are vital since so many people work and live downtown. The funds are coming from the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative and all of these projects are scheduled to be completed in 2023 and 2024.
Two men with long criminal histories are once again in trouble with the law – this time, facing drug charges following a traffic stop in LeRoy. 41-year-old Chad Main of Warsaw was pulled over for failing to use a turn signal. He allegedly attempted to run from deputies during the stop; following a brief chase, he was taken into custody. Among other charges, he was found in possession of drugs and was high while driving unlicensed. His passenger, 49-year-old James Sherbert of Perry is on parole and was also found with drugs.
Today Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation to crack down on unwanted telemarketing and robocalls. The new law requires telemarketers to give customers the option to be added to their company’s ‘do-not-call’ list at the start of the call and is intended to safeguard state residents from continuous, unwanted calls.
New information has been released about the arrest of a now former employee at the Monroe County Children’s Detention Center in Rush. Police say 23-year-old John Kanu allowed two juveniles to take part in slap boxing inside a bathroom last month and also allegedly hit a child after they left the bathroom. An investigation started after the incident was reported and Kanu ended up being fired. He’s been charged with child endangerment.
The Batavia City School District is celebrating the 100-year anniversary of Batavia Middle School. Construction of the current building began in 1922, which originally housed both junior and senior high school students. The existing Batavia High School building was built in 1961, and 96 Ross Street was officially designated as Batavia Middle School. This Thursday December 8 a concert will be held inside the Middle School auditorium, with recently restored historic bells that called students to school over 150 years ago, located on both sides of the stage. The celebration featuring the Middle School band, orchestra, and chorus starts at 7:00pm, is free and open to the public. (Photo from Batavia Middle School website)
Today the International Association of Arson Investigators is looking into a Saturday afternoon fire that damaged more than a dozen vehicles at Insurance Auto Auctions in Bergen on Apple Tree Avenue. This is where cars totaled by the owner’s insurance company are taken. There were at least four fire companies that responded, including Bergen. The Bergen Fire Department tells us they were called out there just after noon on Saturday along with several other fire departments. Auction Company representatives lent a hand to firefighters in battling the blaze by using heavy machinery to move burnt vehicles out of the way to give fire crews better access.
From 1 – 5 tomorrow stop by the mall in Batavia to visit Santa’s Workshop and Village, and have pictures taken with jolly old Saint Nick himself. Many local shops and organizations will be offering holiday specials and activities, including horse and buggy rides. And then afterward, there will be a Holiday Parade down Main Street, starting at 6.
Security has been increased in the Victor Central School District following an incident involving a former student earlier this week. Officials say the person drove into a hill on High Street near the south entrance of the campus. It was later discovered the individual made concerning statements on social media referencing his health and safety. The ex-student was taken to the hospital but there’s no word if he’ll face any charges.
Officials with the New York Independent System Operator say there’s enough of an electricity supply in the Empire State to meet demand during the winter months. There are over 43-thousand megawatts of supply available and the agency is forecasting that peak demand will reach close to 24-thousand megawatts based on expected winter temperatures. That’d be an increase of 685 megawatts from last winter’s peak demand. Consumers are likely going to see higher bills in the coming months due to factors that continue to impact the cost of natural gas used in the production of electricity.
No injuries have been reported after a fire caused extensive damage to multiple businesses in Lewiston. Crews were called to the scene on Center Street yesterday and arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from a building. While they were trying to contain the blaze, firefighters were forced to evacuate because the building became unstable and there were concerns it could collapse. According to reports, an issue with a transformer may have been responsible for sparking the fire.
State residents are expected to see higher electric bills this winter compared to last year due to various national and geopolitical factors that combined, keep the cost of natural gas and electricity elevated. Inflation, ongoing supply issues from the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine continue to keep energy costs significantly higher. However, New York’s power grid has a sufficient supply of energy and won’t be strained to carry the state through the winter season; this, according to an assessment made by the New York Independent System Operator. The higher prices however, with increases between 30 and 40%, aren’t expected to turn around before the spring thaw. The price of fuel and natural gas directly impact the cost of electricity. Last week, National Grid announced it would donate $6 million to customers struggling to pay their bills with the higher costs this season. The utility’s one-time program is separate from available federal and state assistance, and is expected to help an additional 31,500 New York households that do not qualify for the Home Energy Assistance Program or other aid. National Grid estimates a 39% increase for its natural gas customers this winter compared to last, and an overall 22% increase for customers across upstate New York.
Livingston County Sheriff Thomas Dougherty tells us that a fatal bulldozer accident occurred on Saturday afternoon in the Town of Leicester. 72-year-old Thomas Swyers of Perry had been using a bulldozer to clear a portion of a wooded area. When he failed to return home after dark, his family asked the sheriff to check on him. Swyers was found deceased in the woods. The scene suggested that he might have fallen off the bulldozer while it was still in gear and was dragged under the tracks. While the investigation continues, the incident is believed to be a tragic accident.
The holiday shopping season is underway, and the New York Department of State’s Consumer Protection Division is offering some simple tips. The agency recommends that people be careful when shopping online where there are often both fake retailers and phony consumer reviews. Also, make sure to shop on a trusted site and beware of third-party vendors. Finally, designate just one credit card and one email address for online shopping to ensure an easy review of purchases and protection in case of a dispute.
A one-vehicle crash on Law Street in the city caused a power outage affecting almost 300 customers of National Grid.
Devon Wright of Batavia will now spend the next 24 years in state prison. The 22-year-old wright had pleaded guilty in last November to a number of violent sex-related crimes, committed over the course of two years.
The Buffalo Bills will be spending their Thanksgiving in the Motor City as they look to pick up their second win in a row. The Bills are taking on the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Buffalo is coming off of a 31 to 23 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday in a game that was also played in Detroit due to the snowstorm in Western New York. Kickoff for today’s contest is set for 12-30 p-m.
Genesee County Sheriffs along with state and local police will be working together as part of the STOP-DWI program through Sunday. The campaign is intended to bring awareness of impaired driving and the potential for more crashes during the most highly traveled time of the year. If you are driving, stay within the speed limits, don’t drink and drive, and have a safe holiday.
The Buffalo Bills said thank you to the Detroit Lions for letting them use their field on Sunday. The Bills donated 20,000 dollars to the Lions Foundation and also sent Tim Hortons Coffee and donuts to the Lions Facility and Ford Field. The Bills will be back there to play the Lions tomorrow, with a 12:30 kickoff.