Local News

Two men have now been charged for their alleged roles in an assault that happened on Christmas Day. According to authorities, 22-year-old Brucewayne Beaman and 33-year-old Guy Mustgray the second allegedly attacked a man in his 60s near Bay Street and Portland Avenue in Rochester. The victim was rushed to Strong Memorial Hospital where he is still recovering from serious injuries. Both Beaman and Mustgray are charged with attempted murder.

Sheriff William Sheron Jr. announced Wednesday that he will not be seeking reelection for another term as Genesee County Sheriff.  Sheron’s current term ends on Dec. 31, 2024, at which time he will retire.  At the time of his retirement, Sheriff Sheron will have served 47 1/2 years with the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, starting in 1977 as a 9-1-1 Dispatcher.  He was Deputy Sheriff for the Jail, Road, Patrol, Sergeant, Investigator, and Chief Deputy then Undersheriff before he was elected Sheriff in 2016.

Three teenagers are in some legal trouble after being arrested following a vehicle pursuit in Orchard Park. An officer was in a neighborhood off Powers Road yesterday when he saw the vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. The officer tried to pull it over, but the driver reportedly refused to stop, triggering a chase that ended near the Ridge Road exit of Interstate 90. A 17-year-old suspect and two 18-year-olds were then taken into custody. An investigation revealed the vehicle had been stolen.

The rollout of legal weed in NY has been slow and fraught with trials and many applicants to open stores or cultivate are still waiting for approval from the state.  Part of the issue was a lawsuit which blocked part of the state from opening up to cannabis.  Another was the social equity plan which prioritized people who had a criminal record involving pot.  This long process has urged members from a variety of cannabis industry groups to launch the ‘Cannabis Conference.’ The group is coming together to work with officials to find solutions to the ongoing challenges facing the cannabis market. They’re laying out 12 priorities to fix what they say is a “delayed” and “flawed” rollout of the retail cannabis market.  Last week the Cannabis Control Board canceled its meeting to approve a handful of licenses saying in part, “OCM is working hard to process this major backlog of applications.”  While in Buffalo, Governor Kathy Hochul expressed her frustration with the rollout and said she had a part in the board canceling its meeting.

Get ready to loosen your wallets and your belts.  Girls Scout Cookies are on their way.  Whether you enjoy Thin Mints, Adventurefuls, Caramel deLites, Peanut Butter Patties, Peanut Butter Sandwiches, Lemonades, Toast-Yays, or Trefoils, all varieties will be $6 per package and 100% of all proceeds stay local within Girl Scouts of WNY.  To purchase cookies you can reach out to a registered Girl Scout or visit the Girl Scout website here to find out where you can purchase cookies.

New batches of your favorite local maple syrup may be hitting the shelf a little early this year, thanks to the warm winter forcing local farmers to start production a few weeks sooner than normal.  It’s already that time of year for Merle Maple in Attica.  Time to start harvesting the sap from their thousands of maple trees. Greg Zimpfer, who has worked at Merle Maple for 40 years, says they usually start tapping trees in late February or early March.  He also says the Maple Syrup and other products will taste just as good this year.

Michael Sweet

On 1/26/2024, Michael A. Sweet, 37, of Batavia, NY was arrested and charged with Grand Larceny 4th degree. Sweet allegedly took payment to complete renovations at a residence in the City of Batavia, but never completed the work. Sweet was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia City Court on 2/6/2024.

On 1/29/2024, Trace G. Brewer, 23, of Batavia, NY, was arrested on an arrest warrant for Petit Larceny and Conspiracy 6th degree. It’s alleged that Brewer and another person stole merchandise from the 7-Eleven store on East Main Street. Brewer was arraigned in CAP Court and released. He is due in Batavia City Court at a later date.

On 1/25/2024, Nicole K. Dell, 38, of Silver Springs, NY, was arrested on an arrest warrant. Dell was initially arrested on 5/23/2022 and charged with DWI. The warrant was issued after she allegedly failed to appear in court. Dell was arraigned in CAP Court and released. She is due in Batavia City Court at a later date.

On 1/26/2024, Jacob J. Frayne, 26, of Darien, NY, was arrested and charged with Aggravated DWI. Frayne was arrested after a traffic stop on Pearl Street, where he was allegedly found to be operating a vehicle while intoxicated by alcohol. He was additionally charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle 3rd degree. Frayne was issued appearance tickets and is scheduled to appear in Batavia City Court on 2/7/2024.

On 1/28/2024, Takari G. Lang-Smith, 22, of Batavia, NY, was arrested and chaged with DWI. Lang-Smith was arrested following a traffic stop where he was allegedly found to be operating a vehicle while intoxicated. He was issued several tickets and is due in Batavia City Court on 2/6/2024.

On 1/20/2024, Richard M. Fuhry, 42, of Brockport, NY, was arrested and charged with DWI. Fuhry was arrested after police were called to the area of North Park and Ross Street for the report of people fighting in the street. Fuhry, who was allegedly involved in the fight, was located operating a vehicle, on Seneca Avenue. He was allegedly found to be intoxicated and was arrested. Fuhry was issued several tickets and released. He is due in court on 2/7/2024.

On 1/22/2024, Brian J. Hawkins, 44, of Olean, NY, was arrested on two warrants out of Batavia City Court. The first was a bench warrant related to an incident in 2019 where he allegedly provided alcohol to a person under the age of 21. The second warrant was an arrest warrant for Bail Jumping 3rd degree. Hawkins was arraigned in CAP Court and is due in Batavia City Court at a later date.

On 1/22/2024, Tanika N. Avant, 22, of Batavia, NY, was arrested on a bench warrant out of Batavia City Court. The warrant stems from an incident in April of 2023, where she was charged with two counts of Harassment 2nd degree and one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child after a disturbance call on Bank Street. Avant was arraigned in Batavia City Court and remanded to the Genesee County Jail. She was scheduled to appear back in court on 1/25/2024.

IN OTHER NEWS…

33-year-old Dennis Jones of Fort Lauderdale, Florida has been convicted in Rochester and sentenced to serve 57 months in prison. From December 2021 through March 2022, Jones and three others drove from Florida to Rochester for the purpose of stealing purses from unoccupied vehicles in gym parking lots, hiking trails and residential neighborhoods. They used stolen driver’s licenses to cash stolen checks totaling over $55,000 at local banks. The other three defendants are already serving their prison terms.

Rochester police are continuing to look into the tragic death of a one-year-old child in their city. The 13-month-old girl was found unresponsive and not breathing at the Chatham Gardens apartment complex Tuesday. The girl was later pronounced dead at Rochester General Hospital. The cause of her death remains under investigation.

Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that Department of Motor Vehicles investigators last year recovered 286 stolen vehicles valued at nearly $8.6 million and another $152,000 in stolen auto parts, as the State ramps up efforts to crack down on skyrocketing auto thefts. The recoveries are up 19% from the $7.3 million recovered in 2022, and a 67% increase from the $5.2 million recovered in 2021. In addition to the 286 vehicles recovered, 29 of which were from Western NY, DMV investigators recovered 157 auto parts, nearly twice the number of parts recovered in 2022.

New York State is awarding $100 million to 50 school districts, including many in our region, to help support efforts to address learning loss during the COVID-19 pandemic. The districts in Western New York that are receiving a portion of these funds include Buffalo, Tonawanda, and also Erie-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES. Governor Hochul says the state is making this investment to ensure students are on the path to success. She added that the money would also help support the mental health of students by providing them with critical resources.

Kerisa Schmitt

An Erie County woman has been arraigned after being accused of abusing more than 150 animals. The District Attorney’s Office says 24-year-old Kerisa Schmitt had animals such as chickens, dogs, goats and rabbits living in horrific conditions on her property in Cheektowaga. The animals also did not have access to food and water at the time they were rescued back in December. Schmitt is currently banned from owning any animals and is due back in court February 29th.

The state Division of Consumer Protection has issued some tips to help New Yorkers avoid scams during tax season. The agency recommends filing early using e-file and to request a direct deposit of your refund so that identity thieves have less of an opportunity to claim it. If you choose to mail in your return, do so from a secure location like the post office instead of leaving it in your home mailbox. If you want to use a tax preparer, research that person and make sure they’re willing to sign your return.

Josh Allen

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has traded in his football helmet for golf clubs today. Allen is set to take part in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California that runs today and tomorrow. Allen will be joined by former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, current New York Jets QB Aaron Rodgers and NFL Hall of Famer Steve Young. Coverage of the tournament will air on both the Golf Channel and ESPN plus.

ELSEWHERE…

Alec Baldwin

Alec Baldwin is pleading not guilty to a shooting charge on the “Rust” movie set in 2021. Baldwin plead not guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins who was fatally shot during filming on the New Mexico set. Hutchins died after Baldwin was involved in a rehearsal where the gun he was using fired with a real bullet. Initial charges were dropped after Baldwin’s lawyers maintained he never actually pulled the trigger. Baldwin was indicted by a grand jury on the latest charge on January 19th.

President Biden’s lead over former President Trump is increasing in the polls. That’s according to a new Quinnipiac University poll that shows Biden leading Trump 50 to 44 percent in a hypothetical general election matchup. A December poll showed Biden receiving 47% support from registered voters and Trump securing 46%.

The Federal Reserve is holding interest rates at their highest level as consumer confidence improves and inflation slows. Fed Chair Jerome Powell told reporters, however, the central bank needs to see more evidence inflation is easing before cutting back rates. He said inflation is still too high and the path forward is “uncertain.” The Fed is aiming to bring inflation down to two-percent.

February 1 in history…

Garrett Morris and the Saturday Night Live cast

…In 1937, Garrett Morris was born (happy 87th!) He is best known for his work on “Saturday Night Live.”

Pauly Shore, age 8

…In 1968, Actor and comedian Pauly Shore was born. (Happy 56th!) His credits include the TV series “Minding the Store” and the films “Son-In-Law,” “Encino Man” and “Bio-Dome.”

Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson, moments before the famed ‘wardrobe malfunction’ in 2004

…In 2004, Janet Jackson had a “wardrobe malfunction” in her appearance with Justin Timberlake during the halftime of Super Bowl XXXVIII.

A Rochester man who police said shot and killed another man in front of his family was sentenced Tuesday.  36 year old Jerrod Dozier was sentenced to 22 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter, according to prosecutors.  Police said Dozier shot 27 year old Terry Howard multiple times Nov. 12, 2022 while Howard sat in the passenger seat of a vehicle parked in a driveway on Norton Street.  Howard’s wife and kids were also in the vehicle but were not shot.  Dozier was arrested the next day. He pleaded guilty Nov. 22 to first-degree manslaughter.

Genesee County Sheriffs are investigating a break in at a gun shop in Oakfield.  In the early morning on Friday, a caller, using security cameras, observed individuals in hoodies in a gun shop on Lockport Road, and called law enforcement while continuing to monitor their activities.  The individuals fled the store before police arrived.  The owner and police have not released if anything was stolen from the store.  The perpetrators are still at large. 

New York Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado visited Western New York on Tuesday.  Gov. Kathy Hochul recently tasked Delgado with leading the new Office of Service and Civic Engagement.  The lieutenant governor’s first stop was SUNY Geneseo to learn about the university’s students’ work in the community.  Then, Delgado visited the Veterans Outreach Center in Rochester, where he learned how Rochester is supporting those who served.  Delgado said he believes the new office can help connect both younger and older generations.

Police are investigating the death of a toddler on the city of Rochester’s north side.  Officers responded to the Chatham Gardens apartment complex on Kelly Street around noon Tuesday for a report of a 1-year-old not breathing.  Firefighters were rushing the child into an ambulance while attempting lifesaving measures when police arrived.  The child was taken to Rochester General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.  The Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office is working to determine the cause of death.

According to a January 12 internal memo from the Department of Civil Service, New York State is looking to make it easier for migrant workers to be hired for state jobs.  The memo was confirmed by a spokesperson for Governor Kathy Hochul.  It says that “State agencies have identified approximately 4,000 positions… that can potentially be filled by these individuals and others.”  If this initiative was implemented, it would lessen the amount of required job qualifications for temporary positions with the State.  The memo states many of these positions “are in hard-to-recruit, entry level titles.”

Governor Kathy Hochul announced today that DMV investigators recovered 286 stolen vehicles valued at nearly $8.6 million and another $152,000 in stolen auto parts in 2023, as the State ramps up efforts to crack down on skyrocketing auto thefts. The recoveries are up 19 percent from the $7.3 million recovered in 2022, and a 67 percent increase from the $5.2 million recovered in 2021. In addition to the 286 vehicles recovered, 29 of which were from Western NY, DMV investigators recovered 157 auto parts, nearly twice the number of parts recovered in 2022.

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office is announcing that Deputy Sheriff Chad Cummings, a nine-year member, has been named Officer of the Year. Deputy Cummings is noted as a leader in civil enforcement, considered one of the most dangerous duties a Deputy performs. He always accepts special assignments and has regularly taken on additional duties.

File photo of one of many potholes on the streets.

Anyone who has spent time driving lately already knows that pothole season has started. Triple A dispatchers tell us that the early freeze and thaw caused the potholes to open up earlier this year than normal. They respond to thousands of tire-related calls each month and say that one of the biggest culprits is potholes. In 2022 nearly 2 in 10 drivers had to get their vehicles repaired after hitting a pothole. The average cost of repair was over $400 and prices continue to rise.

Some General Motors employees in the region are going to be receiving profit-sharing payments worth over $12,000. The money will go to United Auto Workers members at plants in both Lockport and Tonawanda. GM says it wants to reward its employees who have had a major role in the company’s success. These payments will be distributed in $250 increments.

Dan DeWolf

Flags are going to be lowered to half-staff across New York State today in honor of a fallen firefighter from Wayne County. Dan DeWolf, who was a member of the Fairville Volunteer Fire Department, died in the line of duty earlier this month. DeWolf went into cardiac arrest while at the scene of a house fire and passed away at the age of 52. DeWolf spent 32 years as a member of the department and also served time as its chief.

Organizers of the Rochester Lilac Festival have announced when the very popular event is going to be taking place this year. It is scheduled to run from May 10th through the 19th and over 500,000 visitors are expected to attend. In the aftermath of a few incidents that happened last year, there will be increased safety measures in place such as additional fencing and extra security. For more information, head to rochesterevents.com.

The Niagara Falls Police Department has announced the results of a major drug bust in the city. Authorities say they seized crack cocaine, crystal meth, fentanyl, suboxone strips and cash after executing a search warrant at a home on Buffalo Avenue last week. Charges are going to be filed once the results of lab tests come back.

Troy Parker (center) leaves the courtroom yesterday after being found guilty of murder. (13WHAM Photo)

A jury has issued its verdict in the murder trial of Troy Parker. Yesterday, Parker was found guilty of brutally killing Fantasia Stone at an address in Rochester last year by setting her on fire. The jury reached its decision in roughly 20 minutes after the defense and prosecution gave their closing arguments. Prosecutors say that Parker was motivated to carry out the killing by drugs and money. He’s facing decades in prison when he’s sentenced February 28th.

Mifepristone

Governor Hochul is calling on the United States Supreme Court to protect access to an abortion medication. The drug, called mifepristone, has been used by millions of people over the last two decades. A lower court ruling has been handed down limiting the use of this medication; something the governor says undermines the rights of states to provide adequate health care services. New York already has a five-year supply of a similar abortion drug named misoprostol.

Bobby Babich

The Buffalo Bills have named the man who is going to be serving as the team’s new defensive coordinator. Bobby Babich, who has been with the Bills since 2017, is being promoted to the role after working the last two years as linebackers coach. However, there’s no word yet if he’ll be calling the plays on game day. As you know, this past season, head coach Sean McDermott took on those duties. Buffalo’s season came to an end earlier this month with a playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

ELSEWHERE…

The state Senate’s transportation committee has started debate on legislation aimed at improving limousine safety. One measure calls for limos to be removed from the road after 10 years or 350,000 miles. Another bill would extend the state limousine passenger task force and allow members to work through the end of 2025. Limo safety has been a major topic at the Capitol since a crash in Schoharie back in October 2018 took the lives of 20 people.

Universal Epic Universe

Universal Orlando Resort is unveiling the first details about Florida’s next theme park. Universal Epic Universe is set to open next year and will feature five new lands — Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Celestial Park and Dark Universe. Guests will enter through Celestial Park which will feature mythological-inspired architecture and a dual-launch racing coaster. Meanwhile, Dark Universe is inspired by classic Universal Monsters characters like Frankenstein’s Monster and Dracula. Epic Universe will also be the home of the Universal Helios Grand Hotel that will have 500 rooms and unique views of the park.

Amyloid beta protein destruction of the brain is evident on the right.

Rare cases of early-onset dementia symptoms could be connected to a now-discontinued human growth hormone medical treatment. A study published in the journal Nature Medicine suggests that five adults may have received the treatment decades ago as children. The research presents the first reported evidence of Alzheimer’s disease in living people having been medically acquired. In those cases, researchers believe the early-onset dementia symptoms resulted from transmission of amyloid beta protein, which is a key part of Alzheimer’s disease when it forms plaques in the brain.

The Mega Millions jackpot keeps growing with no big winner Tuesday night. Friday’s prize now stands at $333 million, with the cash option working out to about $160 million. The odds of winning the grand prize are roughly one in 302 million. Please play responsibly.

Today is Wednesday, Jan. 31, the 31st day of 2024 with 335 to follow.

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

January 31 in history…

All-Star Nolan at age 11

…In 1947, baseball Hall of Fame member Nolan Ryan was born (happy 77th!)

Justin Timberlake, age 12

…In 1981, Justin Timberlake was born (happy 43rd!)

Cher performing the National Anthem, 1999

…In 1999, Cher sang the U.S. national anthem at Super Bowl XXXIII.

GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare plans to host its second annual career exploration event for local students interested in healthcare career pathways and opportunities. Approximately 600 students in grades 8-12 from 28 schools will gather at Genesee Community College on March 22, to connect with various healthcare businesses and organizations to learn about careers in healthcare and science-related fields throughout the GLOW region.  GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare will provide the healthcare sector with the opportunity to meet and recruit its future workforce. Participants include representatives from hospitals and health systems and those in nursing, mental health, social services and first responders. Attendees also will be able to explore educational pathways in the healthcare sector through BOCES and local colleges and universities.

New rules are about to go into place that will make a lot of changes necessary for the Genesee County Animal Shelter.  Companion Animal Law will force the Shelter to update its HVAC system to have separate systems for dogs and cats and keep the temperature set between 60 and 80 degrees at all times.  Also they have to build larger kennels for dogs and cats, separate washing facilities for both dogs and cats, additional wash sinks for volunteers, and daylighting for diurnal lighting.  The updates are expected to cost quite a lot and the shelter is hoping to get a grant of 500K.  Other changes are how the animals activities are tracked with logs for interactions and regulations for how much noise there is in the shelter.

Monroe Community College is moving forward with its plan, unveiled in September, to equip campus security officers with long guns.  At a MCC Board of Trustees meeting, school officials said having officers with patrol rifles would allow for a swifter, more effective response if someone intending to do harm comes on campus. They say they’ve learned from other incidents around the country that seconds count.  Campus Safety Chief Stephen Wise said that handguns had a limited range, between 20 and 30 yards, and long guns would allow campus safety officers to engage threats from hundreds of yards away.  According to MCC officials, officers would not carry the guns. They would be kept in a secure location where officers could get them in an active shooter or mass casualty situation.  The college notified faculty of the decision on Monday.

Rochester police are saying that they are understaffed and it’s affecting their day to day operations.  The department is currently down more than 90 officers.  With fewer officers on hand it means longer response times for 911 calls and fewer investigators to work crime scenes or follow up when crimes are committed.   Current officers have felt the pinch. Many of them have been forced to stay overtime and work double shifts.  The officer shortage dates back several years to the “Defund the Police” movement and cancellation of a police academy class which has resulted in a higher murder rate especially in poorer areas and higher crime rates across the city.  

It’s something most of us have already experienced firsthand while on the road, pothole season in Western New York is already off and running.  AAA Emergency Road Service Dispatcher Dan Fisher, not to be confused with the former owner of WBTA, said that the early freeze and thaw caused the potholes to open up earlier this year.  AAA of Western and Central New York responds to thousands of tire-related calls each month and says that one of the biggest culprits is potholes.  In 2022 nearly 2 in 10 drivers had to get their vehicles repaired after hitting a pothole. The average cost of repair was over $400 and prices continue to rise.

Another Trash Removal service wants your business.  Dirty Dan’s Junk and Trash Removal started in June with Dan King wanting to help people get rid of their waste after experiencing trash pickup delays and neighbors missing having their cans emptied.  For junk removal, King says it’s $100 per load for a one time pick up of junk. Trash pick-up is $35 per month and includes 10 bags with 2 bulk items and recycling per week. He says he picks up junk and trash areawide. Dirty Dans Junk and Trash Removal also offers small moving services.  His fiance answers the phone and sets up appointments and sometimes his 2 year old rides along.

File photo of damaged cell phone; this one is probably broken beyond repair!

Attorney General Letitia James is reminding residents that the New York State Digital Fair Repair Act recently went into effect statewide, making repairs of cell phones, tablets, and other electronics simpler and more affordable. The law makes it easier to get electronics repaired at independent shops or do repairs at home by requiring manufacturers that do business in New York to make certain documents, tools, and parts widely available. Limited access to those materials meant fewer options for repairs; resulting in higher prices and longer wait times. Businesses that fail to follow the new rules could face civil penalties.

Registration for the 2024 Batavia Youth Baseball Season is now open until March 2nd. Divisions available in our House League are:

T-Ball (Ages 4-6)
Coach Pitch (Ages 7-8)
Minor Division (Ages 9-10)
Majors Division (Ages 11-12)
Any youth ages 4-12 interested in playing baseball can register @ https://www.nybataviayouthbaseball.com/

The Batavia Youth Baseball Board would like to welcome our new Board of Directors for 2024:
Kevin Rogers(President), Jenn Pacino-Lendvay(Vice President), Beth Kemp(Secretary), Jason Crater(Treasurer), Jose Arroyo, Dave D’Amico, Steve Fancher, Pat Fava, Pam Martin, Kristine McCarthy, James Patric, and Mark Sacheli.

The most recently released data provides us with some good news as it shows the spread of the flu appears to be on the decline across our region. During the week ending January 20th, Monroe County had the highest number of cases with 528; Erie County had the second highest number of cases with 201. Niagara County was third with 99 infections and Ontario County had 61. Since the beginning of flu season, over 193,000 residents statewide have contracted the illness.

Troy Parker in the courtroom (13WHAM Photo)

Closing arguments are expected to be heard today in the murder trial of Troy Parker. Yesterday, jurors saw footage of Parker being questioned by authorities after he allegedly killed Fantasia Stone by setting her on fire in Rochester last year. The two were dating at the time, and had reportedly been involved in an argument before Stone’s death. Parker’s attorney continues to say his client is innocent.

Congressman Higgins

Congressman Brian Higgins has announced a grant program that’ll provide a needed boost to local fire departments. The “Assistance for Firefighters Grant” will give first responders funds to modernize equipment and also train new members. Higgins says it’s important to make sure that emergency crews have all necessary tools available at their disposal so they can help the communities they serve. The deadline to apply for this program is March 8th.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is pledging federal action to help area kids get access to RSV vaccine. Immunizations are recommended for all babies that are born during colder months and the shot promises to lower their risk of being hospitalized for RSV by 80%. Currently, manufacturers say there is a shortage of this drug. Schumer is calling on the FDA and CDC to solve this problem.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is calling on his colleagues in Congress to renew the Undetectable Firearms Act. Schumer made that request during a visit to Albany yesterday. The legislation was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan back in 1988 and its currently scheduled to expire in March. Schumer believes if that happens, gun crimes across the country will rise. A measure to extend the UFA was put into the Defense Authorization Act but was removed by House Republicans.

ELSEWHERE…

Amelia Earhart and a sonar image of what is believed to be her plane at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean about 100 miles from Howland Island. 

Location of Howland Island

A pilot and explorer says he found Amelia Earhart’s long-lost plane. CEO of Deep Sea Vision Tony Romeo sold commercial real estate to fund his deep-sea exploration of the Pacific Ocean last year. The former US Air Force intelligence officer used sonar technology to inspect the ocean floor in the area Earhart is suspected to have crashed in 1937. His team reviewed the data in December and say they found a shocking discovery: a blurry plane-like shape Romeo believes to be Earhart’s. It was taken about halfway between Australia and Hawaii.

Jason Kelce and The Feast of Bacchus.

A New York City man is going viral for comparing memorable sports photographs to works of art. According to The New York Times, LJ Rader, who lives on the Upper East Side, has 365-thousand followers on X and Instagram. The NFL approached him about Jason Kelce’s shirtless, beer-drinking antics in the freezing cold during the Kansas City Chiefs-Buffalo Bills game earlier this month. Rader’s choice was the 17th Century The Feast of Bacchus, a piece by the Dutch painter Phillips Kornick that depicts the Greek God of wine, shirtless and in a wine-induced haze. The NFL’s response was “Nailed it.” Rader grew up in Katonah and describes himself as a self-taught art enthusiast.

Tom Johnson

Writer and comedian Tom Johnson has died at the age of 55. His family confirmed that Johnson died at his Los Angeles home on January 14th. Johnson wrote more than one-thousand episodes for “The Daily Show” and won Emmy Awards and Peabody Awards for his work. His other writing credits include the Grammy Awards, “Comedy Central Roast” and “Talk Show with Spike Feresten,” Fox network’s longest-running late night show. Johnson’s family said in a statement Friday that he died “peacefully and unexpectedly.” A cause of death wasn’t given.

Today is Tuesday, Jan. 30, the 30th day of 2025 with 336 to follow.

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

January 30 in history…

Phil Collins, age 13

…In 1951, Phil Collins was born (happy 73rd!).

Sir Elton with The Queen in 1998

…In 1998 Elton John received his knighthood.

Image from the Charles Schwab commercial that featured Ringo in 2000.

…In 2000, Ringo Starr was featured in a commercial for the investment broker Charles Schwab, which aired during the Super Bowl.

It was an early morning surprise that brought together members of the Pavilion Fire Department and a family on Sparks Road.  The call for a 23-year-old going into labor for her first time came into Genesee County dispatch about 2:30a.m., last Sunday. Chief Jason Everett, Firefighter Tom Garlock, Certified First Responder Chris Holley and Firefighter Don Roblee all responded to the call along with Mercy Ambulance.  That morning, the Pavilion Fire Department was without one of their most experienced members, Rescue Squad Lieutenant Amanda Holley.  She was working at her regular job as an RN in the labor and delivery department at Millard Fillmore Suburban.  Everett, who has been a Medic for 33 years, says he was a little nervous the first 30 seconds. He says being calm and thinking of the steps in his training immediately came to mind. Especially since it’s a training they do not do often.  Baby Cinderella was born at 2:55a.m.

A federal grand jury has indicted a Buffalo man for selling fentanyl which killed a small child.  23 year old Javonte Holloway is charged with distribution of controlled substances causing death and trafficking in counterfeit drugs causing death. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum of life.  It is alleged that on December 2nd of 2022, Holloway distributed fentanyl, which  caused the death of a toddler. In addition, Holloway sold counterfeit M-30 oxycodone hydrochloride pills containing fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl. 

The Firing Pin in Bergen, hosted nearly 1,000 people at an eight-hour firearm safety class at the Kodak Center on West Ridge Road in Rochester on Sunday. Many students took the class in pursuit of a New York state pistol permit. Under the 2022 Concealed Carry Improvement Act, signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, pistol permit applicants are required to attend 18 hours of firearms safety training, as well as submit to a months-long background check.  The Firing Pin said it’s offering a discount to attendees of Sunday’s class so they can complete the remaining 10 hours of the required course.

Postal inspectors are offering a $150,000 reward for information after a letter carrier was robbed in Rochester earlier this month.  According to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the worker was robbed on Brambury Drive shortly before 5 p.m. Jan. 9.  The suspect reportedly got in a dark-colored SUV that was waiting alongside State Route 104 and fled. No further information about the suspect has been released.  Inspectors are investigating several robberies of United State Postal Service carriers throughout Monroe County over the last year.

It’s the gift that keeps on giving.  A low moment has turned into overwhelming support for Bills kicker Tyler Bass.  With donations for the Ten Lives Club nearing $350,000, the organization wanted to honor Bass in a unique way, making him into an ice sculpture made by Eric Jones.  The sculpture features both Allen and Bass next to a cat, all sponsored by Cellino Plumbing. Dozens gathered for a big surprise unveiling Saturday afternoon.

13WHAM file photo of Troy Parker in court last Monday, 1/22/24.

The prosecution could be wrapping up its case soon in the murder trial of Troy Parker. He’s the man accused of killing Fantasia Stone last year by setting her on fire at an address in Rochester. On Friday, Parker’s ex-girlfriend testified she saw him the night Stone lost her life and that she ended up bringing him home the next day. There is no word yet if Parker is going to take the stand in his own defense.

Serious legal trouble for a Buffalo man; it’s alleged he committed a disturbing crime. Police say 31-year-old David McKeever is accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl. The two reportedly met on a dating site back in July and the encounter between them happened shortly after. McKeever was later identified as a suspect following a complaint filed by the girl’s mother and is charged with rape and child endangerment.

According to Triple A this morning, local drivers are feeling a little bit of relief at the gas pumps. The national average cost for a gallon of regular fuel is now $3.11. The state average is $3.26. In Batavia, the average price calculates out to $3.29; that’s down 12 cents from a month ago and 15 cents from a year ago today.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has introduced new legislation that would encourage grocery stores to build in underserved communities. The Healthy Food Financing Initiative Reauthorization Act bill would provide $50 million in federal funding to grocery stores to build in areas like the East Side of Buffalo. Organizations like Community Action say that the struggle with food insecurity is real. The organization has been giving away food all week to neighbors in need — food they would not receive otherwise. Last Friday, they ran out of food within 27 minutes of opening.

“Whose the good boy??” dog calmly receives anti-rabies vaccination – file photo

The Genesee County Health Department will be hosting an anti-rabies immunization clinic at no charge Thursday, February 8th from 4:00pm until 6:00pm 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 and each must be leashed or crated and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal. Limit 4 pets per car please.

File photo of Brian Higgins

In just a few days, people who live in the 26th Congressional District are not going to have any representation on Capitol Hill. That’s because Congressman Brian Higgins is resigning Friday so he can become the new president and CEO of Shea’s Performing Arts Center. The Democrat said back in November he was stepping down in part due to the partisan nature of Congress. It’ll be up to Governor Hochul to set the date for a special election to pick Higgins’ replacement.

2021 photo of former Governor Cuomo at the time of his resignation.

New York State has agreed to implement several reforms as part of a settlement with the US Department of Justice over Andrew Cuomo’s sexual harassment of women while he was in office as Governor. The Justice Department investigation found a pattern of sexual misconduct by Cuomo and said he subjected at least 13 state employees to a hostile work environment. The investigation found that Cuomo’s staffers failed to adequately report allegations and retaliated against four women who raised complaints. In a statement, Governor Hochul said she looks forward to continuing to reform the state’s procedures for addressing and preventing sexual harassment and retaliation. Cuomo’s attorneys deny any harassment and say the investigation is purely political. He is currently suing Attorney General Letitia James for her records of the interviews she did during the investigation.

New York State’s climate plan, which includes phasing out the state’s reliance on natural gas, continues to face criticism. Experts say changing every household to electric only would cost $30,000 to $40,000 per home. Add to that the push to buy electric cars which would charge mostly at night and school districts needing to buy electric school buses for 3 times the cost and also have them charge every night. Critics claim the electrical grid in its current form can’t handle all that with fossil fuels. New York has a statewide goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 by switching all electricity production to solar and wind power by 2040. However, solar panels don’t work at night and wind turbines are not reliable.

Tax season is underway, and the state Department of Taxation and Finance is reminding New Yorkers they can file their returns for free. In order to qualify, people must meet income and other qualifications to send in their federal and state returns at no cost. It’s estimated that free filing saves people hundreds of dollars a year, and this year’s deadline is midnight on April 15th. For more information, head to tax.ny.gov.

Joe Brady

The Buffalo Bills have decided to officially promote Joe Brady to the role of offensive coordinator. Brady had taken over the job on an interim basis when Ken Dorsey was fired this past November. Brady helped the Bills go on a six-game winning streak that was snapped when the team lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs. Buffalo has also reportedly interviewed former Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell to fill the same role for the Bills.

ELSEWHERE…

Critical federal funding is coming to New York State to cover COVID costs. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced more than $157 million in FEMA money to reimburse the state for emergency proactive measures taken to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The state utilized equipment, materials, and contracts to implement emergency measures to reduce and prevent the virus’ spread. This allowed testing center operations to run smoothly and safely, ensuring that thousands of New Yorkers could be tested to minimize the spread of the virus.

File photo of unidentified young boy with measles.

A doctor with the Yale School of Medicine says he’s concerned about recent cases of measles in Pennsylvania, Virginia and now Georgia. Dr. Thomas Murray focuses on infectious diseases and global health. He says about 90% of susceptible people who are exposed to measles will come down with the highly contagious virus. It was eliminated from the U.S. in 2000, but has been making a comeback as childhood vaccination rates fall below the threshold in some areas. Murray says measles spreads when unvaccinated people travel abroad, become infected and return to the United States.

Unidentified woman in file photo appears to have a headache.

A new study claims an oncoming migraine can be predicted. The study published in the journal “Neurology,” claimed a change in sleep quality and energy the day before the migraines were clear indicators. A 2018 study showed that chronic migraines are the leading cause of disability in people under the age of 50. The study authors used electronic diaries to track over 470 people’s behavior and symptoms over two weeks.

Unidentified location and undated file photo but unmistakably the Budweiser Clydesdale horses

The Clydesdales are coming back to the Super Bowl. St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch has released a 15-second video clip teasing the return of the trademark Budweiser draft horses. The beer company stopped airing commercials with the horses during the Super Bowl three years ago as it said it wanted to raise awareness about the COVID-19 vaccine along with the Ad Council. That marked the first time in nearly 40 years that the international brewer had skipped the Super Bowl. The teaser video shows the world-famous horses emerging from their stables in a blizzard. The Super Bowl airs February 11th on CBS, Paramount Plus and Nickelodeon.

Today is Monday, Jan. 29, the 29th day of 2024 with 337 to follow.

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

January 29 in history…

Tom Selleck, age 9

…In 1945, Tom Selleck was born (happy 79th!)

Oprah, age 9

…In 1954, TV personality Oprah Winfrey was born (happy 70th!)

Sara Gilbert, age 5

…In 1975, actor Sara Gilbert was born (happy 49th!)

…In 1998, a top tobacco company executive admitted under oath to Congress for the first time that cigarettes are dangerous. The testimony by RJR Nabisco chairman and CEO Steven Goldstone came at a hearing where industry leaders pushed Congress to enact an over 368-billion dollar deal giving them partial immunity from future lawsuits.

Bob Woodruff spends time with his children during recovery. (ABC Photo)

…In 2006, ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff and an ABC cameraman were seriously injured after a roadside bomb exploded near the Iraqi town of Taji. Both men suffered head injuries in the blast and were taken to a U.S. military hospital in Iraq.

New York State has agreed to implement several reforms as part of a settlement with the US Department of Justice over Andrew Cuomo’s sexual harassment of women while he was in office as Governor.  The Justice Department investigation found a pattern of sexual misconduct by Cuomo and said he subjected at least 13 state employees to a sexually hostile work environment. It said Cuomo’s staffers failed to adequately report allegations and retaliated against four women who raised complaints.  In a statement, Kathy Hochul said she looks forward to continuing to reform the state’s procedures for addressing and preventing sexual harassment and retaliation.  Cuomo’s attorneys deny any harassment and say the investigation is purely political.  Cuomo is currently suing Attorney General Letitia James for her records of the interviews she did during the investigation.

Stinky situation in Rochester.  Roughly 120,000 gallons of sewage was dumped into the Genesee River Friday, according to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.  The discharge reportedly happened along East River Road in Henrietta.  A “New York Sewage Pollution Right to Know” alert says the sewer system reached its capacity due to rainfall following heavy snow melt.  The DEC said the sewage was “partially treated” with a lime disinfectant.

On Friday, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced new legislation that would encourage grocery stores to build in underserved communities.  The Healthy Food Financing Initiative Reauthorization Act bill would provide $50 million in federal funding to grocery stores to build in areas like the East Side of Buffalo.  Organizations like Community Action say that the struggle with food insecurity is real.  The organization has been giving away food all week to neighbors in need — food they would not receive otherwise.  On Friday, they ran out of food within 27 minutes of opening.

The community came together to help one food pantry here in Batavia.  The Salvation Army food pantry ran out of shelf stable foods on Wednesday.  Knowing that more people needed food they decided to post pictures of their empty shelves on Facebook and challenge people to give 10 dollars each, hoping for 500 dollars to buy more food.  They raised 2,300.  The Salvation Army was able to fill 10 shopping carts with food and a good Samaritan offered to let them use his truck to transport and unload at the pantry.  Before the Pandemic, they were seeing 15-25 families a month. Now they are seeing 25-35 families every day that need food.

One individual is in custody facing criminal charges after a report of menacing involving a handgun led to an hours-long standoff in the City of Rochester’s Beechwood neighborhood.  Around 10 p.m. Thursday, officers were in the neighborhood on East Main Street near Culver Road to investigate the call. The area was closed as officers surrounded a home on the street for several hours.  One person was taken into custody. A BB gun was recovered at the scene. Officers said the individual will be charged.

Three former employees of Batavia Downs have filed a lawsuit against Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. and two supervisors, alleging sexual harassment and wage theft.  The suit was filed in Genesee County on Wednesday. It names as plaintiffs, Tara Sweet of Elba, Corrine Armison of Batavia, and Brooklynn Cline of Belmont.  All three are claiming wage theft by supervisors keeping a share of pooled tips, and Sweet is making allegations of sexual harassment.  The defendants, besides Batavia Downs and WROTB, are Scott Kiedrowski, chief operating officer, and Daniel Wood, director of security.  Sweet was fired by Batavia Downs on Nov. 16. Armison and Cline both quit their jobs in the spring.

Tops Friendly Markets has announced the launch of a brand-new specialty pharmacy program. Its goal is to provide more services to people who are living with complex and chronic medical conditions. Patients will be able to access specialty medications at their neighborhood store to treat issues such as hepatitis, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and Crohn’s Disease. More details on this initiative can be found by visiting topsmarkets.com.

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday blasted his Democratic colleagues over their handling of the ongoing migrant crisis.  Writing an op-ed in The Hill, Cuomo likened the Democrats’ current strategy to that of a failing NFL team.  The party, Cuomo said, suffers from a “lack of logic” in its approach to such a critical issue.  He said that local leaders can be blamed by the public and shouldn’t ignore the problem.  He also said that Former President Trump can’t win the 2024 election but the Democratic Party can lose the election.

New York State’s climate plan, which includes phasing out the state’s reliance on natural gas, continues to face criticism.  Experts say changing every household to electric only would cost 30 to 40 thousand a home.  Add to that the push to buy electric cars which would charge mostly at night and school districts needing to buy electric school buses for 3 times the cost and also have them charge every night.  The electrical grid currently can’t handle all that with fossil fuels.  New York State has a statewide goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 by switching all electricity production to solar and wind power by 2040.  Solar panels don’t work at night and wind turbines are not reliable.  

It has been dubbed the “Mother of all Breaches”.  Cybersecurity researchers discovered a database that contained more than 26 billion leaked data records.  Researchers have called it the biggest data breach found to date.  Just to get a sense of the breach’s scope, the newly discovered database contains over 3,800 folders, each containing records from an individual data breach.  It was discovered that X, Dropbox, LinkedIn, Adobe, Telegram and Canva were breached and usernames and passwords as well as other information about users was leaked.  If you suspect that your information may have been leaked you should immediately change your password on any account that could be affected.  The second thing is to turn on two factor authentication if it is available.