Local News

Buffalo police say a man was arrested on Tuesday afternoon for alleged indecent exposure at Delaware Park.  According to police, 50-year-old Chester Culverhouse of Buffalo has been charged with one count of public lewdness.  Officers responded to a call for indecent exposure in the park near Nottingham Terrace and Meadow Road around 3 p.m. Tuesday. Police say they were able to locate Culverhouse based on the caller’s description. Culverhouse has been released on an appearance ticket.

The release from custody of a St. John Fisher University student charged following an incident that prompted a campus lockdown has led to new calls for changes to New York state’s bail reform law. 19 year old Shalom Mathews who allegedly tried to kidnap and sexually abuse a Fisher staff member at knifepoint in her office last week, is due back in court next month after being arrested twice and then released  first on bail and then the second time on his own recognizance.  Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter released an apology to the professor who was attacked, saying that the release of Matthews within 24 hours of the crime and especially when he has a history of stalking was a failure of justice.  Baxter says he hopes this case will get lawmakers to change the bail laws.

A woman faces charges after she allegedly stole tens of thousands of dollars worth of fragrances from an Ulta Beauty store. 30 year old Raven Walton of Rochester, allegedly stole assorted fragrances totaling over $34k from the Victor location between Dec. 8 and Feb. 7.  Investigators from the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office arrested Walton on Tuesday, charging her with five counts of grand larceny and two counts of burglary.  Police said Walton had previously been banned from all Ulta locations.  Walton is being held in the Ontario County Jail prior to arraignment.

Some local school superintendents are calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to give districts a financial plan so they can follow a state mandate that all school buses must be electric by 2035.  In 2022, Gates Chili became the first school district in Upstate New York to add electric buses to its fleet. The district currently has five of the buses, which are touted as producing lower greenhouse gas emissions than diesel buses.  The buses come with a hefty price tag of up to $400,000 each. Traditional buses cost anywhere from $125,000 to $150,000.  Gananda Superintendent Shawn Van Scoy said while he’s not opposed to the concept of electric school buses, he worries about how smaller districts like his will pay for them.  Hochul announced Tuesday that funding is available for electric bus charging infrastructure on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Critics say the money being offered is a tiny amount compared to the billions changing to electric school buses will cost.

At the GCEDC meeting tomorrow a 120 million dollar expansion to the HP Hood facility will get the yay or nay.  Announced by New York State Governor Kathy Hochul last fall, HP Hood plans to expand its footprint at the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park. The project includes the construction of a 32,500 sq ft expansion to accommodate its automatic storage and retrieval system refrigerated warehouse. The project will also include new batching and processing systems and other upgrades which will allow the company to increase capacity and begin a new production line.  The company is seeking sales tax exemptions estimated at $4.52 million, a property tax abatement estimated at $549,705 based on an incremental increase in assessed value, and a mortgage tax exemption estimated at $536,000.  They estimate that the return will be 16 times what the county gives in incentives and the project will create over 45 new jobs.  

A woman in Buffalo feels like she was taken for a ride, and not on the new mobility scooter she ordered.  Linda Lindell who is physically disabled ordered a mobility scooter from the site, Upright Cane, for 600 dollars.  In the mail she received a 40 dollar cane.  She contacted local news who investigated and found the company had no physical offices, no business address, and phone calls and emails went unanswered.  Since then the website has been taken down.  Also the charity that was listed on the site and the site collected donations for, Friends of Disabled Adults and Children, said they had never had any donations from or done business with Upright Cane.  The Better Business Bureau says when shopping online, make sure you can verify who you are doing business with, and use a payment with some kind of protections just in case.

Tomorrow Batavia City Schools will be conducting a required “Emergency Go Home Drill” for all students except those who are in placements outside the district. The drill is designed to test their response system in the event of an actual emergency. So this means for tomorrow only, students will be dismissed 15 minutes earlier than usual.

The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that 59-year-old Lebert Cleveland of Lancaster, died following a one-vehicle crash in the Town of Yates. Preliminary investigation indicates that on Monday, a tractor-trailer was traveling southbound on County Line Road, when it left the east shoulder of the roadway, coming to rest in the front lawn of a residence. Upon first responders arrival, they found Cleveland unconscious behind the wheel; he was transported to Medina Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Ian Milam

A former teacher in the Spencerport Central School District is facing prison time after pleading guilty to a child pornography charge. Prosecutors say 38-year-old Ian Milam created multiple Snapchat accounts that he used to pose as a teenage boy and engage in explicit conversations with young girls. Milam was a math teacher at Cosgrove Middle School at the time. He’ll be ordered to spend at least five years behind bars when he’s sentenced.

Updated data from the New York State Flu Tracker shows the spread of the virus remains high across the region. During the week ending February 24th, Monroe County led this area in cases with 531, followed by Erie County with 421 cases. Niagara County reported 144 infections; Livingston County had 94, and Ontario County, 70. Doctors say the best way to protect yourself and others from getting sick is to be vaccinated and practice good hygiene.

Lamont Love

Buffalo police have made an arrest in connection with a weekend sexual assault in their city. Authorities claim 34-year-old Lamont Love attacked and sexually abused a woman in Shoshone Park late Sunday night. Love approached the victim while riding a bicycle, and after jumping off, punched her and slammed her to the ground. The woman needed to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Police say Love and the victim don’t know each other.

The Internal Revenue Service is testing out a brand-new free tax program in the Empire State. It is called Direct File and is similar to tax filing software like TurboTax. It’ll be available to users in all 12 pilot states, including New York, beginning on March 12th. But, it’ll only be able to help people who have certain tax situations. Folks who want to see if they’re eligible can do so by visiting directfile.irs.gov.

The Buffalo Sabres will be kicking off a quick two game road trip north the border tonight. The Sabres are set to take on their longtime rivals the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena in Canada. The Sabres last played Sunday when they were defeated by the Winnipeg Jets 5-2. Face-off for this evening’s contest is scheduled for 7:00.

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The federal government says free COVID-19 tests and free Pfizer Paxlovid antiviral medication are ending. The USPS distribution is set to end Friday, March 8th because the virus has slowed considerably. Officials say they have delivered over 1.8 billion free COVID-19 tests to the American people and they could return in the future if the need arises. All pandemic-era doses of Paxlovid are also scheduled to stop being dispensed by pharmacies Friday, following a decision earlier this year by the FDA. You can still get free COVID-19 tests through the National Institutes of Health program called ‘Home Test to Treat.’

The iconic New Jersey restaurant booth featured in HBO’s Sopranos’ finale has brought big bucks at auction. You know the booth, the burgundy one with the yellow formica top where Tony Soprano sat with his family before the screen suddenly went black in 2007. Holsten’s in Bloomfield put the booth up for auction on eBay last week, hoping to get $10,000. But the booth, the divider and plaque that reads, “Reserved for the Sopranos,” went for more than $82,000. More than enough to pay for Holsten’s planned renovations, the reason a lucky buyer is getting a piece of TV history.

Dodge Charger and Challenger

Dodge is going to keep its Charger and Challenger models going with both gas and electric versions. The automaker announced in 2022 that production of the cars would stop, but sales of electric vehicle have been slower than expected. The first EV versions are expected to go on sale before the end of the year, with gas-powered cars hitting the market in 2025.

New details are coming to light on stalking charges filed against the St. John Fisher University student who was arrested in a separate case last week following an hours-long campus lockdown.  According to a felony complaint, 19 year old Shalom Mathews of Brighton is accused of sending hundreds of graphic and disturbing messages through different social media accounts to a former Brighton High School student and a school staff member over the course of several years. One of the victims told police she was still receiving messages as recently as last month.  Mathews is now facing two counts of stalking, in addition to the separate felony charges stemming from an attempted stabbing, kidnapping and sexual assault at St. John Fisher last week. He was released from custody on an appearance ticket.

Police are investigating after two homes were hit by gunfire late Monday night.  The first house on Flint Street was hit just before 8:45 p.m.  When police arrived at the scene, they found evidence of shots being fired, as well as damage to the home.  Inside at the time was a 34- year-old female who did not have any injuries.  Police then got a call about a home on Pullman Avenue hit around 9:30. They found evidence of shots being fired as well as damage to the residence. No one was hurt.  No suspects have been found.

The Erie County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday that a joint surveillance operation led to multiple arrests and the discovery of drugs, cash and guns.  Among those arrested and charged on Friday was 59-year-old Michael Jackson. Sheriff John Garcia said he runs The Groove Nightclub which now operates as a “private club” on Broadway.  38-year-old Antonio Broadus was also arrested and charged.  Multiple guns and large amounts of Cocaine were seized from both their homes and from Jackson’s girlfriend’s home.  Broadus and Jackson face multiple charges that can result in a minimum of 15 years to life or a maximum of 20 years to life.

The Erie County DA’s office has announced that 2 people have been charged with dog fighting.  23-year-old Aveon Lockhart and 24-year-old James Jackson, both of Cheektowaga, were arraigned late last month in Erie County Court.  They are both charged with 3 felony counts of animal fighting, 4 counts of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals and failing to provide proper food for them, and 1 count of possession or sale of animal fighting paraphernalia.  Lockhart and Jackson are accused of training three pit bull mixed breed dogs, two males and one female, for the dogs to engage in animal fighting for amusement or gain. They are also accused of intentionally depriving the dogs of food and medical treatment.

You’re not alone if you were recently kicked out of Meta’s Facebook and Instagram social media platforms.  Hundreds of thousands of users reported that they were kicked off the platforms this morning.  According to downdetector.com, more than 315,000 reports about Facebook being down were made around 10:40 a.m.  Over 30,000 users reported outages for Instagram and more than 8,000 were made for Messenger.  Meta’s newest social networking service, Threads, also experienced an outage.  Facebook’s X account had a post saying they knew about users having difficulty accessing their services and were working on it.

A veteran and Pastor is taking a hike for homeless vets in Niagara Falls.  John Cooper Jr. is both the executive director of Niagara Gospel Mission and a 6-year Army veteran.  In honor of his own unit, the 2nd Battalion 22nd Infantry Regiment, he is rucking, the practice of hiking with a heavy pack on his back, 222 miles for local homeless men, women and veterans.  He started on 2/22, in hopes of raising $2,222 to expand add six more rooms to the Niagara Gospel Mission’s RECON (emergency shelter/rehabilitation) program.  He is just one-third of the way into the ruck, but already surpassed his fund raising goal by over a thousand dollars, with the total now $3,500.  You can donate to John’s mission by following the link at wbtai.com he asks that anybody donating write “222 Ruck” in the memo line on the website.

https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/niagara-gospel-rescue-mission/working-ngm-giving-form

Two separate crashes on the Thruway just a quarter of a mile apart left one driver needing to be airlifted to Strong Memorial Hospital. As of this morning, the driver remains in critical condition. State Police say the collision happened yesterday when that driver rear-ended a tractor-trailer on the highway eastbound at mile-marker 387.2. The other accident occurred at mile-marker 387. A rolled-over tractor-trailer hauling bags of dirt blocked all of the eastbound lanes. The driver of the tractor-trailer was initially trapped, and once freed from the vehicle, was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Both lanes of the road were closed between Exit 48 and Exit 47 for several hours. The cause of the accidents continue to be investigated.

The New York State Thruway Authority is issuing a warning about an ongoing phishing scam. The agency says people are getting messages from scammers who are claiming to represent Tolls by Mail NY. The message says the person has an outstanding balance and directs them to visit nytollservices.com. However, that site isn’t affiliated with Tolls by Mail NY and anyone who gets this notification should delete it. Tolls by Mail NY says it’ll never ask for anyone’s personal information.

13WHAM photo of Timothy Williams in court.

Testimony will continue today in the retrial of the man accused of raping and killing 14-year-old Wendy Jerome in Rochester on Thanksgiving Day 1984. In video captured by police in Florida after arresting him, Timothy Williams could be heard saying “My life is over” and “I should’ve never answered the door.” Retired Rochester Police Investigator John Brennan took the stand yesterday to testify about William’s arrest and to explain how his DNA was collected. Brennan said investigators submitted a preserved DNA sample in April 2019 to the crime lab for testing. The sample testing led to an alleged familial DNA tie, which police then used to narrow down a list of suspects. Williams’ retrial is scheduled to continue today. Although he did not have a warrant, Special Agent Chris Sheppard testified that he gathered multiple beverage containers from Williams’ recycling bin for future DNA testing. Weeks later, Brennan went to Florida to investigate and arrest Williams. Jurors were shown video of Williams in the back of a Florida police car bemoaning “I had a feeling” and “My life is over.” Later, Williams could be seen in an interrogation room talking to himself, saying “I’ll never see my wife again” and “They got me mistaken with somebody else.”

File photo of Governor Hochul

Governor Hochul has provided promising news about addressing crime across our region. While talking about the state’s efforts to bring down shootings and gun crimes she brought up the increase in car thefts and mentioned Buffalo and Rochester as two of the worst cities in America for car thefts after the COVID-19 pandemic. Hochul said the state has taken a similar approach to car thefts as it has gun crimes and they’ve seen results. She noted a higher investment in youth intervention programs as one of the big reasons for this decrease.

The owner of The Groove Lounge in Buffalo is in trouble with the law after being taken into custody on drug charges. Erie County Sheriff John Garcia says 59-year-old Michael Jackson ended up being charged on Friday. Jackson and 38-year-old Antonio Broadus are accused of being involved in drug distribution in Buffalo and throughout the county. Both men are currently in the Erie County Holding Center.

Organizers of the Lilac Festival in Rochester have unveiled part of the musical lineup for this year’s event. Among the artists scheduled to perform include Rochester-native Danielle Ponder as well as other acts such as Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, The Skycoasters and Ghost-Note. The festival starts May 10th at Highland Park and runs through May 19th. For additional details, head to roclilacfest.com.

The Buffalo Sabres are back in action Wednesday in Canada as they try to get back on a winning track. Tomorrow night they’ll take on the Toronto Maple Leafs. Face-off is at 7:00.

The Buffalo Bisons have announced when they’ll be holding national anthem auditions ahead of the upcoming season. Fans interested in performing the Star Spangled Banner and O Canada before a ballgame can audition on Saturday, March 16th at Sahlen Field. Tryouts are open to the public and there are no pre-scheduled times. More details can be found by visiting the team’s website.

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Unidentified children demonstrate one of the best ways to eat peanut butter.

A fundraising event at an Oklahoma public school is going viral after kids licked peanut butter off the feet of fellow students. Kids at Deer Creek High School outside of Oklahoma City licked peanut butter off the feet of fellow students. The Oklahoma Superintendent of Schools is now vowing an investigation, calling the event “filth.” The school released a statement saying the students involved had signed up for the fundraiser. It brought in more than 152-thousand dollars for a coffee shop that employs people with developmental disorders.

Peter Gabriel and Rush Limbaugh

March 5, 2012, Peter Gabriel demanded that his music no longer be incorporated into Rush Limbaugh’s shows, after he learned that the radio personality had played the 1986 hit “Sledgehammer” during his rant about a Georgetown law student’s congressional testimony supporting the Obama administration’s contraception coverage policy.

The man accused of a string of sexual assaults in the Park Avenue neighborhood in 2022 is heading to prison after reaching a guilty plea.  Prosecutors said 27 year old Hayden Cypressi, raped one victim and tried to rape three others, all of whom were strangers to him, in separate attacks between May and October 2022.  Cypressi pleaded guilty today to attempted rape and sexual abuse.  He was sentenced to 18 years in prison, plus 15 years of post-release supervision. He will also have to register as a sex offender.

The stretch of i90 between Batavia and LeRoy was closed down due to an accident around 8 this morning caused by a pickup truck running into the back of a tractor trailer.  Mercy Flight responded with an airlift for the driver of the pickup truck who was trapped in the vehicle.  A Semi trying to stop for the accident also rolled over after jackknifing and animal control was called to help with 2 dogs in that truck.  The driver of the pickup was taken to the hospital and the highway was reopened by 9.  

The City of Batavia Police Department is currently seeking qualified applicants for crossing guard positions. The position is part-time during school arrivals and dismissals only.  Crossing guards play an important role in ensuring the safety of children going to and from school each day. If you are interested in this part-time position you can contact the City of Batavia’s Human Resource Department.

Governor Kathy Hochul says she’s putting retail theft rings on notice. Speaking in Latham, the governor said she’s preparing to launch a multipronged strategy to fight shoplifting, including 25-million-dollars to create a specialized retail theft unit within the New York State Police. The governor says she’s going to try to replicate what’s been done to reduce gun violence across New York State, touting a 36-percent drop in shootings outside of New York City over the past two years. Hochul also touted the dramatic drop in car thefts across Rochester, Albany, and Buffalo.

A 40 year institution on the west side of Batavia has closed.  The Family Diner on Pearl St Rd opened in 1980 and closed on Sunday.  The owners, the Swimline family, said that COVID shutdowns sealed the deal for the end of the restaurant.  Food costs went up, cost of help went up, customers no longer wanted a sit down place to eat, and fast food restaurants became more popular.  The costs cut into the benefits of doing business and make it no longer worth the extra time and effort.  

Gas Price Update:  Drivers in Batavia are seeing a slight rise in the price of a gallon regular gas.  It is up 1 penny from last week at 3.25.  This is the same price it was a month ago.  The State average is up 2 cents from last week at 3.32.  This is also 5 cents up from last month.  The national price is 3.35 which is up 9 cents from last week and up 21 cents from a month ago.  Triple A is expecting the price to continue to rise as demand increases in the warmer weather.  Domestic reserves and production also continue to fall as government policies cut into refineries and gas companies.  

45-year-old Victoria Richards of Batavia has been arrested. She’s charged with endangering the welfare of a child, following an investigation at the Quality Inn. Richards allegedly provided a child with drugs. She was released on an appearance ticket and is scheduled for Town of Batavia Court on March 12th. ALSO: 37-year-old Rosemary Waters of Batavia has been arrested in Byron by Genesee County Sheriffs; this followed a traffic stop and roadside investigation. Waters is alleged to have trespassed on CSX Railroad property and been in possession of controlled substances. Waters was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal trespass. She was issued an appearance ticket and is scheduled for Bryon Town Court this afternoon.

The Department of Environmental Conservation has revealed when its statewide burn ban will be going into effect. Starting March 16th, the burning of residential brush will be prohibited until May 14th. Because the winter has been drier than usual in most spots, officials say there’s an increased risk of wildfires during the spring. Anyone who is caught violating the ban could face charges and a fine of at least $500.

A Cheektowaga resident says she was almost kidnapped after getting home from a bar early Saturday morning. The woman managed to escape the man after he forced her into his SUV. When Kelly left the bar Lucky Day in downtown Buffalo, she says she had no idea someone could be following her. The 26-year-old says she tries to always be aware of her surroundings. But she was not expecting a stranger to be waiting for her in her driveway. Kelly says the man forced himself on her and she pushed him away. He then grabbed onto her arm and dragged her to his SUV. She put up a fight, scratching and hitting the man. At one point when the man hit the brakes, he also unlocked the doors. She made a run for it. Kelly still had her phone with her and called her parents, who then took her to file a report with Cheektowaga police. The investigation into the incident continues.

Albion Police are warning about another phone scam making the rounds throughout our region. This scam involves someone pretending to be a police officer calling people to say that there is a warrant out for their arrest or that they have pending criminal charges against them. During the phone call the scammer will usually ask the victim for money or some type of monetary gift card and even where they can purchase the cards to avoid being arrested. Scammers can be quite convincing: They’ll provide you with a badge number, names of law enforcement officials, judges and courthouse addresses. They’ll also spoof the phone number so it appears on caller ID as if it is coming from a government agency or the court. Law enforcement will never call asking for personal information, banking information or gift cards over the phone. If you get one of these calls, hang up and call the police immediately to report it.

Shalom Mathews

The suspect accused of trying to stab a staff member at St. John Fisher University late last week is now facing new charges in Brighton. Shalom Mathews is accused of sending unwanted, harassing, and sexually explicit messages to multiple victims. According to police, he had been harassing a couple of woman over the course of a few years. An investigation followed after the victims reported the messages. Mathews was arrested and charged with two felonies after allegedly trying to stab a staff member at St. John Fisher University; after posting bail, Brighton Police arrested him again, this time, for stalking. Mathews now faces stalking charges in addition to the separate felony charges stemming from the incident at St. John Fisher. He was released on his own recognizance and is due back in Brighton Town Court on March 11th.

According to Triple A this morning, the national average cost for a gallon of regular fuel is now $3.36. The state average, usually a little higher, is now a little bit lower at $3.32. In Batavia, the average price calculates out to $3.25 per gallon, that’s up a penny from yesterday; two cents from a week ago, but down a dime from a year ago today. By the way, this recent slight increase appears to have resulted from higher crude oil prices.

The Sabres play in Toronto on Wednesday.

The two-game winning streak of the Buffalo Sabres is no more after the team suffers a defeat at home. JJ Peterka and Eric Robinson each had a goal for Buffalo as their squad fell to the Winnipeg Jets 5-2 at KeyBank Center last night. Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was only able to stop 30 of the 33 shots that he faced in the contest. The next game for Buffalo is in Toronto on Wednesday night against the Maple Leafs. Face-off is at 7:00.

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Governor Hochul is touting New York State’s thriving maple industry. She’s encouraging New Yorkers to support their local maple producers during this Maple Month. There are upcoming Maple Weekends events and activities March 16th – 17th and March 23rd – 24th when maple farms across the state welcome the public with a chance to taste pure maple syrup from the source and experience the unique family tradition of maple syrup making. New York continues to rank second in the nation in maple production and is also home to the largest resource of tappable maple trees in the US.

Alcohol-related deaths surged during the pandemic. That’s according to numbers from the CDC, which found that there were over 480 deaths per day from excessive drinking in the U.S. during the height of the pandemic. Officials say social isolation, stress, and delays in getting medical care could have been a factor. Alcohol carryout and home deliveries were also more available, officials added. The CDC says the spike in deaths could give states a reason to make alcohol less accessible.

Monarch Butterfly

Monarch butterflies are dwindling in numbers. The World Wildlife Fund led an annual survey of the species and tallied the second-lowest number of monarchs on record. According to this year’s estimate, the eastern monarch butterfly colonies took up two-point-two acres of regional forests, which is over 50% less than during the 2022 to 2023 winter season. Officials say monarch butterflies have a key role in sustaining plant ecosystems, but their habitat is depleting from heat and drought that has been brought on by climate change.

The Beatles respond to questions from the press (1966)

March 4, 1966, John Lennon’s controversial comment about the Beatles being, quote, “more popular than Jesus right now” was published in London’s “Evening Standard” newspaper.

Haulin’ Oats granola and the real Hall & Oates (2015)

March 4, 2015, Daryl Hall and John Oates sued cereal maker Early Bird Foods & Co. over the company’s use of the name Haulin’ Oates for their maple syrup granola bars.

The 19 year old who threatened a professor with a knife over bad grades at St John Fisher University is also being charged with stalking someone in Brighton.  Shalom Mathews of Brighton was arrested Friday on two counts of third-degree stalking. Brighton police say he sent unwanted, sexually explicit messages to multiple victims’ social media accounts over an extended period of time.  Mathews is charged with attempted kidnapping and attempted sex abuse in connection with the incident at Fisher.

Sam’s Diner at 55 Public Square in Holley partially collapsed Friday morning.  Fire investigators say around 9:30 the back wall of the building started to fall apart, leaving a large hole with exposed woodwork in the late 1800s structure.  There were patrons inside at the time, everyone was evacuated and no one was injured.  There is also a dentist’s office and a Community Action Office on the site which were evacuated.  Roads nearby and the public square were blocked off to avoid vibrations causing more of the building to fall apart.

The Albion Police Department is warning people about another phone scam making the rounds in the area.  This scam involves someone pretending to be a police officer who tells the victim that there is a warrant out for their arrest or that they have pending criminal charges. During the phone call the scammer will usually ask the victim for money or some type of monetary gift card such as an Apple, Sephora, Razer Gold or other kind of card. The scammer will state that the victim can purchase these cards and provide them with the information on the card to avoid being arrested.  Scammers can be very convincing. They’ll provide you with a badge number, names of law enforcement officials and judges and courthouse addresses. They will spoof the phone number so it appears on caller ID as if it is coming from a government agency or the court.  Police want you to know they will never call asking for personal information, banking information or gift cards over the phone.  If you get one of these calls, hang up and call the police to report it.

There is just about five weeks to go until we see history in the skies over Western New York.  The region sits in the “path of totality” for the total solar eclipse set to take place on April 8.  More than one million people are expected to visit this area to watch.  Amid the “solar craze”, comes the question: Where are all the tourists going to stay?  According to AirBnB, the Empire State is the “most booked” for the 2024 solar eclipse.  The vacation rental property company said there is nearly a 900% surge in searches on the platform for New York during the solar eclipse weekend.  However, as of Friday, more than 20% of listings on the path of totality are still available to book in the state.

Are you ready to take a ride in a car with no driver?  You’ll have to wait but there are self driving cars in Buffalo.  The self-driving vehicle service Waymo has been conducting weather tests for its fleet for the past month in Buffalo.  A spokesperson for the company says they are exploring how salt and snow on the roads affects the cars self driving ability.  Waymo uses radar panels and LIDAR, laser imaging detection, to detect the area as far as three hundred yards away.  The service is operating currently in San Francisco and Phoenix, and users download Waymo’s app to order the vehicle to their location. They can only unlock the vehicle from their phone, and their initials appear on a screen atop the Waymo.  Waymo plans to bring service to Los Angeles and Austin by the end of 2024. As of now, there are no plans to operate in Buffalo.

Rochester Police are investigating a shooting on the city’s northeast side Thursday night.  Around 7:45 p.m., officers responded to the corner of Clifford Avenue and Ellison Street, where they found a 40-year-old man who had been shot. He was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive, according to police.  No arrests have been made.

A barn burned completely down in Alexander early this morning.  At around 1AM a barn at 10216 Alexander Road was reported to be on fire and was soon fully engulfed in flames.  The barn was used to store hay.  Alexander Fire responded along with Elba, Town of Batavia, City of Batavia FAST Team, Corfu, Attica, East Pembroke, Le Roy, Oakfield, Bethany, Darien, and the Office of Emergency Management.  Barre was on standby for Elba. Wyoming County Correctional assisted at the scene.  The cause and origin of the fire are under investigation, according to Alexander Deputy Chief Nathan Fix.  No animals were involved and no injuries were reported.

State Attorney General Letitia James is demanding that Nassau County rescind an executive order which prohibits the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Museums from issuing permits to any women’s or girls’ sports team with transgender players.  James calls the order transphobic and illegal.  The county executive, Bruce Blakeman, said that the order is to protect women and girls from biological males bullying them by joining teams and dominating the sport.  He also said that there was no reason to ban transgender boys from boys or men’s teams because of “common sense” physical differences between boys and girls.

Two of Section V’s oldest and fiercest rivals are preparing to join forces for the 2024 football season.  The LeRoy and Caledonia-Mumford school districts announced Tuesday night they have agreed in principle to merge football programs for all levels, pending Section V’s approval.  The districts, whose rivalry dates back to 1900, explored a potential merger last year, but plans fell through.  Due to low numbers, Cal-Mum played 8-man football in 2023. The schools believe the merged program will allows them to “maintain and sustain 11-man football opportunities for modified, JV and varsity levels.”  Cal-Mum had been merged with Byron-Bergen to field football teams since 2016, but that partnership will end.  The combined LeRoy/Cal-Mum program is now looking to hire coaches.

Niagara Falls on the USA side announced yesterday that NASA will host total solar eclipse programming at locations across the city from April 4 to April 8.  The programming will be free and open to the public and will be held in locations including: Niagara Falls State Park, Aquarium of Niagara, Niagara Falls Underground, Railroad Heritage Center, Niagara Power Vista, Niagara Falls, Culinary Institute, Niagara Falls Public Libraries and Niagara Aerospace Museum.  Officials said to cap off the festivities Wegmans will sponsor a free fireworks display on the middle block of Old Falls Street USA at 8:30 p.m. on April 8.

Oraid Blackshear

On 2/16/2024, Oraid J. Blackshear, 19, of Batavia, NY was arrested and charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd degree, Tampering with Physical Evidence, Resisting Arrest, and Obstructing Governmental Administration 2nd degree. It’s alleged that Blackshear fled on foot and resisted arrest, when Batavia Police attempted to arrest him on an outstanding warrant. He was also allegedly in possession of an illegal loaded firearm. Blackshear was arraigned in CAP Court and remanded to the Genesee County Jail on $1000 cash bail. He is due in Batavia City Court, at a later date.

Juan Figoura

On 2/20/2024, Juan L. Figoura, 21, of Batavia, NY, was arrested on two arrest warrants. The first warrant charges Figoura with Criminal Contempt 1st for allegedly violating an order of protection on 7/14/2023. The other is related to a domestic incident that took place on 8/17/2023. Figoura is charged in that case with Criminal Contempt 1st, Grand Larceny 4th, Criminal Mischief 4th, Petit Larceny and Harassment 2nd. Figoura was arraigned in Batavia City Court and remanded to the Genesee County Jail. He is due back in court on 3/13/2024.

Alan Tidd

On 2/16/2024, Alan D. Tidd, 34, of Batavia, was charged with four counts of Failure to Register or Verify as a Sex Offender-2nd Offense. It’s alleged that Tidd failed to register four internet identifiers pertaining to social media accounts and a phone number. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and remanded to the Genesee County Jail.

On 2/16/2024, Nikkia M. Farias, 26, of Batavia, NY, was charged with Obstructing Governmental Administration 2nd degree and Resisting Arrest. Farias allegedly attempted to prevent police from arresting another person, by pulling them away from officers, as they attempted to take them into custody. She was issued an appearance ticket and is due in court on 2/20/2024.

On 2/12/2024, Wendy L. Henry, 39, Brian M. Raphael, 35, and Jessica D. Delcour, 41, all three of Batavia, NY, were arrested and charged with Criminal Trespass 2nd. The trio allegedly unlawfully entered an apartment on Fisher Park. All were issued appearance tickets and are scheduled to appear in Batavia City Court on 2/27/2024.

On 2/14/2024, Lisa R. Richmond, 35, was arrested on an arrest warrant for Petit Larceny. Richmond allegedly stole money that was paid to her for a Batavia City School fundraiser. She was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released on her own recognizance. She is due back in court on 2/29/2024.

On 2/14/2024, Douglas G. Goodwin, 32, of Batavia, NY, was arrested and charged with Criminal Trespass 3rd degree. Goodwin allegedly unlawfully entered a building on Harvester Avenue on 12/27/2023. He was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia City Court on 2/20/2024.

On 2/11/2024, Jenell M. Sauer, 48, of Batavia, NY, was arrested and charged with Trespass. It’s alleged that Sauer attempted to gain entry into a residence, that she had previously been trespassed from. She was issued an appearance ticket and is due in court on 2/27/2024.

On 2/11/2024, John A. Cabrera Sr., 56, of Batavia, NY, was charged with Criminal Contempt 2nd degree. Cabrera was arrested, after an incident on Washington Avenue where he allegedly violated a stay-away order of protection. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released. He is due back in court, at a later date.

On 2/15/2024, John H. Bush Jr., 40, and Jennifer K. Freeman, 40, both of Batavia, NY, were arrested on Bench Warrants, out of Batavia City Court. The warrants stem from a traffic stop on 6/30/2023, where Bush was charged with Operating with a Suspended Registration, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle 2nd degree, Resisting Arrest, and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th degree. Freeman was initially charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th degree. The warrants were issued after they both failed to appear in court. They were arraigned in CAP Court and are due to appear in Batavia City Court, at a later date.

On 2/22/2024, Ihsaan Y. Parker, 22, of Rochester, NY, was arrested on an arrest warrant. Parker was initially charged on 8/2/2023, with Operating a Motor Vehicle with Registration Suspended, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation 3rd, and Operating without a Valid Inspection. The warrant was issued, after Parker failed to appear in court. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released. He is due back in court on 3/14/2024.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Columbus Brooks

A family is suing the City of Buffalo and American Medical Response for the death of their 18-year-old son. The wrongful death lawsuit is the result of what the family says was a delay in care after a shooting last July. Columbus Brooks had been playing basketball in Perkins Park when a bullet hit him. Officials with American Medical Response say that emergency responders performed CPR and then transported Brooks to ECMC. The lawsuit claims Brooks was left on the concrete and ended up bleeding to death. The family is seeking $6 million in damages.

Shalom Mathews

An arrest has been made in connection with a violent incident at Saint John Fisher University. Authorities say 19-year-old Shalom Mathews, who is a student at the school, confronted an employee at the Wegmans School of Pharmacy Building Wednesday night. The employee offered Mathews mental health support, but he allegedly ended up pulling out a knife and tried to stab her. The woman got control of the knife and Mathews left, but was eventually captured. He’s now facing multiple charges.

Jason Arno with his daughter

Today, the City of Buffalo is going to be honoring a firefighter who lost his life in the line of duty. Mayor Byron Brown says flags will be lowered to half-staff in memory of Jason Arno. It was one year ago today when Arno was killed while at the scene of a massive blaze on Main Street. A remembrance ceremony is also scheduled to take place at the site of the tragedy. The 37-year-old Arno left behind a wife and daughter.

Inset: Anthony Mazurkiewicz; Kelvin Vickers, in court (13WHAM file photo)

The man who murdered a member of the Rochester Police Department will be spending the rest of his life in prison. Yesterday, a judge sentenced 22-year-old Kelvin Vickers for his role in the shooting death of Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz. Mazurkiewicz and his partner Officer Sino Seng were on duty when Vickers opened fire towards them back in 2022. Officer Seng was seriously wounded but survived.

The Buffalo Sabres have avoided a second straight loss after picking up a victory in overtime. Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch and Rasmus Dahlin had a goal each as Buffalo beat the Tampa Bay Lightning three-to-two at Amalie Arena last night. Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen had another solid game and stopped 21 of the 23 shots he faced. Next up for the Sabres is a game tomorrow at home against the Vegas Golden Knights.

ELSEWHERE…

Anne Whitfield, early in her career, at age 7

Actress Anne Whitfield is dead at 85. She appeared in the holiday classic “White Christmas” and many TV shows including “Father Knows Best” and “Perry Mason.” Family members announced she died on February 7th at a hospital in Yakima, Washington. She reportedly had an “unexpected accident” while on a walk in her neighborhood. They called her “a powerhouse in life.”

Smoking weed frequently could lead to a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. That’s according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association led by UCSF researchers and funded by the National Institutes of Health. If you use cannabis daily, predominately by smoking it, you may increase your risk of heart attack by 25% and stroke by 42%. If you dabble weekly, the risk drops but you’re still putting your heart and brain health on the line according to the analysis. Smoking weekly, you’re at a 3% higher risk for heart attack and a 5% higher risk for stroke. It’s unclear whether there is a direct causation between smoking marijuana and heart attacks and stroke, but this is one of the largest studies to show a connection between marijuana use and cardiovascular health.

The Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots keep growing and have combined to surpass the $1 billion mark. The top prize up for grabs in Mega Millions tonight is $607 million. And whoever is lucky enough to match all six winning numbers for Powerball tomorrow will get at least $443 million. Both drawings will be streamed live online. Please play responsibly.

Ah-choooo!

Influenza vaccines have been 42% effective so far this season. That’s according to recent estimates from the CDC, which are from ongoing studies that are backed by the agency. The vaccines were estimated to be at least 41% effective in protecting adults against influenza hospitalization. For children, vaccines were estimated to be 52% to 61% effective. But the head of the CDC’s influenza prevention and control team says there could be fewer hospitalizations and deaths prevented in the U.S. if vaccination rates go down. Flu activity can last until May, according to the CDC.

The booth

The New Jersey restaurant booth featured in HBO’s Sopranos finale is now for sale on Ebay. The iconic booth where the titular family gathered at Holsten’s Brookdale Confectionery has long been a popular fan destination, with millions tuning in for the beloved show’s 2007 series finale. It even bears a sign that says “Reserved for the Soprano Family.” Holsten’s is now making renovations and the booth is on Ebay, where bidding is already over $13,000. Buyers have until Monday to try and snap up the piece of TV history.

The Beatles with Ed Sullivan, in 1964 (CBS Photo)

On March 1, 1970, The Beatles made their last appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” as the program aired clips of the group performing “Let It Be” and “Two of Us.”

A man gained entrance to an office at St John Fisher Universities Wegman’s School of Pharmacy building yesterday evening and attempted to stab a faculty member with a knife.  The faculty was able to disarm the assailant who then ran away.  Police blocked off the entrances to the campus and students and teachers were told to shelter in place.  The lockdown was lifted around 9pm as police determined the threat was over.  The suspect was caught overnight but Monroe County Sheriffs have not released any information.

The hitman who was brought from Boston to Rochester and killed Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz in July of 2022 has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.  The judge in the case, Julie Hahn, called the accused Vickers “violent and sadistic” and said he had “no value for human life whatsoever” in the sentencing.  The 22 year old Vickers was convicted Oct. 13 of all 26 charges against him including murder, attempted murder, reckless endangerment, arson and criminal possession of a weapon.  Mazurkiewicz family was in the courtroom and clapped at the announcement of the verdict.

A chase leads to a drug bust in Batavia.  37 year old Chad Burgess of Rochester was arrested in Batavia on Sunday following a chase that started at 2 am from Lewiston rd to Park Rd.  He was found to have a large amount of narcotics in his car.  He is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 2nd degree, two counts of criminal possession of a narcotic with intent to sell, three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, two counts of concealing, altering or destroying physical evidence, criminal use of drug paraphernalia in the 2nd degree, and unlawful fleeing police in a motor vehicle 3rd degree.

A man is accused of threatening to murder two federal judges.  Authorities say Akram Marseet made threatening statements that if he ever came across the judges, they would be dead.  Investigators say this happened after his lawsuit against RIT was dismissed.  He worked there and sued them, claiming discrimination according to authorities.

In Buffalo Tops Friendly markets has a unique reward for having the first baby of the Leap Day if they are born at Oshei Children’s Hospital or Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital.  For the family of the first baby born at either of the two hospitals today, Tops will be giving the family $2900 to help with purchasing baby food, diapers and formula.  Across the state Tops is also gifting those born on the 29th four free cupcakes, one for this year and three for the years past to celebrate the day.  If your birthday is today, you can grab the four pack at your local Tops with a valid ID showing your birthday until March 3rd.

Not sure if anyone is going to fly through the air after dancing their way through a warehouse but Batavia High School is presenting Footloose this weekend starting Friday and running through Sunday.  The show about a town where dancing isn’t allowed opens at 7pm on Friday and Saturday and 2 on Sunday.  Tickets are 10.50 if you get them in advance, online sales end 2 hours before the doors open, and 12 at the door or 10 for students and seniors. 

Edward Holmes

Buffalo Police have released body cam footage of the fatal, officer-involved shooting that happened on Saturday. 58-year-old Edward Holmes was shot and killed by two Buffalo Police officers. Footage taken from the officers shows law enforcement arriving on scene to find Holmes with a shotgun. After officers told him to drop the weapon, Holmes is seen firing a round, prompting both officers to return fire with 20 rounds, striking him twice and later pronouncing him dead at the scene. Holmes himself had called 9-1-1, and referred to himself in the third person, saying there was a man on the street that would shoot if he were approached. Because of this, Buffalo Police have concluded it was a suicide-by-cop situation.

Orleans County Jail

A former corrections officer has been sentenced to six months in the county jail and 10 years of post-release supervision, during which time he’ll be monitored. 42-year-old Jonathan Dejesus of Dunkirk apologized in Orleans County Court before being sentenced. Dejesus was convicted of rape and official misconduct; he admitted to having sexual intercourse with a female inmate at the Albion Correctional Facility in August 2022. Dejesus has a hearing on April 17th to determine if he will be on the sex offender registry and if so, at what level. He was already ordered to pay a $1,000 sex offender fine, $300 court surcharge and $25 crime victim’s fee.

St. John Fisher University, Wegmans School of Nursing building (file photo)

A lockdown is now lifted at Saint John Fisher University following an attempted stabbing. Yesterday, a person entered the office of a staff member at the Wegmans School of Pharmacy building while armed with a knife. That employee was able to disarm the individual, who then ran away from the scene. Deputies are now reviewing footage in an attempt to identify the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to dial 911.

Troy Parker listens to the judge during his sentencing (13WHAM Photo)

The man who brutally murdered a woman in Rochester last year has now found out his punishment for the crime. Yesterday, a judge sentenced Troy Parker to 25 years to life in prison for his role in the death of Fantasia Stone. During sentencing, the judge noted that this was one of the worst cases he had ever seen. Parker was found guilty last month of killing Stone by setting her on fire. Prosecutors believe Parker was motivated to carry out the homicide by drugs and money.

State lawmakers have voted to approve the new maps that will be used to determine New York’s Congressional districts. The new maps sailed through both the Senate and Assembly yesterday, and will replace the ones created by the bipartisan Independent Redistricting Commission. Democrats, who have the majority in both chambers, say they did not consider political data when coming up with these boundaries. Republicans aren’t planning to challenge the new maps, which have been approved by Governor Hochul.

Unidentified senior citizen in undated file photo is about to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

Federal officials are recommending another COVID shot for adults’ age 65 and older. A CDC advisory committee met Wednesday and voted in favor of recommending an additional vaccine dose for seniors. Current federal guidelines recommend an additional COVID shot for people who are immuno-compromised. The CDC estimates about 23% of U.S. adults have gotten the updated vaccine.

Occasionally, the Rochester Amerks take the ice to celebrate inclusivity. And they did just that yesterday; they hosted the Syracuse Crunch for the team’s fourth-ever sensory-friendly game. Anyone who has been to a hockey game knows that it can get loud. From the music to the crowds to the loud goal horn, the atmosphere can be overwhelming for people with autism. So, the Amerks occasionally host these sensory-friendly nights, turning down the music levels, and turning off the goal horn and flashing lights. Amerks head coach Seth Appert says when he was a college coach; his team was one of the first to create a sensory-friendly night. It’s something he feels can bring all hockey families together. There’s also a sensory-friendly room at the Blue Cross Arena, where families can go to explore different calming toys and activities during events.

Chuck Dickerson

The Buffalo Bills are mourning the loss of former coach Chuck Dickerson. Dickerson recently passed away at the age of 86 after battling a short illness. He was the defensive line coach for the Bills from 1987 until 1991 and he worked under legendary head coach Marv Levy. A celebration of life will take place this weekend in Illinois. People who want to make a donation in Dickerson’s memory can send money to the Orphans of the Storm Shelter.

The Buffalo Sabres will be back on the ice tonight as they look to get back to their winning ways. The Sabres are set to take on their Eastern Conference rivals the Tampa Bay Lightning. On Tuesday, the Sabres were beaten by the Florida Panthers 3-2 and had their three-game winning streak snapped as a result. Face-off for this evening’s contest in Florida is scheduled for 7:00.

ELSEWHERE…

Richard Lewis

Comedian Richard Lewis is dead at the age of 76. Lewis died Tuesday at his home in Los Angeles after suffering a heart attack. Lewis revealed he had been living with Parkinson’s disease last year. He recently played a fictional version of himself on the hit series “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

Sophie B Hawkins

Another concert has been added to the growing list of shows at the New York State Fair. Pop singer Sophie B. Hawkins is going to be on the Chevy Park stage on August 23rd as part of Pride Day. Hawkins is a New York native and Grammy nominee who recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of her debut album. There’s no cost to see this performance because it’s part of daily admission. The fair starts August 21st and runs through September 2nd.

“Forever plastic”

The Food and Drug Administration says food packaging that contains harmful, long-lasting chemicals will no longer being sold in the U.S. Man-made chemicals called PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals,” don’t break down and have been associated with serious health risks. On Wednesday, the FDA announced food packages that contained these “forever chemicals” would no longer be sold nationwide. The FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods called the move a major win for public health.

Folks who are in the market for new vehicle should definitely check out an event in Rochester that begins today. The Rochester Auto Show is happening at the Floreano Convention Center through Sunday. There will be a variety of cars, SUVs and trucks on display and representatives will be on hand to help people find the perfect vehicle. For more information, head to therochesterautoshow.com.

Today is February 29th, an event that only happens once every four years. It’s leap day, an extra day added to the calendar every fourth February to keep our seasons from getting out of whack. Everyone knows a year is 365 days long but that’s not exactly accurate. It actually takes the Earth about 365 and one-quarter days to travel around the sun. To keep the extra time from throwing things off, the Romans decided a couple thousand years ago to add an extra day every four years. The Pope made some slight adjustments in the 1500s but Leap Years have stayed with us ever since.

On February 29, 1968, The Beatles’ album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” was awarded Album Of The Year at the tenth Grammy Awards. Having shipped over 32-million copies worldwide, the album is considered one of the most influential and famous rock albums of all time.

Most of Western NY was under a special weather statement warning residents of the Wind Advisory that goes from this afternoon through Thursday at 4AM.  Officials are expecting winds from the west at 25 to 35 miles per hour with gusts of up to 55 miles per hour.  Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.  Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle.

A Lyft driver in Rochester told police he saw a suspect fire shots at a house on Kelly Street just before the suspect approached him and stole his vehicle.  The victim said he was conducting a Lyft pickup on Kelly Street near Joseph Avenue around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday when he observed the shots fired.  He said the suspect then approached him and demanded his vehicle. The victim complied and the suspect drove off. He was not hurt. Police learned there were four people, including two children, inside the house that was fired upon. None of them were hurt.

An arrest has now been made in connection with shootings in Rochester that left one person dead and another hurt. Authorities say 34-year-old Kwame Acosta allegedly killed 27-year-old Davarcea Fort during a dispute on Farragut Street last week. Acosta is also accused of shooting another man, but that victim survived. He is facing several charges and is in the Monroe County Jail without bail.

A big drug bust was announced Tuesday in Erie County that Sheriff John Garcia said potentially saved thousands of lives.  39-year-old Donel Cathcart of Buffalo is under arrest. He was taken into custody during a traffic stop after leaving his home on Whitehall Avenue. The Sheriff said more than $325,000, over 10 ounces of cocaine and crack cocaine, and one kilo of fentanyl was seized.  According to Garcia, two search warrants were executed before the arrest. One at Cathcart’s home on Whitehall Avenue in Buffalo and another at an apartment he’s connected to in West Seneca on Benson Avenue.

The bankrupt Buffalo Diocese will attempt to sell at least two dozen properties as it faces nearly 900 child sex abuse claims, according to court documents filed in federal court.  Retaining Hanna Commercial Real Estate as its broker, the diocese filed a list with 22 properties it’s looking to sell. It includes the diocese’s headquarters, known as the Catholic Center, three college Newman Centers and priest retirement homes.  Although not listed, St. Andrew’s Church, St. Andrew’s Day School and All Saints Parish will also be on the market.  Christ the King seminary was listed in November for $5.3 million.  The diocese said it would have to pay, at minimum, $100 million to settle the sex-abuse lawsuits.

The three-game winning streak of the Buffalo Sabres has been snapped after the team suffers a tough loss on the road. Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens each had goals for the Sabres who fell to the Florida Panthers three-to-two at FLA Live Arena last night. Buffalo goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen faced 37 shots in the contest and was able to stop 34 of them. Buffalo’s next game is tomorrow against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Television roof antenna

The Affordable Connectivity Program, which was set up during the COVID-19 pandemic, is set to expire in April. This will mean your Internet bill could increase by $30 in May. A total of 4,871 households in Genesee County receive the benefit. If you didn’t enroll in the program, your bill won’t be impacted; however, experts suggest you keep an eye on your bill just in case there is a mix up with your provider. As it stands now, Congress has not passed a renewal of the program.

File photo

37-year-old Chad Burgess of Rochester has been arrested in Batavia, following a traffic stop on Lewiston Road. He initially attempted to flee the scene but was caught by sheriffs and state troopers on Park Road. Burgess was found to be in possession of large quantities of narcotics with the intent to sell. In addition to this charge, he’s also charged with criminal possession, concealing, altering or destroying physical evidence, criminal use of drug paraphernalia and unlawful fleeing a police officer. Burgess was arraigned in Genesee County CAP Court.

The latest data shows that the spread of the flu is still a problem across our region. During the week ending February 17th, Monroe County led the area in cases with 509; Erie County had 410. That was followed by Niagara County with 136 cases of the flu and Livingston County with 84. Doctors are still advocating that anyone who has yet to receive their flu shot should get one immediately.

Byron Brinley

The Lockport man that’s been missing since January 26th has sadly been found deceased. The City of Lockport Police Department says they found the body of Bryon Brinley on Tuesday. The circumstances of his death remain under investigation.

Timothy Williams mugshot and Wendy Jerome

Testimony is going to continue today in the murder retrial of Timothy Williams. Yesterday, the defense and prosecution finished picking the jury that will decide if Williams killed 14-year-old Wendy Jerome of Rochester on Thanksgiving in 1984. The first witness, a retired police officer, testified that Jerome’s body showed signs of trauma when he got to the crime scene. The trial is expected to take a few weeks to complete.

If you’re traveling in the direction of Rochester and points east today, please keep in mind there is a high wind warning in effect there from 2:00 this afternoon through 7:00am tomorrow. Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines, so please do be careful if you must drive through that area; travel may be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

Unidentified teenager in undated file photo.

New York is expanding access to mental health care for students. Governor Hochul is putting $20 million in startup funding towards school-based mental health clinics while launching a rolling application process to secure state funding. The governor also announced the creation of the Youth Mental Health Advisory Board, which will allow young New Yorkers to make their voices heard. It’s part of her efforts to expand school based mental health programs for kids across the state and protect them from harmful social media features.

Alondra Ramirez-Santiago

A Lockport woman is now facing multiple charges in connection with a fatal crash in Cheektowaga. Authorities say 51-year-old Jennifer Hylkema was leaving a parking lot on Transit Road Monday night when her vehicle was struck by a car driven by 24-year-old Alondra Ramirez-Santiago. It is alleged that Ramirez-Santiago was under the influence at the time. Hykelma was pronounced dead at Erie County Medical Center and Ramirez-Santiago is in jail without bail.

Nearly $6 million in federal funding will be used to curb cyber attacks in New York State. Governor Hochul says the Cybersecurity Grant Program will expand access to cybersecurity information, tools, resources and services so local municipalities have access to the most sophisticated cyber defenses. The money comes from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. During the first year, the program will focus on implementing multi-factor authentication and cybersecurity training for local governments.

The three-game winning streak of the Buffalo Sabres has been snapped after the team suffers a tough loss on the road. Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens each had goals for the Sabres who fell to the Florida Panthers 3-2 at FLA Live Arena last night. Buffalo goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen faced 37 shots in the contest and was able to stop 34 of them. Buffalo’s next game is tomorrow night in Tampa against the Lightning.

Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson

Two of the biggest names in music are bringing their latest tour to the Darien Lake Amphitheater later this year. Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan will be performing as part of the 2024 Outlaw Music Festival on September 17th. Dylan and Nelson are going to be joined at this show by John Mellencamp and the band Southern Avenue. Seats for the concert go on sale this Friday at 10:00am through Ticketmaster.

ELSEWHERE…

Freddie Mercury’s home is on the market

Freddie Mercury’s London home is on sale for $38 million. The Queen front man lived at Garden Lodge for over a decade. It has a Japanese sitting room, a double height drawing room, music center and a bar-library. Mercury bought the property on the spot in 1980, according to Knight Frank, the British real estate company handling the sale.

A High Wind Watch has been issued for Genesee, Wyoming, and Orleans county for Wednesday into Wednesday evening.  Look for westerly winds 20 to 30 mph that could gust as high as 60mph.  Unsecured objects could be blown around and end up in the roads.  High profile vehicles could find travel dangerous when in exposed locations going north or south.  There may also be a flash freeze as temperatures drop into the 20s in the afternoon tomorrow so be careful of ice on the roads.

A Castile man plead guilty to owning and promoting Child Pornography last Friday.  72 year old William Wallace plead guilty to 9 counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child and 3 counts of possession of a sexual performance by a child.  State police executed a search warrant September 10th at Wallace’s residence after an investigation. He was indicted the following month.  He could spend decades behind bars.  Sentencing is May 20th.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced steps to combat the youth mental health crisis, following a convening of students, faculty and mental health professionals at Mohonasen Central School District. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1 in 4 teens have considered suicide, a significant increase from a decade ago, and for teenage girls, that number rises to 1 in 3. In response to this crisis, the Governor said today that New York will expand mental health support for children across the state and protect them from harmful social media features.  The state will establish a 20 million dollar fund for School Mental Health Clinics, and start an application that schools can use to apply for the funding.  

As Rochester prepares to get a front row seat for the total solar eclipse on April 8, something exciting is on tap at three local breweries.  Rohrbach Brewing Company, Three Heads Brewing and Strangebird are teaming up to fashion a trio of specialty beers to celebrate the celestial event.  Each beer will represent the three phases of the eclipse: the lighter side, the darker side and totality.  The drinks will be released March 11 and will be on tap around Rochester.

A third-grade student with vision loss at Pine Brook Elementary School is inspiring others through his incredible achievement.  Zuabari “ZuZu” Sampson recently published his first book, “Braille Boy,” which is now available on Amazon.  It tells the story of a young boy with blindness who fights off “Braille Alien,” a villain who seeks to confuse Braille readers. Through his mission, Braille Boy teaches valuable, positive life lessons while introducing the basic concepts of Braille.

Crossroads House has hired a new executive director after the gap was temporarily filled by interim director Tom Staebell in July 2023.   The nonprofit’s leaders happily announced the news Monday that they have found Tracy Ford, who “stood out from a pool of excellent candidates.”  Ford is to take the helm on March 4.  She was on WBTA Radio this morning to talk about taking the position.

Dillon Brito

A man has now been indicted after his 1-year-old daughter ingested drugs and died last month. 32-year-old Dillon Brito of Rochester is charged with manslaughter and tampering with physical evidence after his 13-month-old daughter died on January 30th. Police said she was found unresponsive at the Chatham Gardens apartments after swallowing a mixture of cocaine and fentanyl. According to a felony complaint, Brito had taken fentanyl before taking a nap with the toddler on a couch. When he woke up, he found the girl unresponsive. Brito took his daughter downstairs and got help from two maintenance workers who performed CPR, according to the complaint. Brito allegedly pulled a blue paper bag used to package drugs out of his daughter’s mouth and tried to hide it. According to the complaint, Brito initially said it was just a small piece of white paper — only to later admit it was blue packaging that he used to store drugs.

31-year-old Damon Singleton-Spencer of Lockport has been arrested and charged with possession of child pornography. This followed an investigation into a report that an individual had uploaded 184 files of suspected inappropriate images to a cloud storage application. They were later traced to Perez, who had been previously convicted for Endangering the Welfare of Child. If convicted of the new charges, Perez faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Wendy Jerome, with her father

The murder retrial of Timothy Williams is set to continue in a Monroe County courtroom today with more jury selection. Williams is accused of killing 14-year-old Wendy Jerome on Thanksgiving Day in Rochester in 1984. Williams was previously on trial back in December, but it ended due to what the judge ruled was jury misconduct. He was not arrested until 2020 when DNA evidence connected him to the case.

As expected, members of the state Legislature have voted down Congressional district maps created by the Independent Redistricting Commission. Some lawmakers raised concerns about what they called constitutional defects in the lines the IRC came up with. It’ll now be up to the Legislature to create new maps with the hope of voting on them by the end of the week. Governor Hochul has already said she’ll stay out of the redistricting process.

Edward Holmes

Buffalo police have released body camera footage showing what led up to an officer-involved shooting. When law enforcement arrived at the scene of a call on Reed Street about a man with a gun on Saturday, they saw 58-year-old Edward Holmes had a shotgun and he later fired a round from that weapon. Two officers fired back towards Holmes and he was killed. The state Attorney General’s Office is now looking into the incident and the officers remain on administrative leave.

There’s a new update regarding the man who was killed in a hit and run crash while clearing snow off his car on Losson Road in Cheektowaga last January. Cheektowaga Police say the driver allegedly involved has been arrested and is identified as 40-year-old Matthew Al-thoff of Amherst. The driver had allegedly fled the scene before officers responded, according to investigators. Police say the driver had been traveling westbound when it struck the 42-year-old male who was taken by ambulance to ECMC where he passed away. Al-thoff has been charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident without reporting and has been remanded to the Erie County Holding center.

File photo of cupcakes

Leap Day is coming up on Thursday, and Tops Friendly Markets is offering folks born on February 29th a sweet treat. The grocery chain says people who provide a valid ID or birth certificate proving they are a leapling can get a free four pack of Tops cupcakes. This offer will be good through March 2nd at all participating Tops stores. To find a location in your area, head to topsmarkets.com.

June 5, 2023 file photo of groundbreaking ceremony.

A consultant is now working to help oversee construction of a new stadium for the Buffalo Bills. The Buffalo News reports Developments by JEM will help the NFL franchise and the stadium’s general contractor ensure that women-and minority-owned businesses are hired to help build the facility. The one-point-seven-billion dollar project has already started and the state and Erie County are providing $850 million in public funds. The new stadium in Orchard Park should be open for the 2026 season.

The red-hot Buffalo Sabres will be in the Sunshine State tonight as they look to pick up a fourth straight win. The Sabres are set to battle the Florida Panthers at FLA Live Arena. Buffalo last played Sunday when they defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 in a shootout and boosted their point total this season to 58. Face-off this evening is scheduled for 7:00.

File photo of COVID-19 vaccine.

There’s a new COVID-19 vaccine coming out for the winter. The FDA will decide this spring on which variant of the virus should be primarily targeted in the winter dose. Like flu shots, the COVID vaccine is expected to require annual updates to stay current against emerging variants. And today in history in 2021, the U.S. gave authorization to the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, becoming the third COVID vaccine to be authorized and the first one-dose immunization.

The suspect in a robbery in Rochester Sunday night is in the hospital after being struck by the car of the alleged victim.  Police said they were called to Monroe Avenue near South Goodman Street around 10:45 p.m. for a crash.  A 41-year-old Rochester resident told police he was in his car when the suspect, a 21-year-old Rochester man, came up to his car and tried to take things out of his pocket.  The alleged victim told police that he tried to drive away and ended up hitting the suspect with his car.  Police said the suspect suffered an injury to his lower body and was later taken to Strong Memorial Hospital.  They are being charged with attempted robbery.

A man was shot by police in Buffalo after he allegedly fired a shotgun at officers Saturday morning.  Officers responded to a report of a man with a gun just before 10 a.m. on the 100 block of Reed Street.  Upon arrival, police say they encountered a man with a shotgun and ordered him to put it down. According to police, the man fired one round and two officers fired back. The man was shot multiple times.  The officers on scene rendered aid until the Buffalo Fire Department arrived, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. On Sunday, Buffalo police identified the man as 58-year-old Edward Holmes of Buffalo.  Demonstrations were held Sunday protesting the shooting and demanding justice for Holmes.  The incident is under investigation by the State Attorney General’s Office.

State Attorney General Letitia James released body camera video Monday morning of a deadly encounter involving a state trooper and a teenager last fall in Ontario County.  Police said Trooper Adam Latulipe responded to a home on State Route 64 in East Bloomfield Nov. 15 to investigate an anonymous tip received by the Department of Homeland Security alleging someone at the home was talking about killing someone.  Latulipe began to interview the 17-year-old boy on a side porch, but police said the teen immediately pulled a knife and lunged toward the trooper, causing both of them to fall to the ground. The suspect allegedly charged at Latulipe with the knife in his hand, prompting the trooper to shoot the suspect.  Latulipe is a four-year veteran of New York State Police. The teen’s identity hasn’t been released.

A controversial piece of police surveillance technology is no longer coming to Buffalo.  In 2022, the city’s proposed budget for the following year included funding for ShotSpotter technology with a price tag of $364,000.  ShotSpotter is a gunshot detection system that uses microphones in targeted areas to alert law enforcement about potential gunfire in real time.  The Buffalo Common Council voted to reject the ShotSpotter inclusion in the 2023 budget but did allow for a free 6 month trial installation but that was never done.  While police are generally proponents of the technology, research shows that 90 percent of the time it is fooled by firecrackers, cars backfiring, and construction noises.

A Batavia High School student has won the New York State Championship in Wrestling in Division 2.  Casper Stewart beat Kieran Cullen of Greenville 4 to 2 to win the championship.  He was greeted by the Batavia Police and Fire departments at the I-90 exit and escorted to the Batavia High School Sunday afternoon. His 279 wins is fourth all-time in career wins in New York State, and his 202 career pins rank him first all-time in the state and #4 nationally.  He is committed to wrestling at Army West Point, a Division I program.

The price of Gas in Western NY is holding steady this week.  In Batavia it sits at 3.23 which is the same as last week and down 5 cents from a month ago.  The state average is also the same as last week at 3.30.  The Average price of gas nationally is 3.26 which is down 2 cents from a week ago.

The Cinnamon Bear recordings, rereleased

“The Joy of Christmas,” it’s a project that LeRoy resident and former mayor Jim DeLooze is working on; his plan is to bring a diorama to St. Marks, based on an old-time radio show called, “The Cinnamon Bear,” and also involves setting up exhibits that will bring to mind, for example, what was once displayed in Sibley’s Department Store in Rochester. But to do this, he needs volunteers. If you’d like more information, email Jim at jim@delooze.com Howard Owens spoke at length with Mr. DeLooze and you’ll find the detailed article online at thebatavian.com

The City of Batavia Police competed against the City of Batavia Firefighters in the Battle of Badges charity hockey game. Last year, the event raised more than $3000 for the David McCarthy Memorial Foundation, which helps families in the community. Yesterday, City Police won the game for the second consecutive year, with a final score of 11-4.

Michael Bellaire

Multiple law enforcement agencies across the country continue their search for a man charged with murder in Warsaw. 41-year-old Michael Bellaire is charged with murder, strangulation, tampering with evidence, and grand larceny in relation to the killing of 53 year old Warsaw resident Cheryl Cook who was discovered strangled to death in her home on November 7th. Bellaire’s last known location was crossing the border into Mexico in Cook’s 2012 Toyota Corolla. The US Customs and Border Protection and Homeland security are assisting.

13WHAM photo of fire aftermath

An investigation is underway into what sparked a fire at a homeless encampment in Rochester. When crews got to the scene in the area of West Broad Street and Industrial Street yesterday, they found a building engulfed in smoke and flames. They worked quickly to try and contain the blaze, but the encampment suffered significant damage. There were no injuries reported.

According to Triple A this morning, the national average cost for a gallon of regular fuel is now $3.26. The state average is $3.30. Currently in Batavia, our average price figures out to $3.23; that’s the same as it was a week ago, down a nickel from a month ago and 14 cents lower than it was a year ago today.

Jakarah Lopez-Moore

The suspect arrested in connection with a murder in Rochester is expected to be back in court this week. Reign Tapiato is due to face a judge on Wednesday for a preliminary hearing. Tapiato is accused of shooting and killing 16-year-old Jakarah Lopez-Moore after she left her home on Weld Street back in August. Tapiato was captured on Friday and has been arraigned on murder and criminal possession of a weapon charges. Right now, he’s behind bars without bail.

The deadline to apply for the upcoming New York State Trooper entrance exam is just days away. Applications are being accepted through March 4th and the final day to take the actual test is on March 17th. Some of the qualifications to be a Trooper include being a United States citizen, being between 20 and 34 years old and having a high school diploma. The starting salary for a Trooper is over $59,000 a year.

The Buffalo Sabres have extended their winning streak to three games after picking up a shootout win at home. Jeff Skinner and Owen Power scored a goal each as Buffalo beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 at KeyBank Center last night. Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was outstanding in net and stopped 30 of the 32 shots he faced in the contest. Buffalo’s next game is tomorrow night in Florida against the Panthers.

AT&T is going to provide customers affected by Thursday’s network outage a $5 credit. In a statement on its website, the cellular provider said that customers will receive it within two billing cycles. AT&T says a software update is to blame. The service disruption started early Thursday, and was a major headache for many, with phone services limited. GPS maps failed and some 9-1-1 calls did not go through. AT&T serves more than 100 million customers, according to the company’s website.

Multiple staff were injured at Attica Correctional Facility in three separate attacks that sent injured officers to local hospitals last week. The first incident was in the rec yard when an inmate approached an officer and punched the officer in the face. In the ensuing attempt to wrestle the inmate to the ground and put them in handcuffs another officer was injured. In the second incident 3 officers and a sergeant were injured when an inmate charged at officers who were standing at the entrance of his cell and attempted to stab them with a piece of sharpened plastic. The third incident ended with 7 officers and a lieutenant injured when an inmate barricaded himself in a cell block and then attacked officers with a mop handle.

Warsaw Police are looking for a man charged with murder who they believe fled into Mexico. 41 year old Michael Bellaire is charged with murder in the second degree, strangulation in the first degree, tampering with evidence, and 2 counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree in relation to the killing of 53 year old Warsaw resident Cheryl Cook who was discovered strangled to death in her home on November 7th. Bellaire’s last known location was crossing the border into Mexico in Cook’s 2012 Toyota Corolla. The US Customs and Border Protection and Homeland security are assisting.

Nearly six months after a 16-year-old Rochester girl went missing, police have made an arrest in connection with her death. Jakarah Lopez-Moore was reported missing Aug. 29, two days after leaving her home on Weld Street. Fishermen found her body Oct. 14 in the woods behind an industrial park on Vanguard Parkway. Police said her body had been in the woods for more than a month. They ruled her death a homicide. Police announced Friday that 27 year old Reign Tapiato, is charged with Lopez-Moore’s murder. U.S. Marshals arrested Tapiato Friday morning on State Street. Police said he was found in possession of 9 mm Glock handgun loaded with 15 rounds. Tapiato, who police said worked as a security guard, is also charged with criminal possession of a weapon. He is being held in Monroe County Jail.

The Genesee Orleans Health Department is looking for a dog that bit a person in Albion. The incident occurred on Wednesday around 8pm on Holley Rd near Rich’s Corners Road. The dog is described as a medium sized dog about the size of a labrador retriever with patches of black and white on its fur. The Health Department is trying to find out if the dog has rabies and if the person who was bit needs rabies shots. If the dog can’t be found the person will have to go through the treatments. If you have information about the location of the dog and its owner, please contact the Orleans County Health Department at 585-589-3278.

The 21-year-old woman who was found dead on the Kensington Expressway earlier this month had climbed out the window of an Uber, Cheektowaga police announced Thursday afternoon. The woman was the lone passenger in the vehicle that was traveling on the westbound 33 on the night of February 8. According to investigators, evidence shows she climbed out of the rear window while the vehicle was moving. The woman fell onto a stretch of the expressway between Cayuga and Union, where she was hit by another vehicle. It is unclear what caused the woman to fall from the window, police said. Both the driver of the Uber and the driver of the other vehicle have fully cooperated with the investigation, and no one will face charges. The woman’s death has been ruled accidental.

Police are investigating an incident that left one person dead and injured another person Thursday morning. Officers responded to Farragut Street near Prescott Street around 11:45 a.m. for a report of a shooting. Police found a man in his 20s shot in the upper body. He was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Officers found another man inside a home with traumatic injuries to his upper body. He was pronounced dead at the scene, though it’s unclear what caused his death. Police believe there was some sort of altercation inside the home. No one is in custody, but police are interviewing people who may have information.

National Grid blamed Mylar balloons for a power outage that impacted thousands of customers in Monroe and Orleans counties this morning. A spokesperson said that a cluster of balloons made contact with a distribution line in Hamlin around 4:35 a.m. resulting in 6,490 customers losing power. Most of the outages were in Hamlin, Clarkson, Kendall and Murray. National Grid confirmed that crews restored service to all customers just before 7 a.m.

A federal Housing and Urban Development grant of more than $1.1 million for Genesee Orleans Health Department will put money right into the homes that need help to combat everything from infectious pests and noxious materials to fire hazards and ventilation obstructions according to director of health promotion Kaitlin Pettine. The grant of almost 1.2 million dollars was announced this week as part of a larger $39 million package for 15 states, including three recipients in New York counties of Albany, Madison and Genesee. Pettine expects the local program to begin in mid-April for the GLOW region, as it is open to Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming county families that meet low-income eligibility of at or below 80 percent of the area median income level. It will run for 42 months.

The Buffalo Bills hired former Tennessee Titans assistant coach Scott Booker to the role of nickelback’s coach and senior defensive assistant on Wednesday. Booker spent the past six seasons in various defensive roles, including safeties coach, with the Titans. He is taking on a prominent position in Buffalo on Sean McDermott’s revamped defensive staff now headed by newly promoted coordinator Bobby Babich. Before joining the Titans, Booker spent 15 seasons coaching at various colleges, including Nebraska in 2017 and Notre Dame from 2010-16.

O’Lacy’s Irish Pub is going to continue operations with a new owner after closing a couple months ago. Derek Geib said on Thursday that he is applying for a liquor license as part of buying the Public House on School Street. Geib already owns Bourbon and Burger, Coffee Press, and Roman’s. No definite date for the reopening has been announced.

Antonio Aquino

Lockport Police are continuing their investigating into the death of a man who died in an industrial accident. Police and Fire crews were called to 11 Simonds Street just before noon on Tuesday for a report of an industrial accident at Barry Steel. Police have not provided specific details about what happened but do say that an employee, 39-year-old Antonio Aquino, was pronounced dead by the Niagara County coroner.

File photo of unidentified sky-watchers

Sky watchers were treated to a meteor early Wednesday evening. It was visible from Virginia to Western New York and into Eastern Canada. The American Meteor Society characterized it as a ‘fireball’, which some people reported appeared to explode at one point. The show didn’t last long; it burned itself out shortly after entering our atmosphere.

The latest data from the United States Drought Monitor indicate that the entire GLOW region continues to experience moderate drought conditions. This encompasses roughly 15% of Genesee County (portions of LeRoy and Bethany) and a little over 14% of Wyoming County (including Covington). All of Orleans County continues to be classified as abnormally dry.

Fire investigators have now determined the McKinley Avenue fire started in a downstairs bedroom in the area of a mattress. However, the cause is still unknown. There were also non-working fire hydrants near the residence; the exact cause of the damage to the hydrants is unknown, but could be related to a wide variety of reasons. Both the fire and water departments ask that you report a fire hydrant if you see is not in good repair.

The Department of State has awarded more than one-million-dollars for financial literacy programs in New York. Money will be distributed across six regions of the state, including ours, and these programs will teach people about the importance of budgeting and financial management. Individuals with an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines can take part in these programs. More information can be found online at dos.ny.gov.

Kensington Expressway file photo

No charges are going to be filed in connection with the tragic death of a woman on the Kensington Expressway. Officials say the 21-year-old woman was in a rideshare vehicle on the highway back in Cheektowaga on February 8th. It was later determined she climbed out of the window of that vehicle and was struck by another vehicle after falling onto the road. The name of the woman hasn’t been released.

One person has been taken into custody following a stabbing in Buffalo. According to authorities, an individual was attacked yesterday on Caroline Street in the area of Niagara Street. The stabbing involved two men and WGRZ-TV is reporting one of them ended up being arrested. The victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The Buffalo Sabres will be on the road once again tonight as they look to pick up a second straight win. The Sabres are visiting the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Ohio. Buffalo last played on Wednesday night when they beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 and improved their point total this season to 54. Face-off this evening is set for 7:00.

The location the fire on McKinley Ave started has been determined by fire investigators.  The origin was a downstairs bedroom in the center of the residence, in the area of a mattress. The cause is unknown.  Another issue reported on was the non working fire hydrant near the residence.  While the damage to the hydrant on McKinley is unknown, it could have been from a wide variety of causes according to the city water department.  The fire and water departments ask residents that if they see a fire hydrant is not in good repair that you report it.

Rochester Police are searching for suspects after shots were fired on the city’s northeast side Wednesday night.  Around 8:45 p.m., officers responded to Seventh Street for gunshots heard in the area. Police say they found evidence of gunfire into two homes and two unoccupied vehicles in the area of Seventh and Wabash streets.  All residents inside both homes, which included eight children combined with ages ranging from 1 to 15, were not hurt.  No arrests have been made.

A couple is suing the Brighton Police Department after their 29-year-old son, Scott Matchett, took his own life. His two parents, who are both deaf, assert that the response to their son’s ongoing mental health crisis was inadequate due to a communication barrier.  On Feb. 24, 2021, the Matchett family called the police to help Scott, who was also deaf, during a mental health crisis. The family claims Brighton police denied them access to an American sign language interpreter, making it impossible for their suicidal son to receive proper care.  In the lawsuit, the Matchetts say they were forced to communicate with the police via notes on an iPad, which they believe limited the officers’ ability to gather relevant information about Scott and his condition.  The suit states that in April of 2021, Scott himself called 911 during another crisis, requesting an ASL interpreter. According to his family, Brighton police again did not provide one and failed to utilize a 24/7 remote video interpreter.  4 months later Scott was dead by suicide. 

A veteran DEA Agent is alleged to have been on the payroll of the mafia in the city of Buffalo.  Not the Bills mafia, the Buffalo Italian mafia.  In a federal trial that began this month, prosecutors portrayed Joseph Bongiovanni as a greedy racist who pocketed more than $250,000 in cash-stuffed envelopes over a decade and threw his colleagues off by opening bogus case files and encouraging them to spend less time investigating Italians and more time on Blacks and Hispanics.  When authorities caught him in 2019 he wiped his phones clean and retired from the DEA.  The 59-year-old Bongiovanni has denied the counts of bribery, conspiracy and obstruction of justice.  

The National Buffalo Wing Festival is one of 20 nominees for USA Today’s Best Specialty Food Festival.  According to Visit Buffalo Niagara, the festival is going into its 23rd year and has served over five million chicken wings and raised over $460,000 for local charities.  This year the festival will be held on August 31 and September 1 at Highmark Stadium.

Did you happen to see the meteor that streaked through Western New York’s sky Wednesday night at around 6:50 p.m.? It was visible to sky watchers over many states from Virginia to upstate New York, and even into eastern Canada.  It’s probable that the meteor was a “fireball”, which is a particularly bright meteor. Dozens of eyewitnesses described the meteor as appearing to explode as it darted through the night sky.  According to the American Meteor Society, the highest concentration of reports originated from northern Virginia and central Maryland. More than 150 reports were received. The Society’s trajectory model calculated that the meteor was traveling from southwest to northeast through the sky over western Pennsylvania before it burned up in our atmosphere.

Louis Carasone

A former Brighton High School physics teacher is going to be spending time behind bars for having child pornography. A judge has sentenced 45-year-old Louis Carusone to serve three-and-a-half years in prison. Carusone pleaded guilty this past November to sharing disturbing images and videos that ended up being downloaded by an undercover police officer. Carusone has been ordered to undergo mental health treatment and will be on probation for seven years once he’s released.

Registration for Batavia Youth Baseball for the 2024 season is underway. Any youth ages 4 – 12 interested in playing baseball can register and scholarships are available. You have until March 2nd; go to nybataviayouthbaseball.com to find out more information.

A new tool is now protecting low-income New Yorkers from losing access to their government assistance funds. An Electronic Benefits Transfer lock and unlock tool is available on the ConnectEBT app. It’ll allow people to prevent unwanted access to their EBT cards by scammers who may want to drain funds from their account. People can also take steps to protect their cards such as changing the PIN number frequently and checking often for unauthorized charges.

Members of the Rochester City Council have requested that a recall be issued for Kia and Hyundai vehicles. The council is calling on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to take action and help fix a design flaw that makes it easy for criminals to steal those vehicle models. Several of those vehicles have been taken throughout our region in the last few months. The NHTSA put out a statement saying it will continue to monitor this issue and work to strengthen motor vehicle safety.

Kensington Expressway file photo

A lawsuit filed in Erie County Supreme Court could force the New York State Department of Transportation to conduct an environmental impact statement (EIS) for their $1B Kensington Expressway project; The suit was filed by Humboldt Parkway residents and claims the Department of Transportation is bypassing an environmental impact study so it can quickly move forward with their plan to build a 4,100-foot tunnel between Best and Sydney Streets. The lawsuit asks a judge to step in and rule before the NYSDOT announces their final plan for the project, which the lawsuit claims will happen by mid-December.

Officials at Niagara County Community College have announced the school is now going to be known by a different name. It has been officially re-branded as SUNY Niagara as part of an initiative that began in 2022. The school president says this change is not just about a new name and logo, it’s also about renewing a commitment to people in Niagara County and surrounding areas. A re-branding campaign will be launched and feature updated signage and new television ads.

Aftermath of crash (13WHAM Photo)

Three teenagers are now in some trouble with the law after a stolen vehicle slammed into a building in Greece. Authorities say the crash happened Tuesday night on Glenora Drive. A 14-year-old boy, 14-year-old girl, and 15-year-old girl were all taken into custody and charged with grand larceny and criminal mischief. The building did suffer some damage but no one was hurt.

The Buffalo Sabres picked up a much-needed victory after earning a win on the road. Jeff Skinner, Alex Tuch, and Zemgus Girgensons provided the offense for the Sabres as their team beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 at Bell Centre last night. Buffalo’s goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was outstanding in net and stopped 29 of the 31 shots he faced. The next game for the Sabres is tomorrow evening in Columbus against the Blue Jackets. Face-off is at 7:00.

ELSEWHERE…

Charlie Woods with his father, Tiger

Tiger Woods’ fifteen year-old son is looking to compete on the PGA Tour. Charlie Woods will play in Thursday’s pre-qualifier for the Cognizant Classic at the Lost Lake Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Florida. Around 25 players will advance to the event’s Monday qualifier, where four players will earn spots in the Cognizant Classic next weekend. The tournament will be played from February 29th to March 3rd at PGA National’s Champion Course In Palm Beach Gardens. The younger Woods has competed alongside his dad in previous years and Tiger has even caddied for him in the past.

The Biden administration is canceling $1.2 billion in student loan debt for more than 150,000 borrowers. While delivering remarks in California on Wednesday, the president said student loan payments have become too burdensome for millions of Americans. The move is the administration’s latest effort at student debt relief after the Supreme Court blocked Biden’s broader forgiveness plan last year. The White House has since used smaller programs to forgive debt for specific groups. The most recent relief will go to borrowers who have been in repayment for a decade or longer and originally took out $12,000 or less.

“Can you hear me now?” “Yes, but I don’t need the can.”

Phone users across the U.S. are reporting problems with AT&T. Downdetector.com is showing a spike in AT&T cellular service outages in the past hour, with nearly 33,000 customers reporting no service. The cities experiencing the most outages include Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and Honolulu. There’s been no comment on the outages from AT&T.

Roberts Wesleyan University and Northeastern Seminary will formally unite operations ahead of the next academic year according to a release issued this morning.  The schools have received approval from the New York State Board of Regents to merge effective June 30.  The schools already share a campus and a board of directors but have operated as separate educational corporations and legal entities.  Northeastern Seminary was founded in 1998 as a graduate school of theology and offers several master’s and doctorate programs related to ministry.

7 News in Buffalo has put together a list of where to get the basic household staples on the cheap in Western NY.  They published a list showing which store has the cheapest chicken breasts, bread, eggs, milk and toilet paper.  According to them Aldi has the edge in Milk, a Loaf of White Bread, and Toilet Paper.  Chicken Breast is cheaper at Wegmans.  Walmart has the lowest price on eggs.

Rochester Police are looking for suspects in a gunpoint robbery Tuesday night on North Goodman Street.  It happened around 6 p.m. near Bay Street. Police said a 25-year-old Monroe County resident was approached by a suspect with a handgun who demanded money.  The suspect fled the scene. The victim was not injured.

The New York State Police today announced that troopers issued 6,876 tickets during a special STOP DWI traffic enforcement period over Super Bowl Weekend.  State Police increased patrols and conducted sobriety checkpoints to deter, identify and arrest impaired drivers.  During this enforcement period, State Troopers arrested 139 people for DWI, and investigated 245 crashes, which injured 37 people. State Police did not respond to any fatal crashes during the weekend.  Officers gave out 2180 speeding tickets, 192 citations for distracted driving, 231 seatbelt violations and 58 move over law citations. From last year the number of DWIs stayed about the same but the number of other violations went down by almost 1500.

The City of Batavia Police and Fire Departments will face off at their annual charitable hockey game on Sunday the 25th at 6:30 P.M. with proceeds once again going to the David M. McCarthy Memorial Foundation.  Tickets are $10 and free for children under 10 years of age and are only available for purchase by following the link on crimestoppers or at wbtai.com.  There will be a 50-50 raffle during the game.

https://app.mysportsort.com/view/index.php?an=404&myss_source=register&entitytype=3&entityid=109110

File photo of Governor Hochul in Rochester (13WHAM Photo)

Governor Hochul is revealing what her latest budget proposal could mean for our area’s future. During a visit to Rochester yesterday, she said her fiscal plan would provide funds to improve higher education and battle poverty. Hochul also said that money would be set aside to repair many of the region’s roads and bridges so they can be safe for residents and tourists. The deadline to pass an on-time state budget is April 1st.

Catholic Charities of Buffalo is looking for people to join its free Home Visitation and Friendly Phones program in both Genesee and Orleans Counties. You would either visit in person or make phone calls to individuals who are homebound and 60 and over. These would be 1-hour weekly visits to help fight loneliness and provide opportunities for socialization. As a volunteer, you would engage in friendly conversation and partake in activities such as board games, puzzles, and crafts but would not be providing assistance with personal or medical care, banking, shopping or transportation. To find out more, please call Catholic Charities at 585-343-0614.

Lisa Haight

New information is out on a deadly officer-involved shooting in Hamburg. It’s been revealed that Officer Sean Gregoire is the one who shot and killed 36-year-old Lisa Haight during an encounter in the bathroom of a home on February 2nd. It was believed Haight had a knife when she threatened officers, but it was later determined to be a penlight. Gregoire remains on paid administrative leave.

PJ the Giraffe – 13WHAM photo

Staff members at the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester are mourning the passing of a giraffe calf. Officials say that Parker Junior, who was also affectionately known as PJ, died over the weekend after suffering an apparent seizure. PJ was born on December 6th and had been receiving treatment for an issue with his leg. The calf’s mother is pregnant but has been diagnosed with a cancerous growth on her jaw.

Anthony Mazurkiewicz

A Rochester man may end up spending the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty to drug and weapons charges. According to prosecutors, 31-year-old Rasheem Sullivan and members of his gang were arrested back in December 2022. An investigation into their activities started after the shooting death of Rochester Police Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz. Sullivan will be sentenced May.

Police in some of Western New York’s suburbs say they’re seeing an increase in car thefts. That includes the communities of Tonawanda, Amherst, Grand Island and West Seneca. The vehicles targeted the most are Kia’s and Hyundai’s, since they’re considered to be easier to steal because of security flaws. Owners are reminded to always lock their cars and never leave keys inside.

James Taylor

Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member James Taylor is coming to Western New York this summer. Taylor and his All-Star band will be at the Darien Lake Amphitheater on Tuesday, June 25th. He’s best known for big hits such as “Fire and Rain” and “You’ve Got A Friend.” Tickets go on sale this Friday starting at 10:00am through Live Nation

The Buffalo Sabres will be north of the border tonight as they look to get back on the winning track. The team is set to visit their longtime rivals the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre. Buffalo last played on Monday afternoon when they lost to the Anaheim Ducks 4-3. Face-off for this evening’s contest is scheduled for 7:00.

ELSEWHERE…

The Mega Millions jackpot has rolled over again. With no grand prizewinner in Tuesday night’s big drawing, a whopping $525 million will now be up for grabs in the next drawing on Friday. The cash option on that works out to just over $247 million. Please play responsibly.

Delta Airlines will be offering flights with views of the total solar eclipse. The airline announced several flights for April 8th, with one flight specially designed to follow the path of totality. The flights will depart from Austin at 12:15 p.m. and will land in Detroit. The aircraft type will be an Airbus A220-300 with extra large windows. Delta says other flights that day will also offer at least part of the solar eclipse view.

The Florida Senate is expected to take up a social media ban for kids Wednesday. The measure would prohibit anyone under the age of 16 from creating an account and require platforms to delete existing profiles run by minors. Lawmakers revamped it last week to specify which platforms are being targeted. Governor Ron DeSantis has not publicly supported the legislation, saying it’s “to be determined” whether he will sign it, if it passes the state legislature. The current session is set to wrap up early next month.

A gang member has pleaded guilty to drug and weapon charges following an investigation that stemmed from the shooting death of a Rochester police officer.  Prosecutors announced Today that 31 year old Rasheem “Coop” Sullivan of Rochester, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Sullivan is the self-proclaimed leader of a local subset of the Bloods known as the Immortal Stone Gorilla Gang.  Sullivan and several other gang members were arrested in December 2022 after a search uncovered drugs, cash and “numerous” guns, including a loaded Glock 10 mm pistol inside Sullivan’s home.  Sullivan was the person who hired the gunman from Boston who shot and killed Officer Mazurkiewicz.  Sullivan’s plea carries at least five years in prison and a maximum of life in prison.

A new report on the city’s Emergency Medical Services evaluates the system and provides recommendations for improved services.  This comes a few months after a man was forced out of an AMR ambulance in Rochester during a medical crisis and later died.  Saturday, the city released a report that evaluates the EMS system based on data from 2017 to 2021. It suggests seven alternative EMS models for the city to consider.  One of the options would involve the Rochester Fire Department transporting all patients. Another would only assign RFD to critical patients.  Dr. Jeremy Cushman, Rochester’s EMS medical director, said the city is now exploring additional investments to stabilize and improve the system.  The city is now in contract discussions with AMR. Its current contract with the company is set to expire in November.

Rochester police are still on the lookout for the driver who was involved in a hit-and-run. According to authorities, a man was run over after being attacked during a fight at the corner of Boardman Street and Monroe Avenue early Saturday morning. The 25-year-old was rushed to a nearby hospital to be treated for upper body injuries. So far, there has been no arrest made in this case.

Catholic Charities of Buffalo is looking for some caring people to join its free Home Visitation and Friendly Phones program in Genesee and Orleans County.  The job is to either visit in person or make phone calls to individuals who are homebound and 60 and over.  These would be 1 hour weekly visits to help fight loneliness with regular socialization.  Volunteers engage in friendly conversation and partake in activities such as board games, puzzles, and crafts. Volunteers do not help with personal or medical care, banking, shopping or transportation.  If interested, please call Catholic Charities at 585-343-0614.

Humans aren’t the only ones who will experience the total solar eclipse in Western NY our animal friends will also get to experience this unique daytime darkness.  Western NY hasn’t seen a total solar eclipse since 1925.  Buffalo Zoo will be conducting a study and inviting the public to join them on April 8th during the Total Solar Eclipse.  They predict that the animals will think it’s night time and try to go to sleep. 

Dozens of Buffalo area business owners met Monday to discuss new regulations that they believe will also impact consumers.  The New York State DEC proposed new regulation surrounding Hydrofluorocarbons or HFCs. The compound is commonly found in refrigeration, air-conditioning and aerosols, but scientists say it’s harmful to the environment.  New regulations seek to phase out HFC refrigerants in the state by 2034. However, it doesn’t completely align with the EPA’s new phase down. The state is more aggressive than the federal rules.  The state says the goal of this change is to implement recommendations of the Climate Action Council Scoping Plan necessary to achieve required statewide emission limits.  Critics say it will cost hundreds of millions of dollars in retrofitting equipment and buying new equipment.

A firefighter is recovering after being hurt in the line of duty. Crews were called to battle a blaze on Wortendyke Road in Batavia yesterday and arrived to find a fire inside a garage. The firefighter suffered a knee injury and is going to be OK, and the three people inside of the home at the time, a woman and two children, escaped unharmed. However, their pet dog, who was in the garage at the time, perished in the blaze. The fire did not get into the house; however, their home sustained heavy smoke damage. The investigation continues into how the fire started.

Senator Schumer in Rochester yesterday afternoon. (13WHAM Photo)

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is pushing a plan to put an end to the shortage of RSV vaccine. During a visit to Rochester yesterday, Schumer says he’s going to try and pressure the FDA and drug manufacturers to produce more of the vaccine. Studies show people who have been immunized have a reduced risk of experiencing complications from RSV. Schumer says it’s unfair that doctors have to decide who gets vaccinated and who doesn’t.

The latest flu tracker data suggests the virus is stubbornly hanging on across our region. During the week ending February 10th, Monroe County had the highest number of infections with 503. Erie County was second with 333. Chautauqua County had 130 cases of flu and Niagara County had 86. Since the beginning of flu season, over 262,000 people in New York have contracted the illness.

Richard Metcalf, Jr.

The third week of testimony is scheduled to begin today in the wrongful death civil trial of Richard Metcalf, Jr. Metcalf was an inmate at the Erie County Holding Center when he passed away after being restrained following an encounter involving staff members at the jail in 2012. The jury has already heard testimony from the former county medical examiner that ruled Metcalf’s death was a homicide. His estate has filed a lawsuit against the county and multiple deputies.

The Buffalo Sabres have come up short in their bid to win a second straight game after suffering a tough loss on home ice. Jordan Greenway, Tage Thompson and Zach Benson had a goal each as their team fell to the Anaheim Ducks four-to-three at KeyBank Center yesterday. Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen faced just 15 shots in the contest and stopped only 11 of them. Buffalo hits the road for their next game tomorrow evening against the Montreal Canadiens.

File photo of Damar Hamlin

Damar Hamlin says that he has learned a lot about himself over the past year. That’s no surprise after his near-death experience on the field about 13 months ago when Hamlin went into cardiac arrest during a game at Cincinnati on January 2nd, 2023. Hamlin played in five games this past season, plus both of Buffalo’s postseason matchups. Hamlin says that he is focusing on all of his opportunities, setting himself up for the future outside of football.

With returns due in under two months, state residents are encouraged to know their rights when it comes time to hire someone to do their taxes. The state Department of Taxation and Finance says all tax preparers must tell you immediately if they’ll represent you if your return is audited and have to ask you the correct questions so they can do your return accurately. Preparers are also required to allow you to review your completed return before you sign it. Any complaints can be filed at tax.ny.gov.

ELSEWHERE…

Serotonin

Taking antidepressants like Prozac while pregnant can hinder a child’s brain development and possibly cause mental disorders later in life. That’s the findings in a new study published last week in the journal Nature Communications. Experts say antidepressants that raise Serotonin levels can influence how the brain learns and adjusts.

An artist’s perspective or ERS-2 satellite

A dead satellite is returning to Earth this week. ERS-2 is one of the European Space Agency’s advanced observation satellites. From 1995 to 2011 it tracked everything from shrinking polar ice to atmospheric composition. Most of the satellite is set to burn up on re-entry Wednesday morning, with no clear prediction on where any remaining debris will land.

2018 file photo of Kenny Chesney

One of the biggest names in country music is going to be making a stop at Darien Lake this summer. Kenny Chesney is set to be on stage at the popular concert venue on Thursday, July 27th as part of his “Sun Goes Down” tour. The Grammy Award nominated Chesney will be joined at the show by rising artist Megan Moroney. Tickets for this performance go on sale to the general public Friday through Live Nation.

Buffalo police are asking for help from the public as they try and solve three shootings in their city. They say a 37-year-old man was shot outside at an address on Sprenger Avenue Saturday night. Hours later, two more men were hit by gunfire inside of a speakeasy on East Lovejoy Street. All three victims ended up being taken to Erie County Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Firefighters were at the scene of a two-story house fire on McKinley Avenue in Batavia.  There was heavy fire on the second floor of the wooden structure at number 14.  It was called in at around 2pm on Sunday.  Firefighters were battling the blaze amid an ongoing water shortage in the Genesee County area. All persons were out of the building before the firefighters arrived.  They said one person was taken to the hospital for minor injuries.  There was also reportedly a problem with water from the fire hydrant. Batavia Fire Chief Joshua Graham says the house is a total loss.

Rochester Police say a man was stabbed around 1 a.m. Monday morning on Monroe Avenue near Goodman Street.  The 37-year-old victim said a suspect demanded property before stabbing him once in the upper body. He’s been taken to the hospital for a non-life threatening injury.  No arrests have been made

Drivers in Western NY are seeing prices stay steady from last week.  In Batavia the price of a gallon of regular dropped less than a cent going from 3.238 to 3.234 with all discounts applied. Since last month the price is down about 6 cents.  The New York average went up by about 3 cents and nationally it stayed exactly the same from last week.  AAA says that the reason for the rise two weeks ago and then the leveling off is the shutdown of a refinery in Indiana which will be fixed soon.  

Damar Hamlin learned a lot about himself over the past year. That’s no surprise after his near-death experience on the field about 13 months ago.  Hamlin went into cardiac arrest during a game at Cincinnati on Jan 2, 2023. He needed to be resuscitated and the game was called off. Hamlin played in five games this season, plus both of Buffalo’s postseason matchups.  Hamlin says that he is focusing on all his opportunities, setting himself up for the future, and business outside of football.

CITY of BATAVIA POLICE BLOTTER:  On 2/9/2024, Felicia R Sherrell (age 43) of Batavia, was arrested for DWI. The arrest is the result of an investigation into a motor vehicle accident that occurred on 12/17/2023. It’s alleged that Sherrell struck a sign at West Main St and Oak St and left the scene. After being located by police Sherrell allegedly resisted arrest and struck an Officer as they attempted to take her into custody. Sherrell was additionally charged with Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs and Alcohol, Failure to Keep Right, Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Accident, Harassment 2nd, and Resisting Arrest. She is due in court on 2/13/2024.

On 2/12/2024 Leona J Polk (age 44) of Leroy, was arrested for Harassment 2nd. Polk allegedly struck a nurse in the Emergency Room at UMMC. She was issued an appearance ticket and is due in court on 2/27/2024.

On 2/12/2024, Rebecca R Fugate (age 23) Batavia, was charged with Harassment 2nd. Fugate allegedly struck another person while on a bus in the City of Batavia. She was issued an appearance ticket and is due in court on 3/5/2024.

On 2/4/2024, Isaiah J Munroe (age 33) of Batavia, was arrested for Assault 3rd, Unlawful Imprisonment 2nd and Criminal Mischief 4th. Munroe was arrested after an investigation into a disturbance call on Walnut St on 1/28/2024. It’s alleged that Munroe engaged in a physical altercation with another person causing injury. He also allegedly restrained them and prevented them from calling for help. He was arraigned in CAP Court and released. He is due in Batavia City Court at a later date.

On 2/6/2024 David J Sokolowski (age 54) of Batavia, was arrested for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th. The arrest stems from an incident on 10/7/2023 where Sokolowski was allegedly found in possession of narcotics. He was issued an appearance ticket and is due in court on 2/27/2024.

On 2/7/2024, Jaylinn M Oneil (age 33) of Leroy, was arrested on a warrant from Batavia City Court. Oneil was initially charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle 3rd on 11/8/2023. The warrant was issued after she failed to appear in court. Oneil was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released. She is due back in court on 2/28/2024.

On 2/9/2024, Michael R Ostrander (age 59) of Batavia, was arrested for Assault 3rd. Ostrander was arrested after police responded to an incident on Mill St where Ostrander allegedly struck another person causing injury. Ostrander was arraigned in CAP Court and released. He is due back in Batavia City Court at a later date.

On 2/3/2024, Kristen R Aquino (age 40) was arrested for DWI. Aquino was initially stopped on Liberty St for a vehicle and traffic violation. Aquino was allegedly found to be operating the vehicle while intoxicated by alcohol. She was issued several traffic tickets and is due in Batavia City Court on 2/21/2024.

IN OTHER NEWS…

Aftermath of fatal Lockport crash

Two Rochester residents have lost their lives following a high-speed chase in Lockport over the weekend. Niagara County officials say the pursuit began Saturday after a stolen vehicle was spotted on Route 31 near Chesnut Ridge Road. The driver, 29-year-old Michael Walker, refused to pull over and eventually lost control of the vehicle and slammed it into a tree. Both Walker and his passenger, 28-year-old Ana Cerrato, died at the scene.

Nationally, there has been a slight uptick in gas prices over the past week; locally however, the price has gone down a few cents. According to Triple A this morning, the national average cost for a gallon of regular fuel is now $3.28, which is up 2 cents from a week ago; the state average is $3.30. In Batavia, the average calculates out to $3.23; that’s down 7 cents from a month ago and 14 cents from a year ago today.

Unidentified snowmobilers enjoying the winter’s day

Governor Hochul has announced there will be two free snowmobiling weekends taking place next month. They’ll be March 1st through the 3rd and also March 8th through the 10th. The goal is to attract out-of-state snowmobilers and encourage them to ride New York’s over 10-thousand miles worth of trails. While the registration requirement will be waived, all riders still must carry proof of insurance with them. For a full list of rules and regulations, head to nysnowmobiler.com.

Governor Hochul and former President Trump

Governor Kathy Hochul is responding to a report that former President Trump would try to pass a federal 16-week abortion ban if he’s elected in November. Hochul says it’s abhorrent that women’s rights could be jeopardized across the country, including in New York, the birthplace of women’s rights. She says she would fight such a move with every breath and would never back down. The New York Times reported this morning that Trump privately told supporters he’s open to the idea of banning abortions after 16 weeks with few exceptions.

File photo of the Kensington Expressway

A major one billion dollar project in Buffalo is moving forward. Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that the feds have signed off on the Kensington Expressway project. It will create a tunnel and cap part of the Expressway and improve vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle mobility and access in the area. Despite some community opposition, Hochul says it will right the wrongs of the past by reconnecting communities. Construction should start later in the year.

The Buffalo Sabres will be back on their home ice today as they look to pick up a second consecutive victory. The Sabres are hosting the Anaheim Ducks at KeyBank Center. Buffalo last played on the road Saturday when they beat the Minnesota Wild by a final score of 3-2 in overtime and boosted their point total this season to 52. The puck drops this afternoon at 12:30.

Undated file photo

Organizers of the Rochester Pride Festival say the event could be in a new location this year. They’ve asked the Monroe County Legislature to approve its move to Highland Park. The hope is this new spot will provide participants and visitors with additional shade and parking while also improving accessibility. Should the Legislature decide to green light this request, the festival will happen July 20th.

ELSEWHERE…

“Mean Girls” has surpassed $100 million at the global box office. The movie musical has made over $101 million worldwide after six weeks of release, including more than $71 million in North America. “Mean Girls” held the number one spot at the domestic box office for three weeks in a row after it was released on January 12th. The film was initially slated to debut on Paramount-plus, but after test screenings, the film was moved to a theatrical release.

Beatle Paul with the Hofner bass, back in the day.

Paul McCartney is getting back his bass guitar after it went missing more than a half-century ago. McCartney said he purchased the Hofner bass guitar in 1961 and played it for a number of Beatles concerts and albums. It had been stolen in 1972, but a Valentine’s Day statement on McCartney’s website said it was returned and authenticated. The statement credited the “Lost Bass Project,” which was created last year, for locating the bass.

A new CDC report shows the effects of long COVID are lingering longer among people who live in certain states. It’s most prevalent in West Virginia, Montana and Alabama, where about one in ten people surveyed reported experiencing the effects. Long COVID rates were nine–percent or higher in North Dakota, Oklahoma and Wyoming. The CDC says that overall, nearly 7% of U.S. adults have experienced it. Symptoms of long COVID, which is defined as lasting three months or more, include brain fog, persistent fatigue, shortness of breath, cough, rapid heart rate or cardiac arrhythmia. Dr. Marc Siegel of NYU Langone Medical Center in New York cites multiple studies that show getting three COVID shots or more significantly reduces the risk.

Did you know drowning is the leading cause of death among children under the age of five?  That is why New York State will soon require all new parents to watch a video about the dangers of drowning before they even leave the hospital.  Last fall, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a law that would require hospitals to show new parents a swim safety video.  The New York State Department of Health says the video, which will be provided to the hospitals, will be ready this spring.  Experts say most children ages one to four drown in home swimming pools, and infants under the age of one are most likely to drown in a bathtub.

Since Wednesday’s shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl rally, donations have been pouring into Mercy’s Children Hospital in Kansas City, including from Buffalo Bills fans.  The children’s hospital has treated 12 patients since Wednesday’s shooting. Nine of those 12 patients were injured by gunshots.  As of Thursday afternoon, three patients remain hospitalized.  Hundreds of donations have come in from the Bills Mafia.

Attorney General Letitia James today sent a cease-and-desist letter to New York City-based law firm Held & Hines, warning the firm to immediately stop its attempts to get Uber and Lyft drivers to pay a fee for their settlement funds secured by the Office of the Attorney General. Held & Hines has been sharing deceptive posts on social media and in rideshare driver chat groups representing that the firm will help drivers claim their share of the settlement funds for a 15 percent fee to be taken out of the amount due to each individual driver. In reality, the process to receive settlement funds is simple and does not require legal representation. 

Some say he’s a hero and some say he’s a villain.  Either way 51 year old Peter Christopher of Buffalo will be spending a year in prison for stealing parking meters.  Between May 1st and May 19th of 2023 Christopher stole 91 City of Buffalo Parking Meters from Downtown Buffalo.  How, why and where he put them are all unanswered questions in this caper.  He pleaded guilty to one count of fourth-degree attempted grand larceny in December 2023.

The Buffalo Zoo is mourning the loss of its longtime silverback gorilla, Koga. He was born at the Bronx Zoo back in 1987, before coming to Buffalo in 2007, where he became the father of three offspring. The zoo says he passed away due to a cardiac event, and had been undergoing treatment for heart disease. There are still three other gorillas living at the zoo.

There’s an exciting new way to experience the new Highmark Stadium before it opens in 2026!  The Bills Stadium Experience is set to open next month in the Walker Center, located at 5110 Main St. in Amherst.  Fans will be able to take an interactive sneak peek on the upcoming venue and pick out their seats.  Season ticket holders will have priority access and previews are available by appointment only.

45-year-old Erich Hildebrant of Batavia has been arrested. He’s charged with endangering the welfare of a child. It’s alleged that during a domestic incident at his home, with a firearm in his hands, he made comments and conducted himself in a manner detrimental to the moral welfare of three children. Hildebrant is scheduled to appear in the Town of Batavia Court on February 27th.

Bank Street from Main to Washington Avenue will be closed until midday today, as the Bank Street Water project nears completion. Loss of water may occur in the surrounding area depending on valve closures. If your water is discolored when water pressure is regained, please avoid doing laundry or cooking until the water runs clear.

Paul Goodrell

A convicted sex offender accused of exposing himself to children at different locations across Ontario County last year has now pleaded guilty to felony charges. 54-year-old Paul Goodrell was arrested multiple times for incidents that took place during a four-day stretch in December, though authorities tell us he has a criminal history including similar crimes dating back to 1989. Goodrell is charged with burglary as a sexually motivated felony, public lewdness and endangering the welfare of a child in connection to December’s incidents of public exposure. Orders of protection have been issued for the children involved.

Former President Trump and Attorney General James

A verdict in former President Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial is expected today. The New York judge overseeing the case has already found Trump did engage in fraud, and must now decide what penalties he and his company should pay. State Attorney General Letitia James is seeking 370-million dollars and a ban on Trump and other defendants doing business in New York.

Shaun Humphrey

The state Attorney General’s Office is conducting an investigation into the death of an inmate at the Erie County Holding Center. The individual, who has been identified as 23-year-old Shaun Humphrey, was in custody last August when he experienced what appeared to be a seizure. Humphrey became combative and later stopped responding before he was taken to a nearby hospital where he died days later. There has been no comment as yet from the Erie County Sheriff’s Office.

Steven Tyrrell

Flags will be lowered to half-staff across New York State today and tomorrow in honor of New York State Trooper Steven Tyrrell. He recently passed away from an illness connected to his work at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the September 11th terror attacks. Services for the 58-year-old will be today and tomorrow; at Anthony’s Funeral Home and that service will be followed by his funeral tomorrow at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Tyrrell is survived by his three children.

Some critical utility bill relief is coming to millions of New Yorkers. Governor Hochul announced the State Public Service Commission adopted a $200 million New York State energy bill credit to be administered by the state’s large electric and gas utilities on behalf of customers. It’s a one-time credit with state funds that will provide energy bill relief to more than eight-million directly-metered electric and gas customers. This is part of the Governor’s plan to help offset energy costs in 2024, and the one-time credit is expected to be allocated to customer accounts within roughly 45 days of the utilities receiving budget funds.

Jorge Santana-Torres

A jury has handed down its verdict in the murder trial of Jorge Santana-Torres. Yesterday, the panel found the 36-year-old guilty of opening fire at a house party back in 2022 on Lochner Place in Rochester. A bullet hit and took the life of 35-year-old Alexis Mercedes. Santana-Torres left the area and was later tracked down in Ohio. He is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

New York State’s Independent Redistricting Commission has redrawn the state’s Congressional lines once again. Now, all eyes are on state Democrats, to see if they keep the bipartisan plan, or scrap it to try and send more Democrats to Congress. The Commission’s final report, ordered by a state judge, barely changed the current map. In doing so, experts say, it weakened the reelection chances of just one upstate Republican, while aiding the re-election chances of Republicans in the Hudson Valley and Long Island, where the commission left districts mostly intact. The Democratically controlled legislature can now accept the commission’s map or redraw it to try and benefit more Democrats. An overly gerrymandered 2022 Congressional District Map was rejected by the courts; the court-ordered redrawn map that followed may have helped as many as 5-Republicans win New York seats in a closely divided Congress.

State Police have released the results of their latest STOP DWI traffic enforcement campaign. There were more than 6,800 tickets handed out between February 9th and 11th for offenses such as speeding, distracted driving, and seatbelt violations. And, 139 people statewide were arrested for DWI, including nine in our region. Troopers didn’t respond to any fatal crashes during Super Bowl weekend.

Michael DiCesare

Charges have been upgraded against the suspects who were involved in a brutal beating on Christmas Day in Rochester. Authorities say 22-year-old Brucewayne Beman and 33-year-old Guy Mustgray the Second have been indicted for murder, robbery, and assault. Allegedly, the pair severely beat 60-year-old Michael DiCesare for almost 20 minutes in the area of Bay Street and Portland Avenue. DiCesare died of his injuries weeks after the attack.

Johnathan Rzoska

A Williamsville man who threatened to blow up court buildings in Erie County has found out his punishment for that crime. A judge has sentenced 41-year-old Johnathan Rzoska to spend the next three years in prison. Prosecutors say Rzoska called emergency services back in 2022 and claimed that he wanted to blow up both the Erie County Court building and Williamsville Village Court building. Both buildings were evacuated and searched but nothing suspicious was found.

The Buffalo Sabres have come up short in their bid to win a second straight game; they lost last night on home ice. No Sabres scored as they fell to the Florida Panthers 4-0 at KeyBank Center. Buffalo goaltender Eric Comrie faced 30 shots in the contest and was only able to stop 27 of them. Up next for Buffalo, they saddle up the horse for a game tomorrow afternoon against the Minnesota Wild; face-off there is at 5:00.

There is a wind advisory in effect for Western NY including Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming Counties from 4 this afternoon till 7 tomorrow morning.  Winds coming out of the west from 25 to 35 miles per hour with gusts of up to 50 miles per hour are expected.  Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few isolated power outages may result. Travel in high profile vehicles may be difficult.  Residents are urged to take extra precautions such as slowing down in the car and securing any outdoor objects.

Police say a 2-week-old girl has been taken to the hospital for possible cold exposure, and her father has been arrested in a connected domestic incident.  Around 7:45 Wednesday night, police were called to Farleigh Avenue near Otis Street for a family trouble report. They say a 28-year-old woman was accosted by a 23-year-old man. The man and woman have a 2-week-old daughter who was there at the time.  Police say before they arrived, the man fled the Farleigh Avenue home with the girl. They were located at an apartment on Green Knolls Drive, and the man was taken into custody.  They believe the girl may have been outside and improperly dressed. She was taken to the hospital for possible exposure to the cold. The child is in stable condition.  The suspect, whose name has not yet been released, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing in connection to the child’s mother and with endangering the welfare of a child.

A parolee is heading back to prison after being found guilty of taking part in a deadly stabbing.  Authorities say 31 year old Lequan Hill was arguing with his father outside a home on Frost Avenue in Rochester where 42-year-old Antoine Parris lived back in 2022.  Parris tried to intervene in the dispute and ended up being attacked by Hill. Yesterday, Hill was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.  He was out on parole at the time of the stabbing after serving time for robbery and having dangerous prison contraband.

A convicted sex offender accused of exposing himself to children at different locations across Ontario County last year pleaded guilty to felony charges Wednesday.  54 year old Paul Goodrell was arrested multiple times for incidents that took place during a four-day stretch in December, though authorities tell us he has a criminal history including similar crimes dating back to 1989.  Goodrell is charged with burglary as a sexually motivated felony, public lewdness and endangering the welfare of a child in connection to December’s incidents of public exposure.  Orders of protection have been issued for the children involved.

Police on the University at Buffalo campus are issuing a safety warning to students. Authorities say there have been a string of vehicle break-ins, and the models targeted most are Kias and Hyundais.  Three cars were broken into on the UB South Campus earlier this week and its recommended people who own these type of vehicles consider using a steering wheel lock.  

The Fe-Brew-ary Beer Walk is happening next Saturday from 4 to 8pm downtown in Batavia.  There are 23 businesses participating in providing samples of craft beers and various foods.  You can buy a ticket to give you access to all of the festivities for 35 dollars.  Only people 21 and over are allowed to attend.  Tickets are available at Adam Miller Toys & Bicycles, Yngodess Shop, and Eventbright.

Amy Goodenow

43-year-old Amy Goodenow of Batavia has been arrested and charged with petit larceny. Investigation revealed she refused to return car keys to the victim. Goodenow was scheduled for Batavia Town Court. ALSO: 43-year-old Christine Caplis of Batavia has been arrested; she’s charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. This resulted following a traffic stop that had taken place on April 18, 2022. Caplis was then located after a disturbance on Dillinger Avenue. She’s due to return to the Corfu Village Court early next month.

Blue Heron Construction will continue to work on interconnections for the Jackson Street Water project today, Thursday, February 15th, on Jackson Street.  Loss of water should be expected in the surrounding area depending on valve closures.  If discolored water occurs when water pressure is regained, please avoid doing laundry or cooking until the water runs clear.

File photo of the interior of the Orleans Correctional Facility

A 22-year-old inmate at the Orleans Correctional Facility, serving a seven-year sentence for robbery, was ordered to put his hands on the wall and submit to a pat frisk. He became argumentative with staff and came off the wall and elbowed an officer in the shoulder. The inmate was pushed back on the wall by the officer but continued to be combative and was forced to the floor in a body hold. Pepper spray was used with no effect. A second officer attempted to force the inmate’s arms behind his back. The inmate bit the officer on the hand, breaking the skin. A third officer responded and assisted in forcing the inmate’s arms behind his back, where handcuffs were applied; after which, the inmate became compliant. The inmate was escorted to a Special Housing Unit.

Anyone looking for work should check out an event today on the Monroe Community College downtown campus. A job fair is taking place from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the campus on State Street. Some of the companies taking part include Holbrook Heating, ConServe, Doyle Security Systems and the Rochester City School District. Attendees are asked to bring a copy of their resume and be prepared for interviews.

The Rochester Americans are going to be doing their part tomorrow to honor veterans who have served our country. The team will be holding their annual Military Salute Night and the first 1000 fans who file through the turnstiles will get an American flag. People are also urged to design a Valentine’s Day card for veterans. Players are going to be wearing special jerseys that will be auctioned off online.

A commission is going to be holding a vote in Albany today on a brand new set of congressional district maps for the Empire State. If those maps are approved, they’ll then be sent to the state Legislature who also must sign off on them. The exact layout of the maps and their changes haven’t been released to the public just yet. The goal is for these new maps to be used for this year’s elections.

DC Theatricks fire, March 2023

A lawsuit has now been filed in connection with a fire in Buffalo that resulted in the death of a firefighter. The Buffalo News reports legal action is being taken by DC Theatricks, which was destroyed in the blaze last March. The business sued the property owner and contractor whose employees sparked the fire on Main Street where Jason Arno was killed. An investigation revealed those employees used a leaf blower and torch to try and melt snow and ice before the fire began.

Khairullah Hasein

The delivery driver who was involved in a fatal hit-and-run near Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park has pleaded guilty. The Erie County District Attorney’s Office says 33-year-old Khairullah Hasein admits to having a role in the death of 65-year-old William Young back in November. Hasein’s vehicle was later found in Buffalo after the tragedy. He’s now facing up to seven years in prison when he’s sentenced in April.

UB South Campus

Police on the University at Buffalo campus are issuing a safety warning to students. Authorities say there have been a string of vehicle break-ins, and the models targeted most are Kias and Hyundais. Three cars were broken into on the UB South Campus earlier this week and its recommended people who own these type of vehicles consider using a steering wheel lock. Any suspicious activity anywhere can be reported by dialing 911.

The Buffalo Sabres will be back in action tonight as they look to close out their current home stand with a second straight victory. The Sabres are set to host the Florida Panthers at KeyBank Center. Buffalo last played on Tuesday when they dominated the Los Angeles Kings on their way to a seven-to-nothing win. The puck drops this evening at 7:00.

ELSEWHERE…

Unidentified man in undated file photo

The FDA is approving the first ever medication to treat frostbite. Aurlumyn is an injection used in adults who have suffered severe frostbite to help reduce the risk of toe or finger amputation. A trial of the treatment found that patients who received the medication alone saw a lower risk of amputation compared to patients who received other treatments. The FDA said, “Having this new option provides physicians with a tool that will help prevent the life changing amputation of one’s frostbitten fingers or toes.” The agency noted the most common side effects of the medication include headache, heart palpitations, nausea, dizziness and hypotension.

Today is Thursday, February 15, the 46th day of 2024 with 320 to follow.

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

February 15 in history…

Chris Farley (People Magazine Photo)

…In 1964, Chris Farley was born; he died at the age of 33 on December 18, 1997 reportedly of an overdose of cocaine and morphine.

…In 1985 Phil Collins released the album “No Jacket Required.”

Harry Whittington (Associated Press Photo)

…In 2006, four days after accidentally shooting his friend, high profile Texas attorney Harry Whittington, during a quail hunt, Vice President Dick Cheney finally spoke out about the incident with Fox News. Cheney described the incident as, quote, “one of the worst days of my life.” The 78-year-old Whittington was hospitalized and treated for a minor heart attack that was triggered by the shooting.

3 Corrections officers were injured during an incident at the Attica Correctional facility last Thursday.  While making rounds the officers found an inmate intoxicated in the bathroom having ingested an unknown substance.  While they were escorting him from the bathroom he kicked an officer in the legs and knocked them into the wall where they hit their head.  The inmate then fell unconscious and the other officer, attempting to get him up, slipped and hurt his knee on the floor.  Narcan was administered to the inmate who became alert and conscious.  The officer who was initially assaulted was transported to Erie County Medical Center and treated for swollen forehead, knee swelling, forearm abrasions and exposure to the intoxicant.  The second officer was taken to Wyoming Community Hospital for evaluation of his knee. A third officer sustained a shoulder injury loading the stretcher and inmate into the transport ambulance. He was treated at the facility and remained on duty.

Its Valentines day and love may be blind but scammers are looking for victims.  Nearly 70,000 people reported a romance scam nationwide, with reported losses of over $1 billion last year.  Erie County District Attorney John Flynn said reports of online romance scams have exploded since the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a crime he said is nearly impossible to prosecute and one that often targets senior citizens.  Romance scams start online with dating sites and love letters.  Once a person is committed to an emotional relationship they move to trying to get their target to invest in fake opportunities or send money for things.  Experts say some red flags to be on the lookout for include: the relationship moves very fast, you never meet in person, they’re too hot to be true, they tell you a “hard luck” story and of course, they ask you for money.  AARP offers a free resource that allows people to get guidance from fraud specialists if you’ve been targeted. To read it, follow the link at wbtai.com.

https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/

A man convicted of killing a Rochester man is now free after his conviction was vacated.  It was May of 2015 when Johnny Washington was shot and killed in a drive-by on Sixth Street and Bay Street.  More than three years later, in December 2018, Terrence Lewis was sentenced to 22 years to life in prison. A jury convicted him of murder for his role in Washington’s death.  Now, Lewis is free because of a federal violation.  In May of 2018, while Lewis was awaiting trial in the Monroe County Jail, he was returned to a federal correctional facility in Pennsylvania where he was serving time on separate charges.  That move, according to New York’s Supreme Court, violated a provision of the federal Interstate Agreement on Detainers law.

UConnect Care has received a federal grant to provide harm reduction services, treatment, and recovery support services to those struggling with substance use disorders. The nonprofit agency has begun an Open Access program that will operate three days per week at The Recovery Station on Clinton St Rd in Batavia as well as a Harm Reduction Mobile Outreach unit that will travel to several locations in the two counties five days per week.  Amy Kabel, project director, emphasized that services will be available to residents, even if they’re not ready for agency intervention.  Walk-ins are welcome to utilize Open Access. The program’s hours of service are 3-7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays at The Recovery Station.

Some tax incentives help, some don’t pay off.  A new report released Tuesday shows that for some programs targeted toward manufacturing and scientific research development, the incentives do work.  But for others, like those for the motion picture and theater industries, the state is losing way more than it’s paying out.  New York has poured more than $4.6 billion in incentives into the film and television industry over the last decade.  However, the auditors found that while the Film Production and Post-Production Credits have supported well over 100,000 jobs, they don’t provide a positive return for the state’s investments when it comes to direct revenue. Lawmakers are considering which programs to keep and which ones to throw away.

The Community Resource Collaborative is under investigation after the original founder was terminated.  The CRC helps fund outreach groups that provide critical services, such as housing, food, and development. It’s tasked with managing funds for 13 organizations that are in partnership with the Neighborhood Collaborative Project  here in Rochester.  Monroe County Executive Adam Bello announced last week that funding from CRC was temporarily suspended after an audit into the nonprofit reportedly found financial mismanagement.  This investigation comes on the heels of the the founder of CRC being terminated. According to an attorney for CRC, the total amount of money missing is substantially under the $7 million dollar figure that has been reported, but he did not provide a specific dollar amount.

28-year-old Jacob Patterson of Batavia has been arrested and charged with criminal use of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance. This followed an investigation into the welfare check and trespassing of an individual at a local hotel on Park Road. Patterson was held at the Genesee County Jail for CAP Court arraignment.

After a few weeks of showing a decline, updated data from the New York State Flu Tracker shows the spread of the illness continues to hold steady in our region. During the week ending February 3rd, the county with the highest number of cases was Monroe with 435; Erie County had the second highest number with 205. Chautauqua County had 118 and both Niagara and Orleans Counties had 71. State health officials continue to encourage people who still haven’t received their flu shot to get it.

At last word Cheektowaga Police are still trying to find the door to a small plane that apparently fell off shortly after takeoff from Buffalo Niagara International Airport on Monday evening. Officers say they received a call around 6 PM that a small plane, carrying the pilot and a passenger, had lost its rear left side door while flying over Stiglmeier Park. According to public flight data, the single-engine aircraft took off from the airport and several minutes into the flight reported the emergency. According to police the plane landed safely and parked back near the Signature Aviation terminal, where it originally took off. No injuries or property damage has been reported.

Unidentified dog in file photo receiving an anti-rabies vaccine

Lockport officials are urging residents to take precautions to protect themselves and their pets from rabies. The warning comes after a raccoon that was recently found in the community tested positive for the potentially deadly virus. It’s recommended animals such as dogs and cats be up to date on their rabies shots. Folks should also stay away from any animal that appears to be acting strangely. Anyone who is bitten by an animal should seek medical treatment immediately.

File photo of Rochester Fringe Festival

Organizers of the popular Rochester Fringe Festival say people who want to perform at this year’s event can start submitting their applications. Those applications can be filled out online and must be received by March 21st at 5:00pm. This year’s Fringe Festival is scheduled to begin on September 10th and run through September 21st. Since it began in 2013, over 750,000 visitors from around the world have attended the event.

13WHAM File photo of Jellia Lockhart in the hallway before entering the courtroom.

A driver has been found guilty of causing a crash that killed her own sister. Yesterday, a jury convicted 30-year-old Jellia Lockhart of killing 33-year-old Charlaura Lockhart. She was a passenger in a vehicle that was involved in a collision with a car and tree at Denver Street and Hazelwood Terrace in Rochester in January 2023. Jellia Lockhart will be sentenced in March on manslaughter and assault charges.

13WHAM graphic

The Rochester Red Wings are making their annual guarantee ahead of the team’s home opener. If the temperature for the April 2nd contest against Lehigh Valley does not hit 50 degrees, fans will be able to redeem their tickets for another home game in April or May. In case you are wondering, Rochester’s average temperature on April 2nd is 41 degrees, but it did reach 86 degrees in 2010. Seats are available for purchase at milb.com/rochester.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stops an attempt by Dubois to score during last night’s third period. (NHL Photo)

The two-game losing streak of the Buffalo Sabres is over after the team puts forth a dominant effort on home ice. Jordan Greenway scored twice and JJ Peterka, Alex Tuch, Kyle Okposo, Zach Benson and Rasmus Dahlin had a goal each as the Sabres beat the Los Angeles Kings 7-0 at KeyBank Center last night. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, with the help of his defense, stopped every shot he faced in the contest to earn another shutout for Buffalo. The next game for the Sabres is tomorrow evening when they host the Florida Panthers. The puck drops at 7:00.

ELSEWHERE…

Unidentified couple in undated file photo sharing an undated moment…

It’s shaping up to be a record year for spending this Valentine’s Day. That’s according to the National Retail Federation. It says consumers plan to spend a total of $25.8 billion this Valentine’s Day – the third highest in the survey’s history. 62% of consumers ages 25-to-34 intend to celebrate this year, more than any other age group. Consumers expect to spend $185 each on average, that’s nearly $8 more than the average Valentine’s Day spending over the last five years.

Coming in April.

The first trailer is being released for the upcoming comedy “Sasquatch Sunset.” The film stars Riley Keough and Jesse Eisenberg as Sasquatches living in a remote forest. It features no dialogue and aims to capture a “true” depiction of how a Sasquatch would live. The rest of the cast includes Christophe Zajac-Denek and Nathan Zellner. “Sasquatch Sunset” hits theaters on April 12th.

Unidentified pickleball players in undated file photo.

Pickleball’s popularity is skyrocketing, but unfortunately, so are the number of pickleball-related injuries among players. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, broken bones have increased 200% over the last 20 years. Other common injuries include sprained ankles as well as torn ACL’s and rotator cuffs. USA Pickleball says nearly nine-million Americans played the sport in 2023.

The CDC is reportedly going to further loosen COVID-19 guidelines in April. That’s according to the Washington Post. Recommendations for five-day isolation are expected to be scrapped, leaving in place guidelines that are similar to the flu and RSV. People will be urged to base their time in isolation on symptom severity and the amount of time without a fever.

A restaurant worker in Greece is recovering after being hit by a vehicle while on the job. According to authorities, two women ate then refused to pay for their meal  on Saturday before that employee followed them to their car. That is when the worker was intentionally struck and needed treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.  The situation is being investigated by Greece Police.

The names of the two men killed in a double homicide over the weekend in Rochester have been released. On Sunday, Wahid Nazario and Frank Rosario Vazquez were outside of a bar on North Goodman Street when they were shot. Both victims passed away at the scene due to their wounds. Police said the two men in their 40s were leaving the bar around 1:30 in the morning when they were shot. Officials aren’t saying if they’ve determined a motive for the murders. No arrests have been made.

Rep. Elise Stefanik, announced an official complaint against New York Attorney General Letitia James today for allegedly violating the rules of professional conduct in her prosecution of former President Donald Trump.  James demanded in January that the state penalize Trump $370 million and bar him from its real estate business in connection to his ongoing civil fraud trial. She also accused Trump of inflating his asset values to boost his net worth and receive financial benefits.  In a letter to the New York Committee on Professional Standards, Rep. Stefanik claimed James’s actions were unfair and politically motivated against Trump.  Letitia James ran on a platform of finding Trump guilty of “something” and is also being sued by former Governor Andrew Cuomo for what he says is a politically motivated investigation into his conduct in office.  Stefanik is demanding that James be suspended or disbarred.

The Buffalo Sabres are going to be back on their home ice once again tonight as they look to snap their current two-game losing streak. The Sabres are hosting the Los Angeles Kings at KeyBank Center. Buffalo last played on Saturday when they were defeated by the Saint Louis Blues by a final score of three-to-one. Face-off this evening is set for seven p-m.

Governor Hochul has announced the date for a special election in the 26th Congressional District. People living in that district aren’t being represented on Capitol Hill right now following the resignation of Brian Higgins. The former congressman stepped down earlier this month to take over as president and CEO of Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo. Whoever wins on April 30th will finish up the rest of Higgins’ term.

Employees from the Batavia City School District, New York State Troopers, Batavia Police Department, and the City of Batavia Fire Department, along with the Blue Devil Varsity Football Team, will participate in the “Polar Plunge” to benefit the Special Olympics of Western New York. Students, staff, and community members are encouraged to join the event in person, where participants will stand outside and get soaked for a great cause. The plunge is scheduled for this Friday at 3:00pm at John Kennedy Intermediate School – Back Bus Loop (off of Elm Street). In 2023, Batavia was the leading fundraising school district, and the Special Olympics of Western New York will be on hand to present an award before the event. If you wish to attend the event or would like to interview any participants, reach out to Emily Benedict at bcsdcommunications@bataviacsd.org or call 323.397.6456.

Meteorologist Marty Snyder

13WHAM meteorologist Marty Snyder tells us that, so far, this month is the warmest February on record for Rochester. With an average temperature 11 degrees above normal, it beats the second warmest February on the list by over 2 degrees. The outlook for the rest of this week and this upcoming weekend does feature colder temperatures and some snow, but no big storms are expected in Rochester through the end of the weekend. Marty is coming up with the detailed forecast for our area in just a few minutes.

Former Congressman Higgins

A special election will be held in New York’s 26th Congressional District. Governor Kathy Hochul announced the April 30th special election to fill Democrat Brian Higgins seat. Higgins resigned from office and is now the president of Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo. The Western New York 26th Congressional District covers parts of Erie and Niagara counties, and includes Buffalo and Niagara Falls.

File photo

After about a month without any problems, carbon monoxide issues resurfaced at Holiday Twin Rinks in Cheektowaga. It happened over the weekend when a carbon monoxide detector sounded during a youth hockey game, which prompted evacuation of the building. A spokesperson for the rink said that they remained closed over the weekend due to the Ice Resurfacer once again having emissions issues. They were able to reopen yesterday.

Entrance to Stiglmeier Park, Cheektowaga (13WHAM Photo)

Cheektowaga Police are trying to find the door to an airplane that fell off mid-flight. Officers say they got a call around 6:00pm last night. A small plane carrying two people reported losing a door while flying over Stiglmeier Park. Officers scoured the area, but were unable to find the door. According to public flight data, the single-engine aircraft took off from the airport and several minutes into the flight reported the emergency. According to Police, the plane is reported to have landed safely and parked near the Signature Aviation terminal. As of this morning, no injuries or property damage has been reported.

New York Attorney General Letitia James has announced that her office has secured full refunds for hundreds of state residents who were wrongfully billed for COVID-19 vaccines by Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care (Northwell-GoHealth) clinics. Her Office found that Northwell-GoHealth wrongly charged up to 731 patients for the vaccines, resulting in patients paying a total of $14,996.05 in improper fees. Northwell-GoHealth also sent 72 unpaid bills for COVID-19 vaccines to collections. As a result of this agreement, Northwell-GoHealth has reimbursed all New Yorkers who were wrongly charged, will strengthen employee compliance with applicable laws for COVID-19 vaccine billing, and will pay a $25,000 penalty.

ELSEWHERE…

Recalled

Some 380,000 Frigidaire refrigerators are under recall after reports of plastic in the ice bucket. The Side-by-Side fridges with Slim Ice Buckets were sold between November 2015 and September 2019. Two injuries have been reported. Recalled model numbers can be found at frigidaire.com.

Tiger Woods makes a new deal

Tiger Woods has a new apparel deal. After ending his decades-long, highly profitable relationship with Nike last month, the pro golf veteran announced on Monday that he’s working with TaylorMade to launch a new brand: Sun Day Red. The company’s website says the line is coming May 1st and will also include women and children’s styles.

Today is Tuesday, Feb. 13, the 44th day of 2024 with 322 to follow.

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

February 13 in history…

Jerry Springer Speaks To Guests During His Show December 17, 1998. 

…In 1944, talk show host Jerry Springer was born (he died April 27, 2023, reportedly of pancreatic cancer)

A young Peter Gabriel dances with his sister.

…In 1950, Peter Gabriel, singer and one of the original members of Genesis, was born (happy 74th!

The NTSB provided this photo of the aftermath of the tragic plane crash in Clarence Center (2/12/09)

Today marks the 15th anniversary of the tragic crash of Flight 3407 in Clarence Center. The aircraft was on a flight from New Jersey when it slammed into a house, killing all 49 people on board and a person at that residence. An investigation revealed neither the pilot nor co-pilot had received sufficient training. A memorial ceremony is planned today at the crash site.

File photo

For the second time in the last few weeks, there have been carbon monoxide issues at Holiday Twin Rinks in Cheektowaga. The rink was shut on Saturday and yesterday due to an emissions problem with equipment. In December, several people, including kids were sickened by carbon monoxide and were taken to a hospital for treatment. All of their medical expenses were covered by the business.

Gas prices continue their slow decline. According to Triple A this morning, the national average cost for a gallon of regular fuel is now $3.20. The state average is $3.28. In Batavia, the average cost per gallon figures out to $3.24; that’s the same as it was a week ago; down 8 cents from a month ago and 16 cents lower than a year ago today.

Officials on the United States and Canada sides of Niagara Falls are anticipating a big turnout for the upcoming solar eclipse. Hotels near the Falls are seeing a lot of bookings, and schools on each side of the border have decided to close on April 8th so students do not get caught up in a mass of people. The last time there was a full solar eclipse in the region was in 1925 and it won’t happen again until 2144. Space.com has listed Niagara Falls as the most scenic spot in America to view the eclipse.

ELSEWHERE…

Teenagers with suspected substance abuse problems to de-stress are using drugs and alcohol. That’s according to research from the CDC. The findings follow reports of rising anxiety and depression among American teens, along with higher levels of hopelessness. Lead author of the new report Sarah Connolly said that because those conditions are often related to substance use in teenagers, “it might make sense that teens are looking for ways to reduce stress and anxiety.” Nearly three in four teens surveyed said they used drugs to “feel mellow, calm or relaxed.”

Argylle movie poster

The spy comedy “Argylle” tops the weekend box office for the second week in a row. The Matthew Vaughn-directed movie took in an estimated $6.52 million this weekend after earning more than $17 million in its opening weekend. The dark comedy “Lisa Frankenstein” is the only debut to make the top five, bringing in $3.8 million. A reissue of the 2021 version of “Dune” finished ninth with $1.6 million. The reissue leads into the March 1st release of Dune Two.

King Charles the Third

King Charles The Third is breaking his silence after being diagnosed with cancer. In a statement released by the Buckingham Palace, King Charles highlighted the positives of his diagnosis saying it’s helped promote public understanding and shine a light on the work of all the organizations that support cancer patients. The King’s diagnosis was revealed a week after undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate. His specific type of cancer hasn’t been shared.

Taylor Swift

Donald Trump is sharing his thoughts on why Taylor Swift’s should support him instead of President Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential election. Taking to X, Trump remind everyone that he was responsible for the Music Modernization Act for all musical artist, which allows them to receive fair payment for licensing of music. He went on to say Biden hasn’t done anything for artist “and he never will.” Trump also said that there’s no way Swift could be “disloyal” endorse Biden as he credited himself for helping her to make “so much money.” In October of 2020, Swift revealed that she would be voting for Biden for president in the U.S. general election and expressed her opposition of Trump.

Today is Monday, Feb. 12, the 43rd day of 2024 with 323 to follow.

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

February 12 in history…

Dedication ceremony, today in history

…In 1914, a dedication ceremony was held and the first stone of the Lincoln Memorial was laid. It took eight years to complete the monument honoring the 16th president.

Arsenio Hall

…In 1956, Arsenio Hall was born (happy 68th!)

The Genesee County Health Department is seeking information about the location of a dog and its owner following a dog bite incident on Friday, Feb. 2nd, at 8:30 a.m.   The incident occurred in a yard on Swamp Road near Jericho Road in Bergen. This dog has also been observed in that general area multiple times.  The dog was described as a black, lab/lab mix with a collar. The victim described the dog as well-groomed.  The health department is trying to determine if the dog is infected with rabies to see if the person who was bit needs treatment.

Police are investigating a shooting on the city of Rochester’s west side Friday night.  Just after 8 p.m., officers responded to a gas station on West Main Street, where they found a 24-year-old man from Rochester who had been shot inside the store. He was taken to the hospital with critical but non-life-threatening injuries.  No arrests have been made.

Its hard enough to get food to those in need in Buffalo, and it isn’t helped when thieves sabotage your distribution vehicle.  A church in Buffalo, Back to Basics Ministries, is asking the public for help after thieves stole the Catalytic Converter from the truck that they use to take food around the community.  Pastor James Giles says it will cost over 6000 dollars to repair the damage done.  The thieves were caught on camera but wore ski masks and had covered their license plate.  Pastor Giles hopes local scrap yards will keep him in mind if someone tries to cash in on the crime.

The lawsuit against the gun accessory manufacturer Mean Arms is being allowed to continue after a State Supreme Court Justice turned down a motion to dismiss the case.  The civil lawsuit, filed by Buffalo Attorney John Elmore on behalf of the families of people who died or were injured in the May 2022 Tops shooting, accuses Mean Arms of selling a locking device for the AR-15 assault weapon that allows a fixed magazine to be removed.  This is alleged by the families to have emboldened the shooter since he was then able to fire more rounds more quickly.  Elmore noted that this is considered a victory for the families because the arms industry has very powerful lawyers and unlimited resources.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley hosted his annual Pizza for Police event to show his appreciation for the work of local police departments. Hawley ordered pizzas from local shops for numerous departments around his district and personally made deliveries to three locations in Batavia, including the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police Troop A Headquarters and Batavia Police Department.  He sent or delivered pizza to 11 police and sheriffs departments.

The Humane Society of Greater Rochester and the University of Rochester’s Department of Public Safety are working together to investigate Wednesday morning’s discovery of three deceased and dissected animals by the door leading to Eastman Dental.  Two goats and a chicken were found dismembered under a tree near the corner of Elmwood Avenue and East Drive, according to the Humane Society, along with evidence that suggested the animals’ deaths could have been religious in nature.  No security cameras captured a person or vehicle involved in the incident, and no suspects have been identified as a result.

Plug Power is saying it will be building its newest plant in the village of Alabama starting in 2025.  The Hydrogen Fuel Cell company has had numerous financial woes since announcing that it would build on the STAMP site a couple years ago.  In collaboration with the New York Power Authority and National Grid, Plug Power expects to achieve its full capacity of 74 tons per day of liquid hydrogen production within that time frame.  Officials say the underground work and infrastructure is ready.  The company’s specialty is green hydrogen, which is hydrogen produced without fossil fuels powering the facilities, and then that hydrogen, when used as a fuel source, results in zero carbon emissions.

Buffalo police say two people are charged with murder in connection with a fatal shooting. According to authorities, the now 18-year-old suspects were involved in the death of 21-year-old Quban Embry at a residence on Shirley Avenue last August. Because the individuals were 17 at the time of the homicide, their names are not going to be released. They’re currently being held in the Erie County Youth Services Center.

A 19 year old from Brockport has been arrested for the fatal collision in Barre on Thursday afternoon.  Noah Magee is charged with reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle accident, and other vehicle and traffic violations.  Troopers responded to McNamer Road in the town of Barre for a collision involving a dirt bike around 4pm.  Investigation determined that a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado, operated by Magee was traveling eastbound on McNamer Road on the north shoulder which is the wrong lane of travel. The Chevrolet struck a Dirt Bike traveling west bound on the north shoulder head-on. Magee continued eastbound on McNamer Road leaving the scene.  Two uninvolved four-wheelers were traveling with the deceased, 24 year old Roger Kingdollar. 

The seasons of Western New York.  Winter and construction. And Erie county has announced a slew of construction.  Erie County officials have announced plans to spend tens of millions of dollars to upgrade the area’s roadway and bridges. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz says the county will invest 55-million dollars into this initiative. During the rest of 2024, there will be more than 100 miles of highway improvements and five bridge replacements.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley hosted his annual Valentines for Veterans Program Thursday morning at Jackson Primary School.  Valentines created by students at Jackson and Robert Morris schools were collected and delivered to veterans living at the New York State Veterans Home in Batavia.  Hawley said he appreciates the veterans and events like this help to give back for their sacrifices.

THE CITY OF BATAVIA POLICE BLOTTER:

Dylan Jordan

On January 29, 2024, Dylan T. Jordan, 22, of Bliss, NY, was arrested on an arrest warrant. The arrest stems from an incident on January 15, 2024, where Jordan allegedly engaged in an altercation with police in the Emergency Room at UMMC. Jordan allegedly placed an officer in a headlock and attempted to strangle him. Jordan was charged with Attempted Assault 2nd degree, Attempted Strangulation 2nd degree, Criminal Obstruction of Breathing, Obstructing Governmental Administration 2nd degree, and Harassment 2nd degree. Jordan was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released under the supervision of Genesee Justice. He is due back in court on February 15, 2024.

Danny Williams, Sr.

January 28, 2024, Danny D. Williams Sr., 35, of Batavia, NY, was arrested and charged with Criminal Contempt 1st degree. It’s alleged that Williams violated an order of protection, by going to the residence of the protected person. Williams was arraigned in Batavia City Court and remanded to the Genesee County Jail, without bail. He is due back in court on February 14, 2024.

On February 1, 2024, Olivia J. Patten, 26, of Oakfield, NY, was arrested on a warrant out of Batavia City Court. Patten was initially charged on November11, 2023 with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle 3rd degree, after allegedly driving with a suspended license. A warrant was issued after she failed to appear in court. Patten was arraigned in Batavia City Court, where the case was settled.

On January 31, 2024, Scott D. Murray, 38, of Darien, NY, was arrested and charged with Criminal Contempt 2nd degree. Murray allegedly violated an order of protection by having contact with the protected person while at the Genesee County Court House. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and remanded to the Genesee County Jail. He is due back in court on February 13, 2024.

On January 30, 2024, Jeanna M. Hattaway, 37, of Batavia, NY, was arrested on a warrant out of Batavia City Court. Hattaway was initially charged on December 13, 2023 with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th degree in relation to an incident in April of 2023. A warrant was issued after she failed to appear in court. Hattaway was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released under the supervision of Genesee Justice.

On January 27, 2024, Adrienne S. Bechtold, 28, of Batavia, NY, was arrested and charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th degree and Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia 2nd degree. Bechtold was arrested after police responded to a location on East Main Street for the report of a suspicious vehicle. Bechtold was allegedly found in possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia. She was issued an appearance ticket and was due in court on February 6, 2024.

On January 26, 2024, John A. Cabrera Sr., 56, of Batavia, NY, was arrested and charged with Petit Larceny. It’s alleged that Cabrera stole merchandise from Kwik Fill. He was issued an appearance ticket and is due in court on February 13, 2024.

On January 29, 2024, James W. Zurek, 20, of Batavia, NY, was arrested on two warrants. The first warrant stems from an incident in August of 2022, when Zurek was charged with Strangulation 2nd degree, Assault 3rd degree and Petit Larceny after a disturbance on Cedar Street. The second warrant charged Zurek with Bail Jumping 3rd degree. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released under the supervision of Genesee Justice. He is due back in court at a later date.

IN OTHER NEWS…

Genesee County Sheriffs tell us they conducted a vehicle and traffic stop early yesterday morning, which resulted in multiple drug-related arrests and felony charges. The driver of the vehicle, 54-year-old Edmund Sobresky of Batavia was determined to be driving while impaired by drugs (his first offense). 34-year-old Matthew Parker of Batavia and 30-year-old Katelyn Jimenez of Medina were both charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, criminal possession of a controlled substance; Jiminez was additionally charged with false impersonation after providing deputies with a fake name. Jiminez and Parker were held at the Genesee County Jail pending CAP Court.

People who want to apply for a civil service exam that might put them on the path towards being, for example, a Rochester police officer (and they happen to be looking right now to increase their ranks) are running out of time to do so. The sign up deadline for the exam is coming up at midnight. So far, there have been at least 700 applicants ahead of the test, which is happening on March 2nd. There is no cost to take the exam and additional details can be found at cityofrochester.gov.

A 21-year-old woman has tragically lost her life after being ejected from a vehicle on the Kensington Expressway in Cheektowaga. Police were called to an area of the highway between Union and Cayuga Roads last night and spotted the woman in the roadway. She was pronounced dead moments after first responders arrived. Witnesses are urged to call 716-686-3257 immediately.

Candis Allison

The name of the woman who died after being dropped off at Rochester General Hospital has been released. Authorities say 35-year-old Candis Allison was taken to the medical facility in a private vehicle on Wednesday. She was found to be suffering from injuries consistent with a motor vehicle incident. Allison was rushed into surgery but ended up dying. Anyone with information on this case can call 585-428-7157.

Steven Tyrrell

Funeral arrangements are now set for retired New York State Trooper Steven Tyrrell. He recently passed away due to an illness related to his work at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the September 11th terror attacks. A wake for the 58-year-old will be next Friday at Anthony’s Funeral Home and that will be followed by his funeral on Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Tyrrell is survived by his three children.

The big game is coming up on Sunday, and police across the state are going to be cracking down on drunk drivers during this Super Bowl weekend. People who are out on the roads can expect to see increased patrols beginning today as part of the latest STOP-DWI campaign. Police say folks can ensure they get home safely by having a designated driver or by using a taxi or rideshare service. Drivers who see any suspicious or dangerous activities while traveling should dial 911 right away.

Scott German

Genesee County Treasurer Scott D. German has announced that after five terms as Treasurer and what will be 31 years in the County Treasurer’s Office at year end 2024, that he will not be seeking another term as County Treasurer so that he can pursue other opportunities. German started his career January 1, 1994 as Deputy Treasurer, becoming County Treasurer May 1, 2004 by appointment by then Governor George Pataki. Mr. German was elected County Treasurer in November of 2004 and has run four additional times. Treasurer German was elected by his fellow New York State County Treasurers to serve as President of the New York State County Treasurers and Finance Officers Association in 2012. In 2016, German was named New York State Finance Officer of the Year by his peers. For the past 10 years, German has been one of two New York State Directors to the National Association of County Collectors, Treasurers and Finance Officers (NACCTFO), an elected position by his New York State colleagues. In 2020, Mr. German was presented the Inaugural National Leadership Award from a Pittsford NY company Three + One, who does business with hundreds of municipalities nationwide in assisting with liquidity analysis. German was presented this award for his role in maximizing the return on Genesee County’s cash. Mr. German wishes to thank the voters of Genesee County for the last 20 years in entrusting him with the county’s finances. “It has been an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of this county as the county’s Chief Fiscal Officer,” German said. “German wishes to thank all the county legislators that he had the opportunity to work with and the Genesee County Republican Committee for their support over the last 20 years. I’d also like to thank all of the employees of the Treasurer’s Office who I have had the pleasure to work with over the last 31 years. It is those employees that I owe a debt of gratitude to for their work that has allowed me to be a successful County Treasurer.” German also wishes to thank his three deputies for their loyalty, dedication and hard work over the last 21 years. They are L. Matthew Landers who served 10 years, James Stack for one year and Kevin J. Andrews for the final 10 years of German’s tenure as County Treasurer.

ELSEWHERE…

Eiffel Tower

The medals for the Paris 2024 Olympics will include a small piece of iron from the Eiffel Tower. The country is including the hexagonal piece to mark 100 years since Paris last hosted the Olympic Games. The iron chunks come from pieces removed from the iconic power over various renovations in the last century. The organization that oversees the Eiffel Tower donated them to the Paris Olympic Committee.

During a hearing in front of a senate subcommittee Thursday the three largest pharmaceutical executives admitted that patients in the United States are paying too much. Executives at Johnson & Johnson, Merck and Bristol Myers Squibb were summoned in front of the Senate Health Committee and were confronted about American prices compared to other wealthy countries. They conceded that prices are higher in America but claimed that medications arrive faster than anywhere else in the world, and that other countries have more limited health insurance coverage. The Department of Health and Human Services found in 20-22 that even when taking into account the discounts Americans receive from health plans and employer’s pay, people still pay on average at least three times as much. The executives went onto blame the pharmacy benefit managers for not negotiating better deals because they receive more money when the sticker price of a drug is higher.

Please play responsibly.

The Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots are still growing and have now reached a combined total of $642 million. The prize up for grabs in Mega Millions tonight is $394 million. And if anyone is lucky enough to select all six winning Powerball numbers tomorrow, they’ll get at least $248 million. Both drawings will be streamed live online. Please play responsibly.

Today is Friday, Feb. 9, the 40th day of 2024 with 326 to follow.

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

February 9 in history…

Carole King at age 4; already at the piano. Was there ever a doubt?

…In 1942, Carole King was born (happy 82nd!)

The Beatles with Ed Sullivan, on his show which aired today in history

…In 1964, the Beatles appeared on television’s The Ed Sullivan Show. An estimated 73 million people watched.

Cars line up at gas pumps during the OPEC shortage in 1979, hoping to get gas before the station ran out.

…In 1974, America’s motorists suffered through the worst day of the energy crisis. Many gas stations were closed and the others often limited purchases to $3.00 per car. Some reported customer lines up to six miles long.

28-year-old Jacob Patterson of Batavia has been arrested. He’s charged with introducing prison contraband. This followed an incident at the Best Western in the Town of Batavia. After being transported to the Genesee County Jail, it’s alleged he introduced dangerous prison contraband into the jail facility. Patterson was arraigned in CAP Court. ALSO: 48-year-old Mary Virgilio of Batavia has been arrested and charged with criminal tampering. It’s alleged that she entered the residence of another person, displaced their property and then denied them access to their residence by locking an internal screen door. Virgilio was issued appearance tickets and is due in Batavia Town Court on February 27th. ALSO: 28-year-old Austin Durham of Batavia has been arrested. He’s charged with aggravated harassment. It’s alleged Durham repeatedly messaged an individual with the intent to harass, annoy, or alarm them, with no purpose of legitimate communication, after being warned by a police officer to cease contact with that individual. Durham was held at the Genesee County Jail pending CAP Court arraignment.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and members of the Great Lakes Task Force has introduced the bipartisan Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2024, which extends the program for another five years through 2031, and in doing so, increases annual funding levels from $475 million in 2026 to $500 million from 2027 through 2031. This initiative is the most significant investment ever made to restore and protect the Great Lakes and its watersheds, which continue to be stressed by contamination and threats to water quality, and are under increasing pressure from new invasive species, climate change, erosion, and habitat destruction. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has focused federal and nonfederal efforts to stop the spread of carp and other invasive species, restore coastline and habitats connecting our streams and rivers, clean up environmentally damaged Areas of Concern, prevent future contamination and address new and emerging threats to our lakes and waterways.

James Weeks (released images)

A Sodus man is facing charges in connection with violent protests at the United States Capitol. According to prosecutors, 55-year-old James Weeks attacked a Metropolitan Police Department officer and he also incited a group of rioters to enter the Capitol building through a window. Weeks was captured on camera taking part in the protests over three years ago. Thousands of people were trying to stop Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Mark Shadle

The man who was involved in a violent home invasion in Amherst will spend multiple decades behind bars. A judge sentenced 34-year-old Mark Shadle to 23 years to life in prison. Back in 2022, Shadle and his co-defendant broke into a residence on Bucyrus Drive before threatening the homeowner and then beating him. That man suffered injuries to his arms, head, chest and legs. Shadle received the long sentence because he’s a persistent violent felony offender.

The National Labor Relations Board has ruled that Starbucks illegally fired several employees at stores across the region. Those individuals were part of a group called Starbucks’ Workers United that came together to create a union. The NLRB says Starbucks violated federal law by threatening to close down the first store that unionized after workers went on strike. In a statement, Starbucks says the company has provided reassurances to its partners that it respects the rights of collective organization through fair elections.

Steven Tyrrell

A New York State Trooper from Rochester has passed away of an illness related to his work in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks. Trooper Steven Tyrrell served at the site of the World Trade Center in 2001 and assisted in search and recovery efforts. The 58-year-old Tyrrell joined the State Police back in 1997 and was a member of the force for 26 years. Funeral arrangements haven’t been made public yet.

Rochester General Hospital

Rochester police are continuing their investigation into what’s being called a suspicious death at a hospital. Authorities say a woman in her 30s was unresponsive when she arrived in a private vehicle at Rochester General Hospital yesterday. She was immediately rushed into surgery but couldn’t be saved. The name of the woman has not been released and tips on this case can be submitted by calling 585-428-7157.

Dunkirk is on the list of 20 locations across New York State that has been designated as a pro-housing community. That means the city and other municipalities will receive priority when competing with other places for a share of $650 million in discretionary funding from state programs. Governor Hochul created an incentive program last year to try and boost the state’s housing supply. The goal is to build 800-thousand new homes over the next decade.

Unidentified couple in undated file photo

Valentine’s Day is coming up, and the state Division of Consumer Protection is warning New Yorkers about romance scams. The agency says romance scams occur when a criminal lies about their identity and feigns romantic interest to steal from victims. If someone asks for money, assume it’s a scam and never give out personal information to someone you’ve met online. It’s recommended folks only use trusted dating sites and do a reverse image search to see if someone’s profile photo is linked to another name.

Dawson Knox

Plans have been announced for the upcoming football camp involving Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox. This will be the third year for the camp, which will run on June 8th and 9th at Nazareth University in Rochester. Knox and a group of coaches will offer hands-on instruction to players and each attendee will get an autograph from Knox. The cost of the camp is $299 and registration can be done online:

https://registration.procamps.com/camper/auth/login/

ELSEWHERE…

A new flavor of Coca-Cola will be hitting store shelves soon. Coca-Cola Spiced is set to go on sale February 19th, marking the beverage company’s first new permanent flavor in three years. The new flavor is described as a “burst of refreshing raspberry flavors and spiced notes.” The company is also launching a flavor called “Happy Tears” that will be available exclusively on TikTok on February 17th to mark Random Acts of Kindness Day. That flavor is described as the taste of Coca-Cola paired with a splash of salty minerals.

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods is announcing his return to play. Woods committed to playing in The Genesis Invitational next week near Los Angeles. He also serves as the host of the tournament. Woods hasn’t played since last year’s Masters. On Tuesday the golf legend teased announcement that will happen on the 12th of this month but there’s no official word yet on what that will be.

Research findings suggest she should get a multi-dose vaccine booster in the other arm.

Switching up arms for multi-dose vaccines could improve immune response by up to four times. That’s according to new research out of Oregon Health and Science University, which looked at how people received COVID-19 vaccine shots. Researchers say it could have implications for other types of vaccines as well. There’s no clear answer yet as to why switching arms improves results.

The CEOs of three major pharmaceutical companies will appear before a Senate health committee today to explain how much they charge for drugs and why. The heads of Johnson and Johnson, Merck and Bristol Myers Squibb will likely face intense scrutiny from committee chair Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent who has championed making drug prices affordable. Sanders wants to know why drugs cost so much more in the U.S. than in other wealthy countries.

Today is Thursday, Feb. 8, the 39th day of 2024 with 327 to follow.

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

February 8 in history…

Robert Klein

…In 1942, comedian Robert Klein was born. (happy 82nd!) His credits include the movies “Reign Over Me,” “Primary Colors,” “How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days,” “Two Weeks Notice,” and “One Fine Day” as well as the TV series “Sisters.”

John Grisham in 2009

…In 1955, author John Grisham was born. (happy 69th!) Several of his books have been turned into films, including “A Time To Kill,” “Skipping Christmas,” which became “Christmas with the Kranks,” “Runaway Jury,” The Client,” “The Pelican Brief” and “The Firm.”

Emmanuel Jenkins

A convicted serial rapist has been accused of attacking a civilian employee at the Attica Correctional Facility. The attack happened last November, according to the Wyoming County District Attorney’s office. 37-year-old Emmanuel Jenkins is currently serving a sentence of 15 years to life in prison for preying on women who worked as sex workers in Buffalo by leading them to dark or abandoned areas and assaulting them in two separate incidents in 2015. He was sentenced in 2016. In the newest incident, he is charged with first-degree attempted rape, first-degree robbery, second-degree assault, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and third-degree criminal mischief. Jenkins returns to court on March 13 and in the meantime has been transferred to Marcy Correctional Facility in Oneida County.

The latest numbers show the spread of the flu is still declining across our region. During the week ending January 27th, Monroe County had the highest amount of cases with 439; followed by Erie County with 162. Chautauqua County had 102 while Niagara County had 81. Health Department officials say the best way to protect yourselves and others from getting sick is to receive a flu shot if you haven’t already and to practice good hygiene. Statewide, over 217,000 people have contracted the flu since the season started in October.

File photo

34-year-old Ericka McBride and 28-year-old Tajhenne Walker, both of Buffalo have been arrested by Genesee County Sheriffs. This followed an incident at Ulta Beauty, during which the women concealed merchandise and exited the store without paying. McBride and Walker were charged with grand larceny, possession of burglar tools and conspiracy. McBride was issued an appearance ticket for Batavia Town Court for later this month; additional information on the status of Walker was unavailable.

The FBI has been investigating an illicit online marketplace known as Genesis Market, whose operators compile stolen data, such as computer and mobile device identifiers, email addresses, usernames, and passwords, from malware-infected computers around the world and package it for sale on the market. Purchases made through Genesis Market are conducted using virtual currency, such as bitcoin. 23-year-old Brandon Hall of Rochester has been charged with possessing 15 or more unauthorized devices, by purchasing them on Genesis Market; 1100 stolen account credentials that included Citi Bank, Venmo, Paypal, Walmart and several others, were also found. Hall is scheduled to appear in court this afternoon. If he is eventually found guilty, the charges carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

A plan to build a large-scale studio in Buffalo for television and film production has been put on hold. Officials with Buffalo Studios say the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a surge in the cost of materials. That means what was supposed to be an $80 million project has now ballooned to $120 million. There is hope that the project on South Park Avenue may be able to continue, but an exact timeline isn’t set.

Police body cam image of Todd Novick running away

The state Attorney General’s Office has revealed footage of a deadly officer involved shooting in Rochester. The incident happened on Christmas Eve and video shows an officer approaching 46-year-old Todd Novick on Murray Street after reports were received of a person with a gun. Novick ran away from the officer and later reached for his waistband before the officer shot him. Novick was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The shooting is still under investigation.

Randy Peterson

The name of a bicyclist who was hit and killed in Perinton this past weekend has now been released. According to authorities, 40-year-old Randy Peterson was struck by at least one vehicle while riding in the area of Courtney Drive Sunday night. Peterson passed away at the scene and so far no charges have been filed in connection with this tragedy. A GoFundMe has been set up to help Peterson’s family cover expenses.

SUNY students across New York are getting critical funds for internships. Governor Hochul announced SUNY is investing $10 million in funding to provide 3,000 SUNY students with internship experiences. She noted internships provide students with transformative opportunities outside classrooms to explore fields of study and gain hands-on experience before graduation. It’s part of the 163-million SUNY Operating Aid Increase, expanding opportunities for more students while helping secure skill sets needed to enter the workforce and pursue careers.

Lisa Haight

Hamburg police have released more information on a deadly officer-involved shooting in their community. Last Friday, officers were called to investigate a burglary at a home on Willet Road. The suspect, 36-year-old Lisa Haight, left the residence and was found inside another house nearby. She encountered police inside of a bathroom and ended up being shot and killed. The police chief says the shooting was justified because Haight tried to slash officers with what they thought was a knife but turned out to be a penlight.

Starting Sunday, a brand-new consumer protection law will be going into effect in New York State. The legislation will amend and clarify the state’s current credit card surcharge law. It will limit credit card surcharges to the amount charged to the business by the credit card company. Businesses must also post the total price of an item or service inclusive of the credit card surcharge. Governor Hochul says this measure will keep people from having to deal with hidden credit card costs.

Wegmans has issued a recall of Harissa Hummus Dip that is sold at its stores. The supermarket chain says the 10 and a half ounce product has an incorrect ingredient label on it. As a result, it could lead to people who are allergic to sesame getting sick. No illnesses have been reported, and the product has expiration dates of March 19th and March 24th of this year. Customers who bought the dip can return it for a refund.

Tage Thompson (file photo)

The two-game winning streak of the Buffalo Sabres has been snapped after the team suffers a loss at home. Tage Thompson had the lone goal for the Sabres as his team fell to the Dallas Stars 2-1 at KeyBank Center last night. Buffalo goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was able to stop 28 of the 30 shots he faced in the contest. Up next for Buffalo is a home game on Saturday against the Saint Louis Blues; the puck drops at 1:00.

ELSEWHERE…

Dollar General is soon going to carry fresh fruits and vegetables. The new choices include salad mixes, strawberries, potatoes, and tomatoes. The items will hit around 5,000 locations across the country. The retailer serves a large percent of rural and under-populated areas. The upgrades are set to begin as early as next month.

More Americans are drowning in credit card debt. The New York Federal Reserve says credit card delinquencies surged more than 50% in 2023. Total consumer debt soared to more than $17.5 trillion with the Fed noting “serious delinquency” of 90 days or more across multiple categories. As one economic researcher at the Fed put it, the data signals increased financial stress especially among younger and lower-income households.

Honda is recalling nearly 750,000 vehicles in the U.S. over air bags that could deploy unintentionally during a crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the front passenger seat weight sensor could crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag. Officials reported that 16 Honda and Acura makes are included in the recall. According to federal safety regulators, dealers will replace the seat weight sensors free of charge.

Happy birthday Edie!

The oldest living person in the United States is celebrating a milestone. Edith “Edie” Recogno Keenan Ceccarelli turned 116 on February 5th. That’s according to the Gerontology Research Group. Her town of Willits, California threw a birthday bash for her with a parade despite rain and wind throughout the region. A friend of the supercentenarian told Nexstar’s KTXL that there was an “incredible turnout.” Her birthday celebration has become an annual event in recent years.

Today is Wednesday, Feb. 7, the 38th day of 2024 with 328 to follow.

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

February 7 in history…

Garth Brooks, age 8

…In 1962, country singer Garth Brooks was born (happy 62nd!)

They look both shocked and overwhelmed.

…In 1964, the Beatles arrived in the United States at New York’s Kennedy Airport for the first time and immediately set off a frantic wave of “Beatlemania.”

Chris Rock, age 8

…In 1965, comedian Chris Rock was born (happy 59th!)

“Burn the tapes…” President Nixon in 1972

…In 1973, the U.S. Senate voted to set up a committee to investigate a break-in at the Democratic National Headquarters in Washington’s Watergate complex.

Ashton Kutcher, age 7

…In 1978, actor Ashton Kutcher was born (happy 46th!)

Ashton Mohney

33-year-old Ashton Mohney of Batavia has been arrested and charged with promoting dangerous contraband in a prison. It’s alleged he possessed the contraband inside the Genesee County Jail. Mohney was arraigned in Batavia City Court and remanded to the jail.

Andrew Mikula

A Springville man has been indicted for his alleged role in a road rage incident that left a person dead. The Erie County District Attorney’s office says Mario Garcia is charged with manslaughter after intentionally hitting 64-year-old Andrew Mikula with his vehicle on Vaughn Street in the East Concord neighborhood last November. Mikula ended up dying at the scene, and Garcia didn’t report what happened until he got home. Garcia faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

Kelvin Hunt

A registered sex offender is once again in trouble with the law after being accused of a disturbing crime. According to authorities, 47-year-old Kelvin Hunt broke into a home on Avenue C in Rochester Friday before kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. The victim was choked, and at one point Hunt pointed a gun at the girl’s head and threatened to kill her. Hunt is expected to be in court later today.

The investigation continues this morning into a body that was found in the Genesee River in Rochester on Sunday morning. A person walking across the Andrews Street Bridge noticed the body around 11:15 and called 911. Police and firefighters arrived on scene and retrieved the body from the river. The identity and cause of death will be determined by the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Richard Metcalf, Jr.

Testimony is scheduled to start today in the wrongful death civil trial of Richard Metcalf Junior. Yesterday, both the prosecution and defense laid out their opening statements to the jury. Metcalf was an inmate at the Erie County Holding Center when he passed away days after being restrained following an encounter involving staff members at the jail back in 2012. His estate has filed a lawsuit against the county and multiple deputies. The trial is expected to last several weeks.

Undated file photo

Governor Hochul is calling on House Republicans to pass immigration reform. In a press conference Monday, Governor Hochul said Republicans and Democrats have come together with the most significant immigration reform in decades, which President Biden will sign, if the House and Senate pass it. It would mean tougher asylum laws, $1.4 billion for states, which New York would receive a share of, and the border could be shut down. Hochul said the only thing standing in the way is that House Republicans refuse to take action because they don’t want there to be a resolution. The Governor called on the 10 Republicans who are in the majority to vote for the reform.

Unidentified children fishing in this undated file photo

Governor Hochul is out with New York State’s free fishing days. There are six designated dates when the state’s fishing license requirement is waived for freshwater fishing in New York. The first free fishing days include President’s Day weekend, February 17th to 18th; June 29th to 30th, September 28th, which is National Hunting and Fishing Day, and November 11th, which is Veterans Day. The Free Fishing Days program began in 1991 to give people who might not fish a chance to try the sport of freshwater fishing at no cost.

A new poll is showing the impact online sports betting has had on Americans. According to the Siena College/Saint Bonaventure survey, 39% of people asked said they have wagered on sporting events while 19% admitted to having an online betting account. When asked why they decide to gamble, 93% said it was fun and 85% look at it as a way to make money. There are also fans that believe online betting will impact organized sports and that it should be regulated by the federal government.

The Buffalo Sabres will be back in front of their home crowd tonight as they return to action after a long break. The Sabres are set to host the Dallas Stars at KeyBank Center. Buffalo is currently on a two-game winning streak, but hasn’t played since January 27th when they beat the San Jose Sharks on the road. Face-off this evening is scheduled for 7:00.

ELSEWHERE…

Toby Keith

Country music superstar Toby Keith is dead. The 62-year-old died peacefully last night surrounded by his family, according to a message on his social media platforms. The singer was diagnosed with stomach cancer not too long ago and had been undergoing chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Keith sold more than 40 million records over the course of his career. Long before his diagnosis, Keith had set up a foundation to help children battling cancer.

Unidentified women in an undated file photo working on a puzzle together.

A new study says healthy living can help fight against cognitive decline even with signs of dementia. The research published in the journal JAMA Neurology used autopsies on nearly 600 people, including those living in retirement communities or senior housing in the Chicago area. They tracked five of their habits beginning in 1997. Those included smoking, exercise, alcohol, brain stimulation and diet. The study’s use of autopsies was particularly unique, with experts saying it’s “one of the first to harness brain pathology.”

An NBA all-glass LED court

The NBA is doing something unique to their court for All-Star weekend. The league announced on Monday that a full video, LED court will be used for several events at Lucas Oil Stadium. The new floor will make its debut for the celebrity game on the 16th and stay for the three-point and other skill competitions on Saturday night. The high-tech court will feature design and color changes, live replays and other video content, and real time game stats along with other animations. The traditional All-Star game tips off from Indianapolis on February 18th.

Today is Tuesday, Feb. 6, the 37th day of 2024 with 329 to follow.

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

February 6 in history…

Ronald Reagan, age 13

…In 1911, former U.S. President Ronald Reagan was born.

Tom Brokaw in first grade

…In 1940, TV newsman Tom Brokaw was born (happy 84th!)

W. Axl rose, age 7

…In 1962, W. Axl Rose was born (happy 62nd!)

Jay Leno during his last appearance as ‘Tonight Show’ host, today in history.

…In 2014, Jay Leno ended his 22-year stint as host of The Tonight Show. Jimmy Fallon took over hosting duties, moving the talk show from Burbank, California, to New York City.

Two days after the death of her sister, 33 year old Brandi Haight of Jamestown faces charges in an unrelated case.  Haight forced her way into a house in Jamestown Saturday Night, per police, grabbed a knife from the kitchen, kicked a door in and stabbed a victim in the face.  Haight then left the scene before officers arrived; they found her in a car shortly after, according to officials. She ran from that vehicle and resisted officers.  Her sister was shot by Hamburg police on Saturday for also breaking into homes and stabbing a woman.  She is facing a number of charges including assault in the 1st degree, two counts of burglary, resisting arrest, criminal mischief and more.

Police said a body was found in the Genesee River in Rochester downtown Sunday morning.  A person walking across the Andrews Street bridge noticed the body around 11:15 a.m. and called 911. Police and firefighters arrived on scene and retrieved the body from the river.  The identity and cause of death will be determined by the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The Free Fishing days of 2024 have been announced.  Starting with February 17th and 18th those who don’t have a fishing license can try out fishing in NY state for free.  All other regulations still apply.  Other dates are June 29th and 30th, September 28th, and November 11th.  If you don’t have equipment to go fishing there are Rod Loaner programs available.  Just got to DEC.NY.gov and navigate to the things to do part of the site to find out more.

February 3rd marked the Pink Fund’s 10th annual Bikini Snowmobile Rally except there were no sleds to be found.  22 women came with ATVs since the weather was 40 degrees and sunny in Oakfield.  The fundraiser raised over 37 thousand dollars for the Pink Fund, a non-profit organization that provides financial support to those battling breast cancer. Funds can be used for cost-of-living expenses and cover things like mortgage, rent, utility bills, and auto payments, while breast cancer patients are in active treatment for 3 months.  This will be the last year for the Bikini Rally as organizers say it takes a lot of work to set up and there are other things they could be doing to raise money and awareness.

The first Batavia City School District Foundation Blue vs. White charity hockey game went to overtime before a winner could be crowned at the David McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena on Sunday evening.  The White team broke a 6-6 tie to win it in overtime, 8-6.  Alumni members of the Batavia and Notre Dame Hockey programs, City School District faculty and staff along with several members of City Fire and the local business community made up the two teams.  Batavia Middle School Principal, Nathan Korzelius coached the White Team and John Kirkwood headed up the Blue Team, both were high school coaches at one time.

36-year-old Andrew Taylor of Batavia has been arrested. He’s charged with petit larceny, after it was alleged he stole items worth nearly $40 from WalMart in Batavia. Taylor was released on an appearance ticket for Batavia Town Court at a later date. ALSO: 35-year-old Shandell Lissow of Albion and 52-year-old Philip Mayberry of Syracuse have been arrested in Batavia, following an investigation into a prior incident at the Quality Inn. They’re charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of drug paraphernalia. Both were released on appearance tickets for Town of Batavia Court.

According to Triple A this morning, the national average price for a gallon of regular fuel is $3.15. The state average is $3.28. In Batavia, the average figures out to $3.24 per gallon; that’s down a nickel from a week ago and down 19 cents from a year ago today.

Rachel Tari

A Wayne County woman has been charged after being accused of abandoning her child. The three-year-old was left alone in a vehicle and 32-year-old Rachel Tari of Sodus was taken into custody. The child was sitting in temperatures that were below freezing and had been without supervision for some time. Tari was brought to the Wayne County Jail ahead of her arraignment.

Polar Plunge yesterday (13WHAM Photo)

The yearly Rochester Polar Plunge is once again being called a success. People entered the cold water of Lake Ontario at Ontario Beach Park in Rochester yesterday to help raise funds for Special Olympics New York. That agency provides help for people who are living with developmental disabilities and want to compete in sports. Anyone who is interested in donating can still do so at polarplunge.net.

Clyde-Savannah Junior-Senior High School (13WHAM file photo)

A judge has dismissed the most-serious charges against three varsity football players from Clyde-Savannah High School who were accused of sexually assaulting a boy in a locker room last fall. The incident happened Oct. 31 at the school. Police said the incident was recorded and shared on social media. Judge Richard Healy dismissed felony charges for aggravated sexual abuse against the three defendants, following a review of grand jury minutes. They still face misdemeanor charges for hazing and forcible touching. If convicted, the defendants — ages 15, 16 and 17 — could face jail time, probation or conditional discharge, but no prison time.

Unidentified boy models one example of the newly required neck protection gear.

A new piece of safety gear will soon be required for youth hockey players. USA Hockey, the national ice hockey association in the United States, has mandated neck protection guards for players under 18; a policy that will go into effect August 1st. Some players say they’re on board, with many already starting to wear them ahead of the policy change. However, not everyone agrees. Some players say the guards can be irritating. While players 18 and up will not be required to wear neck guards, they are highly encouraged.

Unidentified senior citizen in file photo receiving vaccine.

Older New Yorkers are being urged to roll up their sleeves and get themselves vaccinated against three potentially dangerous viruses. Experts say the flu, COVID-19 and RSV can pose a serious threat to people who are 60 and older. Folks in that age group have ended up in the hospital or even lost their lives after getting infected. Medicaid can be used to cover the cost of these vaccines. A list of immunization sites can be found online.

Mattias Samuelsson is out for the remainder of the season.

The Buffalo Sabres will be without one of their young stars for the rest of the regular season. It was revealed yesterday that defenseman Mattias Samuelsson needs surgery to repair an upper body injury. The 23-year-old played in 41 games this year, scoring one goal and adding six assists. Samuelsson was Buffalo’s second round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.

ELSEWHERE…

13WHAM photo of the New York State Fair, from September 2023

The New York State Fair has announced a significant change to this year’s concert schedule. There will no longer be any free afternoon shows at Suburban Park due to the cost of running them and low attendance. However, the eight p-m concerts will remain, as will the one p-m and six p-m performances at Chevy Park. This year’s state fair starts on August 21st and runs through September 2nd.

Kenya the Giraffe ‘sticks his neck out’ and makes a Super Bowl prediction…

A giraffe in Florida is predicting who will win this year’s Super Bowl. A prediction ceremony was held Friday at the Gulf Breeze Zoo, where Kenya the Giraffe was offered two buckets of food, one labeled Kansas City Chiefs and the other labeled San Francisco 49ers. After a moment of deliberation, Kenya chose the Kansas City bucket of food. The giraffe also predicted an early spring.

Leave your #2 pencils at home…

A standardized test that’s widely used for college admissions will look different this spring. Starting next month, the SAT will only be available digitally. The new test will also be shorter and adaptive, so questions will change depending on how a student performs as the test progresses.

Today is Monday, Feb. 5, the 36th day of 2024 with 330 to follow.

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

February 5 in history…

…In 1998, Pearl Jam released the album “Yield.”

Bono, pictured during Super Bowl XXXVI performance.

…In 2002, U2 performed the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI. Paul McCartney and Barry Manilow sang at a pre-game concert before the game.

Phil Spector in the courtroom, following his arrest.

…In 2003, Phil Spector was arrested in connection with the murder of actress Lana Clarkson. He was later released on $1 million bail.

3 people were arrested on Dellenger Ave Friday morning.  33 year old Pierre Humphrey of Rochester, 42 year old Malinda Falk and 39 year old Matthew Reed, both of Batavia were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 3rd degree, possession of a narcotic drug with intent to sell, possession of a narcotic drug in excess of a half ounce and criminal use of drug paraphernalia in the 2nd degree.  The Genesee County Drug Task Force and the Batavia Police Emergency Response Team executed a search warrant at a residence at 36 Dellinger Avenue.  The warrant was executed as part of a narcotics investigation by the Genesee County Local Drug Task Force.  Humphrey was held on bail and the other 2 were released under supervision.

Police were called to McDonalds in Albion for a robbery.  It was determined that a customer was upset and believed that he was short changed after his purchase. An argument between the customer and the manager ensued. The customer was then advised several times to leave the building by the manager.  During the argument, the customer pushed the manager of McDonald’s and entered the area behind the counter. The customer then took money from the cash register and left.  The Albion Police subsequently arrested 36 year old Donovan Conner who resides at Beechwood Apartments in the Village of Albion. Conner is charged with trespassing, operating a motor vehicle without a license, aggravated unlicensed operation, 2 counts of harassment, and robbery in the 3rd degree.

A judge has dismissed the most-serious charges against three varsity football players from Clyde-Savannah High School who were accused of sexually assaulting a boy in a locker room last fall.  The incident happened Oct. 31 inside a locker room at the school. Police said the incident was recorded and shared on social media.  Judge Richard Healy dismissed felony charges for aggravated sexual abuse Friday against the three defendants, following a review of grand jury minutes. They still face misdemeanor charges for hazing and forcible touching.  If convicted, the defendants — ages 15, 16 and 17 — could face jail time, probation or conditional discharge, according to Callanan, but they would not face prison time.

A new piece of safety gear will soon be required for youth hockey players.  This week, USA Hockey has mandated neck protection guards for players under 18. That policy will go into effect Aug. 1.  Some players say they’re on board, with many already starting to wear them ahead of the policy change.  Yet, not everyone agrees. Some players say the guards can be irritating.  While players 18 and up will not be required to wear neck guards, they are highly encouraged.

Batavia police closed Dellenger Ave this morning for an “Active Police Situation.”  From the press release sent out by the Police Department at 7:15 this morning: The Batavia Police Department has the area of Dellinger Avenue closed off due to an active police situation. We are asking everyone to stay away from the area at this time. There is no active threat to the public. The Police Department is coordinating with the Batavia City School District and St. Paul Lutheran schools to ensure kids to get to school safely.  The area has been reopened, although there will be a police presence in the area for an extended time. There is no threat to public safety at this time. More information will be released at a later time. 

Get ready for springtime, Western New York!  Dunkirk Dave, America’s second longest prognosticating groundhog, is predicting an early spring after not seeing his shadow this morning. He joins Punxsutawney Phil who also did not see his shadow with an early spring prediction.  According to his handler, Bob Will, Dave’s accuracy rate is 90%.

Amazon will no longer allow police to request video from Ring doorbell cameras on its neighborhood watch app. The app’s “Request for Assistance” tool is being removed.  The change will now take away the simple tool, which helped authorities as they physically investigated an area.  Police can still go door to door an ask for permission to view their camera footage.  If residents don’t cooperate, police can still obtain video through a subpoena or reservation order, but that adds time to the investigative process.  Police say this is a step backwards in use of the technology.

The Police Accountability Board in Rochester recommended several police reforms Thursday, including recommendations for the Rochester Police Department’s responses to protests and mass gatherings.  The suggestions of the PAB are that Police officers should not have discretion on deploying certain weapons and tactics, as well as mandate every officer who responds to a protest or mass gathering has a body-worn camera.  The group also wants clear guidance on when RPD requests mutual aid from neighboring law enforcement agencies.  The board will be submitting its recommendations to city leaders, who can then give their feedback.

A Buffalo Public Schools teacher and coach is getting a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Super Bowl 58 in Las Vegas. James Damon has been gifted tickets to the big game by Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. Damon, who works at the Emerson School of Hospitality, is credited with saving a woman’s life by using CPR on her after she was in a crash on Interstate 190 in December. Damon says he hopes his story encourages everyone to be CPR certified.

Tesla is recalling over two-million vehicles over claims the warnings lights on its display panel are too small. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the recall, saying it found the issue during a routine audit. The agency said the small font on its warning lights could increase crash risks by making it harder to read “critical safety information.” Tesla said it doesn’t know of any injuries or crashes caused by the problem. Owners will not have to bring their vehicles in because it will be fixed through an over-the-air software update.

David Fladie

A contractor from Wyoming County is accused of defrauding customers. According to the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, David Fladie of Varysburg accepted payments totaling $63,700 from three victims for work that was incomplete or not started. Fladie turned himself on January 25th and was charged with three counts of grand larceny and three counts of scheming to defraud. He also faces charges in Monroe County and turned himself in there later the same day. Fladie was released and is scheduled to appear at later dates in Murray, Clarendon and Clarkson town courts.

31-year-old Michael Smith, Jr. of Batavia has been arrested and charged with petit larceny. It’s alleged that Smith stole an electric scooter from inside the Batavia WalMart. He was issued an appearance ticket for Batavia Town Court on February 13th. ALSO: 40-year-old Omar Cabrera of Rochester has been arrested and faces multiple felony charges, including burglary and criminal mischief. He was caught by Genesee County Sheriff’s while attempting to break into an Elba residence and once inside, unlawfully remained there while causing damage in excess of $250. It’s alleged Cabrera stole a quantity of copper fittings. He was arraigned in CAP Court and remanded to the Genesee County Jail.

2021 file photo of AG James following another opioid settlement.

New York Attorney General Letitia James is leading a coalition that is securing several hundred million dollars in a massive multi-state opioid settlement. She led a group of all AGs nationwide and announced the $350 million settlement from the marketing firm Publicis Health for its role in the opioid crisis. The NYC-headquartered Publicis is Purdue Pharma’s former advertising company and per the suit developed predatory and deceptive marketing strategies for Purdue to increase prescriptions and sales of opioids like OxyContin. New York will receive $19 million as a result, which will be used to fund opioid abatement, treatment and prevention. To date, Attorney General James has recovered over $2.7 billion from manufacturers, distributors and marketers that now goes toward treatment and recovery.

The rollout of legal weed in NY has been slow and complicated by legal challenges; and many applicants who want to open stores or cultivate are still waiting for approval. Part of the issue was a lawsuit that that stopped 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.

Undated file photo of unidentified mail carrier making deliveries.

Folks who are looking for work may want to consider a career with the United States Postal Service. The agency is hosting job fairs in the throughout our region this month, starting next Wednesday, February 7th at the Fairport Post Office. That’ll be followed by another hiring event February 15th at the Seneca Falls Post Office. A long list of the available jobs have been posted at usps.com/careers.

Lithium-ion battery

A statewide campaign has been launched to make New Yorkers aware of the dangers posed by lithium ion batteries. Those batteries are used to power things like e-scooters, laptops, toys, hoverboards and smart phones, but they’ve also been responsible for causing fires. The Buy Safe, Charge Safe campaign will teach residents how to properly buy, use, and maintain devices that run on lithium ion batteries. Important safety tips can be found by going to ny.gov/chargesafe.

Undated file photo of the Erie County Fair

Organizers of the Erie County Fair have announced some new competitions that’ll be taking place during this year’s event. They include a baking competition, adult Lego building competition, chalk art competition, and also a community garden competition. Folks who want to sign up to take part in these contests must do so by July 12th and can fill out a form posted at ecfair.org. This year’s fair is set to run from August 7th through the 18th.

ELSEWHERE…

The sequel for the hit movie “Beetlejuice” finally has a title. The film will be titled “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice 2024 A.D.” Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara will all be reprising their roles from the first film. Meanwhile, new additions to the cast include Jenna Ortega, Willem Dafoe and Justin Theroux. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice 2024 A.D.” will hit theaters on September 6th.

The Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots just keep rising and have combined to cross the half-billion dollar mark. The lucky winner of Mega Millions tonight will get a top prize of $333 million. And, whoever matches all six Powerball numbers for tomorrow night’s drawing is in line to receive $206 million. Both drawings will be streamed live online. Please play responsibly.

Hulu is going to start banning password sharing. The streaming service notified customers on Wednesday that it will ban people sharing accounts outside of a household starting in March. Netflix started doing the same thing last year and despite fears of losing subscribers, the service has actually seen subscriber growth.

A new World Health Organization study predicts there will be more than 35-million new cancer cases by 2050. That would be an increase of just over 75% from 2022 levels. The majority of diagnoses are expected to be in low-income countries with mortality seen as doubling. The President of the International Cancer Foundation, Professor Solange Peters told The Guardian, “It is alarming that a mere 5% of global cancer spending reaches countries with 80% of the cancer burden.”

February 2 in history…

The 1876 rule book

…In 1876, baseball’s National League was formed. The original eight teams were based in Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, New York, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Louisville and Hartford.

Farrah Fawcett, age 11

…In 1947, Farrah Fawcett was born (happy 77th!)

Ina Garten

…In 1948, Ina Garten was born (happy 76th!)

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.  

Jessica Eschenlauer

On 1/17/2024, Jessica B. Eschenlauer, 34, of Batavia, NY, was arrested and charged with Burglary 2nd degree, Criminal Contempt 2nd degree, and Aggravated Family Offense. It’s alleged that Eschenlauer was found inside a residence in violation of a stay-away order of protection. She was arraigned in CAP Court and is scheduled to appear in Batavia City Court at a later date.

Roger Hofmeier

On 1/11/2024, Roger M. Hofmeier, 22, of Batavia, NY, was arrested and charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd degree. The arrest stems from an investigation into an incident from July of 2022, where Hofmeier was allegedly found to be illegally in possession of a firearm. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released under the supervision of Genesee Justice. He is due back in court on 1/23/2024.

MORE FROM THE BATAVIA CITY POLICE BLOTTER:

Maverick X. Cook and Patrick J. Peters, both age 18 of Batavia, NY, are each charged with Open Burning. It’s alleged that Cook and Peters set several fires on the sidewalk and parking lots, in the area of Ellicott Street and Liberty Street in December of 2023. Both were issued appearance tickets and were scheduled to appear in Batavia City Court on 1/23/2024.

On 1/20/2024, Nikkia M. Blackshear, 26, of Batavia, NY, was arrested for Trespassing. Blackshear was charged after allegedly refusing to leave the 7-Eleven store on East Main Street. She was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia City Court on 1/30/2024.

On 1/18/2024, Adrienne S. Bechtold, 28, of Batavia, NY, was arrested and charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th degree and Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia 2nd degree. Bechtold was arrested after a traffic stop on Ross Street, where she was allegedly found in possession of narcotics and a scale. She was issued an appearance ticket and is due in court on 2/6/2024.

On 1/11/2024, Vincent J. Disalvo, 48, of Webster, NY, was arrested and charged with Harassment 2nd degree and Trespassing. Disalvo allegedly kicked another person during an altercation in the parking lot of 7-Eleven. He then entered the store, after previously being trespassed and told not to return. He was issued an appearance ticket and was scheduled to appear in Batavia City Court on 1/23/2024.

On 1/13/2024, Kaila S. Smith, 27, of Batavia, NY, was arrested and charged with Filing a False Written Statement and Falsely Reporting an Incident. It’s alleged that Smith falsely reported a sexual assault on 1/5/2024 and knowingly provided a false written statement. Smith was issued an appearance ticket and was scheduled to appear in court on 1/23/2024.

On 1/15/2024, Anthony A. Bomasuto, 29, of Batavia, NY, was arrested and charged with Criminal Obstruction of Breathing. Bomasuto was arrested after an investigation into a domestic incident on Ellicott Street. Bomasuto was arraigned in CAP Court and released. He is due in Batavia City Court, at a later date.

IN OTHER NEWS…

The Governor budgets to fight hate crimes.

Governor Hochul is pitching budget items that aim to combat a rise in hate crimes across New York State. Hochul says since Hamas initially attacked Israel on October 7th, there has been a 400% surge in threats against Jewish and Muslim New Yorkers. She also acknowledged a rise in bias crimes against Asian and LGBTQ+ communities. The governor’s proposed budget will include the Hate Crime Modernization Act which will update the list of eligible offenses that can be prosecuted and establish different degrees of bias harassment.

Erie County District Attorney John Flynn (file photo)

We have some new information for you this morning, regarding an officer-involved shooting in Buffalo. Erie County District Attorney John Flynn says that no charges will be filed in an officer-involved shooting incident. The officers acted in self-defense after responding to a call about a suicidal man on Tonawanda Street back in September. Body camera footage showed the officers tried to get him to drop a weapon he was pointing at his head before he was shot. The man survived and has filed a notice of claim against the officers, the city and police department.

Stephen Nicot

A Rochester man is now facing prison time after pleading guilty to recording minors in a church bathroom. Prosecutors say 61-year-old Stephen Nicot has admitted to placing cameras in an Orleans County bathroom between 2012 and 2014. When police executed a search warrant, they found that Nicot had images of at least five victims. He’ll be ordered to spend at least five years behind bars when he’s sentenced in May.

Richmond Memorial Library is partnering with volunteers from the New York State Department of Tax and Finance to offer income-eligible citizens assistance with filing their taxes online this tax season. Tax Department employees will walk you through your income tax returns, step-by-step, as you complete and e-file your tax return for free. You are eligible to get this help if you make less than $79,000 per year. This tax help will be available at the library Thursdays in February, March and April. Please call the library to make an appointment at 585-343-9550.

Tyler Bass after the failed field goal attempt. NFL Photo.

Fans are coming together for a heartwarming showing of support for Bills kicker Tyler Bass after he missed a game-tying 44-yard field goal late in Sunday’s playoff loss to the Chiefs. Since then, more than 2,000 people have donated $22 in Tyler’s name to the Ten Lives Club, a nonprofit cat adoption agency dedicated to saving felines in Western New York. As of Wednesday afternoon, more than $260,000 in donations from around the nation has since poured into the shelter. The money raised will go toward providing everything from food to medical services for the cats.

File photo of Josh Allen

Damar Hamlin back on the field (October 2023; NFL Photo)

Two members of the Buffalo Bills have been named finalists for two major NFL awards. Quarterback Josh Allen is one of five candidates who could end up being named league MVP. Also, safety Damar Hamlin is up for Comeback Player of the Year following his recovery from a cardiac issue during a game in January 2023. Allen and Hamlin will find out if they’ve won during the NFL’s annual awards ceremony in Las Vegas during Super Bowl 58 week.

ELSEWHERE…

Please play responsibly.

Lottery players will be lining up over the next couple of days to take their shot at winning a combined $449 million in cash. The top prize up for grabs in Mega Millions tonight is $285 million. And if someone is lucky enough to hit Powerball tomorrow night, they’ll receive at least $164 million. Both drawings will be streamed online. Please play responsibly.

Unidentified family with adult children still living at home. (File photo)

Many young adults aren’t financially independent. That’s according to a recent report from the Pew Research Center, which found that those aged 18 to 24 are most likely to rely on their parents for financial support. But the study also found that people in their early 30s also need assistance, with almost one in five saying their folks help out with their household bills.

George Carlin

George Carlin’s estate is suing the creators of a new AI comedy special on YouTube that replicates the late legendary comedian’s voice. Kelly Carlin, who manages the estate, posted on X that there was zero permission granted for the special, called “I’m Glad I’m Dead.” Kelly Carlin said she’s used to fake memes and quotes attributed to her father but that this is an entirely different animal. She says that those who care for the legacies of artists need to take a stand. The AI special was posted this month on the Dudesey YouTube channel, a podcast hosted by Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen. The AI was fed five decades of Carlin’s material to create a new special that addresses modern topics.

Today is Friday, Jan. 26, the 26th day of 2024 with 340 to follow.

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

January 26 in history…

George Green with the first dental drill (ouchie).

…In 1875, the electric dental drill was patented by George Green of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Poster from World War I

…In 1918, to promote food conservation during World War I, the U.S. government called for one meatless day, two wheatless days and two porkless days each week.

Bob Uecker in 1963

…In 1934, sports personality Bob Uecker was born (happy 90th!)

11-year-old Wayne Gretzky

…In 1961, hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky was born (happy 63rd!)

Kobe and Gianna Bryant

…In 2020, Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna Bryant, were among nine killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif.

A Rochester man is now awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to a child pornography charge.  Prosecutors said Stephen Nicot, 61, hid a camera in an Orleans County church bathroom between 2012 and 2014, positioning it so it would capture video and images of naked people showering.  Authorities executed a search warrant at his home July 21, 2022, recovering a memory card and USB drive with videos and images of at least five minor victims using the church bathroom and shower. They also seized two cell phones with naked images of a minor that were recorded by a camera hidden in a bathroom at Nicot’s home.  Nicot pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography. He faces at least five years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for May 6.

People living in the Pines of Perinton housing and members of Being Black in the Burbs attended Perinton’s town board meeting demanding change Wednesday.  The housing development was promised a $137 million renovation last spring after a January 2022 fire.  But tenants say high expectations have turned into a nightmare, expressing concerns over subpar living conditions in the Pines — including a lack of working utilities and failed inspections.  Town Supervisor Ciaran Hanna said he, along with code enforcement, will meet with the developer, Winn Companies, next week.

Richmond Memorial Library is partnering with volunteers from the New York State Department of Tax and Finance to offer income-eligible citizens assistance with filing their taxes online this tax season.  Tax Department employees will walk you through your income tax returns, step-by-step, as you complete and e-file your tax return for free.  You are eligible to get this help if you make less than 79K a year.  This tax help will be available at the library Thursdays in February, March and April.  You must call the library to make an appointment.

No, those aren’t lost puppies.  Tonawanda residents are being urged to keep an eye out for coyotes that have been spotted in their community. The Town Supervisor says it is unclear just how many coyotes are in the area right now. But, he says people need to be careful while they’re doing outdoor activities and they should also take action to keep their pets safe. Experts believe coyotes may be looking for a new place to live following recent snowstorms in the region.

Fans are coming together for a heartwarming showing of support for Bills kicker Tyler Bass after he missed a game-tying 44-yard field goal late in Sunday’s playoff loss to the Chiefs.  Since then, more than 2,000 people have donated $22 in Tyler’s name to the Ten Lives Club, a nonprofit cat adoption agency dedicated to saving felines in Western New York.  As of Wednesday afternoon, more than $260,000 in donations from around the nation have since poured into the shelter.  The money raised will go toward providing everything from food to medical services for the cats.

The Buffalo Sabres have snapped their two-game losing streak and picked up a much-needed win in the process. JJ Peterka scored twice while Alex Tuch, Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn had a goal apiece as the Sabres came from behind and defeated the Los Angeles Kings 5 to 3 last night. Buffalo goaltender Devon Levi stopped 37 of the 40 shots he faced in the contest. Buffalo’s next game is Saturday against the San Jose Sharks.