Doug Thompson
January 25, 2024 
James Carollo
28-year-old James Carollo of Texas has been sentenced in Erie County Court to 12 years in prison followed by 20 years of post-release supervision and he will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release. Between July and September 2020, Carollo forcibly engaged in sexual intercourse with a child who was less than 14 years old. According to Orchard Park police, Carollo was the live-in boyfriend of the child’s mother.
FROM THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE: 45-year-old Lorrie Fischer of Batavia has been arrested. She’s charged with misapplication of property; it’s alleged that Fischer had another person’s property while at a hotel in the Town of Batavia (8250 Park Road) and allegedly sold the property, failing to return it. She was transported to the County Jail for fingerprints and photographs. Fischer was then released on an appearance ticket for Batavia Town Court. ALSO: 53-year-old Darrell McFadden of Batavia was arrested. He’s charged with assault with intent to cause serious physical injury. It’s alleged McFadden caused serious injury to another during the course of a domestic incident. He was held at the Genesee County Jail pending CAP Court.
A Rochester woman who dealt drugs is going to be spending the next 10 years behind bars. Prosecutors say between October 2021 and November 2022, 37-year-old Ebony Shine sold more than 400 grams of Fentanyl, 119 grams of cocaine and a pistol to undercover law enforcement in Medina and Rochester. During a search of her home, authorities discovered over $4000 cash, drug paraphernalia and ammunition. Her co-conspirators are awaiting sentencing.
The Rochester Police Department is currently looking to boost the number of officers in its ranks. Anyone who wants to take the March 2nd civil service exam that is required to become a member of the department must sign up for the test by February 9th. Potential officers are also required to pass an agility exam in April. Among the benefits of joining the police department include paid holidays, a pension plan, and an over $102,000 a year salary after 44 months on the job. For more information, go to: https://www.cityofrochester.gov/joinrpd/
Senator Gillibrand
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has announced a new bill in Congress aimed at improving mental health in underserved communities. The Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act would give mental health professionals psychologists, social workers, and school counselors up to $250,000 in student loan forgiveness if they want to work in certain areas of the state. Data shows 55 of New York’s 62 counties don’t have enough mental health professionals available. Gillibrand says this measure has bipartisan support.
Governor Kathy Hochul has joined Planned Parenthood’s Day of Action to codify the state’s abortion rights. The group has started raising awareness about the New York Equal Rights Amendment, which will be on the ballot this November. If New Yorkers vote to pass the measure and amend the state constitution, it would prevent New York from implementing a statewide abortion ban. The push comes days after what would have been the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade if the Supreme Court hadn’t overturned abortion protections in June of 2022.
Paterka-Power-Cozens from last night’s game (NHL Photo)
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.
ELSEWHERE…
The CosMc menu
McDonald’s trendy new spin-off CosMc’s is bringing in more traffic than a typical McDonald’s. Its first location had twice as much traffic last month than the original fast food chain. CosMc’s is a specialty drinks café that targets younger customers. The company first unveiled it in December, and the first location is in Bolingbrook, Illinois. Another nine are slated to open this year.
Melanie Safka
A singer from the Woodstock era has passed away. Melanie, as she went by, became famous after appearing at the iconic music festival in 1969, and wrote the hit song “Lay Down (Candles In the Rain)” about the experience. On Wednesday, her children posted on Facebook that Melanie Safka died Tuesday at age 76.
Recalled
The manufacturer of Robitussin is recalling eight lots of cough syrup due to a microbial contamination. On Wednesday, the company Haleon announced they are voluntarily recalling lots of their Robitussin Honey CF Max medicine for adults. Specific recalled lot numbers can be found online, and Haleon says people with these products should stop consuming them immediately.
Jon Stewart (NBC Photo)
A familiar face is set to return to “The Daily Show” next month. Jon Stewart will host the Comedy Central show on Monday nights beginning February 12th. The former host will sit behind the desk through the 2024 election. “The Daily Show” has been using guest hosts as it continues to look for a permanent replacement for Trevor Noah after he left in December of 2022. Stewart ended his first run as host of the comedic news program in 2015 after 16 years.
The American Red Cross is sounding the alarm as it deals with an ongoing nationwide shortage of blood. The agency says donations have not been this low in 20 years. And that may end up leading to delays for people who need treatment for serious illnesses or who have to undergo lifesaving medical procedures. Anyone who donates through the end of the month will be entered to win a trip to Super Bowl 58. To find a clinic in your area, head to redcrossblood.org.
Today is Thursday, Jan. 25, the 25th day of 2024 with 341 to follow.
The moon is full. Morning stars are Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Uranus and Venus. Evening stars are Jupiter, Neptune, Saturn and Uranus.
January 25 in history…
Screen capture of John Kennedy during the first televised news conference by a president, today in history
…In 1961, newly inaugurated U.S. President John Kennedy had the first televised presidential news conference.
Alicia Keys, age 11
…In 1981, Alicia Keys was born (happy 43rd!)
Billy Joel in 2003 (UPI Photo)
…In 2003, Billy Joel spent the night at Stony Brook University Hospital after he ran his Mercedes into a tree in Sag Harbor, Long Island.
A bill has been introduced in the state Legislature that calls for health insurers to cover co-payments for Paxlovid. The drug is used to help people who contract COVID-19 recover quicker, but co-payments for the medication can run as high as $140. The federal government previously covered that cost, but no longer does so. Paxlovid has been proven to reduce the risk of death from coronavirus by 73%. If approved, this measure would go into effect next year.
New York State is getting a $228 million boost from the federal government to help improve high-speed Internet service in underserved communities. The ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Program will connect tens of thousands of homes across the Empire State to broadband service. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer believes broadband is a necessity these days so people can stay connected to things like healthcare, school and their jobs.
33-year-old Johnny Koonce, Jr. of Batavia has been arrested. He’s charged with criminal contempt, aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle and failure to stop at a stop sign. It’s also alleged he violated a stay-away order of protection by operating a vehicle with the protected party as a passenger, and having been convicted of criminal contempt in the past five years. Koonce, Jr. was held at the Genesee County Jail pending CAP Court arraignment. ALSO: 31-year-old Samantha Balduf of Depew has been arrested in Batavia and charged with petit larceny. It’s alleged she swapped the price tag on an item of lesser value and paid the lesser price for an item she purchased at a store on Veteran’s Memorial Drive. Balduf was issued an appearance ticket for a later date in the Town of Batavia Court.
Some brand-new data shows the spread of the flu virus is slowly on the decline across our region. During the week ending January 13th, the county with the highest number of infections was Monroe County with 686. That was followed by Erie County with 286; Niagara County, with 104; Wayne County had 85 and Ontario County, 83. Anyone who hasn’t received their flu shot yet can find a clinic at vaccines.gov.
We’re saving a little bit of money when it comes time to fill up our vehicles. According to Triple A this morning, the national average cost for a gallon of regular gas is now sitting at $3.08. The state average is $3.26 per gallon. In Batavia, the average price comes out to $3.29; that’s down 3 cents from a week ago and down 17 cents from a month ago today.
Eating dark chocolate could reduce the risk of high blood pressure. A new study in the journal Nature Scientific Reports found that dark chocolate might also decrease the risk of blood clotting. While an exact cause couldn’t be determined, experts say the findings may warrant further research for any benefits in combating cardiovascular diseases.
Members of the 5/14 Commission have set a date to get public feedback on a memorial to honor 10 people killed in a mass shooting. A meeting will be held January 23rd from 6:00pm until 7:30pm at the Stanley Makowski Early Childhood Center on Jefferson Avenue. It has been almost two years since Payton Gendron opened fire at a Tops store in a racially motivated attack. The federal government is seeking the death penalty against him.
Researchers at the University of Virginia believe they have solved some of the mystery surrounding the transmission of HIV – the virus that can lead to AIDS. A recently published study suggests that a protein produced by the virus may adapt inside the body, allowing it to be transmitted to others through activities like sex. The adaptation also allows the virus to overcome cellular defenses and reproduce. Researchers feel that studying and understanding their discovery could be a key factor in stopping the future spread of HIV. The CDC reported in 2021 that over one-million people in the United States were living with HIV.
New documents show coronavirus’s genetic sequence was submitted to a U.S. database two weeks before China’s official release. The sequence doesn’t show the origin of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, but it does go against the Chinese government’s claims about how much it knew about the virus. Experts say it may have cost important time in vaccine development.
In just two days, it is going to cost us more money to send letters in the mail. That is because on Sunday, the United States Postal Service will increase the cost of a First-Class Forever U.S. Postage Stamp from the current 66 cents to 68 cents. Plus, the price of domestic postcard stamps will also rise from 51 cents to 53 cents. And, stamps for international postcards will go up a nickel to $1.55. The postal service says these increases will help provide much-needed revenue.
We’ve been talking about it for a couple of days, and today the lake effect snow warning remains in effect until 7:00 this evening. The most persistent lake snows will remain in Erie County with 2 to 5 more inches of snow possible for us in western Genesee County. The full forecast is coming up in just a few moments. Travel will be difficult in the areas most impacted by the storm from the combination of snow-covered roads and poor visibility.
The nearly week long winter storm that we’ve experienced and necessitated the cancellation of live racing at Batavia Downs on Monday, January 15th, has once again forced track officials to cancel live racing at The Downs for tonight (Thursday, January 18th) due to the ongoing effects of the extreme weather conditions. Simulcast at the track will remain open.
It has been a week since the opening of OpenAI’s GPT store and already users are breaking the rules and creating, “companions.” A search for “girlfriend” on the new GPT store will populate the site’s results bar with at least eight “girlfriend” AI chatbots. The company bans apps dedicated to fostering romantic companionship. In the US, seven of the 30 AI chatbot apps downloaded last year from the Apple or Google store were related to AI friends, girlfriends, or companions, according to data.ai. The proliferation of these apps comes as the US faces an epidemic of loneliness and isolation, with the Surgeon General calling for the need to strengthen social connections, and AI chatbots could be part of the solution.
Governor Kathy Hochul is proposing to increase state spending on the migrant crisis as part of her fiscal year 2025 budget proposal. Hochul unveiled her $233 billion budget plan yesterday which sets aside $2.4 billion for the migrant crisis including half a billion dollars from state reserves. In her budget speech, she called on Congress and the White House to get the border situation under control and provide relief to states shouldering the migrant crisis burden. Hochul says New York will continue to face an uphill battle until there is federal policy change that slows the flow of newly arriving migrants. Hochul’s budget also includes more money to tackle crime, including paying for a dedicated team to drive down a spike in retail theft. Hochul also made a series of proposals to address the affordable housing crisis including offering a new tax incentive for local governments to build housing. Hochul also earmarked $10 million to train thousands of teachers on a new back to basics reading program. The Governor notes that New Yorkers won’t be paying higher income taxes if her 2025 state budget proposal is approved.
Genesee County Park and Forest is hosting its winter walks series starting this Saturday. Through January and February there are a variety of walks, hikes, and environmental education programs. Guides lead walks through forest, meadow, and wetland habitats. Each will explore a different topic. Walks are approximately 1 – 2 miles long over easy terrain and all are family-friendly. Cost is $5 per person and $10 per family. Pre-register to receive the exact meeting location and other details; call 585-344-1122 for more information. Or, follow them on Facebook: 
The Buffalo Sabres will be back in action tonight as they look to continue their current home stand with a second straight win. The Sabres are set to host the Chicago Blackhawks at KeyBank Center. Buffalo is coming off of a three to nothing shutout victory over the San Jose Sharks Monday afternoon and has earned 42 points so far this season. Unless the weather prevents it, face-off this evening is set for 7:30.
Consumers are about to save at the bank. The Biden Administration and The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau today unveiled new regulations for overdraft fees that are expected to go into effect in 2025. Banks will now have to choose between offering overdraft loans for profit or a courtesy service, dropping fees by over 50 percent. The rule changes will go into effect around 175 banks nationwide. Experts say consumers have paid an estimated 280-billion in bank overdraft fees since 2000.
…In 1929, Popeye, his spinach, and his “guns” debut in the comic strip, Thimble Theatre.
38-year-old Scott Murray of Darien has been arrested. He’s charged with assault and criminal obstruction of breathing. His arrest followed a domestic incident that happened late last month, during which it’s alleged Murray struck an individual in the face multiple times and applied pressure to their neck. Murray was arraigned in CAP Court.
$325 million is being made available for clean water infrastructure projects across New York State. Governor Hochul announced the funding, which now includes additional benefits for rural and disadvantaged communities, while also ensuring those communities get more equitable access to funding opportunities. Grants will also go towards protecting safe drinking water by increasing awards for emerging contaminant projects to 70% of project costs. This will help ensure cost isn’t a barrier for communities working on investments to eliminate risks to their drinking water supplies. Applications for the funding will go live online February 5.
The Buffalo Sabres have avoided a second straight loss after picking up a shutout victory at home. Casey Mittelstadt, Jordan Greenway, and Alex Tuch all had a goal as the Sabres beat the San Jose Sharks three to nothing yesterday. Buffalo goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped all 28 shots he faced in the contest. Up next for the Sabres is a game tomorrow against the Chicago Blackhawks. The puck drops at 7:30.
The travel advisory for Genesee County has been lifted. The Sheriff’s Office continues to urge motorists to use caution if they decide to travel. However, another winter storm watch goes into effect tomorrow (Tuesday, 1/16/24).
Gas prices continue to trend slightly downward. According to Triple A, the national average cost for a gallon of regular fuel is now $3.09. The state average is $3.28. In Batavia, the average price is reported to be $3.32; that’s down a nickel from a week ago; 18 cents from a month ago and exactly the same price it was a year ago today.
The state Division of Consumer Protection is providing tips to help job seekers avoid employment scams. The agency recommends that people be weary of possible employers who want personal information before an interview. Other red flags are employers who only communicate via text or offer to hire you without a meeting or interview. If you’re trying to find a job, some reputable places to search online include usajobs.gov and the state Department of Labor’s website.
The 75th Annual Emmy Awards are almost here. The Primetime Emmys will be on Monday with Anthony Anderson set to host live on Fox from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles at 8:00pm Eastern Time. Warner Brothers-Discovery led the way for the studios with 155 total Emmy nominations. Television icons including Carol Burnett and Peter Dinklage are also set to present. Fans of shows like the Sopranos and Cheers will want to watch for possible cast reunions and tributes.
A vehicle failing to stop for traffic violations led LeRoy Police on a brief pursuit into the Village. Yesterday morning, a vehicle attempted to make a U-turn and struck a utility pole on Munson Street. Both the driver and passenger had warrants and were held at gunpoint until additional help arrived from LeRoy Police. The male passenger had minor injuries and was transported to the hospital. The male driver was uninjured and taken into custody. Names have not been released as this is an ongoing investigation and charges are pending.
An inmate at the Erie County Correctional Facility is in more legal trouble after being accused of having synthetic marijuana. The drug was discovered in the prosthetic leg of 39-year-old Gregorio Chevere during a routine check of the Gulf Housing area yesterday. A folded up piece of paper was used to try and hide the narcotic which is believed to be K2 spice. Chevere is now facing a felony charge.
SUNY campuses are investing nearly $10 million in annual state funding to support students identifying with disabilities. Governor Hochul discussed the crucial investments, calling it historic funding that’s part of the state’s goal to build a future where diversity is not just acknowledged but celebrated. Among funding plans, all 29 state-operated campuses will hire staff to mitigate barriers and support students with disabilities, including disability services coordinators, and learning and physical disability specialists. According to the State Education Department more than 30,000 SUNY students reported having a disability, which also means that 39% of college students identifying with disabilities in the state attend a SUNY institution.
The Buffalo Bills will be looking to take another step towards reaching the Super Bowl this weekend. The Bills are riding a five-game winning streak and finished the regular season 11-and-6. The AFC East champions are host the Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. Kickoff on Sunday is set for 1:00.
Fruit Stripe gum is being discontinued. The iconic gum featured fruit inspired flavors, a zebra print wrapper and a zebra mascot on the package. It was first sold in the 1960s and came with a temporary tattoo of Yipes the Zebra. Ferrera, which owns other candy brands like Nerds and Fun Dip, said the decision to discontinue Fruit Stripe was difficult. Those looking to get their hands on the gum may be able to still find it at retailers across the country before it sells out one final time.
A winter weather advisory remains in effect until 10:00 this evening for Wyoming County as well as Southern Erie County and the Southern Tier. Snow accumulations of 2 to 5 inches are predicted. The greatest amounts will be across the higher terrain of Western Wyoming County. The lake effect snow band will shift north of the advisory area late this morning and early afternoon but will drop back southward later this afternoon and evening. Plan for slippery road conditions, which could impact commuters.
The Jackson Street water project continues today on Wood Street. The unavailability of water should be expected in the surrounding area. If discolored water occurs when water pressure is regained, it’s advised you avoid doing laundry or cooking until the water runs clear.
Governor Hochul is providing New Yorkers with an update on the state’s plan for a solar eclipse that’s now less than three months away. The governor says several agencies have been working with local governments to make sure everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience. The eclipse is happening on Monday, April 8th and the event will last over two hours. A website has been set up to highlight viewing locations and that information is posted at 
Girl Scout Cookies are on sale again. National Girl Scout Cookie season got underway Tuesday, and the organization says this year’s theme is “Unbox the Future.” This year’s cookies include classic favorites such as Thin Mints, Samoas, Do-si-dos and S’mores. Starting February 16th, customers will be able to get Girl Scout cookies shipped directly to their homes by entering their zip code into the Girl Scout Cookie Finder.
Coming soon: mints that taste like Miller Lite. The beer brand plans to start selling Beer Mints this Friday that are hailed as having the “freshness of mint” but the “great taste of Miller Lite.” The alcohol-free mints are being marketed for those taking part in Dry January, where people abstain from, or at least cut back on alcohol for the month. The mints are five bucks for a tin of 40 and will be available at 
Mortgage applications are soaring in the beginning of 2024. Experts say it could signal that lower rates are bringing potential homebuyers into the market.
…In 1964, U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry released a report saying smoking cigarettes is a definite “health hazard.”
…Also in 1964, “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash became the first country album to top the U.S. pop album chart.
…In 2020, China reported its first known death from what was then considered a mysterious outbreak of viral pneumonia. The disease would come to be identified as a novel coronavirus — COVID-19 — that, after one year, killed nearly 2 million people worldwide.
Bottle redemption centers statewide are urging the New York State Legislature to approve an expanded bottle bill. There haven’t been any changes in 15 years, and they say it would help their struggling businesses. The proposed bottle bill expansion would raise the deposit from the current nickel to a dime for the first time in 40 years and also include more types of bottles for redemption. Redemption centers have not seen an increase in the amount of bottles or cans they take in and the price they get for each container has remained the same even as wages and overhead have increased by more than 100%.
Some new data is showing the spread of the flu continues to worsen across our region. During the week ending December 30th, Monroe County had the largest number of cases in this area with 1,217. Erie County with 617; Wayne County with 179 infections; Niagara County, 149 and Ontario County with 117. Experts say the best way to avoid getting sick is to get a flu shot, wash your hands often, and wear a mask in public settings.
New York State Police have released the results of a holiday season crackdown on dangerous driving. There were more than 106,000 tickets given out between December 13th and January 1st. Over 3700 of those tickets were issued in the western New York region for offenses including speeding, distracted driving, and DWI. During last year’s national DWI crackdown, State Police handed out nearly 33,000 tickets and arrested over 450 people for DWI.
A Buffalo man has been arrested after being accused of holding two women captive. One woman jumped from the second floor of a home on Moselle Street back on January 1st and told officers she was held by 36-year-old Jamar Harris and sexually assaulted at knifepoint. A second woman was later found at a convenience store in the area. Both women were treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Harris is facing multiple charges.
The New York State Department of Labor says a workplace violence prevention law has been expanded. It requires elementary and secondary public education facilities to complete a workplace violence policy statement and violence prevention program by May 3rd. The law has been in effect since 2009 but now includes schools and BOCES programs. Any employee who files a complaint and believes it hasn’t been handled appropriately can reach out to the labor department.
The CDC says a new COVID variant is now accounting for more than half of the cases in the U.S. As of January 5th, the strain JN.1 makes up more than 60% of U.S. cases and is the most widely circulated COVID variant globally. It is also the dominant variant in Europe and is on the rise in Asia.
Which leads us to this next story… Hospitals across the country are telling people to mask-up as flu and COVID-19 cases are on the rise. The viruses have been on the rise for weeks, and health officials are predicting infections will increase this month.
A bill is working its way through committee and will eventually end up in the State Senate; if it were to pass, grocery stores would be allowed to sell wine. Right now a law that dates back to prohibition stops grocers in the state from carrying wine or liquor. As you might already guess…liquor storeowners have been lobbying to keep the law the same for nearly a century saying that changing it would drive many of them out of business; they estimate a loss of up to 40% of their sales. This new bill would only allow sales of wine in regional chains like Tops or Wegmans and would not allow national chains like Wal-Mart to sell wine.
An exploding toilet is the subject of a lawsuit filed in Orlando. A Dunkin’ customer sued the company Wednesday for injuries he suffered when a toilet exploded at a Winter Park location on Aloma Avenue two years ago. Flagler County’s Paul Kerouac claims the explosion left him covered in urine and feces. He’s seeking over a $100,000 in damages for what he calls severe and long-term injuries that left him in need of counseling.
Consumer Reports has found what it calls “widespread” presence of plastics in food. The nonprofit consumer group called on regulators to reassess the safety of plastics that come into contact with food during production. Consumer Reports said on Thursday that 84 of 85 supermarket foods and fast foods it tested recently contained a chemical that’s used to make plastic more durable.
…In 1973, Bruce Springsteen released his first album, “Greetings From Asbury Park.”
The Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office has released information about their investigation of a deadly crash in the Town of Perry. The crash occurred late in the afternoon on December 29 at the intersection of State Route 20A and Silver Lake Road. The sheriff’s office said it was determined that 78-year-old Carolyn Robb of the Town of Perry was driving east on State Route 20A when she drove into the rear of a stopped vehicle that was waiting to make a left turn. According to the sheriff’s office, passing motorists and first responders performed CPR on Robb. She was then transported to Strong Memorial Hospital and later died from her injuries.
The New York State Department of Labor is reminding people that 1099-G forms will automatically be mailed out this year. In the past, residents have been able to opt out of getting those forms in the mail, but that’s no longer the case. A 1099-G is used to document the total amount of money a person received in benefits from the labor department during the year as well as any adjustments made to those benefits. The forms are expected to arrive in mailboxes by the end of the month.
According to Triple A this morning, the national average price for a gallon of regular gas is now $3.10. The state average – always a little higher – is $3.35. In Batavia, we’re paying $3.41; that’s down 3 cents from a week ago and 15 cents from a month ago today. Christmas travel was slightly lower than anticipated on the roads so the hike in gas costs that was predicted failed to appear. Experts are still predicting the prices to stay the same or rise slightly over the next few weeks.
The City of Batavia received 350K in the form of a Community Development Block Grant just before the end of 2023. The funds would enable homeowners to make home repairs with grant and deferred loan funding. Assistant City Manager Erik Fix says that the details are still being worked out and how the money will be allocated and who will receive the grant money will be announced in the next few months.
With exercising more being a top priority for people at the start of the year, the state Division of Consumer Protection is offering tips to help folks avoid gym membership mistakes. It’s recommended that people review any contract before signing it, and to be aware of add-on fees. Knowing termination fees is important if anyone decides to cancel their membership. State law also requires businesses with auto-renewal programs to disclose terms of those offers when consumers are enrolling.
A winter storm is slated to bring snow, rain and wind to the East this weekend. Forecasters aren’t yet sure how much snow the system can be expected to bring, especially for areas near the I-95 corridor. The storm should begin dissipating late on Sunday.
…In 1959, Alaska became the 49th state of the United States. Happy 65th birthday!
…In 1987 Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On A Prayer” broke into the Top 40 chart.
It has been almost two years since the start of mobile sports wagering in New York, and fans have bet a lot of money on games. Since 2022, more than $34 billion has been wagered on sporting contests. FanDuel has been the most popular platform used, and nearly $3 billion worth of revenue has been generated. Money has been used for things like funding sports programs for children and treatment and education programs for problem gambling.
2024 is a leap year, giving us an extra day on the calendar. The day gets tacked on to the end of February every four years, with some exceptions, to keep our dates in sync with the seasons. While there are 365 days in a year, it actually takes about 365 and a quarter days for the Earth to travel around the sun. February 29th takes that extra time into account.
…In 1971, George Harrison’s first post-Beatles solo album, “All Things Must Pass,” hit number one on the album chart.
…In 2002 Nickelback’s “How You Remind Me” was named the most played song on radio in 2001, with more than 421,000 spins. Puddle of Mudd’s “Blurry” and Linkin Park’s “In the End” were also among the songs receiving a lot of airplay.
Buffalo police say that an arrest has been made following a reported sexual assault in their city earlier this month. A woman says 28-year-old Rickey Roberts approached her on Hertel Avenue December 9th and claimed he had a gun before forcing himself on her. The woman was able to get away from Roberts and ran for help but she needed treatment for minor injuries. She also told officers that she had no prior contact with Roberts.
Starting next week, the cost of traveling on the New York State Thruway will be going up for Empire State drivers. As of January 1st, E-ZPass rates will increase by five-percent and that will followed by a similar bump in 2027. This new rate marks the first time in 14 years that tolls have risen on the Thruway. Officials say they need the additional funds to help maintain the 570-mile highway.
The Powerball jackpot keeps growing and has now risen to the sixth-largest prize in the history of the game. Whoever is lucky enough to pick all six winning numbers for tomorrow night’s drawing will get at least $760 million. The last time the top prize was claimed was back in October, which is a span of 33 drawings. The odds of hitting the jackpot are one in 292 million. The drawing will be streamed live at powerball.com. Please play responsibly.
Google reportedly has agreed to settle a $5,000,000,000 (billion) consumer privacy lawsuit. Reuters reported on Thursday that the tech giant agreed to settle the suit that claimed Google secretly tracked millions of people who thought they were browsing the Internet privately. The suit argued that Google’s analytics, cookies, and apps tracked their activity even when they set the company’s Chrome browser to “Incognito” mode and other browsers to “private” browsing status.
…In 1973 Jim Croce’s “Time In A Bottle” hit number one on the pop singles chart. He died on September 20, 1973 in a plane crash, eight days before his son’s (A.J. Croce) second birthday. According to officials, the plane did not gain enough altitude and was unable to clear a small grove of pecan trees about 250 feet from the end of the runway, NOLA.com reported. The official report of the crash stated that the 57-year-old pilot, Robert Elliott, had suffered a heart attack during takeoff. Croce had decided that his current tour would be his last so that he could be at home with his wife and young son.
A warning has been issued about scammers posing as Publisher’s Clearing House employees. According to sheriffs, the scammers are targeting people in our region by calling and telling the individual that they have won and are requesting processing fees. The scammer then tries to arrange electronic payment or a meeting place to receive the payment in person. The sheriff’s office says never give out personal information over the phone and to contact the police if you receive a call you think is suspicious. Publisher’s Clearing House Vice President Chris Irving says they will never ask for money from prizewinners in order to claim a prize.
As reported by Tom Tharp this morning: Employees at the University of Rochester Medical Center have voted to accept a 3-year contract. Close to 2,000 union caregivers and service workers with the University of Rochester Medical Center voted yesterday to ratify a three-year contract deal with their employer. The deal includes general wage increases of more than 18%, and will raise the new-hire starting pay rate to $17 per hour starting next year, according to union representatives. By the third year of the contract, the employees will reportedly earn $18.38 per hour. New hires were previously earning $15.45 per hour. This deal comes after the group of workers held a 17-hour strike last week, demanding higher wages and better benefits.
The Bills are preparing to take on the Patriots at home this Sunday in a match up that will be crucial to Buffalo’s playoff hopes. Earlier this season, the postseason seemed like a pipe dream for the Bills. But after falling to 6-6, the team has rattled off three straight wins. Now, if Buffalo beats New England and gets a little help from the rest of the NFL, the team would clinch their fifth straight playoff berth. But that all starts with the Bills taking care of business against a 4-11 Patriots team. The Patriots are coming off an emotional win this weekend against the Broncos. Kickoff at Highmark is at 1:00.
Thousands want Donald Trump’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to be removed. A petition calling on the Los Angeles City Council to withdraw Trump’s star has received more than 4,000 signatures. Trump was awarded the star in 2007 and it has been vandalized and destroyed several times since the 2016 election. A star has never been removed from the Walk of Fame, but councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez told the Los Angeles Times that the council is looking into “what the legal issues may be” and what the process for removing the star would look like.
An asthma treatment that could reduce food allergies in children is one step closer to FDA approval. The antibody injection, sold as Xolair has been on the market since 2003 as a treatment for allergy-induced asthma but early data from a federally funded clinical trial showed that it helps recipients consume more peanuts, eggs, milk and cashews without allergic reactions.
…In 1972, Miami Police cut a Manfred Mann and His Earth Band concert because residents in the neighborhood complained about the volume of the music. When authorities cut the sound to the P.A. system, fans rioted. The melee lasted about two hours.
Americans spent more during the holidays than they did last year, despite fears they might cut back because of inflation. Results of a survey by Mastercard released Tuesday show retail sales were up 3.1% over last year. Online sales grew 6.3% while sales at brick-and-mortar stores rose over 2.0%.
Home prices posted their biggest gain of 2023 in October. The latest S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index reported a 4.8% annual increase in October. The jump in prices came despite a sharp rise in mortgage rates. Among the top 20 cities, Detroit reported the biggest annual gain with home prices up just over 8%. San Diego and New York round out the top three with increases of about 7%.
Governor Kathy Hochul has vetoed a bill that would have banned non-compete agreements. In a statement, Hochul said the “one-size-fits-all” approach to the bill was not reasonable, and she had tried to work with the Legislature on the matter. Non-compete agreements are used to restrict workers from leaving to take a job with a rival company. The bill was supported by labor and the Federal Trade Commission, while Wall Street and top business groups in the state were opposed to the measure.
Christmas Day 2023 will go down as one of the warmest days in the history of Rochester. Yesterday, the temperature reached 57 degrees — making this year’s Christmas Day the sixth warmest on record for the city, going back to 1871. The warmest day on record for the date was in 1982 — when the temperature hit 66.
As reported by Tom Tharp this morning: Residents in the Town of Bethany will only have one more opportunity to fill up their water totes at the Town Hall as the 6700 gallon tanker will be leaving after Tuesday. Bethany and other towns have been suffering under a drought for the past several months with many families reporting their wells running dry. People have been driving to neighboring towns and even counties to fill up on water so they can cook, clean and bathe. A tanker truck was supplied by the state for filling up a few gallons at specific times. And it hasn’t always been easy with the spigot freezing over on cold days. The Office of Emergency Management is taking the tanker back after turning the town down for an extension. For the moment there is no plan in place for after the tanker leaves.
It’s one of the busiest travel times of the year, and that means big crowds can be expected at Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport. The TSA recommends people get to the airport at least two hours before their scheduled flight. That’ll allow them enough time to go through security, and folks can save time while in line by getting out their ID and boarding pass. Any suspicious activity at or near the airport should be reported immediately.
Orchard Park police are continuing to investigate an assault that happened after last weekend’s Buffalo Bills game. They say the attack occurred Sunday on Abbott Road near Highmark Stadium. The victim, whose name has not been released, needed treatment for several broken bones. Police are asking anyone who saw the incident to contact them at 716-662-6444.
The Christmas holiday season can be deadly for some. Research shows more people die of heart attacks in the last week of December than any other time of year. Doctors say it’s usually due to a number of factors, including cold weather that can restrict blood flow, added stress and overindulgence in rich food and alcohol. Heart attacks increase 37% on Christmas Eve. It happens most with people who are over the age of 75 and those with diabetes or who have prior cardiovascular disease.
Santa will be dropping off toys to kids all around the world this weekend and NORAD is going to be tracking his global journey. Starting on Sunday, children can call 1-877-446-6723 or visit noradsanta.org to get the latest updates on Saint Nick’s trip. Until then, kids can download the NORAD Tracks Santa app where they can play games and listen to music. NORAD has been tracking Santa on Christmas Eve for decades.
SiriusXM is being sued for allegedly trapping customers in subscriptions and making it difficult for them to cancel. State Attorney General Letitia James announced the lawsuit after an investigation that found the company “forces its subscribers to call or chat online with an agent to cancel a subscription, then deliberately draws out those interactions as part of its strategy.” James said that the tricky cancellation process is illegal. She added the office also found that the company trains its agency not to take “no” for an answer when customers call to cancel. The investigation began after hundreds of customers reported complaints about the process.
Toyota is recalling more than one million vehicles for potential air bag issues. Toyota Motor announced the recall on Wednesday, saying a short circuit in a sensor could cause air bags to not properly deploy. The recall is for 2020 through 2022 model year vehicles including various Corolla, Camry, Avalon and Sienna Hybrid vehicles. The automaker says it will start notifying owners about the recall in February.
With Christmas just four days away, the Better Business Bureau is providing some tips to help people avoid scams when shopping for last-minute gifts. If you’re getting a gift card, look to see if it’s been tampered with and if so, pick a different card. And, only purchase toys from reputable websites and stores and don’t be fooled by a price that seems unusually low. Also, be careful with any personal information you post online so scammers don’t steal it. For more recommendations, visit 
…In 1620, the Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth, Massachusetts, following a 63-day voyage from England aboard the Mayflower.
The American Red Cross has issued some simple tips to help people avoid fires caused by decorations. The agency says that December is the peak time of year for such fires, and it’s recommended that if candles are being used that they be kept away from pets, children, and anything that might burn. Also, double check light cords to make sure they are not broken or frayed. Folks who have an artificial tree should make sure it’s labeled as being fire-resistant, while live trees need to be properly watered.
Excelsior Scholarship applications are now open for new applicants ahead of the Spring 2024 semester. The scholarship allows students to attend a SUNY or CUNY school for two years or four years, tuition free. Students who come from homes with federal adjusted gross incomes up to 125-thousand dollars can take part in the program. Applications will be accepted through February 2nd and more details can be found by visiting the state’s Higher Education Services Corporation website.
Officials say a new COVID-19 variant is on the rise this holiday season. The CDC says cases of the new variant, which has been dubbed JN.1, now account for one in five new infections. An official estimated that the new variant would become the dominant strain within a week.
…In 2017, the U.S. Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the first major overhaul of the U.S. tax code in 30 years. The legislation slashed corporate taxes permanently from 35% to 21% and temporarily cut the top income tax bracket from 39.6% to 37%.
A former daycare employee is expected to be in court today to face child endangerment charges. According to authorities, 22-year-old Alexis Cleveley is accused of mistreating kids at the Sweet Angels Daycare located in Newfane. Back in September, two other former employees were charged with the exact same crime. The daycare will be shutting down for good effective December 29th.
As reported by Tom Tharp this morning: Lawmakers in Albany are trying to force Chick Fil A to open on Sundays. The restaurant chain has a longstanding commitment to never being open on Sundays but lawmakers are saying this isn’t right now that they have locations on the Thruway; seven Chick Fil A’s have opened at recently renovated rest areas across the state. A bill has been introduced that would require restaurants at rest stops be open every day of the week so travelers can count on a meal when they stop by. The legislation says allowing for a retail space to go unused one seventh of the week or more is a disservice and unnecessary inconvenience to travelers who rely on these service areas.
A new study says Americans eat an extra meal each day just by snacking. Researchers at The Ohio State University studied data from over 20,000 individuals and found that Americans consume up to 500 calories daily from snacks alone, which is often more calories than breakfast but with less nutritional value. A senior author of the study said snacks are contributing “a meal’s worth of intake” to our diets without actually being a meal.
…In 1865, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution abolished slavery in the United States.
With folks making plans for holiday gatherings, the state Department of Health is reminding people to protect themselves from serious illnesses. The agency says there are currently vaccines available to help keep people safe from the flu, COVID-19, and RSV. The CDC believes low immunization rates could lead to a massive spread of these viruses in the coming weeks. To find a clinic in your area, head to 
Lotto players will be lining up the next couple of days to take their shot at winning a more than half-billion dollar prize. The Powerball jackpot is now at $535 million tomorrow since no one has correctly picked the winning numbers since October. However, the odds of getting the grand prize are one in more than 292 million. The drawing will be streamed live at 
…In 1791, the Bill of Rights, comprising the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, took effect.
…In 1944, a single-engine plane carrying U.S. Army Major Glenn Miller disappeared in thick fog over the English Channel while en route to Paris. The true fate of the plane and its passengers has never been determined.
