Local News

Jason Anderson

41-year-old Jason Anderson of Batavia has been indicted on charges of robbery, menacing, criminal mischief and criminal possession of a weapon, which he displayed when attempting to steal items from Walmart in Batavia. Charges also include that he intentionally placed or attempted to place another person in reasonable fear of serious physical injury.

Raymond Amaro

36-year-old Raymond Amaro of Batavia is charged with robbery, grand larceny, reckless endangerment and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident. It’s alleged he forcibly stole car keys from an acquaintance and then struck her with the vehicle while fleeing the scene. Amaro was arraigned in Batavia City Court and held on bail.

Robert Drennen, Sr.

41-year-old Robert Drennen Sr. of Brockport is charged with grand larceny after allegedly stealing an acquaintance’s debit card and withdrawing money without permission. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released on his own recognizance to reappear tomorrow.

The inside of the building roof and floors caved in

The big fire on Main Street in Medina is now completely extinguished. A total of 150 firefighters from four counties battled the blaze Friday afternoon, and Medina firefighters worked over the weekend putting out hotspots. A structural engineer toured the site with village officials and determined there were no signs of imminent collapse of the building, despite the roof and floors caving in. The building owner is one of two residents in the site and both got out safely. There also was a carpet business on the first floor. The investigation continues into the cause of the fire. (Provided photo)

35-year-old Andrew Taylor of Batavia has been arrested and charged with arson, criminal mischief and reckless endangerment, in connection with an incident on West Main Street. Taylor was issued appearance tickets returnable to Batavia City Court.

37-year-old Rosemary Waters of Batavia (homeless) has been arrested and charged with petit larceny. It’s alleged she stole merchandise from a store on Veteran’s Memorial Drive. She’s scheduled to return to the Town of Batavia Court later this month.

Senator Borello

Senator George Borrello will be in Batavia for a Town Hall Meeting early tomorrow evening, April 11th, from 6 until 7. Everyone in the community is welcome to hear the latest updates on state and local issues, ask questions and offer comments. The event will be held at City Hall, One Batavia City Centre.

Thruway traffic cam of backed up traffic – Saturday morning, 4/8/23

New York State Police are still looking into a crash on the Thruway that resulted in one person being killed. Troopers say the accident happened Saturday morning in West Seneca and involved a passenger vehicle and tractor-trailer. The victim, whose name hasn’t been released, was pronounced dead shortly after first responders got to the scene. Witnesses to the crash are asked to call State Police.

According to Triple A today, the average national cost for a gallon of regular fuel is now $3.60. That is up six cents in the past week and is 14 cents higher than this time one month ago. Currently, the state average is sitting at $3.54 and in Batavia; we’re paying $3.51 per gallon. That’s an increase of a nickel from a week ago and 15 cents from a month ago.

New York State Capitol building

Governor Hochul says it might be a few more days before she and lawmakers finally have an agreement in place on a new state budget. Over the weekend, the governor said one of the main sticking points in reaching a deal continues to be changes to the state’s bail reform law. The legislature is expected to be at the Capitol today to pass another budget extender that will keep the state government running. The original deadline to pass the state budget was back on April 1st.

Tage Thompson scored the go-ahead goal in Saturday’s win (file photo)

The Buffalo Sabres will be in the Big Apple tonight as they try and keep their hopes of making the playoffs alive. The Sabres are set to take on the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Buffalo is coming off of a 4-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday that kept them in the hunt for a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Face-off this evening is scheduled for 7:00.

Jon Rahm Master’s Open winner, 2023

Jon Rahm is on top of the world after winning this year’s Masters golf tournament. He secured the green jacket at Augusta National Sunday, finishing 12-under par. Rahm is now the number one ranked golfer in the world.

Tonight’s Powerball jackpot is worth $192,000,000 (million). That’s after there was no grand prizewinner over the weekend. The cash value on that works out just shy of $105,000,000. Please play responsibly.

Red Cross – Snoopy t-shirt

The American Red Cross is offering a new incentive in hopes of getting people to roll up their sleeves and donate blood. Anyone who donates until April 23rd will get a Red Cross t-shirt featuring the popular Peanuts character Snoopy. They will also be entered to win a trip for two to Sonoma County, California that’ll include a $1,000 gift card, flights and hotel. To set up a donation appointment, dial 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org.

ELSEWHERE…

Velella, or “By the Wind Sailor”

Strange jellyfish-like creatures have been washing up on several of Southern California’s beaches in recent days. Hundreds have been seen near Huntington Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Salt Creek Beach. They look quite a bit like the poisonous Portuguese Man O’War, but experts say they’re a cousin of the jellyfish called Velella.

Henry Spoon, Jr.

Police tape at the Carlton orchard scene of murder-suicide

Orleans County law enforcement is still trying to determine why a father from Lockport killed his son and then took his own life. On Sunday, 39-year-old Henry Spoon Jr., a Marine Corps veteran who had served in the Iraq War, shot his 14-year-old son Shawn Spoon in the head and then cut his throat. He then cut his own throat and shot himself in the head. Family members say they are surprised by the incident, noting that Spoon, who was diagnosed with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, loved his son and they hadn’t seen any signs that he was a threat of such violence. Officers have recovered cell phones that Mr. Spoon had thrown out of the vehicle prior to arriving at the scene of the incident, an orchard in Carlton. They also plan to look at a tablet and computer owned by the elder Spoon in hopes of determining what was going through his mind. Shawn Spoon was a student at Lockport High School. The district is making grief counseling available next week when students return to school. (Provided photos: Henry Spoon, Jr.; There is police tape up in an orchard on Kendrick Road in Carlton while an investigation continues into a murder and suicide on Sunday, April 2, where Mr. Spoon killed his 14-year-old son before taking his own life.)

Lawmakers are in danger of missing a second state budget deadline as negotiations on a final fiscal plan continue. Governor Hochul says it is unlikely a deal will be reached until issues such as bail reform, minimum wage, and affordable housing are worked out. Lawmakers have already passed a budget extender that gives them until the end of this coming Monday to approve a budget so that the government remains funded. The original budget deadline was back on April 1st.

Mabel Rosado-Delgado

The woman who was arrested for her role in the death of her three-month-old daughter will be spending a lot of time behind bars. Yesterday, a judge sentenced Mabel Rosado-Delgado to 25 years in prison. Prosecutors say the child was brought to Rochester General Hospital in June 2021 and that she suffered severe trauma before passing away. Once Rosado-Delgado is out of prison, she’ll be on probation for five years.

Jerry Lovett

An inmate at the Ontario County Jail is facing charges after being accused of conspiring to kill someone. Officials say 32-year-old Jerry Lovett conspired with a person who was not in custody to kill another individual for financial gain. Lovett was already in custody on an attempted murder charge following a violent incident earlier this year. He’s scheduled to appear in Hopewell Town Court at a later date.

View from the drone used to catch a suspect

A man who was already on parole is in some more legal trouble after being involved in a police pursuit in Niagara County. A deputy spotted a vehicle driven by Milton Daniels, IV traveling quickly south of Niagara Falls Boulevard in Wheatfield yesterday. The deputy tried to pull Daniels over, but he refused to stop, triggering a chase. The officers launched a drone and the suspect was spotted in the trees along Lemke Drive. Law enforcement was guided there, and Milton Daniels IV surrendered, and was taken into custody. He’s facing several charges and was released on an appearance ticket. (Provided photo)

February 2022 file photo – The Bills training camp

It looks like the Buffalo Bills are going to be preparing for the upcoming NFL season at Saint John Fisher University. According to WROC-TV, the Bills are going to hold their summer training camp there this year. The Bills trained at the school from 2000 until the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. Their 2021 camp was in Orchard Park but last year’s was at Saint John Fisher. An official announcement is expected in the next few weeks.

Dylan Cozens – file photo

The Buffalo Sabres have kept their chances of making the playoffs alive after picking up a much-needed win on the road. Dylan Cozens scored twice and Tage Thompson, Zemgus Girgensons, and Jordan Greenway had a goal each as the Sabres defeated the Detroit Red Wings 7-6 in a shootout last night. Buffalo goaltender Devon Levi stopped 26 of the 32 shots he faced in the contest. Up next for the Sabres is a home game against the Carolina Hurricanes tomorrow with face-off at 12:30.

I don’t have the heart to tell them they need to play the winning numbers before the drawing

The Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots continue to grow and are now sitting at a combined $600,000,000 (million). The prize up for grabs in Mega Millions tonight is $414,000,000. And whoever is lucky enough to match all six winning numbers for Powerball tomorrow night will get at least $186,000,000. Both drawings will be streamed live online. Please play responsibly.

The spring break travel period is underway, and the Transportation Security Administration has issued some tips to make the airport experience easier for people who are flying. The agency recommends folks get to the airport at least two hours before their scheduled flight so they can get through security screening in time. Travelers should also make sure they do not have banned items like explosives, firearms and razors in their luggage. In order to avoid issues, people can check out the “What Can I Bring?” page that’s on the TSA website before packing: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all

ELSEWHERE…

Christian Mansoor

A Michigan man is behind bars for allegedly impersonating law enforcement after pulling over an off-duty police officer. Cops say 18-year-old Christian Mansoor was driving a silver BMW equipped with red and blue lights near Detroit when he unknowingly pulled over an off-duty Waterford Township police officer. When the ‘real’ officer asked to see his identification, Mansoor told her he was a Detroit police officer from the 12th Precinct. When she asked a second time, he told her his identification was in his vehicle. When Mansoor went back to his vehicle, he drove off. The officer followed Mansoor into a mobile home park where deputies found him trying to switch license plates between his two cars. He tried to run off but was taken into custody after a short foot chase and arrested.

The monthly jobs report shows the U.S. economy added 236-thousand jobs in March. That brings the unemployment rate down to 3.5%, below analyst expectations of 3.6%. The Labor Department report says employment continued to trend upward in hospitality, government, professional and business services.

Jeremy Renner before and after snowplow accident

Actor Jeremy Renner says he now has a metal plate in his head after being nearly crushed to death by a snowplow. Renner was severely injured in January when he was accidentally run over by a snowplow near his Nevada home. In a new interview, Renner says he broke over 30 bones in the accident, and that metal parts were holding together his eye socket, his leg and his rib cage.

Eric Cushman

A Wyoming County man is going to be spending some time in prison after pleading guilty for his role in a deadly home invasion. Prosecutors say 52-year-old Eric Cushman entered a home in Silver Springs last September and attacked one of the residents inside. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment but died a few weeks later of their injuries. Because Cushman is a repeat felony offender, he’s facing 12 years to life behind bars when he’s sentenced in May.

STATE POLICE REPORT: 22-year-old Isaac Abrams of Alabama is charged with robbery. State Police arrested him in connection with an incident reported early last month. Abrams was held in jail on cash bail. No additional details were available. ALSO: 35-year-old Andrew Taylor of Batavia is charged with criminal mischief; he’s accused of damaging a metal bed frame in the Genesee County Jail earlier this week. Taylor was issued an appearance ticket. ALSO: 36-year-old David Brege of Medina is charged with criminal impersonation and identity theft. State Police have arrested him in connection with an incident reported late last month in the Town of Batavia. Brege was issued an appearance ticket; the police released no other information.

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney toured the City of Batavia Water Treatment plant. Genesee County has undertaken a large-scale, countywide water project to provide water security and resilience to its residents, farms and industries. This project will improve the quality of drinking water, increase the capacity to supply hydrants for emergency response and help to guard the county against water insecurity. Yesterday, Congresswoman Tenney took a first-hand look at this initiative. The water project is now in its second of three phases. (Provided photo)

Senator Charles Schumer with students at Brockport High School – 4/5/23

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has unveiled his plan to put an end to swatting calls that have been affecting schools across New York State. In Brockport yesterday, Schumer said he is calling for the FBI to utilize all of its available resources to launch a full investigation into these calls. He also wants the FBI to get additional funding that would be used towards buying the necessary equipment to help bring people who make swatting calls to justice. On March 30th alone, there were dozens of false reports of mass shooting incidents that caused police to respond to more than 200 schools statewide. (Provided photo)

Rochester police have taken a teenager into custody following two smash and grab robberies that happened in their city. According to investigators, a vehicle was purposely slammed into the front of a gas station on North Goodman Street around 2:15 a.m. yesterday. A short time later, a vehicle was also crashed into a building on Chili Avenue. The 17-year-old was a passenger in a vehicle that later hit a wall the corner of Mill Street and the Inner Loop. Anyone with information on this case can call 911.

Vandalism at the Patriots and Heroes Park

An arrest has been made in connection with a recent vandalism spree at Russell Salvatore’s Patriots and Heroes Park in Williamsville. According to officials, 20-year-old Michael Stasiuk damaged multiple displays as well as flags and light fixtures at the park last month. Stasiuk has been arraigned on multiple charges and is due back in court again next month. The Patriots and Heroes Park was created years ago to honor veterans and other individuals who have served our country.

Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson – file photo, October 2022

The Buffalo Sabres take the ice in the Motor City tonight as the team looks to keep its postseason hopes alive. The Sabres are playing the Detroit Red Wings. Buffalo is coming off a tough 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night. Face-off for this evening’s contest is set for 7:00.

Accidental gas line break

April is National Safe Digging Month and National Grid is urging its customers to make an important call before starting any outdoor projects. The utility company wants people to dial 811 before digging so they know what’s below ground. National Grid says not only will that information help keep folks safe; it will also prevent damage to underground utilities. There’s no cost to have a professional locator visit a dig site before a project begins and more details can be found online at 811beforeyoudig.com. (Photo provided by National Grid)

ELSEWHERE…

Babe Ruth hitting 500th home run – 1921

Probably won’t be used during a Little League game anytime soon…

An auction house in Pennsylvania has broken a record by selling an old baseball bat for nearly $2,000,000 (million). The legendary Babe Ruth used the bat, and the sale was unique in that it offered photo evidence to back up the claim. The bat’s value shot up after an analyst was able to match markings on the bat to a photograph of Ruth swinging it in New York in 1921.

Final test results show Pfizer’s experimental RSV vaccine was 82-percent effective in preventing severe infections in infants when given to expecting mothers in the second half of their pregnancy. The drug maker said trial details published on Wednesday confirm preliminary data from the study. Pfizer released initial trial results on the vaccine to fight the respiratory virus in November.

Scottie Scheffler – 2022 Masters winner – his first major win

The Masters opens today at Georgia’s Augusta National Golf Club. Tiger Woods is scheduled to tee off at 10:18 a.m. Eastern Time and will play alongside Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler will be paired with Max Homa and amateur Sam Bennett.

Bed, Bath and Beyond is announcing a $120,000,000 (million) lifeline to stock its bare shelves. The chain hasn’t had the funds to stock shelves as it works to avoid bankruptcy. Its CEO said in a statement in January that while Bed, Bath and Beyond worked quickly to try to attract shoppers back with new merchandising and marketing strategies, lack of inventory is why it failed to achieve its goals. ReStore Capital is putting up that money to increase stock at Bed, Bath and Beyond as well as BuyBuy BABY.

A child may have been injured in an accident in Corfu around 6:30pm on Tuesday.  At the site of 8966 Alleghany Rd a Chevrolet sedan left the road and hit a driveway where it went airborne and then rolled 3 to 4 times before it came to a stop.  The driver may have fallen asleep.  There was a child in the car who was taken to ECMC by Mercy Flight with a possible back injury.  The father was transported to the hospital by ground ambulance with a head injury.  

Medaille University is closing.  After 80 years of operation Medaille University will be merging with Trocaire College and no longer existing as it’s own entity.  The interim president of Medaille, Dr Lori Quigley, said that the reason for the closure is that fewer students are attending college since the Pandemic.  Classes will remain at our Agassiz Circle campus. Trocaire would use Medaille campus to provide the academic programs currently offered by Medaille.  The university will close on July 31.

Each year in April, the Office for Victims of Crime helps lead communities throughout the country in its annual observances of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which will be observed April 23- 29. This year’s theme is “Survivor Voices: Elevate. Engage. Effect Change.”  In Genesee County, the annual observance will include an event open to the public on April 24 from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm at Genesee Community College. It will feature a morning full of presentations and speakers on various topics, including those surrounding crime victims’ rights. It will be held inside the Conable Technology Building at Genesee Community College.  The cost is $10 per person or $5 per student or senior. Register by April 14 by calling Sharon Burns at 585-344-2550 ext 3929.

One step closer towards a new chapter for the Buffalo Bills franchise.  All parties involved in talks for a new Bills taxpayer-funded stadium have now completed their negotiations.  All documents involving the development of the stadium have now been signed and will be submitted to Erie County lawmakers for review.  The plan includes $600 million in state funding, $250 million from Erie County and $550 million from the Bills.  The 62,000-seat open-air stadium will be located across the street from the team’s current stadium in Orchard Park, which opened 50 years ago.  The plan is to complete construction on the new venue by 2026. Early work on the stadium is slated to begin next month

The Sabres lost their game against the Florida Panthers 2-1.  The Panthers have won four in a row to move into a tie with the New York Islanders for the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who lost 5-1 to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.  Devon Levi made 34 saves and Dylan Cozens scored the lone goal for the Sabres.  Alex Tuch had a goal overturned in the first period for offsides.  Buffalo will next be playing at 7pm on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings in Detroit.  

On Tuesday the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park began a year-long celebration of the 80th anniversary of the christening and launch of USS The Sullivans.  The ship launched on April 4, 1943, and was named in honor of George, Francis, Joseph, Madison, and Albert Sullivan. They were five brothers who lost their lives when their ship, USS Juneau, was sunk by a Japanese submarine during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942. When it launched in April 1943 it was sponsored by Alleta Sullivan, the mother of the five brothers.  A “re-christening” of USS The Sullivans took place Tuesday and continued a family legacy, with Albert Sullivan’s great-granddaughter, Kelcie Loughren, named as the ship’s sponsor.

Jose DeJesus

39-year-old Jose DeJesus, a Buffalo firefighter, has been indicted and charged with one count of promoting and possessing a sexual performance by a child; he’s accused of having videos and images of child pornography and sharing the images online. DeJesus will return to court on May 26. If convicted he faces up to 7 years in prison.

Medina and Lyndonville school districts were among about 50 in New York State that received a generic, non-specific bomb threat through email this morning. The threats were investigated by law enforcement and deemed not credible. The Medina Police Department was able to quickly determine there was no threat in Medina, so the schools didn’t need to be cleared out. Both districts are currently on break anyway but some students come to school daily for spring sports. Lyndonville cancelled athletic practices and sent staff home. Their offices will be open and activities will resume tomorrow.

State lawmakers have agreed to pass a stopgap-funding bill as negotiations on a final state budget plan continue. The measure is scheduled to expire on April 10th, but it will allow more than 50,000 state workers to get their next paychecks on time. However, members of the legislature won’t get paid until a budget is passed. The deadline to reach a budget deal was April 1st. There are still discussions ongoing involving several topics such as bail reform, minimum wage and affordable housing.

The New York State Cannabis Control Board has voted to approve a laboratory permit in Rochester. That lab will be used to test the safety of certain products before they become available to the public. The board also approved four provisional dispensary licenses that’ll be available to people and organizations in Western New York. There currently aren’t any licenses being awarded in the Finger Lakes region due to an ongoing lawsuit.

Wanda Lee Walkowicz – victim of unsolved homicide from April 1973

State Police are again reaching out to the public for help with solving the murder of a Rochester girl that happened 50 years ago. Troopers say 11-year-old Wanda Walkowicz left her home on Avenue D in April 1973 to get some things for her mother at a store, but disappeared while walking back. Her body was later found in the Town of Webster. Anyone with information on this case can call 585-398-4123.

Patrick DeLuca

Matthew Figura, Jr.

The man accused of shooting and killing a coworker in Niagara Falls almost two years ago has pleaded guilty to committing that crime. Prosecutors say Matthew Figura, Jr. shot Patrick DeLuca at Niagara Metals back in June 2021. Figura was taken into custody after opening fire and charged with murder. He’s now facing 20 years to life in prison when he’s sentenced in June.

The Buffalo Sabres will be in the Sunshine State tonight as their push towards possibly securing a spot in the postseason moves forward. The Sabres are set to battle the Florida Panthers at FLA Live Arena. Buffalo is coming off a 6-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday, and currently sits outside of a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Face-off this evening is scheduled for 7:00.

Starting today, people who are interested in playing the Mega Millions lottery game will have a little bit less time to buy a ticket. That is because sales on draw days, which are Tuesdays and Fridays, will end at 10:00pm instead of 10:45pm. The change is being made so the New York Lottery can have more time to conduct its closing procedures for each draw. Tonight’s jackpot is $385,000,000 (million). Please play responsibly.

The All American Rejects

The All-American Rejects are going on tour for the first time in years, and local fans of the group are getting the chance to see them in-person. The band will be at the Darien Lake Amphitheater for a show on Monday, August 21st. The group is known for several smash hits such as “Move Along,” and “Dirty Little Secret” and will be joined at the concert by New Found Glory, The Starting Line and The Get Up Kids. Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10:00am through Live Nation.

OF REGIONAL and NATIONAL INTEREST…

Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today marks the 55th anniversary of the assassination of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. The civil rights leader was shot to death at the age of 39 on a balcony outside his second-story room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. He left behind his wife, Coretta Scott King, and four children.

Former President Donald Trump

The legal process following former President Trump’s arraignment could take months or even years to play out. After his arraignment today, the prosecution must turn over all evidence gathered as part of its investigation to the defense team. Some experts say it could take more than a year before the case makes it to trial.

Kenneth Bianci, one of the main suspects, was never charged

On April 2, 1973 at about 5:15 pm, 11-year-old Wanda Walkowicz (middle child in picture) went to the grocery store for her mother. She made it to the store, purchased several items and was last seen walking home, but did not return home. On April 3, 1973, at 10:15 am, a New York State Trooper, while on patrol, located Walkowicz’s body at a rest area off State Route 104 in Webster. This homicide and two other unsolved homicides were dubbed the Alphabet Murders and Double Initial Murders by the media, as all three cases occurred in the Rochester area. Pictured, from left to right: Carmen Colon, age 10, was found on November 16, 1971 in the Town of Riga, and Michele Maenza, age 11, was found on November 28, 1973, in the Town of Macedon. These cases have not been officially connected; however, all three cases remain open.  If you have any information, please call: New York State Police,  Troop E, Major Crimes Unit, Canandaigua, New York  (585) 398-4100

Erie County District Attorney Flynn announced Monday that a Buffalo firefighter was indicted and charged with one count of promoting a sexual performance by a child and four counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child.  On Jan. 4, 2022, the defendant, 39-year-old Jose DeJesus, allegedly possessed with intent to view, images and videos of child pornography.  DeJesus is also accused of sharing images that depict sexual conduct by a child with another user through a website. At the time of the crime, DeJesus was employed as a firefighter by the Buffalo Fire Department.  DeJesus will return to court on May 26 for motions.  If convicted he faces up to 7 years in prison.

A former colleague of Anthony Mazurkiewicz, the RPD officer who was shot and killed in the line of duty last year, is now embarking on a grueling journey to honor his fallen friend.  Retired police Sgt. Brett Sobieraski is planning a two-month running journey across eight states in April.  He hopes his time on the road can help him process the loss of his friend, while supporting the grieving family of Mazurkiewicz.  A husband, a father, and a grandfather, Mazurkiewicz was a Rochester police officer for 29 years.  Maz, as his friends knew him, was shot and killed while conducting surveillance on Bauman Street, as part of a murder investigation this past July.  Sobieraski hopes to raise $100,000 for the Mazurkiewicz family. Donations can be sent to the Rochester Police Locust Club on Lexington Avenue.  The public can join the run for the last 3 miles, finishing at the Monroe County Hall of Justice in Rochester.  To sign up to run, follow the link at WBTAi.com.

https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Rochester/8StatesforMaz

5 years ago Leroy made a move to change the requirements to graduate Summa and Magna Cum Laude away from simply maintaining a high GPA to also taking challenging courses and now they are doubling down on that policy change.  High School Principal David Russell, who was hired after the 2018 revisions, introduced modifications to the Laude System to the Board of Education at its last meeting that would further encourage students to aim for high achievement instead of competing with classmates.  The proposed revisions would be based on the total number of credits a student takes and a cumulative GPA.  Each course would be valued the same as the number of credits the course is worth on a transcript. Students taking AP courses and CTE courses that have college credit would continue to receive an additional five points added to their average for that course.  The maximum possible score would be 36 total credits with a 100 GPA. To achieve Summa Cum Laude, a student would need at least 32 credits and a 95 GPA.  Magna Cum Laude would be 30 credits and a 90 GPA.  Cum Laude would be 28 total credits and an 85 GPA.  Cum Laude is Latin for “with distinction.”  Magna Cum Laude means “with great distinction,” and Summa Cum Laude means “with highest distinction.”

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that it has updated and expanded the Barn Quilt Trail of Le Roy, in cooperation with Le Roy Historian Lynne Belluscio and the Le Roy Historical Society, by launching a new website and new self-guided trail brochure.  The trail features a collection of over 100 hand-painted barn quilts along four driving tours in and around LeRoy. Explore the scenic countryside while spotting each unique barn quilt that’s displayed on an array of barns, garages, homes and other outbuildings. Each quilt pattern has a story to tell, and these stories, along with full size images, can be found on the new LeRoyBarnQuilt.org website.

Gas prices are up this week and AAA has announced the reason.  The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Plus announced on Sunday that they would be cutting production of oil by a billion barrels a day.  This is expected to last for the rest of the year.  As of Monday, AAA WCNY said the national average price for a gallon of gas is $3.50, which is up 6 cents since last Monday and the New York State average is $3.47, which is up 5 cents since last Monday.  An increase in gas demand and a decrease in total domestic gasoline stocks are all leading to higher prices at the pump.

After being blocked by a lawsuit and months of waiting, four licenses have been approved for dispensaries in WNY.  These licenses are given out to people with prior cannabis convictions, they’re the first to get licenses statewide. The goal is for licensing to open up to everyone by the end of the year.  The Licensees are Arron Van Camp in Buffalo, Flower City Shop LLC in Rochester, Premier Earth Corp in Buffalo, and AMSM LLC in West Seneca.  99 licenses were approved total, 13 in areas previously blocked. These shops can open by the end of this month. A lab in Rochester also received approval.  The Cannabis Control Board also doubled down efforts to crackdown illicit cannabis shops, encouraging people to shop legal.

Michael Conklin

Kevin Mendola

An unlicensed driver has pleaded guilty to three charges stemming from the death of a child he struck with his SUV in 2021. 38-year-old Kevin Mendola of Buffalo admitted to all counts in an indictment against him, including leaving the scene of an incident resulting in death and criminally negligent homicide. Prosecutors said Mendola put his SUV in reverse and backed over a 10-year-old boy with his bicycle. He then went forward, running over the boy again; Mendola next stepped out of the vehicle, saw the boy, and drove away. 10-year-old Michael Conklin of Sloan was taken to Oishei Children’s Hospital where he died that night from his injuries. Mendola is being held without bail pending his sentencing as a second-felony offender. He faces a maximum of 11 years in prison.

South Lyon Street Bridge – 4/2/23

Visual progress has been made on the South Lyon Street Bridge with the installation of two trusses. Work continues this week. Photo: Doug Thompson, WBTA News.

FROM THE GENESEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE: 41-year-old Matthew Zon of Byron is charged with criminal contempt and possession of a controlled substance, after allegedly violating an order of protection requiring him to stay away from a protected party. Zon was also allegedly in possession of a controlled substance at the time of his arrest.  ALSO: 41-year-old Jason Freeman of Batavia is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and introducing dangerous contraband into the Genesee County Jail. This followed his arrest on an unrelated charge; he had been released on that first charge with an appearance ticket. But then following his arrest on the second charge, Freeman was held in jail pending arraignment.

The Law Street Yard Waste Station will open for the season next Monday, April 10th for city residents. The station will be open from 12:00pm to 6:00pm Monday through Saturday until Daylight Saving Time in November when time changes to 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The station will also be closed on May 29th for Memorial Day, July 4th for Independence Day, September 4th for Labor Day and November 23rd for Thanksgiving. The station will close for the season in early December. City residents may bring yard waste material (grass, leaves and limbs) to the Waste Station as there is no spring curbside pickup of these materials. The following items cannot be accepted at the station: Tree stumps, building materials, rock, fill (soil and stone), and other debris. Yard waste shall be free of trash (paper, plastic, bottles, cans, etc.), as this material cannot be processed. Use Law Street entrance to enter and exit the City Yard Waste Station only.

The state budget deadline has come and gone without an agreement, and lawmakers are back at the Capitol today to try and work out a deal. Both the Senate and Assembly were sent home Friday, hours before the deadline, which was midnight Saturday. According to reports, the issues that are still holding up the budget from being passed include affordable housing and bail reform. If an emergency spending measure isn’t approved by the end of today, state workers might not receive their next paychecks on time.

Traffic cam image of accident at Dodge Street overpass on the Kensington

Beginning this evening, a portion of the Kensington Expressway (Route 33) is going to be shut down during the overnight hours. The state Department of Transportation says an eastbound stretch of the highway in the area of Best Street will be closed from 10 pm until 6 am, Monday through Friday. Crews will be working to fix the Dodge Street overpass, which was damaged by a crash involving a tractor-trailer. The repairs are expected to take about two months to complete.

Governor Hochul has announced the launch of a new pharmacy benefit program that’s aimed at improving prescription drug access and coverage to millions of New Yorkers who are enrolled in Medicaid. It is called NYRx, and will give people access to more medications, and will lower confusion over the brand name and generic drugs covered by the program. Pharmacists and doctors can also now prescribe medication based on a uniform list that’s less restricted. Details on this program are available by calling 1-855-648-1909, or online: https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/program/pharmacy.htm

Gasoline prices have started to nudge their way upward again. According to Triple A this morning, the average national cost of a gallon of regular gas is $3.51. The statewide average is $3.47. And in Batavia, we’re paying $3.46; that’s up a dime from a week ago and 12 cents from a month ago. The highest per gallon price here was recorded in June 2022 when it reached 4.92.

Time is running out on the paper chase…

There’s still a couple of weeks until taxes are due, and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance is reminding folks they can file their returns at no cost. The agency says people whose 2022 federal adjusted gross income was $41,000 or less regardless of age or individuals who meet other criteria can file their returns using the Free File software on the tax department’s website. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers take advantage of this service each year. More information is available at tax.ny.gov.

Cody Rhodes

The superstars of World Wrestling Entertainment will be making a return trip to Buffalo this summer. A live episode of Monday Night Raw will air from the KeyBank Center on July 10th. Among the wrestlers expected to be in attendance include Bianca Belair, Seth Rollins, and also Cody Rhodes. Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased starting this Friday at 10:00am.

If you’re looking to become an overnight millionaire, there’s plenty of time to buy tickets for two upcoming multi-state lotteries. There was no grand prizewinner in Saturday night’s Powerball drawing, which pushes the jackpot up to $159,000,000 (million) for tonight’s drawing. As for Tuesday’s Mega Millions jackpot — that’s worth $385,000,000 (million). Please play responsibly.

Alex Tuch celebrates his second NHL hat trick

The Buffalo Sabres are now at a point when every game is becoming more important than the previous one. They were victorious over the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday; final score was 6-3. Kyle Okposo, Jordan Greenway and Jeff Skinner all scored once each for Buffalo and Alex Tuch scored a hat trick. The win places the Sabres in fourth place with 81 points; they’re 5 points back from second place in the Eastern Conference race…(New York Islanders have 87 points with 4 games remaining; Pittsburgh Penguins, 86 points, with 5 games left; the Florida Panthers are in third place with 85 points and 5 games remaining; Buffalo Sabres have 81 points with 7 games left; and the Ottawa Senators have 80 points, and 5 games remaining)…Their road trip continues with a game tomorrow night against the Florida Panthers. Face-off is at 7:00.

OF NATIONAL INTEREST…

Chinese spy balloon – before, during and after being shot down

A new report says the Chinese Surveillance balloon that flew across the U.S. gathered intelligence from sensitive military sites. The balloon reportedly made multiple passes over some of the sites and could transmit the information back to Beijing in real time. The intelligence collected was from electronic signals.

N.Y. Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal

Democratic lawmakers are introducing a bill that would allow cameras in New York courtrooms ahead of a potential criminal trial of former President Trump. Brad Hoylman, a sponsor of the bill, says the public has the right to witness this moment in history. Trump is being indicted in a case involving hush money payments made to conceal an alleged affair.

Avoid the temptation

Stop eating raw cookie dough. That’s the new CDC warning as eleven states are dealing with a salmonella outbreak. At least 12 people have gotten sick so far, though health officials believe the number is much higher.

Example of an early cell phone

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW??
Today marks 50 years since the first mobile phone call was made on April 3rd, 1973. A new survey reveals just how vital mobile phones are to people. It found nearly 72 percent of people couldn’t imagine going more than a weekend without their mobile phone, while nearly more than 23 percent believe they could last an hour at most.

The FDA has a plan to make sure the Baby Formula shortage that had moms scrounging in stores states away for food for their children doesn’t happen again.  They announced Friday that they are instituting new measures to make any potential disruptions of production less severe.  Among these new measures are better training for inspectors, expediting review of new formulas and products, establishing supply models to forecast demand, and improving education.  

Amid the opioid epidemic that has impacted millions of American families, this week the FDA approved over-the-counter sales of the overdose-reversing naloxone.  The hope is that by increasing access to the medicine, it will decrease the number of overdose deaths.  According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly 107,000 Americans died of overdoses in 2021.  More than 80,000 of those deaths involved opioids.  People can anticipate pharmacies to house the life-saving medicine in their stores in late summer and health officials and pharmacists say that if there is a suspected overdose, administering Naloxone without hesitation can save lives.

Our News Partner the Batavian has been honored with a Best Online News Coverage Award by the New York Press Association for their covering Winter Storm Elliott.  The stories of the storm that led to the award were written by Howard Owens and Joanne Beck.  Second place in the Online Breaking News category went to the Albany Times Union for a deputy-involved shootout, and third place went to the Queens Chronicle for Winter Storm Elliott coverage.

Students at Oakfield Alabama went bald for cancer research on Friday.  They held a fundraiser for Roswell Cancer Institute in Buffalo called Bald for Bucks.  My Cut Barbershop in Batavia was on hand alongside stylists from Jagged Edges and Canzoneri’s to trim anyone who wanted to help raise money for the cause.  This is the first time Oakfield Alabama has been able to hold the event since 2018.

Gas Prices Update:  Western New Yorkers are paying more at the pump.  The average in Batavia for a gallon of regular is 3.44 which is up 9 cents from last week and last month.  It is down 88 cents from last year at this time.  The highest on record was June of 2022 when it hit 4.92.  The average in New York State is 3.47 and in the US the average is 3.50.

The Buffalo Sabres were victorious over the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday with a 6 to 3 win.  Kyle Okposo, Jordan Greenway and Jeff Skinner all scored once each for Buffalo and Alex Tuch scored a hat trick.  The win puts the Sabres’ point total at 81. Just four back of the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.  Buffalo will stay on the road for their next game. A pivotal matchup with the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced heightened monitoring in response to the recent increase in “swatting” calls, or the false reporting of a serious law enforcement emergency, such as a bomb threat, hostage situation, or homicide, across the state and country. Friday morning Governor Hochul met with state public safety and education leaders to coordinate preparedness and safety measures to ensure all children remain safe in schools and that all school districts and local police have the latest guidance on school safety protocols.  In similar news Assemblyman Steve Hawley joined with fellow legislators to promote hardening schools with the hiring and training of retired law enforcement officers and placing them in schools and increasing school resource officer’s pay from 30000 to 50000 to be reimbursable by the state.  

The Batavia Police department is looking for the public’s help in identifying 2 people who they believe used stolen credit cards to steal from the Target on Veterans Memorial Parkway on Friday the 24th.  Police say that the two individuals pictured in security photos stole the credit cards at United Memorial Medical Center and then headed to Target.  To see the pictures go to WBTAi.com.  If anyone has information leading to the identification of these individuals, please contact Officer Andrew Mruczek at (585) 345-6350. 

First Baptist Church in Batavia is holding an Easter Cantata on Good Friday at 7pm.  They are hosting the cantata, Song of the Shadow, by Joseph Martins featuring singers and musicians from the community.  Come out to East Main Street for a time of blessed fellowship and praise.

The Taste of Buffalo has been ranked as the number 1 Best City Food Festival by USA Today.  Behind them are the Queens Night Market, Taste of Vail and Taste of Colorado.  This year’s festival, which celebrates Taste of Buffalo’s 40th birthday, will take place on July 8 and July 9.

Buffalo beat New York at the Keybank Center with a 3-2 victory in overtime Friday night.  Jeff Skinner, JJ Peterka and Jordan Greenway all scored for the Sabres with Skinner getting the game winning goal.  The Rangers got 33 shots on goal and 31 were blocked by Rookie Goalie Devon Levi.  Rochester only shot 12 but 3 found the back of the net.

33-year-old Jason Hall of Medina and 34-year-old Terry Depoty of Albion are both charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. State Police arrested them in connection with an incident reported in the Town of Batavia Wednesday morning. Hall was released on an appearance ticket; Depoty was ordered held in jail. No additional information is available at this time.

From the National Weather Service, there is a wind advisory in place for the entire GLOW region starting tomorrow morning, Saturday, 4/1 at 5:00am. It will be in place until 7:00pm tomorrow evening.  Wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour are predicted.

FROM CITY of BATAVIA POLICE: 23-year-old Haley Larnder of Batavia is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. While officers arrested Larnder on a bench warrant, they allegedly found her in possession of a narcotic. Larnder was issued an appearance ticket and turned over to the Sheriff’s Office on the warrant. ALSO: 41-year-old Jason Freeman of Batavia has been charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. He’s accused of possessing narcotics when taken into custody on an unrelated charge. Freeman was issued an appearance ticket.

FROM THE GENESEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE: 31-year-old Weldon Ervin is charged with assault and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He’s accused of recklessly causing an injury to another person during a disturbance last Sunday in Pembroke. Ervin also allegedly took the vehicle of another person without permission. He was ordered to appear at a later date in the Town of Pembroke Court. ALSO: 30-year-old Michael Mess of Alexander has been charged with grand larceny and insurance fraud. State Police arrested him in connection with an incident reported earlier this month. Mess was released on his own recognizance.

The Board of Trustees of Notre Dame High School announced that their principal, Wade Bianco, would be retiring from the school this summer. Mr. Bianco worked in education for over 40 years and joined Notre Dame in 2015. Among his many accomplishments over the years include overseeing the addition of 7th and 8th grades, which has been a driving force in the recent increases observed in enrollment. Mr. Bianco also guided Notre Dame through the COVID pandemic, as a school that remained open for in-person instruction each day as allowed by New York State. (File photo by Doug Thompson, WBTA News)

The Hilton Central School District will be forming a committee that’ll be responsible for discussing a book named in a recent bomb threat. The book, which is titled “This Book Is Gay” is owned by the district and was mentioned in a threat that was sent by email last week claiming there were bombs placed in several buildings. The committee will look into whether its appropriate for the book to be in the high school library. Anyone who wants to volunteer to be on the committee can sign up online on the school district’s website.

The City of Buffalo has filed a lawsuit against Kia and Hyundai following a high number of vehicle thefts in the city. The lawsuit claims the automakers intentionally manufactured and marketed cars that did not have anti-theft technology installed in them. Kias and Hyundais are being targeted by thieves after a video on social media showed how easy it was for them to be stolen. Several other cities nationwide are also involved in this lawsuit.

Penny Brown

Edward Kindt

The person who was convicted of committing a brutal rape and murder more than two decades ago is now out of prison. Yesterday, Edward Kindt was released from the Elmira Correctional Facility and relocated to Dutchess County. Kindt was a teenager when he killed 39-year-old Penny Brown in Salamanca back in 1999. After being found guilty, he was sentenced to nine years to life in prison.

Richard Stasiak

After a video of him went viral a 65-year-old man has been charged with disorderly conduct and harassment over racist comments he made in an Aldi parking lot in Cheektowaga. Police say an argument started over a minor dent in a car door and escalated into a racist tirade where Richard Stasiak made several racist comments. Stasiak is scheduled to return to court in July for further proceedings and was released on his own recognizance as the charges are non-qualifying offenses for bail. The district attorney’s office said if convicted of the highest charge, he faces a maximum sentence of one year in jail. A temporary order of protection was issued on behalf of the victim.

Jackie Ray Robinson

The Rochester bar manager who pulled the trigger in a deadly shooting has been sentenced for his crime. Yesterday, a judge ordered 44-year-old Jackie Ray Robinson to spend 40 years to life in prison. Prosecutors say Robinson, who worked at Jackie Ray’s Tavern, shot both Chad Wilson and Jerome Mason at the establishment last year. Wilson died of his injuries but Mason survived. The business is now permanently closed. (Provided photo)

Lawmakers will be back to work at the State Capitol today as time continues to tick down towards the state budget deadline. They have until midnight to reach an agreement, but that’s unlikely to happen. The main issues that still need to be worked out involve affordable housing, changes to the state’s bail reform law, and a minimum wage increase. Last year’s budget ended up being nine days late. If the deadline is missed, an emergency spending measure has to be passed by the end of Monday to ensure state workers can get paid.

Damar Hamlin with President Biden, March 30, 2023

Buffalo Bills Safety Damar Hamlin and his family met with President Biden yesterday. Biden said that Hamlin represented courage, resilience and spirit and was an inspiration to the American people. He applauded Hamlin turning recovery into action and said he was honored to meet him and his family. Hamlin responded that it was a pleasure and honor to meet the president.

Devon Levi

The Buffalo Sabres will return to home ice tonight as they look to keep their hopes of reaching the postseason alive. The Sabres are hosting the New York Rangers at KeyBank Center. The game is going to mark the professional debut of Buffalo’s new goaltender Devon Levi, who signed with the team March 17th after playing the last two seasons at Northeastern University. Face-off this evening is at 7:00.

No one has won either the Mega Millions or Powerball in a while, and now the combined jackpots of the games has reached $502,000,000 (million). The prize up for grabs for Mega Millions tonight is $355,000,000 (million). And whoever is lucky enough to win Powerball tomorrow night will get at least $147,000,000 (million). Both drawings will be streamed live online. Please play responsibly.

OF NATIONAL INTEREST…

Evelyn Dieckhaus

A funeral is being held today for one of the victims of the Nashville school shooting. The service for nine-year-old Evelyn Dieckhaus will be held this afternoon at a Nashville church. Two other children were also killed in Monday’s mass shooting, as well as three adults. Funeral services for nine-year-old Hallie Scruggs will be held on Saturday. Services for nine-year-old William Kinney will be on Sunday.

Former President Trump

The White House says President Biden wasn’t given advance notice former President Trump would be indicted by a Manhattan grand jury. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the President found out about the news through news reports “just like every other American.” Biden on Friday declined to comment on the indictment. Trump was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury investigating payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. The former President has denied any wrongdoing.