New York State Health Department is weighing banning tobacco sales. The state health department commissioned a survey to gauge support for an all out prohibition of tobacco sales in the Empire State. Previously there was an attempt to pass a ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored tobacco products that failed to get through the legislature. The survey asks what people’s opinions would be on a policy to ban all tobacco products after a 10 year drawdown period or banning all tobacco sales to people born after a certain date such as 2010. The poll also solicited input on whether there’s backing for other tobacco-related measures, including capping the number of retailers who can sell “products in a community” and prohibiting its sales near schools. Michael Davoli, senior government relations director for American Cancer Society’s New York-based Cancer Action Network, said the state has “a historic opportunity” to “prevent another generation of youth from getting addicted to deadly tobacco.”

New York State Senate Majority Leader Rob Ortt announced Saturday a new bill to add theft of livestock to second-degree burglary after four incidents of trespassing and stolen animals in Niagara County. Under the proposed bill, offenders could face prison time from 3 and a half years to 15 years. The incidents have spiked after animal activists gathered in Tonawanda last weekend to allegedly learn how to “open rescue” animals from farms. One farmer, Katherine Martin, says she does not feel safe in her own home due to three separate encounters with the so-called activists. Some believe Tracy Murphy of Asha’s Farm Sanctuary is behind the call to action for so-called “Open Rescues” at area farms.

An earthquake was reported southwest of Watertown, NY just after 2 P.M. in the village of Adams Sunday afternoon. The earthquake, which registered a 3.6 magnitude on the Richter scale was felt as far away as Oswego and Rome. No reports of damage have been made at this time. A 3.6 magnitude earthquake is classified as moderate, but rarely cause any damage. There are close to 500,000 estimated earthquakes of similar magnitude each year around the world. For more information, visit the United States Geological Survey website.

East Aurora Rocket Club students are working countless hours to get ready to launch the next stage of NASA’S National Rocketry Competition. The group of six students who call themselves “The Freeloaders” are shooting for the stars while they were one of eight high schools in the nation to make it to the competition. The six students will compete against other teams at the National Finals on May 20th in Virginia, just outside Washington D.C. If their rocket and launch are the best they could win 100,000 dollars. The team of East Aurora students worked more than three thousand hours to put several of the rockets together.

Not exactly man bites dog, but a fox has terrorized an area of Brighton, biting 6 people Friday night. This happened on Hollyvale Drive where people say seeing foxes are common but never in the middle of the day next to their homes. It’s unclear if these six attacks were by the same fox or if it was rabid. People say they were out walking or grilling when a fox ran up and bit them on the leg before running away. One fox that attacked a child near the Hollyvale and Winton Road intersection was eventually caught and euthanized. It’s since been turned over to the department of health for testing to see if it is carrying any diseases including rabies.

The Volunteers for Animals Candidate, Brendan Burgess won the Mr Batavia competition on Friday night at Batavia High School. The 10 contestants took to the stage in swimsuits, costumes and tuxedos to show their talents and why they would be the best. The event raised money for several charities. Friday’s competition surpassed $5,000, bringing the 10-year fundraising total to nearly $38,000.

150 thousand New York state Licenses may need to be renewed because their owners didn’t pass a vision test during the pandemic. If you had to renew your license between March 1st of 2020 and August 31st of 2021 and deferred your vision test then your license may be about to be suspended. If that is you then go to an approved tester, Tops Friendly Markets are approved for this or you can go to your DMV and take a vision test. They will send the information in for you. If you go to a non approved location for your test you will need to send in the vision test results yourself.

The Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office announced that 35-year-old Nasser Taher of Buffalo was arrested following the execution of a search warrant at Zaza Smoke Shop in Warsaw. According to the sheriff’s office, an undercover drug buy was made following complaints of unlawful and unlicensed dealing of cannabis at the smoke shop. Following the undercover drug buy, the search warrant was issued. The sheriff’s office said around four and a half pounds of concentrated cannabis and six pounds of raw cannabis with an estimated retail value of over $84,000 was seized. A large amount of U.S. currency was also seized. Taher was charged with first-degree criminal possession of cannabis, arraigned in Warsaw Town Court, and released on his own recognizance.
A former Wyoming County Corrections Officer, 37-year-old James Sutton of Depew has been charged with distribution and possession of child pornography.

Sutton allegedly distributed child pornography in October of 2021 and on February 7 he allegedly possessed images of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor on three different cell phones. Sutton was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Roemer and held pending a detention hearing on April 24. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said the charges carry a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years.

A man who went on the run April 18th for kidnapping a 16 year old girl has been apprehended and the girl recovered. 41 year old Christopher Comfort of Warsaw was investigated for being in contact with a minor who there was an order of protection against starting in October. He was indicted and arraigned in December and then an arrest warrant was served in April but Comfort escaped out a back window and fled with the girl down the railroad tracks and into the woods. A K9 and drones couldn’t locate them. Comfort’s mother, 60 year old Marie Vinci paid for a hotel room in Shamokin Dam Pennsylvania where security video showed the girl and Comfort in a hallway. Police caught them there and the girl was recovered without incident. Comfort was charged in Pennsylvania with kidnapping, criminal contempt, possession of drugs with intent to deliver, and fugitive from justice. His mother was arrested in Gainesville and charged with custodial interference and hindering a prosecution.

Environmental Cleanup of Basket Place LLC at 22 Clinton Street is set to begin in May. The city site was used for making novelty baskets for the last several decades. Before that the site was used for manufacturing of highway and agricultural equipment. The 22.9 acre site has been investigated since the 1990s for being classified as a brownfield and needing cleanup. The top soil was determined to be contaminated and also the groundwater near it may be affected by the pollution from heavy industrial use. The cleanup activities will be performed by CNH Industrial Baumaschinen GmbH with oversight provided by the state DEC.

Raymond DiPasquale

A former Greece police officer is facing a long prison sentence after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says 57-year-old Raymond DiPasquale has admitted to using devices to store, receive and view hundreds of disturbing photos and videos. DiPasqaule may be behind bars for up to 20 years and have to pay a $250,000 fine. He’s scheduled to be sentenced in July.

FROM THE GENESEE COUNTY SHERIFF: 44-year-old Joseph Marr of Batavia has been arrested and charged with grand larceny. It’s alleged he stole a phone at 8315 Park Road, Batavia; Marr was transported to County Jail and issued an appearance ticket for a May court date. ALSO: 50-year-old Kelly Rodriguez of Batavia is charged with criminal contempt after allegedly violating an order of protection. Rodriguez was issued an appearance ticket for Batavia Town Court scheduled for next Tuesday.

Prescription drug take-back day is tomorrow.

Tomorrow from 10:00am to 2:00pm, law enforcement agencies across Genesee County will provide the public the opportunity to dispose of unwanted, expired or unused prescription drugs. The Batavia Police Department will be accepting prescription drugs and sharps in the Alva Place parking lot, across the street from Batavia Showtime. The service is free and anonymous with no questions asked.

State lawmakers have once again taken action to make sure that the government keeps running and that thousands of state workers can get paid. They passed another budget extender yesterday that’ll last through this coming Monday. Negotiations on a final budget have been ongoing for weeks among Governor Hochul and leaders of the Legislature, but there’s no word yet when a deal might get done. The original budget deadline was back on April 1st.

Governor Hochul discussing proposal for 2023 budget – file photo

It doesn’t look like Governor Kathy Hochul will get her major affordable housing plan into the budget, which is still not finalized. Several news outlets are reporting that state lawmakers are rejecting Hochul’s plan to force municipalities to increase their housing stock or the state would step in to approve new construction. Sources say there will be no significant housing spending plan in the budget, which is three weeks late with no deal in sight. Hochul’s goal is to create 800,000 new housing units over the next decade, about twice the pace of the previous ten years.

At around 1:00 yesterday afternoon, the Genesee County 9-1-1 Dispatch Center received a report from the Veteran’s Administration Hotline that a male subject had called and stated they were going to get a weapon and “shoot up a school.” This information was immediately relayed to City Police and County Sheriffs. An initial trace of the number provided showed the call came from within the City of Batavia. Patrols were dispatched to each school in Genesee County as a precautionary measure and all countywide schools engaged lockout procedures. An investigation showed there was no threat. The City of Batavia Detective Bureau interviewed a juvenile apparently about the phone call; no additional information is available at this time. All schools ended the lockout at approximately 2:25, in time for regular dismissal. Genesee County was not the only one hit by threats, Allegany County Schools also engaged in a precautionary lockout yesterday.

Thruway cam photo of traffic backup following accident that killed 14-year-old

State Police have released new information about a crash on the Thruway that left a teenager dead. They say 14-year-old Sanaullah Abid of Erie Pennsylvania, was speeding on the highway in West Seneca on April 8th when the vehicle he was operating struck a tractor-trailer. Abid’s vehicle then hit a Jersey barrier and it ended up catching fire. Abid passed away at the scene but the driver of the tractor-trailer wasn’t hurt.

Aftermath of train/truck accident in Warsaw – 4/20/23

No injuries have been reported after a tractor-trailer and train collided in Wyoming County. The incident happened yesterday in the area of Treusell Road and Wilder Road in the Village of Warsaw. Thankfully, the impact did not lead to the train being knocked off the tracks. State Police have not said yet what caused the accident. (Photo: New York State Police)

Hannah Kamke

Damage to sign, allegedly done by Kamke

The Buffalo woman who is accused of vandalizing a sign at CompassCare in Amherst has made an appearance in court. Yesterday, 39-year-old Hannah Kamke was arraigned on a criminal mischief charge. Prosecutors say that Kamke spray painted the sign back in March and caused about $500 worth of damage. Kamke has been ordered to stay away from the business and is facing up to four years in prison if convicted.

Tyler Bass

The Buffalo Bills and kicker Tyler Bass have reached an agreement that includes a four-year extension worth up to $21 million dollars, with $12.3 million in guarantees. Last season Bass was 27-31 on field goal attempts while going 48-50 on extra points. Over the course of his three-year career in Buffalo he’s made 85.6% of all his field goals. And last season alone, accounted for four game-winning field goals; three in the regular season and one in the preseason against Indianapolis.

File photo: Damar Hamlin meeting with President Biden

The Buffalo Bills and American Heart Association have formed a new partnership that they believe will save lives. The goal of this team up is to help train thousands of people across the region in CPR. Early in the season, Damar Hamlin of the Bills collapsed during a game with the Cincinnati Bengals and had to be resuscitated using CPR. The Bills will also be committing $1,000,000 (million) in funding to the American Heart Association over the next five years.

ELSEWHERE…

Hazel Feldman – college graduate

A 97-year-old Texas woman will graduate next month from San Antonio’s Northeast Lakeview College. Hazel Feldman graduated from a New Jersey high school in 1943. She finally started college in New Jersey in the 1980s, but took a 15-year break after moving to San Antonio. After enrolling at Northeast Lakeview, she says she had been taking one course at a time since she was in her 90s. The Alamo Colleges Board of Trustees granted her request to accept life experiences as credit and will present her an honorary Associate of Arts degree.

COVID-19 test kit – file photo

A new report from the CDC finds about one in three U.S. households used the free at-home COVID tests offered by the Biden administration. The report found that over 32-percent of households surveyed between April and May 2022 used the kits.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation building in Toronto – file photo

National Public Radio and the Canadian Broadcasting Company haven’t said if they’ll start using their Twitter accounts again now that the label “government funded” is being removed from their accounts. The two networks had stopped using their accounts earlier this month in protest of the label. Accounts of journalists with outlets backed by the Chinese government are also no longer labeled with “China state-affiliated media.”

Donald Trump with Governor DeSantis in 2019

A new poll shows former President Donald Trump with a solid lead over likely Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis. The Wall Street Journal poll out today shows Trump with 51% support from likely GOP voters, and the Florida governor at 38%.

Batavia, Genesee County Schools went on lockout procedures due to a threat. At around 1 PM the Genesee County 911 Dispatch Center received a report from the Veteran’s Administration Hotline that a male subject had called them and stated they were going to get a weapon and “shoot up a school”. This information was immediately relayed to patrols in the City and throughout the County working. An initial trace of the phone number provided showed the phone to be in the City of Batavia area. Patrols were dispatched to each school in Genesee County as a precautionary measure and all county-wide schools placed into lockout. Officers and investigators from multiple law enforcement agencies followed up on leads and determined the threat to not be credible and in fact was false. A juvenile was interviewed by the City of Batavia Detective Bureau regarding the matter, no further information regarding the juvenile was released. All schools were released from lockout at approximately 2:25 PM. Genesee county was not the only one hit by threats, Allegany County Schools were also sent into lock out yesterday.

Drug takeback day is coming up. Tomorrow, Saturday the 22nd, from 10 to 2pm prescription drugs that have expired, went unused or are just unwanted can be dropped off at the Batavia Police department, Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, and LeRoy Police Department. The Batavia Police department is the only one accepting needles. This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. The Batavia Police Department has a box that is always available for surrendering prescription drugs.

The Buffalo woman who is accused of vandalizing a sign at CompassCare in Amherst has made an appearance in court. Yesterday, 39-year-old Hannah Kamke was arraigned on a criminal mischief charge. Prosecutors say that Kamke spray painted the sign back in March and caused about 500-dollars worth of damage. Kamke has been ordered to stay away from the business and is facing up to four years in prison if convicted.

On Thursday, The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office alerted farmers in Newfane to watch out for animal activists that may be trying to steal their livestock, now more than 60 chicks are missing from farmer’s yards in the county. This comes after an animal activist meeting took place this past weekend meant to encourage the so-called rescuing of farm animals. New York State Police are investigating the disappearance of Simmeth’s chicks. Animal activist groups such as PETA have been accused of stealing animals from farms and even pets from residential yards and then euthanizing them to keep them from “suffering” as companion animals.

No injuries have been reported after a tractor-trailer and train collided in Wyoming County. The incident happened yesterday in the area of Treusell Road and Wilder Road in the Village of Warsaw. Thankfully, the impact did not lead to the train being knocked off the tracks. State Police have not said yet what caused the accident.

A former Greece police officer is facing a long prison sentence after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says 57-year-old Raymond DiPasquale has admitted to using devices to store, receive and view hundreds of disturbing photos and videos. DiPisqaule may be behind bars for up to 20 years and have to pay a 250-thousand dollar fine. He’s scheduled to be sentenced in July.

The Buffalo Bills and kicker Tyler Bass have reached an agreement on a multi-year extension. The deal is a four-year extension worth up to $21 million dollars, with $12.3 million in guarantees. Last season Bass was 27-31 on field goal attempts while going 48-50 on extra points. Over the course of his three-year career in Buffalo he’s made 85.6% of all his field goals. And last season alone, accounted for four game-winning field goals. Three in the regular season and one in the preseason against Indianapolis.

The Genesee Community College Foundation and Cougar Classic Scholarship Scramble Honorary Chairperson, Todd Bender, have announced the Annual Cougar Classic Golf Tournament is scheduled for Monday, July 17 at Stafford Country Club in Stafford. Bender, a Batavia resident, earned an associate degree in Liberal Arts and Science from GCC in 1989, and went on to earn an associate degree in Electrical Engineering and a bachelor degree in Business Management and Decision Sciences from RIT. The Cougar Classic Scholarship Scramble allows up to 36 foursomes for the 18-hole event at the esteemed Stafford Country Club. Registration includes 18 holes of golf, a golf cart, all beer and nonalcoholic beverages during play, lunch and dinner with a cash bar, and much more! All proceeds from the Cougar Classic support GCC’s student scholarship program.

The City parking lot between Court and Jackson Streets – usually referred to as the Save A Lot parking lot – will be milled beginning next Thursday, April 27th. It’s believed that part of the project will be completed by Friday, the 28th. The west half of the parking lot will be closed to traffic the 27th and then the east half will be closed to traffic on the 28th. The parking lot will reopen for the weekend once completed. The paving portion of the project is expected to take three days to complete and is scheduled for Monday, May 1st through Wednesday, May 3rd. The parking lot will be split into thirds and will be affected similarly to how it will be for the milling operation, closing and resurfacing one section at a time until lot is completed. Once the parking lot is completely resurfaced, City of Batavia staff will begin striping parking spaces and driving lanes. Parking will be closed off in sections as crews work from east to west during the repainting process. Vehicles that are using permitted parking are asked to temporarily use the City lot off of School Street or any other permitted parking areas in City owned lots. Photo: Doug Thompson, WBTA News.

Press release:

April 20th, 2023- At approximately 1:07 PM the Genesee County 911 Dispatch Center received a report from the Veteran’s Administration Hotline that a male subject had called them and stated they were going to get a weapon and “shoot up a school”.

This information was immediately relayed to patrols in the City and throughout the County working. An initial trace of the phone number provided showed the phone to be in the City of Batavia area.

Patrols were dispatched to each school in Genesee County as a precautionary measure and all county-wide schools placed into lockout.

Officers and investigators from multiple law enforcement agencies followed up on leads and determined the threat to not be credible and in fact was false.

Currently a juvenile is being interviewed by the City of Batavia Detective Bureau regarding the matter, no further information regarding the juvenile will be released at this time.

All schools were released from lockout at approximately 2:25 PM. We wish to thank the public, the school districts and the other members of law enforcement for their assistance during this investigation.

Quinton Jones

Dijon Jones

Two Buffalo men have pleaded guilty to committing burglaries during the blizzard that devastated Western New York last year. Prosecutors say 37-year-old Quinton Jones and 31-year-old Dijon Joyner broke the window of a store on Main Street in Amherst with a rock and were able to get away with $20,000 in cash and $25,000 in merchandise. They also broke into a pizzeria on Main Street and stole food products and cash. Both men are facing up to seven years in prison.

State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins says it’s not likely that an agreement will be reached on a new state budget this week. During a news conference yesterday, Stewart-Cousins said while lawmakers are closer to reaching a deal to change the state’s bail reform laws, there are other issues that also still need to be addressed. The legislature must pass another budget extender today to keep the government running and make sure state workers get paid. The initial budget deadline was April 1st.

Genesee County Sheriffs, City of Batavia Police and Village of LeRoy Police will once again be stepping up patrols and participating in a coordinated effort with the STOP-DWI program to bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving. The statewide initiative starts today and continues through tomorrow. Law enforcement suggest you make sure you have a safe ride home because impaired driving is preventable with just a little bit of planning ahead.

LeRoy – file photo

Construction begins on May 11th on the railroad crossing on Route 19 in LeRoy. You’ll want to plan ahead since work will close the road over that weekend and traffic will be detoured. The railroad crossing work will involve pulling up the old ties and rebuilding new ones plus resurfacing the road near the tracks.

Phil Rumore announcing his retirement

The man who has served as the president of the Buffalo Teachers Federation for more than four decades has announced he is leaving the position. Phil Rumore says that he’s planning to retire at the end of his current term which is coming up on June 30th. Rumore has lead the Buffalo Teachers Federation since 1981 and a vote on who will replace him is expected to happen next month. During his tenure, the 80-year-old Rumore has negotiated a total of five collective bargaining agreements and also outlasted 12 superintendents.

Strong Memorial Hospital – area targeted for expansion project – photo credit: 13WHAM

Demolition is now underway for a major expansion project that’s going to be happening at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. The project calls for the construction of a new nine-story inpatient bed tower and the creation of a larger emergency department that will have over 100 private rooms. The hospital is getting roughly $50,000,000 (million) from the state to help offset the cost of the project. The hope is that work is going to be fully completed by 2027.

Mayor Malik Evans

Rochester Mayor Malik Evans has laid out his plans for the months ahead during his annual State of the City address. During a speech at the Central Library last night, Mayor Evans promised that his administration will remain focused on reducing the gun violence that has been affecting the city. He pointed out that shootings are down 44 percent from this time last year but said that he’s concerned about the number of young people getting involved in crimes. He also discussed the partnerships that the city has forged that will allow revitalization efforts to move forward and also provide people with a path to homeownership.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles is reminding motorcyclists about an important deadline that’s coming up. The agency says all motorcycle registrations expire on April 30th and must be renewed by then. The registration lasts for one year and the DMV says motorcycles must be inspected at a station the agency has licensed to perform motorcycle safety inspections. For information on how to renew a motorcycle registration, visit dmv.ny.gov.

Erie County Fair

Folks who want to save a bit of money on tickets to this year’s Erie County Fair will have the chance to do that today. A flash sale on one-day admission tickets is happening 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. During that time period, adult admission tickets are going to be available for $13.50 at ecfair.org. But, there will be an eight-ticket limit per person. The fair runs this year from August 9th through the 20th.

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2018 Tesla Model S

Tesla’s first quarter earnings and net income are down over 20% compared to last year. Net income for the electric car company came in at just over $2,500,000,000 (2.5 billion) down 24% compared to 2022.

Unidentified senior citizen receiving COVID booster – file photo

The CDC is recommending a second dose of the updated COVID booster for seniors. It comes after the FDA authorized the shot this week. People 65 and older can get another dose of the updated Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines at least four months after their last shot. The FDA says most people with weakened immune systems can get an additional dose at least two months after their last one.

Tiger Woods appears to be in pain during 2023 Masters

Tiger Woods is still dealing with the effects of his 2021 car accident. The legendary golfer just underwent leg surgery. His team shared an update on social media saying he’s getting the procedure to treat his post-traumatic arthritis after fracturing his anklebone. The statement says Woods is recovering after a successful surgery. Woods has been dealing with the aftermath of the crash, most recently withdrawing from the Masters Tournament.

“Excuse me, I didn’t get my fries.”

McDonald’s is changing up its Big Macs by adding more sauce, and now you can get even more. The fast food giant announced this week that for a limited time, customers would be able to get the Big Mac Sauce in a dip cup. In a bid to promote its staple items, McDonald’s is working on building up hype around the product without making large-scale changes. Dipping sauce is an easy way to do that without making an entirely new menu item or adding an ingredient to the existing Big Mac.

The line at the unemployment office is getting longer. Jobless claims in the U.S. are jumping up 5,000 from the previous week. Experts say the rise in jobless claims indicates the strong labor market is starting to cool off.

The Genesee-Orleans-Wyoming Opioid Task Force, in conjunction with The HEAL Initiative, is continuing its effort to inform the public of the benefits of MOUD – medication for opioid use disorder – by hosting a public forum on May 3 at the Genesee County Office for the Aging at 2 Bank St. Registration is set for 5 p.m., with the session to run from 5:15 to 7 p.m. Registration is recommended but not required, and a light dinner will be served. Naloxone training will be offered following the presentation. Sitting on the panel will be Dr Samantha Gray, A Horizon Health Service advanced practice clinician, Reilly Climenhaga, a GCASA detox technician and recovery coach, Randi Johnson, a GCASA Physician Assistant, Scott Davis, a recovery coach with Rochester Regional Health, Kate Gregory, a social worker and manager of Rochester Regional Health Hope Haven, and Daniel Hauck, a clinical supervisor for Hope Haven Inpatient rehab.

Two Buffalo men have pleaded guilty to committing burglaries during the blizzard that devastated Western New York last year. Prosecutors say 37-year-old Quinton Jones and 31-year-old Dijon Joyner broke the window of a store on Main Street in Amherst with a rock and were able to get away with 20-thousand dollars in cash and 25-thousand dollars in merchandise. They also broke into a pizzeria on Main Street and stole food products and cash. Both men are facing up to seven years in prison.

State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins says it’s not likely that an agreement will be reached on a new state budget this week. During a news conference yesterday, Stewart-Cousins said while lawmakers are closer to reaching a deal to change the state’s bail reform laws, there are other issues that also still need to be addressed. The legislature must pass another budget extender today to keep the government running and make sure state workers get paid. The initial budget deadline was April 1st.

Today is 4/20, a day that’s popular among marijuana users, and both local and State Police will be keeping an eye out for drug-impaired drivers. Law enforcement will be stepping up their patrols to try and get people who pose a threat to the safety of others off the roads. Officials say not only is driving under the influence of drugs like cannabis dangerous, it’s also illegal. An impaired driving charge could cost the violator thousands of dollars in legal fees and they may also face jail time.

May 11th the railroad crossing on Rt 19 in LeRoy is getting torn up and replaced according to a Rochester and Southern Railroad Representative. Work will close the road over that weekend and traffic will be detoured. The railroad crossing work will involve pulling up the old ties and rebuilding new ones plus resurfacing the road near the tracks.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles is reminding motorcyclists about an important deadline that’s coming up. The agency says all motorcycle registrations expire on April 30th and must be renewed by then. The registration lasts for one year and the DMV says motorcycles must be inspected at a station the agency has licensed to perform motorcycle safety inspections. For information on how to renew a motorcycle registration, visit dmv-dot-ny-dot-gov.

FROM THE WYOMING COUNTY SHERIFF: 33-year-old Donald Colli of Batavia has been charged with operating a vehicle with a suspended state driver’s license. Colli had hit a deer and after Wyoming County Sheriff’s investigated, he was issued an appearance ticket for aggravated unlicensed operation. Colli is scheduled to appear in Bennington Town Court at a later date. ALSO: 41-year-old Seth Sheehan of Warsaw has been arrested and charged with criminal mischief. This followed deputies’ response to a 9-1-1 hang-up call; an investigation revealed there had been a domestic incident during which Sheehan took a phone from another party to prevent them from calling to request help. He was arraigned in the Town of Warsaw Court and released on his own recognizance; Sheehan is scheduled to return to Court on May 1. ALSO: Wyoming County Sheriff deputies arrested Jaqulyn Dueppengiesser of Perry at her residence on a felony warrant, issued by the City of Batavia. She has been turned over to Batavia Police and will appear in court at a later date.

18-year-old Josia Culver of Batavia is charged with burglary, criminal mischief and petit larceny. An investigation into a burglary at a business located in the mall resulted in his arrest. It’s alleged that Culver forced entry, causing damage and stole money. He was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released under the supervision of Genesee Justice. Culver will reappear in court next month.

Interior of St. John’s church, Niagara Falls – file photo

State Attorney General Letitia James has announced that for the first time ever, a statewide gun buyback will be taking place later this month. It is scheduled for April 29th and area residents can turn in their working and non-working firearms at St. John’s African Methodist Episcopal Church in Niagara Falls from 10:00am until 1:00pm. Folks will be paid in the form of gift cards that will range from $25 to $500, depending on the type of weapon they surrender. Since 2019, the AG’s office has helped remove thousands of weapons from New York’s communities.

The State University of New York (SUNY) has voted to eliminate the undergraduate admissions requirement for standardized testing. This removes the need for students applying to college to take the SAT or ACT and keeps a pandemic-era change in place; however, flexibility is available to campuses where students would still have the option to share their scores. According to SUNY, fewer state high school students are taking the SAT.

Franklin High School – file photo

Police and the Rochester City School District are investigating an incident where students were nearly struck by an SUV. They say a vehicle ended up on the grounds of the Franklin Educational Campus yesterday during dismissal. Police tried to stop the vehicle but the driver sped away from the scene. Officials say no one was hurt and that what happened is concerning because it threatened the safety of students.

Aftermath of Thruway crash that killed Mr. Tincani – Photo: 13WHAM

State Police have released the name of the person who was killed in a multi-vehicle crash on the New York State Thruway. Troopers say a 22-year-old man was traveling on the highway in Chili Monday when his vehicle struck a tractor-trailer driven by 75-year-old Robert Tincani of East Palestine, Ohio. Tincani was walking back to his tractor-trailer after he exchanged information with the other driver when that person’s vehicle was hit by another tractor-trailer that overturned and killed Tincani. No other injuries were reported.

File photo of memorial at Tops in Buffalo

Tops Market executives say their Jefferson Avenue store in Buffalo is going to be closed down on the one-year anniversary of a mass shooting that happened there. Last May 14th, Payton Gendron opened fire at the supermarket, killing 10 people and injuring three others in a racially motivated attack. The company says the store will be shut down to help support the community’s healing as the region remembers the victims and survivors. The store is scheduled to reopen on May 15th at 7:00am.

Rowan Wilson

New York now has their next chief judge of the Court of Appeals. The state senate voted yesterday to confirm Rowan Wilson for the job. All Democrats voted in favor; all Republicans voted against. Wilson spent Monday answering questions about his past decisions. Some raised concerns about a rape conviction he overturned. This confirmation comes weeks after senate Democrats rejected Governor Hochul’s first pick for the job —Hector LaSalle — after they viewed his judicial record as too conservative.

April is National Donate Life Month, and both the state Department of Health and Department of Motor Vehicles are urging New Yorkers to register as organ donors. The agencies say any Empire State resident 16 and older can join the New York State Donate Life registry for eye, organ and tissue donation. Sign-up can be done by completing the donation section on a driver’s license renewal application or completing an online or paper form when registering to vote. Hundreds of New Yorkers died last year because the organ they needed wasn’t available in time.

ELSEWHERE…

The ‘suspect’ toddler was apprehended quickly.

A toddler is responsible for causing a bit of commotion at the White House Tuesday. The Secret Service told The Hill that a child was able to squeeze through a fence on the north side of the grounds. Officials said the child made his way toward the North Lawn as his parents were on Pennsylvania Avenue. The White House restricted access during the incident, as President Biden was present at the time. The parents were quickly reunited with their little trespasser and sent along their way after questioning.

Netflix is ending its DVD-by-mail service. On Tuesday the company announced customers would no longer be able to receive DVD rentals after September 29th, 2023. Netflix has mailed out over 5,000,000,000 (billion) DVDs since the programs inception in 1998. However revenue from DVD rentals has steadily declined over the years.

More than one-third of Americans live in places with unhealthy air pollution levels. The American Lung Association’s 24th State of the Air report is out today, and says 120-million Americans are living in areas where the air was rated unhealthy in 2022. Six of the ten worst places are in California, and Los Angeles tops the list. For more information, click here: https://www.lung.org/research/sota/key-findings

Lucky dog!

The New York Lottery today announced a jackpot winning ticket for the April 18 Mega Millions drawing was sold in East Syracuse. The ticket matched five numbers and the Mega Ball and is worth $20 million. The cash value of the jackpot after taxes for an upstate winner is $6.8 million. The winning numbers for the April 18 drawing are 7-9-15-19-25 and the Mega Ball is 4. The winning ticket was purchased at Church Wine and Liquor at 6430 Kirkvile Road in East Syracuse.  Meanwhile, nobody won the grand prize in Monday’s drawing, so the Powerball jackpot has grown up to $251,000,000 (million) for tonight’s drawing. That works out to a cash option of just under $134,000,000. Please play responsibly.

As tax-filing season comes to a close, Americans are seeing smaller refunds this year. The average refund check this year has been just under $2,900, a 9% drop from last year’s average of a little more than $3,300.

Cheektowaga police are still on the lookout for the suspect who pulled the trigger in a shooting in their community. Officers responded to a call on Alpine Place yesterday and found an Erie County Water Authority worker had been shot while trying to get away from an individual who demanded their wallet. The victim was brought to Erie County Medical Center and is expected to survive. The suspect is an African American man between 20 and 30 years old who was last seen near Herbert Avenue.

A tractor-trailer driver from Ohio died Monday while walking back to his vehicle after being involved in a crash on the New York State Thruway, according to police. Troopers said Robert Tincani, 75, of East Palestine, Ohio, was westbound on Interstate 90 in Chili just after 7 p.m. when an SUV struck the rear bumper of his tractor-trailer. The two drivers got out of their vehicles and exchanged information on the north shoulder, according to police, when another tractor-trailer struck the SUV, causing Tincani’s tractor-trailer to overturn and strike him as he was walking back to it. Tincani was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported. The investigation continues.

After a process that was more drawn out than usual, New York now has its pick for its next chief judge of the Court of Appeals secured. The state senate — voting Tuesday to confirm Rowan Wilson for the job. The vote was along party lines. All Democrats voted in favor – all Republicans voted against. Wilson spent Monday in the hot seat, being grilled about his past decisions. Some raised concerns about a rape conviction he overturned. This confirmation comes weeks after Gov. Hochul’s first pick for the job — Hector LaSalle — was rejected by senate Democrats after they viewed his judicial record as too conservative.

You may have seen Antiques Roadshow and wanted to get something appraised by experts. Now you can. The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce “Appraisals on Main: HLOM Appraisal Day” on Saturday, May 20, from 10 a.m. 3 p.m. at the Batavia First Presbyterian Church. The community is invited to bring any of their treasures and heirlooms that may be collecting dust to see what they may be worth. Appraisers from Bontrager Real Estate & Auction, Cottone Auctions, and Schultz Auctioneers will be available to give their expert opinions. There is a $5 charge for each item appraised, with a limit of 5 items per person. All attendees are required to register for an allotted time slot. The online registration form can be found at the museum’s website.

Officials from Batavia Downs Gaming and Hotel announced that their inaugural Jackpot 5k will be taking place on Saturday, June 17th. Proceeds from the race will benefit local community groups and WNY Heroes, an organization that works with Veterans and their families across WNY, including Genesee County, to provide support and assistance. This family-friendly 5K will start at 9 a.m. and finish at Batavia Downs. The start will be out in front of the facility, following a course around the streets near Batavia Downs and ending at the actual finish line on the Harness Track. The post-race party will be on the track apron, where an awards ceremony for 5 different age groups will be held. The early Bird price is $25. Racers will receive $25 free play, a T-shirt, a post-race drink and snack. The price increases after May 15, so those wishing to race or walk are urged to sign up as soon as possible.

Governor Kathy Hochul Tuesday announced the launch of “Why Buy Legal New York”, a public education campaign promoting safer, informed, legal purchases of cannabis from licensed dispensaries in New York State. The campaign focuses on protecting public health and promoting social equity and community reinvestment. Hochul made the announcement alongside the New York State Office of Cannabis Management at CUNY Law School in New York City. The “Why Buy Legal New York” announcements explain the potential health risks associated with purchasing cannabis products from unlicensed businesses and why regulated cannabis products are safer. It also outlines how buying legal supports the advancement of New York’s social and economic equity goals for communities across the State. The primarily digital campaign will target cannabis consumers 21 years old and over and includes various educational materials, such as “The Guide to Safer Cannabis Consumption”. These materials will provide information on how to find legal dispensaries in New York and tips on how to consume cannabis safely.

File photo of construction on the Thruway

State Police are going to be cracking down on unsafe drivers over the next few days as part of their annual Operation Hardhat campaign. Troopers will be keeping an eye out for people who don’t follow the law when traveling through construction zones. This initiative lines up with National Work Zone Awareness Week, which will run through this Friday. During last year’s Operation Hardhat campaign, 3,062 tickets were handed out, an increase of 726 from 2021.

The latest data from the New York State Flu Tracker shows the spread of the virus is still holding steady in our region. During the week ending April 8th, the area with the highest number of cases was Erie County with 39; the next highest was found in Monroe County with 32. Ontario County had 6; Niagara County had 3 and Genesee County, 2. Since the beginning of flu season, more than 329,000 state residents have contracted the illness.

Promotional tool to discourage the use of Native American mascots

The New York Board of Regents has voted to ban Native American mascots and imagery in all public schools in the state. Native American tribes have long criticized the use of indigenous imagery and names in schools as disrespectful. Recent figures estimate there were about 60 districts statewide last year still using names like the Warriors and Indians, though many had since done away with the mascots. Schools now have until the end of the 2024-2025 school year to make the changes. Those who fail to comply risk losing state aid.

Rochester Police – Wilkins Street – 13WHAM photo

Brand-new information has been released on a weekend shooting that happened in Rochester. The victim who was struck by gunfire in the area of Wilkins Street on Saturday night has been identified as 41-year-old Jose Arroyo. He suffered multiple wounds and was pronounced dead shortly after first responders got to the scene. It’s believed that Arroyo was targeted and so far, an arrest hasn’t been made in this case.

The scene of the fire – April 17

An investigation is underway into the cause of a fire on the campus of the University at Buffalo in Amherst. Crews were called to the scene at the UB North Campus Ellicott Complex on Frontier Road yesterday and arrived to find the blaze in a trash room. The flames were contained to that location and were put out in roughly 20 minutes. However, the fire did cause about $300,000 worth of damage. No injuries were reported.

SkyWest jet at Buffalo Niagara International Airport – file photo

Two area congressmen are calling out an airline that they claim is trying to bypass safety rules. Yesterday, Democratic Congressman Brian Higgins and Republican Congressman Nick Langworthy made an appearance at Buffalo Niagara International Airport. They say SkyWest Airlines is attempting to bypass regulations such as the standard that requires pilots to have a certain amount of training time before taking part in air carrier operations. Several guidelines were put in place after the crash of Flight 3407 in Western New York that killed dozens of people.

A plan to put the McKinley Mall in Hamburg up on the auction block has been pushed back by a few weeks. The mall, which was in foreclosure before being purchased by a new owner, was scheduled to be sold online this week. The delay is because auction organizers want to give people more of an opportunity to review the mall’s documents before deciding if they want to bid on the property. The auction is now set for May 15th through the 17th.

A. J. Klein

The Buffalo Bills have announced they are bringing back linebacker A.J. Klein on a one-year contract. Klein played with the defending AFC East champions in 2020 and 2021, but was released before last season. In 2022, he played for the Bears and Ravens before the Bills claimed him off waivers. In his 37 games with Buffalo, Klein has 121 combined tackles, five sacks, and one interception.

Damar Hamlin

And, Damar Hamlin has been medically cleared to return to football “He is fully cleared. He’s here,” general manager Brandon Beane told reporters in a pre-draft press conference Tuesday. “He’s in a great headspace to come back and make his return.  Beane said Hamlin met with three specialists, most recently on Friday, and all of them were in “lockstep” on allowing Hamlin to play again.

ELSEWHERE…

Ralph Yarl

Andrew Lester

A GoFundMe is raising millions for a Black teen in Missouri who was shot in the head when he rang the wrong doorbell. After just one day, the fundraiser for 16-year-old Ralph Yarl reached nearly $3,000,000. On Monday, the Clay County Prosecuting Attorney announced charges were being filed against the homeowner, 84-year-old Andrew Lester, who allegedly shot Yarl.

Derek Chauvin

An appeals court has upheld former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s conviction for George Floyd’s murder. Chauvin claimed he was unable to get a fair trial due to media coverage and the threat of protests. The Minnesota Court of Appeals on Monday rejected that argument, upholding his 22-year sentence.

Halyna Hutchins and Alec Baldwin

Actor Alec Baldwin is moving to try and get a lawsuit filed by the family of Halyna Hutchins tossed. The 65-year-old claims the lawsuit is “especially misguided” and that Hutchins’ family had been distant from the cinematographer for years. He added the lawsuit settled with Hutchins’ husband last year “should have been the end of the matter.” Hutchins was killed when Baldwin’s prop gun discharged a live bullet on the set of “Rust” in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2021.

Frozen strawberries causing illness

Frozen strawberries are making people sick with hepatitis-A in some states. The frozen strawberries come from Trader Joe’s, Costco and other stores. The strawberries were sold under a variety of labels including Kirkland Signature, Trader Joe’s, Simply Nature, Vital Choice, Made With, and PCC Community Markets.

This dog was abandoned on Easter Sunday

There’s a happy ending for a dog found abandoned at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, Florida. The four-month-old puppy was found Easter weekend after someone threw him over a fence at the shelter. The shelter announced over the weekend that the pup they named Sonny has found his forever home. The Gagnier family of Anna Maria Island has adopted Sonny as he recovers from the broken leg he suffered when he was thrown over the fence. The HSTB writes on Facebook the Gagnier’s are excited and prepared to give Sonny the magical life he deserves.

44 year old Tylee Gaines of Summerville drive in Rochester was arrested after an investigation into the sale of cocaine in Batavia by the Local Drug Task Force. Gaines is accused of selling crack cocaine to agents of the task force while in the City of Batavia. He was caught with 14 bags of Crack Cocaine. Gaines is charged with two counts of Criminal sale of a controlled substance and 3 counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance. Gaines was arraigned in County Court and released under supervision.

Do you have an old gun you don’t want anymore and want to turn it into quick cash? Attorney General Letitia James is holding a gun buyback in Niagara Falls on April 29th at St John’s AME Church on Garden and Richard Allen Way. this is part of 9 simultaneous gun buybacks going on that day across the state. The buyback goes from 10 to 1 and all guns will be accepted no questions asked, working or non working, and they must be unloaded. They are offering 500 dollars in prepaid gift cards for each assault rifle, although they don’t define what an assault rifle is, or ghost gun. $500 for the first handgun per person, then $150 for each additional handgun; $75 per rifle or shotgun, and $25 per non-working, replica, antique, homemade or 3-D printed gun.

State Police are going to be cracking down on unsafe drivers over the next few days as part of their annual Operation Hardhat campaign. Troopers will be keeping an eye out for people who don’t follow the law when traveling through construction zones. This initiative lines up with National Work Zone Awareness Week which will run through this Friday. During last year’s Operation Hardhat campaign, three-thousand-62 tickets were handed out, an increase of 726 from 2021.

New York lawmakers passed a three-day budget extension Monday to ensure state operations continue undisrupted as negotiations over the spending plan continue. The budget was originally due April 1. Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and lawmakers missed that deadline as they tried to reach agreement on changes to the state’s bail law, a housing plan and other policy issues the governor had included in her budget proposal. A key sticking point has been Hochul’s proposed changes that would give judges more discretion on setting bail for violent felonies. Liberal lawmakers have resisted further changes to the state’s bail law. This was the third temporary budget extension approved by state lawmakers. Lawmakers must pass another extender Thursday if a state budget isn’t finalized by then.

Which young man will be chosen as Mr. Batavia on Friday? 10 high school seniors are competing in the 10th annual competition set to start at 7 pm at the frank Owen Auditorium at the Batavia High School. The students compete in multiple rounds of the event to display their various talents — from singing and comedy to playing instruments and acting. Donations raised from ticket sales and donations will be given to the top three winners’ charities. Since 2013, the annual event has raised $32,719 for local organizations.

The Buffalo Bills have announced they are bringing back linebacker A.J. Klein on a one-year contract. Klein played with the defending AFC East champions in 2020 and 2021, but was released before last season. In 2022, he played for the Bears and Ravens before the Bills claimed him off waivers. In his 37 games with Buffalo, Klein has 121 combined tackles, five sacks, and one interception.