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.

Police in Western New York are investigating alleged “swatting” incidents at some local schools.  Thursday morning New York State police released a statement on social media that said it was aware of swatting incidents across the state and continued on to say “all of the reports are unfounded. We are working alongside our federal & local partners to investigate the threats.”  Swatting is when someone calls the police to say there is an event happening that requires police to intervene such as a dangerous situation or threat.  Dozens of school districts including Olean, Lockport, South Park, Jamestown, Silver Creek, Salamanca, Brockport, Brighton and many more had calls saying there were bombs or active shooters.  All reports were investigated although schools were not evacuated.  None of the calls was an actual threat.  One report said that the calls may have come from a Russian call center but that report has not been substantiated.  These incidents are dangerous because they take police away from necessary law enforcement but also create a “boy who cried wolf situation with the schools”.  Police and the FBI are investigating and say they will take every threat seriously.

The City of Buffalo announced it has filed a lawsuit against Kia America, Inc. and Hyundai Motor America.  According to the city, it intends to join other cities such as Seattle, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, St. Louis, Madison, and Milwaukee in multidistrict litigation that “seeks to hold Kia and Hyundai accountable for placing profits over safety and manufacturing, distributing, and marketing cars that are dangerously easy to steal.”  The city said thefts of Kias and Hyundais have jumped significantly in Buffalo, increasing over 2,000% in January 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. In addition, in the last three months, they have made up between 57% and 67% of all vehicle thefts in Buffalo.

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 door ding and escalated into a racist tirade where Richard Stasiak used several racist epitaphs.  Stasiak is scheduled to return 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.

Buffalo Bills Safety Damar Hamlin and his family met with President Biden Thursday.  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 in a tweet and said:  “It was a pleasure & an honor meeting you today. I know your time is precious and I wouldn’t waste a second of it! Our conversations were valuable.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposal of a multi-year tuition hike for SUNY and CUNY schools could cost students thousands.  Currently the average annual tuition for SUNY schools is $8,550 per year, the 8th lowest in the country and 22% below the national tuition average.  Hochul’s Executive Budget calls for annual tuition increases of 3% percent annually, for both CUNY and SUNY campuses, for five years. Large research universities would be able to raise base tuition by 6% each year for the next five years, with a cap at 30 percent above the base rate for in-state students. The tuition plan is estimated to provide $97 million in new operating support to SUNY.  Senators on both sides of the aisle are against the increase.  The state senate’s budget intentionally omits the governor’s executive proposal to increase tuition at SUNY and CUNY.

St Paul Lutheran Church and School and the Corfu Fire Department are both having a fundraiser Chicken BBQ on Sunday.  The bbq in Corfu starts at noon and goes till they run out of chicken and costs 12 dollars.  Tickets for the St Paul fundraiser dinner can be bought in advance at the Church office.  They are 14 dollars a dinner.

30-year-old Chandah Sundown of Batavia has pled guilty in Town Court to Disorderly Conduct, in connection to welfare fraud charges. The original charge was 11 counts of filing a false instrument and one count of grand larceny after failing to report that the father of her children was also residing in the home and earning income. Sundown was given a one-year conditional discharge and has made full restitution of $8,353.

41-year-old Beth Ann Jeffers has been indicted on multiple felonies, including two counts of promoting prison contraband and criminal possession of a controlled substance. She is accused of introducing or being in possession of contraband while in the Genesee County Jail, including cocaine and fentanyl with the intent to sell.

Congresswoman Tenney

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney will be at the Old Courthouse (7 Main Street) in Batavia next Tuesday, April 4th, starting at 10:00am for a roundtable discussion with the agricultural community. She wants to hear from farmers about their priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill. Every five years, Congress passes Farm Bill legislation that sets national agriculture, nutrition, conservation and forestry policies. Here is the link to RSVP to this event:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdDEf8Tq7leEWsxbmvNat9BHAPmlJHtLIC9iagM_ZCWHlOaFw/viewform

Main Street Armory

Just weeks after it was the scene of a deadly stampede during a concert, the Main Street Armory in Rochester has been sold. According to public records, the building was purchased for $550,000 by “900 East Main Street Rochester LLC,” but just who is behind that company is still unknown. A massive group of people stormed the exit of the building earlier this month following reports of gunfire. Three women were killed and several other victims ended up being hurt.

New York State is getting $100,000,000 (million) to help close the digital divide. Governor Hochul says the federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act will help connect 100,000 households to affordable, high-speed Internet. The program is geared towards underserved communities in rural and urban parts of the state. Senate Majority Chuck Schumer helped secure the money, saying it’ll help connect communities to good paying jobs, higher quality education, and better healthcare. Last year, New York helped more than 1,000,000 (million) low-income households enroll in a nationwide affordable connectivity program.

The state Department of Motor Vehicles is taking action to increase the number of people who enroll to become organ donors. The agency says customers who register a vehicle at a DMV office will be asked if they would like to consider joining the organ donor registry. If they say yes, they will be able to submit their application at that office and will have the phrase “Organ Donor” printed on the front of their DMV photo document when they request a new one. Currently, over 8,000 New Yorkers are on the national transplant wait list.

D’Mario Caesar

A Buffalo man who was involved in a hit-and-run that killed a pedestrian has found out how long he’ll be spending behind bars. A judge has sentenced 36-year-old D’Mario Caesar to spend 7-1/2 to 15 years in prison. Prosecutors say Caesar was speeding when he struck 31-year-old Brandyn Mallory on Broadway in Buffalo back in 2017. Mallory later died of his injuries at Erie County Medical Center.

Governor Hochul (file photo)

Governor Hochul announced Wednesday $2.5 million in new state funding for the victims impacted by the May 14 Tops shooting in Buffalo. This funding will help the Buffalo Urban league partner with the Community Health Centers of Buffalo to operate the Buffalo United Resiliency Center through June 2025. The new funding will also help the BURC hire new employees and ensure it has the support to serve victims and survivors of the shooting. The Community Health Centers will work to address Access to housing, Access to transportation, Emergency and long-term food access and Assistance with rent, utility, and other areas.

Senator Schuman with Damar Hamlin, in Washington D.C. – 3/29/23

On Wednesday Bills Safety Damar Hamlin was in Washington DC to support the Access to Automated Electronic Defibrillators Act. The Act would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to supply grants for schools and nonprofits to purchase and install defibrillators and develop emergency response plans for heart attacks such as the one that struck down Hamlin on the field against the Bengals. Hamlin has been championing people learning CPR and is now pushing for more access to equipment across the country.

2022 file photo of Diana Ross on stage

One of the biggest names in music history will be bringing her brand-new tour to Western New York this summer. Diana Ross is set to perform at the Chautauqua Institution on Sunday, July 2nd. The 79-year-old Ross will sing hits from her career as a solo artist, and from when she was a member of The Supremes. Tickets for the show go on sale tomorrow morning, and more information about the concert can be found on the Chautauqua Institution website, chq.org.

Unidentified child at Yankees game – file photo

Today is Opening Day for Major League Baseball, and some rule changes have been made this year to help speed up the game. The most visible change is the new pitch clock, which affords pitchers just 15 seconds to deliver their next throw, and 20 seconds with runners on base. Those runners may have an easier time stealing bags because the bases are 20 percent bigger.

Less than a month after the deadly crowd surge at a concert at the Main Street Armory, it appears the venue has been sold.  Public records at the Monroe County Clerk’s Office show the building was sold for $550,000, and ownership was transferred to “900 E. Main Street Rochester LLC.” The LLC’s P.O. box is the same address listed in the company title.  There’s no word yet on who is behind that company.  The city refused to renew the Armory’s entertainment license in the days following the tragic stampede.  The city said it invited the Armory’s owner, Scott Donaldson, to attend a meeting, during which “he would have been presented with a choice to voluntarily cease holding entertainment events,” or have the “pending renewal” of the Armory’s entertainment license denied but the city says he declined to attend.  Donaldson’s attorney has said the city knew he was occupied with another legal matter that day and ignored his request to reschedule that meeting in order to maliciously attack him.

A new program at Batavia City Schools is changing how kids see vaping.  By 2019, there were 5.4 million middle and high school students using e-cigarettes across the country.  Vapes contain hazardous chemicals and metal flakes that can cause cardiovascular disease, and lung damage.  Studies have shown that vapes can cause multiple times the lung damage and side effects that cigarettes cause.  All this is included in a program called Vape University which kids can attend if they get caught vaping in school to reduce their punishment.  The program educates them and provides them with alternatives to quit.  5 teachers have volunteered to work with helping kids quit and to know the dangers of the drug that is marketed mostly toward minors.  The program started in January and about a dozen students have completed the program so far.

The New York State DMV is adding a question to their vehicle registration transaction screens at DMV locations.  Do you wish to join the organ donor registry?  The question will come up on the transaction screen before a customer completes the process. If the person answers yes they will get the opportunity to fill out a quick application and “Organ Donor” will be printed on their DMV photo documents.  With only 46 percent of its population registered, New York’s registry lags behind other states. The national average is 62 percent. Donate Life NYS suggests that for New York to reach the national average of registered organ donors, 2.7 million new donors need to be added to the registry.

Gov. Hochul announced Wednesday $2.5 million in new state funding for the victims impacted by the May 14 Tops shooting in Buffalo.  This funding will help the Buffalo Urban league partner with the Community Health Centers of Buffalo to operate the Buffalo United Resiliency Center through June 2025.  The new funding will also help the BURC hire new employees and ensure it has the support to serve victims and survivors of the shooting.  The Community Health Centers will work to address Access to housing, Access to transportation, Emergency and long-term food access and Assistance with rent, utility, and other areas.

Emmanuel Baptist Church is happy to announce their Easter Cantata on Sunday at 2pm at the church on Oak Street.  The Cantata celebrates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ at Easter.  After the Cantata there will be a hymn sing so bring your favorites and join in fellowship singing praises together.  There will be free desserts in the fellowship hall to follow the singing.  

On Wednesday Bills Safety Damar Hamlin was in Washington DC to support the Access to AED’s Act.  The Act would direct the HHS to supply grants for schools and nonprofits to purchase and install Automated Electronic Defibrillators and develop emergency response plans for heart attacks such as the one that struck down Hamlin on the field against the Bengals.  Hamlin has been championing people learning CPR and is now pushing for more access to equipment across the country.

The Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation is celebrating their Diamond Derby Day Gala on May 6th at 4pm at Terry Hills Golf course and Banquet Facility.  The Michael Napoleone Foundation assists families with the diagnosis of pediatric cancer, where they provide necessary financial assistance in the many challenges they face.  So far they have given out over 800 thousand dollars in assistance.  So, grab your best hat, your best outfit, and your best friends and win prizes, Place bids and Show your support in celebration of the Diamond Derby Day Gala.

Raul Cruz

19-year-old Raul Cruz will serve two consecutive terms of 25 years to life in prison, one term on each count of first-degree murder in the deaths of Marcelino Gomez Hernandez and Elibander Morales. Both were found dead at a farm on Alexander Road last March. Cruz initially pled guilty but prior to sentencing, and against the recommendation of his attorney, he made a motion to withdraw his plea, claiming he did not understand the justice system. In the plea deal, he would have faced 23 years to life. The judge denied the motion after allowing Cruz to speak, noting that after he admitted to facts of the murder, he was now saying that he lied.

Hospitalized corrections officer, following an attack by an inmate (Provided photo)

An inmate, serving a 25 years-to-life sentence for murder, viciously attacked an officer inside one of the housing dorms at the Albion correctional facility. The assault occurred Saturday morning; an officer was making routine rounds when an inmate became verbally abusive to him. The officer notified a supervisor. The inmate was ordered to the officer’s station but then ran towards the bathroom. The officer followed him in, where he was punched in the face. The officer exited the bathroom, but the attack by the inmate continued. Once assistance arrived, the inmate was brought under control and then transferred to the Attica Correctional Facility. The officer suffered broken bones to his face.

Medina Ladder Truck – file photo from 2017

The Village of Medina has voted unanimously to begin the process of acquiring a new ladder fire truck for their department. The current truck is 27 years old and has many mechanical issues. A new ladder truck could require three years before it’s ready for delivery and will cost an estimated $1,500,000 ($1.5 million).

Buffalo Pride Parade – file photo

A request made by Governor Hochul to take part in this year’s Buffalo Pride Parade and Festival has been denied. In a letter sent to the governor, the Pride Center of Western New York and Evergreen Health said they are upset over a policy in the governor’s budget that they claim will make it tougher for LGBTQ-Plus individuals to get health care. In a statement, the governor’s office said she is a steadfast supporter of the LGBTQ+ community and has the record to back it up. This year’s parade is June 4th.

Buffalo officials have announced that applications are now open for the next Buffalo Police Department entry exam. The test is happening Saturday, June 17th and the registration deadline is Monday, May 22nd. The salary for a new officer ranges from $49,000 to $82,000 a year and each hire will get a benefits package that includes health, vision, and dental coverage and also a retirement plan. The cost to take the exam is $25 and for more information, go to buffalony.gov.

The Rochester Police Department has released surveillance videos showing several recent smash-and-grab burglaries in their city. The footage has been posted on the department’s Twitter account and the hope is people will see it and be able to identify the suspects. The targeted businesses were on Emerson Street and on Dewey Avenue. Anyone who has information on these cases is asked to dial 911.

Traffic cam image – aftermath of semi truck accident

The New York State Department of Transportation is giving drivers a heads up about an upcoming closure that will affect a portion of Route 33. Starting April 3rd, an eastbound section of the road will be shut down from 10:00pm until 6:00am, Monday through Friday. Crews will be working to fix the Dodge Street overpass, which was recently damaged by a crash involving a tractor-trailer. The repairs are expected to take about two months to complete.

Fringe Festival – file photo

Organizers of the Fringe Festival in Rochester say people who are interested in performing at this year’s event can still submit their applications. Those applications are now being accepted until Wednesday, April 5th and they can be filled out online at fringefestival.com. The acts that are selected will have the opportunity to help decide what venues they want to perform at. The 12th annual Fringe Festival runs from September 12th through the 23rd.

A lot of Empire State residents are planning to travel during the spring and summer months, and there are some things they should keep in mind when booking their trips. The state’s Division of Consumer Protection recommends people consider factors such as price, location, and availability of activities before deciding where they are going to visit. Also, travelers should get all of their confirmations in writing to safeguard themselves from any scams. Finally, folks should use a credit card to pay for any purchases since they offer more protection than paying by cash, debit card or check.

Bailey Zimmerman

Seaforth

A rising star in the country music world has been added to the list of performers at the Erie County Fair. Bailey Zimmerman is going to be taking the stage on August 15th and special guest Seaforth will join him. Tickets for this show will go on sale June 9th at 10:00am and can be purchased at ecfair.org. The fair runs from August 9th through the 20th.

A new study estimates the world’s population could peak at 8.5 billion some time in the 2050s. Scientists with the Earth4All initiative for the Global Challenges Foundation conducted the study. They based their estimate on what they call a “Giant Leap” in investment in economic development, education, and health. The United Nations Population Division reported that the world’s population reached 8 billion last November.

Evergreen Health and the Pride Center of Western NY have sent a letter to Kathy Hochul that they will refuse to participate in the Annual Buffalo Pride Festival and Parade.  This comes at the same time that Trillium Health and Rochester Regional Health held a rally Tuesday to protest the ending of 304b in the next New York State Budget.  If the COVID-era program is eliminated as part of the state budget, Trillium Health could lose $5 million in funding and Rochester Regional Health estimates a loss of more than $30 million.  This comes after Evergreen Health announced that they would file a lawsuit against the state in hopes that it would provide a temporary block on the new budget.  They say that the 304b part of the budget aids the LGBT and the most vulnerable people in New York State.

The night that Rochester Police reported 5 smash and grabs where thieves used cars to ram businesses and then rushed in and stole from them a woman saw her car on the news.  Brandy Jones said she saw her car, a blue Hyundai with a distinctive bumper sticker, backed into ROC 7.  Jones had just purchased the Hyundai in December for $10,000, to use for her job with DoorDash.  Her insurance would not cover the damage left behind by the thieves, including the smashed out windows and broken door handles.  As of March 28, there have been 888 reports of stolen vehicles in Rochester since the start of the year, according to data from the Rochester Police Department. That compares to a total of 1,135 cars stolen throughout all of 2022.

City Councilwoman Patti Pacino, second ward representative in Batavia, announced Monday night that she was stepping down from her position due to health related issues.  She has been on the City Council for 13 years.  Pacino explained that, in addition to her medical condition the last several months — a bilateral ear infection that resulted in a December brain surgery and difficulty with walking and hearing.  Her family has been helping to transport her to and from places, and she made the decision that it’s too much to continue.  Councilman Richard Richmond, chair of the City Republican Committee, said that the committee had already chosen David Twichell to run for the Second Ward seat when Pacino had indicated that she wasn’t going to run for re-election in November. So the plan is to temporarily fill her seat with Twichell until he runs for the next term.

Brandon Lewis, Owner of the Firing Pin in Bergen, says that they are going to rebuild after the fire that took down the range and most of the shop on Friday.  The fire was spotted just before 5 p.m. on Friday. A customer noticed some smoke coming from a backstop in the firing range and alerted an employee.  Some employees tried attacking the hot spot with fire extinguishers but quickly realized the effort was futile, so they dialed 9-1-1 and evacuated the building.  Once the rubber in the range got going, Lewis said, it was an extremely difficult fire to put out.  Firefighters battled until about 9 p.m.  Lewis already has a tentative meeting set up with the town’s planning board.  He’s also working on trucking a portable firing range up from North Carolina so he can provide range service for his customers during the rebuild.  He had been planning an expansion anyway, acquiring a couple of neighboring acres and including a possible indoor/outdoor firing range.  There’s also the annual freedom festival in June. That, he said, will go on as planned even if it means setting up 20 tents.

Interested in finding a new read?  Then come out to the Richmond Memorial library on Wednesdays in April to hear reviews of non fiction and a couple of fiction offerings at the 42nd annual Spring Series of Books Sandwiched In.  Books being reviewed include The Last Slave Ship, The True Story of How Clotilda Was Found, Her Descendants and an Extraordinary Reckoning by Ben Raines, “Louise Blanchard Bethune: Every Woman Her Own Architect” by Kelly Hayes McAlonie, and “The Librarian Spy” by Madeline Martin and many more.  

The Second Circuit Court decided Tuesday that social equity entrepreneurs are now allowed to open safe, regulated cannabis dispensaries in Western New York.  The decision also applies to other regions across the state, including Central New York, the mid-Hudson region, and Brooklyn.  Previously, these areas were barred from receiving any cannabis licenses.  Governor Hochul said that she was pleased with the court’s decision and that “now New Yorkers in every region of the state will have access to safe, high quality adult-use cannabis products.” 

Peter Gerace, Jr.

The owner of Pharoahs Strip Club in Cheektowaga is Peter Gerace, Jr. and he’s behind bars. Federal prosecutors say he was paying bribes to a former federal agent to avoid criminal investigations and prosecution. He has also just been charged with witness tampering and distributing cocaine. The prosecutors say he intimidated, threatened and corruptly persuaded a witness by using Facebook to send messages to them. Gerace is being held in jail until his June trial.

Hilton School – Friday, 3/24/23 (Photo: 13WHAM)

For the third time in less than a week, the Hilton Central School District has been the target of a bomb threat. The latest message was received yesterday and parents were notified that it was similar to the threats last Wednesday and Friday that claimed there were bombs placed in multiple district buildings. Law enforcement says this threat was also a hoax and schools didn’t have to be evacuated. Officials are still trying to track down who is responsible for these threats. (Photo: 13WHAM)

Brendon Burns

The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation is now looking into a deadly officer-involved shooting in Rochester. Last week, police were looking into two shootings when they were involved in an encounter with 35-year-old Brendon Burns on Barrington Street. Burns allegedly threatened officers with a gun and refused to put down the weapon before he was shot. Both a gun and knife were recovered at the scene.

Nakeem Haynes

The Buffalo man who pulled the trigger in a deadly shooting then opened fire towards police officers has found out the punishment for his crimes. A judge has ordered 28-year-old Nakeem Haynes to spend 30 years to life in prison. Last June, Haynes killed 63-year-old Atlas Johnson near Broadway Avenue and Sears Street in Buffalo. There were two officers on patrol in the area of the shooting, and Haynes fired a gunshot that struck the window of a police cruiser before he was shot and taken into custody. The officers who shot Haynes were cleared of any wrongdoing in the incident.

The updated data from the New York State Flu Tracker shows that the spread of the virus has once again slowed down in our region. For the week that ended March 18th, the area with the highest number of cases was Erie County with 30; Monroe County had 22; Chautauqua County had 2 cases; and Wayne, Livingston, Niagara and Cattaraugus Counties had one each. Genesee had no cases reported. Because flu season can last into May, County Health Departments continue to recommend that people who haven’t received their flu shot yet should still get one.

After tonight, the next five-planet alignment will be in 2040.

A five-planet alignment of Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, Mars, and Mercury will be visible in the night sky tonight. Here in Western New York skies are expected to be clear for viewing. After sunset near the western horizon will be Mercury and Jupiter. The brighter of the two will be Jupiter. Venus will be the brightest planet to spot while Uranus will look like a green star and will be hard to see. Mars will be on top of Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Uranus, and the moon. The best time to go outside is soon after sunset as Jupiter and Mercury will disappear about 45 minutes after sundown. The next five-planet alignment won’t occur until 2040.

Taylor Rapp

According to a report from Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Buffalo Bills will sign former Los Angeles Rams safety Taylor Rapp to a one-year deal. The Rams drafted Rapp in the second round, 61st overall, in the 2019 NFL Draft. In four years with the Rams, he played in 57 games and had 330 total tackles, nine interceptions, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries.

Artist rendering of the Bills new stadium

The projected cost of building a brand-new stadium for the Buffalo Bills has crossed the $1,500,000,000 (billion) mark. The executive vice president of the NFL franchise told The Buffalo News yesterday this new estimate is $140,000,000 (million) higher than the initial one. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz says taxpayers will not need to pay more towards the stadium because there is a cap on public contributions. The facility would be located near Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. Photo from the Buffalo Bills website.

J.J. Peterka – file photo

The two-game winning streak of the Buffalo Sabres has been snapped after the team suffers a disappointing defeat at home. JJ Peterka, Lukas Rousek, and Riley Stillman had a goal apiece, but the Sabres were defeated in a shootout by the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 at KeyBank Center last night. Sabres goalie Eric Comrie faced 41 shots in the contest and was able to stop 38 of them. The next game for Buffalo is on Friday against the New York Rangers with face-off at 7:00.

Businesses from all around the region are now taking part in the first-ever Healthy Options Restaurant Week. The event officially kicked off yesterday and will run through April 1st. Restaurants will be offering menu items to customers to show them how easy it can be to have a healthy dining experience when eating out. To find the list of businesses that are participating, go to healthyoptionsbuffalo.com.

A study published Monday found a connection between having strong friendships and better physical health outcomes. Positive social interactions were found to decrease blood pressure and heart rate, and increase a person’s ability to cope with stress. Negative interactions, however, had an even stronger adverse effect on the body. The study’s author said it’s these ups and downs that can have the strongest impact. One researcher stressed the importance of scheduling time with friends and providing mutual support in times of trouble.