Midday News Brief
Written by Dan Fischer on September 24, 2021
A Batavia man is facing new felony charges of rape and sexual assault in a case that goes back seven years. 40-year-old Melvin Huntley of Wilkinson Road has now been charged with Rape in the 1st Degree, 1st Degree sexual abuse and predatory sexual assault.
Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputies said the on-going investigation found that Huntley had subjected a total of four victims to various incidents of sexual assault over the course of seven years. Deputies say Huntley was previously charged in relation to the initial three victims but these new charges relate to a recently discovered fourth victim. Huntley remains in the Genesee County Jail.
State health officials say Western New York has the second-lowest vaccination rate among home nursing staff of any region in New York. They say 22 percent of nursing home staff remain unvaccinated. This Monday, the vaccination deadline for health care workers takes effect. Governor Hochul has said the state will find replacements for those employees who are not yet vaccinated by the deadline.
Legendary Notre Dame High School Basketball Coach Mike Rapone says the upcoming season will be his last.
His last season will be his 42nd at the helm of one of Section 5’s most successful boys basketball programs.
The school says Rapone’s replacement will be announced before the start of the upcoming season.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R-Batavia) says today he’s happy to see State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker go.
Hawley has been a frequent critic of Zucker and demanded his resignation on many occasions. Hawley questioned the role Zucker may have played in the potential cover-up of the true number of fatalities that occurred in nursing homes during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bills Mafia probably won’t find this news surprising but a website has ranked Bills’ fans among the most loyal fans in the NFL.
The website called Lineups-dot-com surveyed pro football fans about fan behavior when they move away from their hometown. Bills fans are ranked third most loyal, right behind a couple of other diehard fanbases — Green Bay and Dallas. The survey also found that people who moved to the Buffalo area often switch to supporting the Bills.
