Midday News Brief
Written by John Vazquez on October 8, 2021
Governor Kathy Hochul has signed five new bills aimed at reducing drug related overdose deaths. One of the bills will decriminalize possession and sale of syringes and other drug paraphernalia. Hochul says this will reduce the transmission of HIV and hepatitis. Some of the other bills will establish programs to treat inmates in state and local correctional facilities along with expanding the label of substance use disorder so judges can send people for treatment instead of to jail.
The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles is warning of a text message phishing scheme. Phishing texts are fraudulent messages that try to get your data or sensitive personal information, which is then used to either commit identity theft or trick you into installing malicious software onto a computer or mobile device.
The illegitimate text messages ask you to verify your driver’s license information and to validate your COVID-19 status. If you get this message, the DMV says delete it right away.
Get ready for a hike in gas prices this winter – to the tune of 43%. National Fuel says the price hike is because of fluctuating gas prices which is caused because of low supplies. As for how much in dollars it will cost you, National Fuel says the average home will pay, in total, $200 more this winter. You may be able to get help from New York’s Home Energy Assistance Program, which is accepting applications, and they encourage you to apply early.
Tonight the Batavia Blue Devils will host Honeyoe Falls-Lima in high school football tonight. The game is at 7 p.m. and you can hear it here on WBTA. The team is asking for donations of non perishable foods or hygiene items at tonights game. The donations will help the Family and Community Engagement Center’s Community Closet. Any non-perishable food or hygiene item donation enters you to win four season passes to Six Flags Darien Lake- good for the remainder of this season to enjoy Fright Fest and Magic of Lights. Then on Saturday, October 16, the Batavia Bulldawgs and Community Schools will be hosting another Hygiene and Food Drive at VanDetta during their games at 1, 3, 5 and 7 pm.
The Western New York National Cemetery Honor Guard for Genesee County needs volunteers to help with provide military honors in funeral services. The National Cemetery, located in Pembroke, has become the final resting place for over 600 veterans so far this year and they need help from anyone with an honorable discharge from the military. Right now there are 47 volunteers from Genesee county but the number is shrinking as winter arrives and many get ready to head south. For more information on how you can help, stop by the Batavia American Legion, 8969 Alexander Rd on Saturday, October 9 from 1-4 pm or call Carl Hyde at 585.356.2658.
