Midday News Brief
Written by Doug Thompson on December 28, 2021
Governor Kathy Hochul says there are no plans to shut down schools as the number of COVID-19 cases rise across the Empire State. Governor Hochul said yesterday that testing kits will soon be distributed to districts in an effort to help them test students for coronavirus. Her administration will talk with superintendents today to discuss the best ways to keep kids safe in school. Governor Hochul is continuing to urge parents whose children are eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to have them get their shots immediately so they have additional protection against the virus.
The investigation continues into an armed robbery that happened at a T-Mobile store in Rochester. Police say an employee at the West Main Street store told them he was robbed at gunpoint and that the suspect took at least one phone and cash before leaving the scene. No one inside the business at the time of the robbery was hurt. No arrests have been made and anyone with information is asked to dial 9-1-1 immediately.
There are a few laws going into effect in the New Year that impact every New Yorker. The big one is of course the legality of recreational marijuana. Many municipalities have voted to allow the sale of marijuana and the whole state is open to use. If you want to get married and rent a limo you need to find one that has seat belts for every passenger. A new law goes into effect that stops insurers from charging more for homeowner insurance based on the breed of dog you have. Renters are not affected. And lastly, mobile sports betting becomes legal this year.
Batavia Police continue to welcome information about 2 separate burglaries of Batavia gas stations over the weekend. In both incidents, two suspects smashed a front window with construction debris found near the gas stations. The Batavia Police Department is looking for assistance identifying the suspects or if any citizens observed any suspicious events near the Valero Gas Station on Sunday, December 26, at or about 5:00 a.m. You may use the CONFIDENTIAL TIP LINE at (585) 345-6370. Pictures of the suspects are available on the website of WBTA’s news partner, The Batavian.
After urging from a majority of the state Senate, the state survey assessing gaps to New York’s broadband internet access was expanded to include paper surveys. This is provided to include individuals who lack access to high-speed Internet. New Yorkers have until February 28th to complete the survey. Paper surveys are available by calling 1-855-692-2627.
The Monroe County Department of Public Health says the number of residents who have lost their lives due to the coronavirus has increased by 18. The latest victims passed away between December 8th and 20th, bringing the death toll since the pandemic started to 1,568. There were also over 1400 new infections reported between Saturday and Monday, pushing that tally to 109,309.
The CDC has issued new guidance on how quarantines after a person has tested positive for COVID should be handled. Their new advice is that persons who test positive should only be in isolation for 5 days instead of 10 or the initial recommendation of 14. To minimize risk the people who are released after 5 days should be asymptomatic and agree to wear a mask for the next 5 days. Governor Hochul says she agrees and that New York State will keep following the data and science-based public health policies to protect New Yorkers.
Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel has donated dog food, cat food, litter boxes, cat litter and more to the Genesee County Animal Shelter. Batavia Downs gift bags also went to all shelter volunteers to thank them for helping with animals in need.
