Midday News Brief
Written by Doug Thompson on February 3, 2022
The Winter Storm Warning is on through today and into tomorrow. Predictions have not changed much; heavy, wet snow up to 12 inches is expected through Friday at 1pm, across most of Western NY. Most of the accumulation is expected to come late this afternoon and into the night. Travel may be affected by snow building up on the roads and slick conditions. With bad weather moving into the region, both air and train travel will likely be impacted. Anyone planning to travel should be aware that delays and cancellations are possible. Travelers are urged to check on the status of their flight or train departures prior to heading out.
The American Red Cross has issued some tips to help people stay safe during the storm. The agency says if you do have to drive, make sure your vehicle is winterized and that you have a windshield scraper and brush available to remove snow and ice. Officials also say to try and limit the amount of time spent outdoors and to be careful when shoveling so you don’t suffer an injury. And, have an evacuation plan in place in case you need to leave your home due to an emergency. More safety tips are available online at redcross.org.
State lawmakers have voted to approve brand new Congressional districts that are just a signature from Governor Hochul away from going into effect. The adjusted maps are projected to give Democrats an advantage in nearly all of the state’s House of Representative districts over the next decade. Good-government groups wanted public hearings to be held before the vote happened, but lawmakers say there wasn’t enough time because the new districts need to be in place by the beginning of March. Republicans in NY and across the country are critical of the re-districting and have already promised that they’ll challenge the new maps in court.
A military veteran will be going to the Super Bowl later this month thanks to Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Through a partnership with USAA and The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Allen has gifted a trip to the February 13th game in Inglewood, California to Cory Geisler. He served our country from 2005 until 2012 and achieved the rank of staff sergeant in the U.S. Army. Allen will also meet with Geisler before the contest between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals.
It was hard decision to make; however, the traditional Wyomoco 4-H season has been canceled for a third consecutive year. The 4-H camp is a decades-long tradition for youth from the GLOW region, offering horseback riding, swimming and a week of fun summer activities. But a variety of factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and staffing issues caused this summer’s season to be cancelled.
The Genesee County Health Department has scheduled a free anti-rabies immunization clinic for next week. The clinic will be held next Thursday, February 10, from 4 until 7 at the Town of Batavia Highway Garage. Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats and ferrets but donations are appreciated.
The number of new Covid cases continues to trend downward in Genesee and Orleans counties, from their peak about a month ago. The two counties reported 616 new cases from Jan. 26 to Feb. 1, with 361 in Genesee and 255 in Orleans. That is down from a high of a little over 2,700 cases in the two counties from Jan. 5-11. Statewide, there were about five hundred fewer people in the hospitals with Covid. The percentage of people testing positive keeps heading lower and is now a little over five percent.
A school safety officer is recovering after being injured while fights were happening at Wilson Magnet High School in Rochester. Police were called to the school on Genesee Street yesterday and had to break up several skirmishes that were happening throughout the building. The safety officer wasn’t seriously hurt, and two students were evaluated but didn’t need any medical care. No arrests have been made, and there’s no word what started the violence.
