Monday News Brief

28-year-old Jarrod Fotiathis of Batavia has been charged with criminal mischief and escape after he allegedly escaped from the custody of a corrections officer and a secured area of the Genesee County Jail. He also then allegedly broke property within the jail to facilitate his escape. The incident occurred on July 15th; Fotiathis was convicted of a class E felony. He was issued appearance tickets for arraignment in City Court tomorrow.

 

 

 

32-year-old Joseph Jeffords of Batavia has been indicted by a Genesee County Grand Jury. He’s accused of the crime of falsifying business records, a class E felony. It’s alleged he made a false entry in the business records at Pawn King with the intent to defraud and conceal the commission of petit larceny. Jeffords is accused of stealing property while at Dick’s Sporting Goods on Veteran’s memorial Drive.

 

 

 

Pennsylvania police have captured an escaped prisoner who’s been on the run for more than a week. Authorities in Wayne County announced that Michael Burham was captured without incident Saturday in a wooded area near the town of Warren. He’s being held in the Erie County prison in Pennsylvania. The homicide suspect, who was considered dangerous and was said to have “survivalist skills,” escaped from the Warren County Prison in northwest Pennsylvania last week by breaking out through the roof. More than 200 officers joined the search in a nearby rugged wooded area and parts of Western New York.

 

 

Governor Kathy Hochul is warning New Yorkers that the unhealthy air from Canadian wildfires that plagued the region this last month could return today. The governor says western and northern New York State is of particular concern because of the smoke. New York environmental conservation officials have issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for the state today because of elevated air pollution levels. An Ozone Advisory is also in effect until 8:00pm this evening.

 

 

Nurses at Rochester Regional Health say they’re prepared to strike this week if they’re unable to reach an agreement with management about low staffing levels. Members of the Rochester Union of Nurses and Allied Professionals say they’re dealing with an increase in patients’ needs as staffing levels fall. Rochester Regional Health officials say they’ve made significant progress in tackling staffing levels by recruiting more than 150 nurses so far this year. But nurses say they saw a patient returned to the emergency department because there were not enough staffers.

 

The Genesee County Fair is back starting this Saturday and running through the 29th. There will be nightly live music, daily 4-H animal shows, pig races, woodcarving, fair queen and princess pageants and a larger midway with games and rides. There will be a special preview Friday afternoon starting at 3. The cost is $10 per car for entry. Rides are $15 for a wristband to get on all the rides; there are also special tickets for the demolition derby and Enduro 100 Lap Race. Visit gcfair.com for full details.

 

 

Seven men are facing charges in Buffalo after police executed search warrants at several locations around the city. Police say three specific search warrants at residences on West Ferry Street, Pennsylvania Avenue and Titus Avenue late last week. A large amount of narcotics, including cocaine, meth, ketamine and fentanyl, were seized during the arrests. Those taken into custody face a slew of drug-related counts.

 

 

 

Buffalo Public Schools is hiring security officers. Officials there tell us that anyone who wants to apply to be a security officer in the district should apply on the BPS website. Interviews will be held on July 25th. Applicants have to be Buffalo residents and BPS officials say those with security guard experience are especially wanted.

 

 

The Batavia Muckdogs were defeated 4-2 by the Newark Pilots and now have two upcoming road games against the Niagara Power tonight and the Jamestown Tarp Skunks tomorrow. And then, there’s no place like home…the Muckdogs host the Tarp Skunks Wednesday night. Players take the field at 6:35.

 

ELSEWHERE…

 

Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain are impacting travelers across the Northeast. FlightAware reports there were more than 9,400 flight delays Sunday. More than 1,700 flights were canceled. The severe weather prompted ground stops at John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports in New York and Newark Airport in New Jersey.

 

 

Pro golfer Rory McIlroy says he’ll retire before ever swinging a club for LIV Golf. McIlroy made his feelings known Thursday after the first round of the Scottish Open, when he was asked about him and Tiger Woods being named as possible team owners of the Saudi-backed golf organization. McIlroy said, “If LIV Golf was the last place to play golf on Earth, I would retire.”

 

Lottery fever may be setting in as a pair of huge jackpots continues to roll. The top prize for Monday night’s Powerball drawing is now an estimated $900 million after no one matched all six numbers in Saturday’s drawing. The Mega Millions jackpot will be worth at least $640 million when the numbers are drawn Tuesday. Please play responsibly.

 

 

A former movie studio head predicts disaster if the actors and writers strikes aren’t settled soon. Speaking on CBS’ Face the Nation, IAC and Expedia Chair Barry Diller suggests a September 1st “settlement deadline,” similar to a strike deadline. Diller says the biggest obstacle is there is no trust between the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers, which represents the studios, and the actors and writers unions.

 

The first state-approved marijuana dispensary is set to open in the Buffalo region later this week. Herbal IQ in Depew is set to throw open its doors to cannabis consumers on Friday. The owners of Herbal IQ were granted a conditional adult-use marijuana retail dispensary license by the state two months ago and they’ve been working ever since to get their shop open.

 

Today is Monday, July 17th, the 198th day of the year.

 

July 17 in history…

 

…In 1941, New York Yankee slugger Joe DiMaggio went hitless in a game against the Cleveland Indians. The hitless day ended his record 56-game hitting streak.

 

 

 

 

…In 1955, the Disneyland theme park opened in Anaheim, California.

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1961, John Chancellor replaced Dave Garroway as host of NBC’s “Today” show.

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1968, the Beatles feature-length cartoon “Yellow Submarine” premiered at the London Pavilion.

 

 

 

 

…In 1984, the U.S. passes the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, prohibiting those under the age of 21 from buying or possessing alcohol.