Monday News Brief
Written by Pete Zehler on June 1, 2026
WORLD AEROBATIC CHAMPIONSHIPS SCRAPPED IN BATAVIA
The 33rd World Aerobatic Championships will no longer be coming to Genesee County this summer after organizers announced the event has been relocated from the Genesee County Airport to Mason City, Iowa.
Event officials say the decision was not due to problems with the airport itself, but rather a combination of logistical and financial challenges. Among the biggest concerns were the availability and cost of hotel rooms in the Batavia area, with organizers saying accommodations were significantly more expensive than those available in Iowa.
Officials also cited lower-than-expected commitments from international competitors, many of whom needed additional information regarding aircraft shipping, hangar space, and event logistics before committing to participate. Fundraising concerns also played a role in the decision.
Despite the loss of the championships, organizers stress that the Wings Over Batavia Air Show remains on schedule for September 5th and 6th. The World Aerobatic Championships will now be held in Mason City, Iowa, marking the first time the event has been hosted in the United States since 2013.
STREAM DONATION TO SUPPORT FITNESS PROGRAMS AT OAKFIELD-ALABAMA
Stream Data Centers has announced a new partnership with the Oakfield-Alabama Central School District aimed at supporting student health and wellness initiatives.
The latest donation from Stream will help fund the purchase and replacement of fitness equipment while also supporting community access to district facilities.
District officials say the partnership builds on previous support from Stream, which helped restore the After-School Enrichment Program, funded agricultural internships, and assisted with the purchase of a CNC plasma machine.
Acting Superintendent Robert Banzer says Stream has worked closely with the district to identify needs that benefit students, staff, and families.
Stream is proposing a data center project at STAMP in the Town of Alabama and says it remains committed to investing in the local community as the project moves forward.
CHARITY MOTORCYCLE RUN HELPS SUPPORT LOCAL VETERANS
Nearly 40 riders took part in the Veterans Post to Post Run on Saturday, organized by the Genesee County Charity Riders to raise money for local veterans.
The 97-mile ride began at the American Legion Glenn S. Loomis Post 332 and made stops in Warsaw, Scottsville, and Bergen before concluding at the VA Western New York Healthcare System facility in Batavia.
Funds raised from the event will help build an enclosure around the VA facility’s patio area, allowing veterans to use the space year-round.
Additional fundraising activities included raffles hosted by Pin Ups for a Cause and donations from local supporters.
MILITARY EMBRACES AI AS DEBATE OVER SAFEGUARDS CONTINUES
The Trump administration is pushing for expanded use of artificial intelligence across the U.S. military, but some military leaders and technology companies are urging caution as the technology rapidly evolves.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has advocated for broader military use of AI, saying the Pentagon should be able to employ the technology in any lawful way to improve battlefield effectiveness. Meanwhile, Special Operations Commander Frank Bradley says human oversight must remain central to any AI-driven targeting decisions.
Military officials say AI is already helping troops process intelligence faster, identify targets, and reduce administrative workloads, allowing service members to focus on mission-critical tasks.
The debate has also sparked a public dispute between the Pentagon and AI company Anthropic over concerns involving autonomous weapons, surveillance, and government use of advanced AI systems.
Supporters argue AI could provide a significant military advantage, while critics stress the importance of safeguards to prevent mistakes and unintended consequences in combat.
NEW PANCREATIC CANCER PILL SHOWS PROMISING RESULTS
Researchers are calling it one of the biggest advances in pancreatic cancer treatment in years. A new experimental drug known as daraxonrasib nearly doubled survival times in a major study involving patients with advanced pancreatic cancer whose disease had stopped responding to previous treatments.
Patients taking the daily pill lived a median of 13.2 months, compared to 6.7 months for those receiving additional chemotherapy. Researchers say the drug targets a mutated protein found in more than 90 percent of pancreatic cancers, a target that had proven difficult to treat for decades.
Doctors say the treatment also resulted in fewer severe side effects, less pain, and improved quality of life for many patients. The drug is now under expedited review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest forms of cancer, with more than 52,000 Americans expected to die from the disease this year.
Photo Courtesy of Jordyn Tobolski
LOCAL TEAMS EXPERIENCE CHAMPIONSHIP HIGHS AND LOWS
It was a dramatic weekend on the sectional stage for local teams.
Notre Dame baseball saw its outstanding 20-2 season end with a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Gananda in the Class C1 championship game despite a strong pitching performance from Evan Fitzpatrick. Meanwhile, Batavia softball came within three outs of a Class A title before Our Lady of Mercy rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh to hand the Blue Devils a 4-3 defeat.
But Oakfield-Alabama completed a comeback for the ages. Trailing 4-0 entering the sixth inning and down to its final five outs, the Hornets scored six runs in the sixth and held on for a 6-4 win over Fillmore to capture the Section V Class D1 championship. Savannah Durham struck out 13 and was named tournament MVP.
