Monday News Brief

The City of Batavia Fire Department will be flushing fire hydrants today until approximately 3:00 in the general area of North of Main Street and West of Bank Street. Homes and businesses nearby will be affected. These tests may result in a temporary discoloration of water in that area. As is always the case, do not attempt to wash any clothing if your water appears discolored. If you do experience a discoloration of your water, run cold water for about 5 minutes or until clear. If you have questions or notice a hydrant in need of repair, please call the fire department at 345-6375.

 

Today, until about 4:00pm, the portion of Commerce Drive in front of #4300 will be closed to all through traffic for a storm water pipe repair.   Access to all properties within the area of Commerce Drive will be maintained.  All Commerce Drive traffic is to enter and exit using the East intersection with Federal Drive.

 

 

 

After a delay, the trial of Kelvin Vickers is scheduled to resume today. There was no court held Friday after both a juror and witness reported getting sick. Both the defense and prosecution laid out their opening statements last week. Vickers is accused of murdering Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz and also trying to kill his partner back in July of last year. The trial is expected to last up to five weeks.

 

 

Emergency management agencies from counties across the state are going to be splitting more than $7 million in federal funding. The money can be used for things such as training and exercises, equipment, and staffing. To receive the funds, each county must create initiatives to boost their preparedness and response to potential hazards. In our region, Monroe County received the most money.

 

The Buffalo Police Department is continuing to look into an officer-involved shooting over the weekend. Officers were called to investigate a report of a suicidal man at a house on Tonawanda Street near Hertel Avenue Saturday. The 36-year-old was found to have a pellet gun, and police tried to get him to drop it. Eventually, one officer opened fire and hit the man in the shoulder. The officer is now on administrative leave and the man is facing charges.

 

 

Gas prices are once again holding steady for another week. According to Triple A this morning, the national average price for a gallon of regular gas is $3.85. The State average is 3.92. In Batavia, we’re paying $3.85 per gallon; that’s a penny more than it was a week ago; a penny less than it was a month ago; and exactly the same that it was a year ago today. Moving forward, the experts at Triple A say we may have passed the highest price for gas this year as demand drops off for the rest of the year and prices per barrel of oil remain steady. If the price per barrel goes up, the per gallon price will most likely stay the same; but if it remains steady the price will likely drop as demand goes down.

 

An investigation is still underway into what triggered a multi-vehicle crash on the Kensington Expressway. Authorities tell The Buffalo News the collision occurred late Saturday night on the highway near the split with Scajaquada Expressway in Buffalo. At least four cars were involved in the incident. However, there were no injuries reported.

 

With repayments on federal student loans set to resume in October, the state Division of Consumer Protection is offering tips to borrowers to avoid being scammed. The agency recommends people never trust a person or program that promises to help get their loans reduced or cancelled for a fee. It is also suggested that folks be weary of phishing scams and be careful about the personal information they share online. Scams can be reported by calling 1-800-433-3243.

 

 

The Buffalo Bills nearly had a shutout win against the Washington Commanders yesterday. The final score was 37 to 3 with Josh Allen both running and throwing a touchdown. Allen was 20 of 32 with 218 yards passing, including a 35-yard TD pass to Gabe Davis. He added a 10-yard scamper into the end zone among his 46 yards rushing. He did throw one interception in the 3rd quarter. The Commanders quarterback was sacked 9 times during the game. The Bills host the Dolphins next Sunday, with kickoff scheduled for 1:00.

 

 

The Buffalo Bisons closed out their season over the weekend by starting the game with an emotional first pitch. The ball was thrown by the 4-year-old daughter of fallen firefighter Jason Arno. Arno died fighting a fire on Main Street in Allentown last March. His daughter Olivia took the mound at Sahlen field for the fundraiser game against Norfolk; all proceeds went to the Firefighter Arno Memorial Foundation.

 

ELSEWHERE…

A rare $10,000 bill from the Great Depression has sold at auction for $480,000. Heritage Auctions of Dallas says the large-denomination U.S. note was printed in Boston in 1934, and features the face of Abraham Lincoln’s Secretary of Treasury Salmon P. Chase. The auction house says the bill is of exceptional quality, and noted that this month’s winning bid broke the record for a $10,000 bill from 1934.

 

Folks will be able to order more free COVID-19 tests online starting today. The federal government is re-launching its program to provide free COVID tests now that most insurance companies aren’t covering the cost with the expiration of the pandemic emergency declaration this past spring. Each household can order up to four tests online at covidtests.gov. As for the unused tests you still have at home, don’t throw them out even if the expiration date has passed. Health officials say check the lot numbers because many of those dates have been extended and they’ll be listed on the website, too.

 

American support for Ukraine in its war with Russia seems largely split along party lines. A new ABC News/Washington Post survey released Sunday finds 41% think the U.S. is doing too much to support Ukraine, up from 33% in February. Half said the U.S. is helping the right amount or not enough. Broken down by party affiliation, 58% of Republicans think the U.S. is doing too much compared with 22% of Democrats.

 

Coming up in the business week ahead, there are some key reports to keep an eye out on. Investors today will get earnings results from Costco, but there are no major economic reports to digest. That changes Tuesday with data on new home sales, consumer confidence and the S&P Case-Shiller home price index. Revised GDP numbers come down on Thursday along with initial jobless claims and remarks by Fed Chairman Jerome Powell. The week wraps up with personal incoming and spending on Friday as well as consumer sentiment.

 

The first asteroid sample collected in space by NASA is back on Earth. NASA’s Osiris-Rex spacecraft released a capsule containing soil from the asteroid Bennu that then safely parachuted into the Utah desert Sunday west of Salt Lake City. The robotic spacecraft was launched in 2016 and landed on the asteroid in 2020, where it collected a sample from the surface of Bennu. NASA says the mission will help scientists understand “how planets formed and how life began,” and “improve our understanding of asteroids that could impact Earth.”

 

Today is Monday, September 25th, the 268th day of the year.

September 25 in history…

…In 1789, the first U.S. Congress adopted 12 amendments to the Constitution and sent them to the states for ratification. Ten of the 12 were approved and became the Bill of Rights.

 

 

…In 1926, Henry Ford announced the eight-hour, five-day workweek.

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1957, nine black children were escorted to class at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. The group had been forced to withdraw from class due to unruly white crowds.

 

 

 

…In 1964, the situation comedy, “Gomer Pyle, USMC” debuted starring Jim Nabors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1974, scientists say the use of aerosol sprays will harm ozone, thus leading to global weather changes.

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1992, NASA launches The Mars Observer probe. It would fail 11 months later.

 

 

 

 

…Also in 1992, a Florida judge ruled it was legal for 12-year-old Gregory Kingsley to divorce his parents.

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 2005, Emmy Award-winning actor Don Adams died at the age of 82. Adams is best remembered for his role as bumbling secret agent Maxwell Smart on the 1960s spy spoof “Get Smart.” He was also known for his voice over work as the cartoon characters Inspector Gadget and Tennessee Tuxedo.

 

 

 

 

…In 2014, Derek Jeter played his last home game for the New York Yankees, in which he hit the game-winning RBI.

 

 

 

 

…In 2018, actor and comedian Bill Cosby was sentenced to 3 to 10 years in prison for a sexual assault that happened in 2004, becoming the first celebrity to be sent to prison during the #MeToo era.