Monday News Brief

The ceremonial groundbreaking at the site of the brand-new stadium for the Buffalo Bills was held this morning. Governor Hochul and Bills owner Terry Pegula were among the people holding ‘golden shovels’. The more than one-billion-dollar facility is located near Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. The state and the Bills are going to be covering most of the cost of this project. The hope is that the stadium will be open for the 2026 season.

 

This Thursday, June 8th, Dewey, Madison, Adams, and Orleans Avenues will be closed to all through traffic, for pavement resurfacing. Residents are asked not to park on these streets on Thursday. All motorists that regularly use these streets are asked to seek alternative routes while the closures are in place. Please contact the Bureau of Maintenance at 345-6400 (Option 1) with questions.

 

An Air Quality Advisory is issued for today, for the entire Western and Central New York regions. It’s in effect until midnight tonight. The pollutant of concern is particulate matter in part from the wildfires in the Montreal, Quebec region. (Particulate matter, also known as particle pollution, is a complex mixture of small solid particles and liquid droplets in the air. Some particulate matter, like soot, smoke, dust, or dirt, is large enough to see. Fine particulate matter is so small that it can only be seen through an electron microscope.)

 

Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation today announced the indictment and arraignment of New York State Trooper Anthony Nigro IV on charges of Manslaughter in the First and Second Degrees. The indictment alleges Trooper Nigro shot and killed James Huber in Buffalo in February 12, 2022. Trooper Nigro was arraigned today in Erie County Supreme Court and pleaded not guilty. He was released on his own recognizance. Manslaughter in the First Degree is a Class B violent felony and carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and five years of supervised release. The history: On the morning of February 12, 2022, members of the New York State Police were pursuing Mr. Huber, who was speeding and driving erratically on Interstate 90 near Buffalo. The NYSP called off the chase when Mr. Huber exited the highway. A short time later, Mr. Huber stopped his car near the intersection of Washington Street and East Eagle Street in Buffalo. Trooper Nigro approached the car, and during an interaction with Mr. Huber, fired his service weapon and shot Mr. Huber, who was unarmed. Mr. Huber was pronounced dead at the scene.  (Released photos)

 

 

The FBI is now helping out with looking into a data breach that affected both students and staff at the University of Rochester. The school says that the breach was the result of a software issue with a product provided by a third-party file transfer company. The full impact of the breach is still unknown and everyone at the school is being urged to take action to protect their personal information. Anyone who notices suspicious activity with their account is asked to report it.

 

 

The cost of gas is holding steady. According to Triple A this morning, the national average cost for a gallon of regular fuel is now sitting at $3.55. The state average is $3.70 and in Batavia, we’re paying $3.65. That’s the same as it was a week ago; a penny less than a month ago but $1.09 less than it was a year ago today.

 

 

The New York State Thruway Authority is holding a virtual public hearing today from 4:00 – 7:00pm to get feedback from Empire State residents on proposed toll hikes.  Anyone who wants to take part in the hearing needs to register in advance. If these hikes are approved, E-ZPass holders would see a 5% toll increase next year followed by another 5% hike in 2027. Streaming of the meeting is available here: https://www.thruway.ny.gov/index.shtml

 

State lawmakers are expected to be back at the Capitol today to begin the final few days of this year’s legislative session. One bill that is still being debated is called the Clean Slate Act, which would allow some individuals who have completed their sentences to have their criminal records sealed after a specific period of time. There is also an ongoing push to pass good cause eviction legislation that’d limit the power of landlords to evict tenants. The legislative session is scheduled to end on Thursday.

 

 

The Muckdogs had their largest turnout for a home opener in Dwyer Stadium history on Saturday night with 3,711 in attendance to watch the Dogs take on the Elmira Pioneers. The Muckdogs were looking for a better start to their season after a loss on the road to Elmira and got it, with a 5-4 win. The night was also made more exciting by bands playing for the crowd, cheerleaders, and a fireworks display. The Muckdogs will be home again tomorrow night for a match up against the Niagara Power at 6:35.

 

 

Fans of the Buffalo Bandits can now get their hands on apparel to help them celebrate the team’s National Lacrosse League championship. The Bandits beat the Colorado Mammoth by a final score of 13 to 4 at KeyBank Center on Saturday night. It’s the first time that the Bandits have won a title since 2008. Championship shirts can be purchased online by going to bandits.com.

 

 

Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver and the team have agreed to a 4-year extension. The deal is reportedly worth $68,000,000 (million) with 45 of that guaranteed. Last season Oliver racked up 34 total tackles, alongside two and a half sacks. Since being drafted 9th overall by the Bills in 2019, Oliver played in every game before the 2022 season in which he appeared in only 13 games. Oliver becomes the first defensive tackle signed through the 2024 season on Buffalo’s roster.

ELSEWHERE…

The strawberry moon is lighting up the sky this weekend. It’s the last full moon of spring and the name comes from Native American tribes “to mark the ripening of ‘June-bearing’ strawberries that are ready to be gathered,” according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. NASA says the moon will appear full for three days, starting Saturday night. The space agency says it will shine brightest at 11:42pm.

 

 

Seniors at a Pennsylvania high school have pulled off the ultimate senior prank. According to the TODAY Show, the students at Middletown devised a plan to stay up past their bedtime, sneak into their principal’s home and hideout until she woke up one morning. The principal of St. Andrew’s School was shocked to find out her husband was in on the prank and let them in hours earlier. They all had breakfast together before going back to their real homes.

 

A new report from the U.S. Postal Service shows that mail carriers have reason to be cautious of man’s best friend. The USPS reports that dogs attacked more than 5300 postal workers last year. Houston, Texas had the highest number of dog attacks on USPS workers last year with 57.

 

 

An electric version of Volkswagen’s iconic VW bus will be available in North American next year. The carmaker will start selling the VW ID Buzz in 2024. The VW bus hasn’t been sold in North American in two decades.

 

 

 

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed a House Bill into law late last week, making the ‘Yellowhammer Cookie’ the official state cookie. She noted, “Sweet Home Alabama just officially got a little sweeter!” The cookie, which was invented by a Montgomery fourth-grader Mary Claire Cook, contains pecans, contains pecans and peanuts; both of which are recognized as crops of historical and agricultural significance in the state (the peanut is the state legume and pecans, the official state nut). The youngster collaborated with her grandmother to create the ‘Yellowhammer Cookie’, after her class at Trinity Presbyterian School began studying state symbols. The fourth-graders learned that the state didn’t have an officially named cookie, so they endeavored to make one. Cook’s entry was deemed the best of the 26 submitted by her and her classmates. And if you’d like to make it yourself, here is the recipe:

Yellowhammer Cookies

Yield: 24 cookies

COOKIES:
· 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
· 2 teaspoons baking soda
· 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
· 1 teaspoon salt
· 1 1/2 cups butter, melted and slightly cooled
· 2 cups brown sugar
· 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
· 2 eggs
· 4 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
· 24 pecan halves

FILLING:
· 1 cup peanut butter
· 2 tablespoons honey
· 1 cup powdered sugar
· 1/2 cup melted butter

BAKING AND ASSEMBLY:
1. In a bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
2. In a separate bowl, using a hand or stand mixer, beat together butter, brown sugar, vanilla, and eggs. Add flour mixture and stir well.
3. Add oats and continue beating until well mixed.
4. Cover and refrigerate dough for two hours.
5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
6. Form dough into 48 1-1/2 inch balls and flatten. Arrange on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Place a pecan half on 24 of the cookies, which will become the top of the finished treat.
7. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until set.
8. Make the filling: Mix peanut butter, honey, butter and powdered sugar and beat to combine, about three minutes.
9. Spread filling between two cookies, topping with the pecan-topped halves and sandwich together.

 

Today is Monday, June 5th, the 156th day of the year.

June 5 in history…

 

… In 1917, American men began registering for the draft in World War One.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1937, Henry Ford initiated a 32-hour work week.

 

 

 

 

…In 1968, then Senator Robert F. Kennedy was shot by an assassin while campaigning for the Democratic U.S. presidential nomination in California. He died the next day. Gunman Sirhan Sirhan was arrested for the attack.

 

…In 1998, five assembly plants closed after workers walked off their jobs at a General Motors parts factory near Detroit. The strike crippled productivity nationwide for seven weeks.

 

 

 

…In 2004, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease, former President Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, died at his home in California at the age of 93. He appeared in 52 films and served as the President of The Screen Actors Guild for several years before he was elected Governor of the State of California and later President of the United States.

 

 

 

…In 2007, former White House aide Lewis “Scooter” Libby was sentenced to 30 months in prison and fined $250,000. Libby was convicted in March on four felony counts of giving false statements to FBI agents and grand jurors looking into how the name of CIA operative Valerie Plame was leaked to the press.