Morning News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on April 7, 2022
A 345 million dollar, 3,443 acre solar farm is coming to the Town of Byron. The New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment granted approval for Excelsior Energy Center, LLC to build and operate a 280-megawatt solar farm with 20 MWs of battery storage in the Town of Byron which is enough to power 74,000 homes. The GCEDC said it would create new jobs, provide long-term revenue and economic development to the town and county. The project will create 290 jobs during construction, three to four full-time positions, and opportunities for landscaping and snow plowing throughout the life of the project. It is estimated the project will provide $117.5 million in economic impacts.
Gov. Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers inched closer to a budget agreement on Wednesday — six days after the spending plan was due — but they didn’t cross the finish line. After being in session for just over five minutes, the Senate adjourned until later this morning, ensuring that there won’t be any budget bills ready for the chamber to vote on until at least then. Hochul and the Legislature are keeping details of the budget talks close to the vest, but Senate Deputy Majority Leader Mike Gianaris confirmed that one major sticking point is close to being settled. He said there’s consensus on making some changes to the state’s 2019 criminal justice reforms that ended most forms of cash bail.
Genesee Community College’s Forum Players will be presenting Alice In Wonderland by Brainerd Duffield, an adaptation of Lewis Caroll’s famous work that takes a darker tone April 21-23rd at 7:30pm. In this version of the show, wonderland is a nightmare allegory for growing up and the Players warn that this is a show for adults and isn’t suitable for children under 16 years old. You can contact the Stuart Steiner Theatre box office for more information and ticket sales.
The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce the next edition of its Java with Joe E. morning presentation group on Thursday, April 28 at 9 am. This month Director Ryan Duffy will share the local connection of Joseph Burke and “The Swedish Nightingale,” Jenny Lind. Burke was a backup musician for Lind when she traveled around the world with P.T. Barnum. Burke had a summer home in Alexander, NY where Lind visited several times. The event is free to the public.
Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs will be staying in Buffalo for several more years. Diggs signed a four-year contract extension with the Bills, reportedly worth $104 million, meaning Diggs will play for the Bills for the next six years. According to a tweet from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, he would make $70 million guaranteed. In total, Diggs would be paid $121.4 million over the next six years of his contract. According to Schefter, the hope from both sides is that he would retire a Bill.
