Morning News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on May 5, 2022
New York Attorney General Letitia James has publicly disclosed that she had an abortion almost two decades ago as part of her speech defending abortion at an abortion rights rally Tuesday. She said that she chose to do so when she was a newly elected New York City Council member. She said she makes “no apologies” for her decision. The 63-year-old James won a City Council race in 2003 to begin her political career. As attorney general since 2018, she has proposed a state fund to help out-of-state women who can’t get abortions to travel and get the procedure done in New York.
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday that $11 million in funding from the recently enacted state budget is now available and will be used to expand the Healthy Families New York Program to every county in the state. The program focuses on preventative community outreach by providing voluntary home visitation to expectant parents and families with infants. The program is run by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services and promotes prenatal care, better birth outcomes, and positive growth and development to improve parent-child bonding, maternal health, child health, and school success, according to the governor. Hochul says a request for proposals is out for $9 million to expand the program to every county in the state and the additional $2 million will sustain the technical assistance, training, and data system required to support the expanding program.
Two Pennsylvania men, one accused of murder, were arrested last month after a traffic stop in the Town of Perry. The Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office says while officers were patrolling St. Rt. 20A in Perry, they stopped a vehicle for multiple traffic violations on April 21st. 25 year old Lonelle Fogan, of Philadelphia, was found allegedly driving with a suspended New York State license and in possession of a controlled substance. Fogan was charged with driver’s view obstructed, unregistered motor vehicle, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th, and Aggravated Unlicensed Operation in the 3rd degree. It was later determined that the passenger, 28 year old Richard Smith of Philadelphia, who was identifying himself as Raevon Fogan to deputies, was wanted in connection to a double homicide in Colwyn, Pennsylvania, dating back to August 2017. Smith is being held in the Wyoming County Jail without bail, pending extradition to Pennsylvania.
6 pm tonight is when residents of Batavia can meet the candidates for School Board at the Board of Education meeting held in the Superintendents Conference Room at Batavia High School. John Marucci, Board VP who has 2 kids in high school and 2 who graduated and US Army veteran and father of 3 Chezeray Rolle are up for reelection. Korinne Anderson who graduated from LeRoy and has been volunteering in elementary and middle school programs while her 3 children have been in school in Batavia is looking to join the board as a new member. The meeting is also an opportunity to go over the School budget.
