Morning News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on October 8, 2021
Governor Kathy Hochul signed 5 new bills aimed at reducing drug related overdose deaths yesterday. Among the legislation was a bill to decriminalize possession and sale of syringes and other drug paraphernalia. Hochul says this will reduce the transmission of HIV and hepatitis. Also legislation was included that establishes programs to treat inmates in state and local correctional facilities. Another bill expands the label of substance use disorder so judges can order individuals to treatment instead of incarceration.
National Fuel is warning customers ahead of the winter months to get ready for a hike in gas prices. How much of a hike? 43 percent. They say the rise and continually fluctuating price of gas due to low supply is the culprit for why the average home will see an increase from 498 dollars for fuel for the entire winter to 714 dollars. New York’s Home Energy Assistance Program is accepting applications and encourages people to apply early.
Buffalo Mayoral hopeful India Walton’s car was towed for an expired inspection sticker and multiple unpaid parking tickets and she says she may be getting targeted by Mayor Byron Brown. Walton accused Mayor Brown of a “deliberate act of harassment and intimidation.” She says that Brown may have targeted her with petty vindictiveness in the same way he targets black, poor and working class Buffalo residents instead of taxing his rich friends. Critics have pointed out that she wants to run the city but hasn’t paid her own fines. Some supporters are offering to pay her fees and fines for her.
The Batavia Blue Devils are asking for donations of non perishable foods or hygiene items at tonights game against the Honeoye-Falls Lima Cougars at 7pm. Help support your community by bringing donations for the Family and Community Engagement Center’s Community Closet! Any non-perishable food or hygiene item donation enters you to win four season passes to Six Flags Darien Lake- good for the remainder of this season to enjoy Fright Fest and Magic of Lights. Then on Saturday, October 16, the Batavia Bulldawgs and Community Schools will be hosting another Hygiene and Food Drive at VanDetta during their games at 1, 3, 5 and 7 pm.
The Western New York National Cemetery Honor Guard for Genesee County is looking for volunteers to help with the important task of providing military honors in funeral services. The National Cemetery, located in Pembroke, has become the final resting place for over 600 veterans so far this year and they need help from anyone with an honorable discharge from the military. Right now there are 47 volunteers from Genesee county but the number is shrinking as winter arrives and many get ready to head south. For more information on how you can help, stop by the Batavia American Legion, 8969 Alexander Rd on Saturday, October 9th from 1-4 pm or call Carl Hyde at 585.356.2658.
Buffalo Bills and New York State may be looking downtown in Buffalo for their new Stadium. In the proposal from Empire State Development and engineering firm AECOM, one of the sites for a new stadium for the Bills would be at South Park Avenue and Louisiana Street in Buffalo. The Bills previously said they were looking into building a new stadium in Orchard Park on Abbott Road and would not continue to play in Highmark Stadium after the team’s lease with Erie County ends after 2023.
The tradition of food challenges continues for the Buffalo Bills in their game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. The Kansas City, Mo. Police Department is challenging the Buffalo Police Department and whoever’s team wins gets food from the losing city. If the Bills beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, the Kansas City Police Department will give Buffalo police barbecue from Gates Bar-B-Q. If the Chiefs win, Buffalo police will need to send Kansas City police chicken wings. The Chiefs beat the Bills in the AFC Championship Game in January.
