Morning News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on October 18, 2022
After a long back and forth, many conferences with his attorney and conversations in the courtroom and several recesses Raul Cruz, one of the two men charged in the the killing of 2 farm workers in Alexander in March has accepted a plea deal and admitted to the killings. Cruz, who is 18, was offered a plea deal after he tried to bribe a witness with a fentanyl and marijuana cigarette and was caught. Cruz said he didn’t understand and had to have the deal and charges explained to him multiple times. After saying he wouldn’t take the deal, he changed his mind after a conversation in the courtroom and accepted it. He will be sentenced on December 13th.
Governor Hochul announced Monday that she is ordering State Police to up their actions to stop catalytic converter thefts. Hochul signed legislation to combat the theft of the converters which sets restrictions on the purchase, sale, and possession of stolen catalytic converters by vehicle dismantlers and scrap processors. The New York State Police and the New York Department of Motor Vehicles were instructed to use their partnerships with local, state, and federal law enforcement to increase investigations in high-theft areas. Catalytic converters are made with platinum, rhodium, and palladium and are worth about 200 dollars to scrappers. This, combined with the installation location being on the outside of the car, has lead to daring broad daylight thefts that have been caught on doorbell security cameras across the country. It is estimated that the number of thefts increased from 1300 in 2018 to over 60 thousand so far this year.
An investigation is underway into what caused a crash in Buffalo that ended up sending seven children to the hospital. Officials say that the collision involving a school bus and SUV happened yesterday on Bailey Avenue in the area of Walden Avenue and Broadway. The seven kids were brought to Oishei Children’s Hospital and the driver of the SUV went to Erie County Medical Center for treatment. There’s no word on how badly any of the victims were injured.
This week is School Board Appreciation Week and at the Board of Education Meeting on Monday students from Jackson Primary, John Kennedy Intermediate, Batavia Middle School, and Batavia High School attended the meeting and read letters in support, and presented a Certificate of Appreciation to the Board of Education. The New York State School Boards Association recognizes October 17-21 as School Board Recognition Week in order to promote awareness and understanding of the important work performed by local school boards.
The two New York State Senators who are looking to represent the newly redrawn 61st District have announced a plan to take part in a debate just a few days before Election Day. Democrat Sean Ryan and Republican Ed Rath will lay out their vision to voters November 2nd at nine-30 a-m at Saint Joseph’s Collegiate Institute in Tonawanda. The debate won’t be open to the public but will be livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook. Students at the school will be moderating the debate.
Leroy Ice Cream and Diner food restaurant Sweet Betty’s is closing. Owner Gabrielle Keister says they have been forced to close because they can’t find cooks to make their foods and they are done trying to make it work while understaffed. Sweet Betty’s opened in 2020 with 25 ice cream flavors and survived the pandemic. Keister says they will participate in Winterfest December 3rd with Santa and Mrs Clause and the one mile walk. Any customers who have gift certificates should go Friday from 4-6 and get a refund or some ice cream.
After playing their first two games of the regular season on home ice, the Buffalo Sabres are set to play a road contest tonight. The Sabres are going to battle Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place. Buffalo is coming off of a four-to-three defeat at the hands of the Florida Panthers Saturday. Face-off for this evening’s game is scheduled for nine p-m.
