Morning News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on December 7, 2022
A new law is on the books that affects how social media works in New York State. Social media is now required to have a way for users to report hate speech. Hate speech is defined in the law as any conduct that “vilifies, humiliates, or incites violence.” A first of its kind in the nation, the new law requires social media companies to put in place a mechanism for reporting hate speech and also disclose how they respond to such complaints when reported. There is a lawsuit against the law from social media video hosting site Rumble which claims that the law fails to define what vilifying, humiliating or inciting violence mean and that the law violates free speech rights.
A fire in Arcade drew roughly 100 firefighters Tuesday night. The Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office said that the fire broke out at the Finger Lakes Hay and Straw building on Park Street. Crews from Arcade, North Java, Strykersville and Bliss all responded to the fire. Second Assistant Fire Chief Joshua Graham explained part of the reason it required a massive response and took so long to put out was the 15 wagon loads of hay inside the building. The sheriff’s office said no one was injured. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
A woman who was arrested for robbing 3 stores with a bb gun is back behind bars after she did it again within 30 minutes of being released. 41 year old Jessica York of Rochester was arrested after displaying a realistic looking bb gun at a restaurant, Bubble Tea spot, and at a cleaning store and taking money from the cash register. She was charged with three counts robbery and three counts of petit larceny. York was released from Monroe County Jail around 11 a.m. Saturday. About 30 minutes later, police responded to Starbucks inside the Hyatt Regency on East Main Street for a reported robbery. York allegedly had entered the shop, threatened the possibility of a weapon and stole money from the cash register. The spree continued Sunday afternoon when York forcibly stole money from a cash register at Java’s on Gibbs Street, according to police. Officers arrested her Tuesday morning on East Main Street, shortly after an unsuccessful robbery attempt at Ugly Duck Coffee on Charlotte Street, and returned her to jail.
Batavia and LeRoy police departments will hold their annual Shop With a Cop event on Saturday the 10th at the Walmart on Veterans Memorial Drive. There will be approximately 30 children shopping with officers and taking a picture with Santa. Donations have been received from Wal-Mart, H.E. Turner & Company, Inc., the Batavia Police Benevolent Association, Civil Service Employee Association, Bonarigo and McCutcheon law office, and other members of the community. Approximately $2,800 has been raised to date.
The STOP DWI program honored officers from the LeRoy and Batavia Police and the county Sheriffs who had the most DWI arrests over the last year at the Terry Hills Country Club on Monday. For Le Roy, Jordan Wolcott, for Batavia, John Gombos, and for the Sheriff’s Office, David Moore. Also honored, for the 4th time, was Byron Bergen high schooler Zoey Shepard who created the grand prize winning STOP-DWI poster for their annual contest.
The Genesee County Interagency Council, Inc. honored Esther Leadley at their monthly meeting on Nov. 16 with their first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award. The council recognized Esther with a plaque citing “outstanding service and commitment” to the council for 26-plus years. Leadley began her career in Genesee County in 1985 with Genesee Community College working with displaced homemakers. From there, Leadley worked as a member of the Genesee County Legislature and the EOP in Geneseo, as well as served on many area boards and councils. Leadley is currently a board member of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, as well as a Community Advocate.
Governor Hochul has signed a new law which combats telemarketers. The twist is, it requires you to talk to them to be effective. The legislation requires telemarketers to give customers the option to be added to the company’s do-not-call list at the beginning of certain telemarketing calls. Most people hang up right away and don’t get to the point where they could tell the marketer to add them.
