Morning News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on December 8, 2022
The New York State Education Department is recommending that schools go back to mandatory masking to fight the Flu, RSV and Covid once again and superintendents for a lot of the state are saying “no.” Niagara Falls, Erie and Hamburg superintendents characterized it as going backwards and said that we are “well past mandates.” While the state is saying that kids are in danger the schools are mostly reporting that the rate of illness is average for the season. The districts say some kids and teachers are choosing to wear masks but the number is small. Mostly the advice is the same as it has been, stay home if you are sick, cover your cough or sneeze, and wash your hands regularly.
It’s been two weeks now since the New York State’s cannabis control board approved the first dispensary license. 36 licenses were approved — none of them are in Western New York. This first set of licenses are for people who were impacted by cannabis convictions in the past, called Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensaries. Western, Central NY, and the Finger Lakes are currently barred from receiving licenses due to an ongoing court case. So, if you are wanting to buy pot legally in Western NY, you’ll just have to travel or wait.
Former Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza and two of his college teammates will not face criminal charges after being accused of gang raping a 17-year-old girl while Araiza attended San Diego State University. The alleged assault happened at an off-campus party in October 2021, six months before the Bills drafted Araiza. The decision to not pursue charges came following a 124-day investigation involving more than 35 witness interviews and evidence derived from 10 search warrants that included cell phone data and video from the night in question, the San Diego County District Attorney’s office said in a statement. A still-pending civil lawsuit was filed Aug. 25, with the Bills releasing Araiza two days later.
The Genesee County 4-H Program is now accepting registrations for its 2023 4-H Tractor Safety Program. The program is open to youth age 14 and over and covers farm safety, tractor safety, tractor operation and other related topics. The National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program is a certification program that allows youth ages 14 and 15 to be certified to legally operate farm equipment for hire. After completing the training course, youth will need to pass a written knowledge test and driving test to receive the certification. The program is scheduled to run Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon, from January through April at farm machinery dealerships throughout Genesee County. The fee for the program is $25, and youth must also be currently enrolled 4-H members. Registrations are due January 28, 2023.
Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism & Substance Abuse has scheduled in-person and virtual Naloxone & Opioid Overdose Prevention Training sessions into June of next year. Twelve sessions will take place at The Recovery Station on Clinton Street Road in Batavia and six will be held at GCASA’s Outpatient Clinic in Albion starting in January. Additionally, six virtual training classes are scheduled, beginning Jan. 9. Check out our news partner the Batavian for a list of dates and times. To register, email dklos@gcasa.org or call 585 815 1883.
The Genesee Chorale is performing their annual holiday concert, From Star to Star, at 4 pm on Saturday and you are invited. Tickets are 10 dollars either at the door or at www.geneseechorale.com for the concert at St James Episcopal Church. The chorale is directed by Ric Jones. Janine Fagnan is the associate conductor, and Doug Hanson is the accompanist.
The Buffalo Bills are going to be without star defensive player Von Miller for the rest of the season. Miller underwent exploratory surgery on his knee earlier this week and it was discovered he has a torn ACL. Miller was hurt back on Thanksgiving Day when the Bills played the Lions and was placed on the injured reserve list last week. Buffalo signed the 33-year-old Miller to a six-year, 120-million-dollar contract this past offseason and he leads the team this year with eight sacks.
The Buffalo Sabres have picked up their second straight victory after a dominant effort on the road. Tage Thompson scored five goals and Dylan Cozens, Peyton Krebs, Alex Tuch, and Rasmus Dahlin also had a goal each as the Sabres smashed the Columbus Blue Jackets nine-to-four last night. Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was able to stop 20 of the 24 shots he faced in the contest. Buffalo’s next game is tomorrow night when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins.
