Morning News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on February 3, 2023
There is a Wind Chill Advisory in effect for most of Western NY from 4am Friday to 10 AM Saturday. Winds could drive the temperature down to 20 below zero. This affects Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming Counties in the GLOW region. This is a potentially dangerous situation to be outdoors. If you must be outside, be sure to cover all exposed skin. Frostbite can occur in 30 minutes or less with apparent temperatures of 15 below zero or colder.
A Buffalo teenager has been sentenced to five years jail for his involvement in five armed robberies that targeted casino patrons and food-delivery drivers. Prosecutors say the 17-year-old committed the crimes between March and August last year. Once the teen is no longer behind bars, he will be under post-release supervision for five years. Orders of protection have been issued for the victims he robbed.
In the rollout of her proposed fiscal year 2024 Executive Budget, Governor Hochul said “conflicting language” in bail reform laws has led to confusion for judges. In her budget proposal Wednesday, Hochul discussed the need to restore judicial discretion by removing the least restrictive means standard. In the bail reform movement judges were instructed to release accused criminals on their own recognizance except on very specific circumstances. This lead to police and judges expressing frustrations as criminals returned to the streets within hours of being arrested, many of whom committed new crimes as soon as they were released. In Rochester, police said that they couldn’t stop car thieves from stealing cars multiple times in a row because they would be back out on the streets stealing again as soon as they were caught.
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney announced the introduction of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act on National Girls and Women In Sports Day. According to the press release, this legislation guarantees women and girls a fair playing field in competitive sports by ensuring that school athletics comply with the Title IX recognition of a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth. This commonsense bill ensures that biological females are not forced to compete against men in women’s competitive sports funded through Title IX. The bill is co sponsored by 15 other Republican Congresspersons.
Over 200 healthcare workers at nursing home facilities in Dunkirk, Eden, Salamanca, and Houghton are demanding contract negotiations and better pay, after their contract ended on Dec. 31. The nursing home facilities are owned by Personal Healthcare, a company in Tarrytown New York, and the staff say they have been faced with dire situations. Nurses say they are working 16 hour shifts and having to use sheets and pillowcases to clean residents because there is no staff working the laundry. Rural healthcare facilities have been faced with low wages and conditions that they say make it hard to do their jobs well.
Volunteers For Animals members are asking folks to take a “paws” next Sunday and attend the Batavia Super Sunday Craft and Gift Market coming soon to Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel. The event, featuring craft and gift vendors, plus door prizes and free admission, is set for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 12. All proceeds are to go towards Genesee County Animal Shelter on West Main Street Road in Batavia, and the nonprofit VFA of Genesee County. The first vendor fair was postponed due to COVID — in 2021, and was put on last year.
Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres will be spending some time in the Sunshine State this weekend to play in the NHL All-Star Game. Dahlin has been chosen to replace teammate Tage Thompson in the contest after Thompson was injured in Buffalo’s five-to-one loss to the Carolina Hurricanes Wednesday night. Dahlin has already scored 14 goals this season and tallied 41 assists. The All-Star Game is tomorrow at FLA Live Arena which is the home of the Florida Panthers.
The American Red Cross is now offering new incentives in hopes of getting more people to roll up their sleeves and donate blood. The Red Cross says anyone who donates in the next few weeks will get a 10-dollar Amazon.com gift card in their email. They’ll also be entered to win a trip for two to Florida including round-trip airfare, a three-night hotel stay and a 750-dollar gift card for expenses. To schedule an appointment to donate, go to redcrossblood.org.
