Morning News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on March 30, 2023
Police in Western New York are investigating alleged “swatting” incidents at some local schools. Thursday morning New York State police released a statement on social media that said it was aware of swatting incidents across the state and continued on to say “all of the reports are unfounded. We are working alongside our federal & local partners to investigate the threats.” Swatting is when someone calls the police to say there is an event happening that requires police to intervene such as a dangerous situation or threat. Dozens of school districts including Olean, Lockport, South Park, Jamestown, Silver Creek, Salamanca, Brockport, Brighton and many more had calls saying there were bombs or active shooters. All reports were investigated although schools were not evacuated. None of the calls was an actual threat. One report said that the calls may have come from a Russian call center but that report has not been substantiated. These incidents are dangerous because they take police away from necessary law enforcement but also create a “boy who cried wolf situation with the schools”. Police and the FBI are investigating and say they will take every threat seriously.
The City of Buffalo announced it has filed a lawsuit against Kia America, Inc. and Hyundai Motor America. According to the city, it intends to join other cities such as Seattle, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, St. Louis, Madison, and Milwaukee in multidistrict litigation that “seeks to hold Kia and Hyundai accountable for placing profits over safety and manufacturing, distributing, and marketing cars that are dangerously easy to steal.” The city said thefts of Kias and Hyundais have jumped significantly in Buffalo, increasing over 2,000% in January 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. In addition, in the last three months, they have made up between 57% and 67% of all vehicle thefts in Buffalo.
After a video of him went viral a 65 year old man has been charged with disorderly conduct and harassment over racist comments he made in an Aldi parking lot in Cheektowaga. Police say an argument started over a door ding and escalated into a racist tirade where Richard Stasiak used several racist epitaphs. Stasiak is scheduled to return in July for further proceedings and was released on his own recognizance as the charges are non-qualifying offenses for bail. The district attorney’s office said if convicted of the highest charge, he faces a maximum sentence of one year in jail. A temporary order of protection was issued on behalf of the victim.
Buffalo Bills Safety Damar Hamlin and his family met with President Biden Thursday. Biden said that Hamlin represented courage, resilience and spirit and was an inspiration to the American people. He applauded Hamlin turning recovery into action and said he was honored to meet him and his family. Hamlin responded in a tweet and said: “It was a pleasure & an honor meeting you today. I know your time is precious and I wouldn’t waste a second of it! Our conversations were valuable.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposal of a multi-year tuition hike for SUNY and CUNY schools could cost students thousands. Currently the average annual tuition for SUNY schools is $8,550 per year, the 8th lowest in the country and 22% below the national tuition average. Hochul’s Executive Budget calls for annual tuition increases of 3% percent annually, for both CUNY and SUNY campuses, for five years. Large research universities would be able to raise base tuition by 6% each year for the next five years, with a cap at 30 percent above the base rate for in-state students. The tuition plan is estimated to provide $97 million in new operating support to SUNY. Senators on both sides of the aisle are against the increase. The state senate’s budget intentionally omits the governor’s executive proposal to increase tuition at SUNY and CUNY.
St Paul Lutheran Church and School and the Corfu Fire Department are both having a fundraiser Chicken BBQ on Sunday. The bbq in Corfu starts at noon and goes till they run out of chicken and costs 12 dollars. Tickets for the St Paul fundraiser dinner can be bought in advance at the Church office. They are 14 dollars a dinner.
