Morning News Brief
Written by Dan Fischer on April 23, 2023
New York State Health Department is weighing banning tobacco sales. The state health department commissioned a survey to gauge support for an all out prohibition of tobacco sales in the Empire State. Previously there was an attempt to pass a ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored tobacco products that failed to get through the legislature. The survey asks what people’s opinions would be on a policy to ban all tobacco products after a 10 year drawdown period or banning all tobacco sales to people born after a certain date such as 2010. The poll also solicited input on whether there’s backing for other tobacco-related measures, including capping the number of retailers who can sell “products in a community” and prohibiting its sales near schools. Michael Davoli, senior government relations director for American Cancer Society’s New York-based Cancer Action Network, said the state has “a historic opportunity” to “prevent another generation of youth from getting addicted to deadly tobacco.”
New York State Senate Majority Leader Rob Ortt announced Saturday a new bill to add theft of livestock to second-degree burglary after four incidents of trespassing and stolen animals in Niagara County. Under the proposed bill, offenders could face prison time from 3 and a half years to 15 years. The incidents have spiked after animal activists gathered in Tonawanda last weekend to allegedly learn how to “open rescue” animals from farms. One farmer, Katherine Martin, says she does not feel safe in her own home due to three separate encounters with the so-called activists. Some believe Tracy Murphy of Asha’s Farm Sanctuary is behind the call to action for so-called “Open Rescues” at area farms.
An earthquake was reported southwest of Watertown, NY just after 2 P.M. in the village of Adams Sunday afternoon. The earthquake, which registered a 3.6 magnitude on the Richter scale was felt as far away as Oswego and Rome. No reports of damage have been made at this time. A 3.6 magnitude earthquake is classified as moderate, but rarely cause any damage. There are close to 500,000 estimated earthquakes of similar magnitude each year around the world. For more information, visit the United States Geological Survey website.
East Aurora Rocket Club students are working countless hours to get ready to launch the next stage of NASA’S National Rocketry Competition. The group of six students who call themselves “The Freeloaders” are shooting for the stars while they were one of eight high schools in the nation to make it to the competition. The six students will compete against other teams at the National Finals on May 20th in Virginia, just outside Washington D.C. If their rocket and launch are the best they could win 100,000 dollars. The team of East Aurora students worked more than three thousand hours to put several of the rockets together.
Not exactly man bites dog, but a fox has terrorized an area of Brighton, biting 6 people Friday night. This happened on Hollyvale Drive where people say seeing foxes are common but never in the middle of the day next to their homes. It’s unclear if these six attacks were by the same fox or if it was rabid. People say they were out walking or grilling when a fox ran up and bit them on the leg before running away. One fox that attacked a child near the Hollyvale and Winton Road intersection was eventually caught and euthanized. It’s since been turned over to the department of health for testing to see if it is carrying any diseases including rabies.
The Volunteers for Animals Candidate, Brendan Burgess won the Mr Batavia competition on Friday night at Batavia High School. The 10 contestants took to the stage in swimsuits, costumes and tuxedos to show their talents and why they would be the best. The event raised money for several charities. Friday’s competition surpassed $5,000, bringing the 10-year fundraising total to nearly $38,000.
