Morning News Brief

Have you noticed it’s a little bit…yellow outside?  The haze is coming from wildfires still raging out of control in Canada and the smoke is causing our region to have low air quality as there are high amounts of particulates.  It is recommended that residents not spend much time outside and abstain from any manual labor or strenuous activity.  That is why Batavia City Schools have canceled all outdoor activities for today.  The section 5 flag football game is scheduled to go on as planned but may be rescheduled.  Keep an eye on BCSD’s facebook page for updates.  

Governor Hochul issues a statement about the air quality advisory and the ways the wildfires in Canada are impacting New Yorkers.  She said that New York has deployed DEC Forest Rangers and Wildfire Firefighters to Quebec to assist.  This is the first time that a New York State Forest Ranger has been deployed to Canada since 2005.  The Air Quality Index in Western New York is over 120.  A normal AQI is 0 to 50.  Right now the index is showing that members of sensitive groups may experience health effects but the general public is less likely to be affected.  

5 officers were injured in an attack at Wyoming Correctional Facility on the 30th of May.  An inmate at the facility began flailing his arms and screaming in the dorms.  When officers began to move the inmate to the recreational area he turned and struck one officer in the face.  They subdued him and had him transported to the infirmary.  The 5 officers hurt had minor injuries to their hands, one shoulder injury, and a face injury.  All 5 remain on duty.  According to the New York State Corrections Police Benevolent Association Western Region VP, Kenny Gold, the inmate appeared to be on drugs that caused him to become violent.  This has been a trend lately with many attacks caused by drugs.  He also blames New York’s HALT act for there being no disincentives to breaking rules in the prisons or corrections facilities.

Buffalo Bills fans looking to buy season tickets for the team’s new stadium are advised to get in the virtual line now.  Current season ticket holders will have the first opportunity at tickets for the new stadium. Other fans will have to sign up for the waiting list and pay a $150-per-seat deposit, with a maximum of six seats.  The deposit doesn’t guarantee seats at the new stadium. Fans who do make it off the waiting list will have their deposit credited as a payment toward their season tickets. Fans can also pull their name from the waiting list at any time and have their deposit refunded, save for a $3 processing fee.  All fans who do purchase season tickets for the new stadium will also have to buy a personal seat license (PSL). The one-time purchase gives each licensee the right to buy season tickets each year. The team said the cost of a PSL “will vary depending on location and amenities.”

Retired RPD sergeant Brett Sobieraski started running 8 States for Maz back in April, in honor of Anthony Mazurkiewicz, who was shot and killed in the line of duty last summer.  He will finish his run in Rochester on the 11th if all goes as planned.  His run will take him through Batavia today sometime between 7 and 11am.  He will be running up rt 98 coming from Attica and then running east on Main Street.  He will go out of town towards I-90 on rt 33 most likely stopping near the Thruway overpass and then carrying on Thursday morning.  Anyone who would like to follow him or cheer him on is welcome to do so.  Donations for the Mazurkiewicz Family are still being accepted by the Rochester Police Locust Club.  to donate, follow the link at wbtai.com.

https://locustclub.org/sites/default/files/Rochester%20Police%20Locust%20Club%2C%20Inc%20PN%20Button2_0.html

Men’s Journal recently released its list of “The 50 Best Beers in the World” and two local beers made it on the list.  The list includes IPAs, stouts, sours, amber ales, lagers, pilsners and more.  The two local beers that made the list are Genny Cream Ale from the Genesee Brewery in Rochester which came in at #32 and Pumking from Southern Tier Brewing Co. in Lakewood which came in at #49.  Men’s Journal described Cream Ale: “Genesee first released Cream Ale in 1960, striking a winning balance with lager crispness, fruity ale character, and smooth sweetness courtesy of corn. It’s what you should fill your cooler with come summer.” It described Pumking as “In the best way possible, Pumking tastes like boozy pumpkin pie.”