Morning News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on June 8, 2023
The weather alert for most of New York State continues today as the wildfires in Quebec continue to affect the air quality of local residents. The Air Quality Alert is in effect till Midnight tonight as the AQI will be above 170 for most of the day. 0-50 is the normal level of particulates in the air. Limit outdoor activity and avoid strenuous activities like yardwork or sports. People who are more susceptible to breathing problems or have heart disease should be particularly careful. Genesee and Orleans Counties are handing out free facemasks while supplies last. You can pick up a free mask from 8 to 4:30 at the Emergency Management Office on State Street rd and at the Old Courthouse in Batavia and from 8:30 to 4pm at the Orleans county Administration Building in Albion.
New York City is attempting to force upstate counties to take illegal immigrants that are crowding the city. In a lawsuit the city is attempting to void the states of emergency that counties such as Monroe, Genesee and Orleans and many other counties have enacted to stop buses of people from being sent out of the Big Apple. Filed on Wednesday, the lawsuit claimed that those emergency orders obstructed NYC’s efforts to relocate migrants “in a manner that is explicitly permitted by law and required by a statewide emergency,” according to a news release. The lawsuit asks the state Supreme Court to invalidate the emergency orders filed by the counties under the grounds that they are unconstitutional. It also asks to prohibit the locales from taking steps that “restrict or frustrate” New York City’s efforts to address a statewide emergency, which Gov. Kathy Hochul declared on May 9.
The Genesee County Farm Bureau’s annual Kinderfarmin event went on as planned despite 8 out of 10 schools canceling and not in attendance due to the Air Quality alert. Pembroke and Pavilion Kindergarten students had the whole farm to themselves, and the 100 volunteers at Hildene Farms in Wyoming/Pavilion were glad to share information about the farm through hands on learning stations and guided tours. 15 local businesses also participated. The event has been ongoing for over 40 years in Genesee County and Natasha Sutherland, Chair of Farm Bureau promotions/education, says farming didn’t stop during COVID and it didn’t stop today. Normally, 600 kindergarten students from all of Genesee County are in attendance. The event brings kids to farms and shows them exactly where their food comes from.
Batavia’s new city ordinance banning livestock within the city limits except for specific exceptions is being tested. A resident on Burke Drive, Jill Turner, has continued to keep a goat at her home. She brought it indoors after the ordinance was passed but neighbors reported her to the police. Turner is facing many charges. She apparently had many complaints against her as before the ordinance went into effect she had goats and chickens and pets that prompted noise and smell complaints against her. She has also been reported for harassing her neighbors and screaming death threats.
Members of the Seneca Nation say an agreement has been reached in principle with New York State on a new gaming compact. If approved by the Seneca people and Department of the Interior, the compact would be in place for 20 years. The current agreement that was signed back in 2002 is scheduled to expire in December. Seneca Nation President Rickey Armstrong Junior says negotiations focused on getting a fair deal that provides critical services and secures the future of gaming operations
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has been selected to be the cover athlete for one of the most popular video game franchises in history. Allen will be on the front of the Madden NFL 24 video game when it hits store shelves on August 18th. He’s the first member of the Bills to ever be chosen for this honor. Allen says the opportunity to join the short list of cover athletes for the Madden franchise is humbling and surreal.
