Morning News Brief

41 year old Jill Turner has been arrested and charged with harassment in the 2nd degree, criminal contempt, obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest and endangering the welfare of a child.  On the 5th of June Turner, of Burke Drive in Batavia, was being arrested for threatening the life of a person who she had been ordered to stay away from when she became combative and started trying to kick officers.  She started a fight in front of an 11 year old child that created a hazard for the child. 

48 people were arrested in a drug trafficking ring bust in Rochester that was announced on Tuesday.  A drug ring responsible for distributing heroin, cocaine and fentanyl across 7 counties, including Orleans county, was investigated for 2 years before the arrests were made, according to State AG Letitia James.  The investigation started in Wayne county with 2 brothers bringing in the cocaine.  The investigation then moved through the Finger Lakes and into Rochester where a family ring on Avenue D was located and investigated.  Authorities seized 10 kilograms each of fentanyl and cocaine, along with 1/4 pound of heroin, worth more than $9 million. They also seized 19 illegal firearms and more than $440,000 in cash.  Over 100 people have died from overdoses in the last year from drugs attributed to these drug rings.  You can see the list of people who were arrested on our news partner 13WHAM.

Authorities have released the name of the man who lost his life in the boat capsize incident in the Lockport Cave Tour on Monday.  65 year old Harshad Shah of Niagara Falls became trapped under the boat when it went over and died of his injuries before rescuers could get him out of the underground canal.  All 29 people aboard the Lockport Cave Tours boat were thrown into the water when it tipped over near the end of the tour that takes people through a roughly-hewn tunnel from the 1800s. People who were on board the boat say it happened when the boat was starting to return back down the tunnel and people were getting up to look back the way the boat had come. Officials say 11 people were hospitalized with minor injuries.  No one on board was wearing a life preserver at the time of the accident.  The company is closed until further notice, pending an investigation into the incident.

Pastors from a local church sparked controversy when they protested a PRIDE event that blocked the entrance to their church and they say sent a wrong message about what the church stands for.  Jason and Michelle Norton who co-pastor Everpresent Church posted on social media that they were upset about a stage and display for a PRIDE event that was put up just outside the entrance to their church in the parking lot of the City Center.  Everpresent Church is not an LGBT affirming church but the Norton’s say it is a people affirming church that stands on God’s word.  They then went to the City Council meeting to say that there had been no communication from event organizers or consideration of how the event would affect the church.  Everpresent church is under renovation and the event stage blocked getting materials and workers into the church.  The Nortons say the church has been subjected to threats and called names because of their stance and are willing to sit down and talk and are planning forums and dinners for discussion to peaceably talk about their beliefs.

The Muckdogs will be having a larger fireworks display for July 3rd thanks to a grant of 4 thousand dollars from the city that was originally intended for a picnic for GO ART! which was canceled.  In Robbie Nichols’ letter requesting the additional funds, Nichols pledged to donate 100 tickets for families in need. On Tuesday, he said it would likely be more than 100 tickets, as he wanted to make it possible for any families that couldn’t otherwise afford to attend to be able to also enjoy the Fourth of July festivities.

What a furball.  An investigation by the Humane Society of Greater Rochester is underway after 107 cats were rescued from a hoarding situation.  Lollypop Farm investigators responded Friday to a home on Courtright Street in Gates after receiving a 911 report of cats in unsanitary conditions.  There were dead cats inside, and many others are sick according to Lollypop Farm.  The house, which has been recently deemed unlivable by the town, reeks of urine — and neighbors have had to set up fly traps in their own yards.  Investigators with the Humane Society are looking into whether charges will be filed. Lollypop Farm is still working to rescue more cats from the home.