Morning News Brief

Police are investigating a fatal drive-by shooting in the Beechwood neighborhood Wednesday morning.  Officers responded to the intersection of Hayward Avenue and Beechwood Street just after 11 a.m. for a report of a person shot.  Police said a man in his late 40s was walking down Beechwood Street when someone in a vehicle shot him, firing almost two dozen rounds.  Officers found the man with multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.  Wednesday night another person was shot to death on Tremont Street and a man was shot on Angle Street but is expected to survive.  No arrests have been made in any of the 3 shootings.

A good Samaritan is credited with saving a shooting victim’s life Tuesday night.  The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to Interstate 390 near the Chili Avenue exit shortly before midnight following a report of a shooting.  Deputies said the victim, a 30-year-old man who was shot multiple times, managed to drive himself to the Sunoco gas station just off the expressway on Chili Avenue, where a good Samaritan took him to Strong Memorial Hospital.  The victim has since been discharged, MCSO said.

Republican New York lawmakers are demanding Albany’s state legislature hold a special session to urgently deal with the state’s rapidly worsening migrant crisis.  The letter, sent by six GOP politicians in the Assembly, says that both the Assembly and the Senate should be reconvened — as more than 59,000 migrants are currently in New York’s care on the taxpayer dime.  Governor Hochul was in Washington DC over the last few days meeting with President Biden.  She says she demanded that the White House get work permits for the migrants and asylum seekers and that putting them to work and getting them permanent housing would solve the migrant crisis in the state.  

The New York legislature has passed a bill that would form a commission to determine what, if any, reparations the state owes black residents for slavery.  The bill goes to Governor Hochul’s desk for signing.  Proponents say that racial inequity needs to be addressed and the state will help atone for past racism with the work of the commission.  They cite redlining, higher incarceration numbers among african americans, and economic inequality in their push for racial reparations.  If Governor Hochul signs the bill the commission would meet within 6 months.

Labor Daze in Oakfield is celebrating its 39th year this coming weekend.  There will be several new musical groups and food offerings, plus more arts and craft vendors, a new boxcar derby and the festival is sharing this year’s 5K proceeds through scholarships to local students.  Kiddie Fun Day goes from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday. That used to happen at Schoolhouse Manor, but due to construction, fun day has been moved over to the town park on Drake Street.  There will also be vehicles, including a school bus and a tractor, parked for kids to see and perhaps climb onto,  and a visit from a K-9 officer.  Saturday, the SkyCats, Hazzard County and the Dave Viterna Group will be performing on the stage after Dance Images.  Sunday and Monday will continue the fun with more bands and more activities and vendors.  The whole weekend will be capped off by a performance from The Floyd Concept tribute band.

The Buffalo Bisons will be doing their part to help raise money for the Firefighter Arno Memorial Foundation. The team is going to donate proceeds from tickets it sells to its game at Sahlen Field on September 23rd. The tickets will cost 12-dollars apiece and can be bought online or at the stadium box office. The foundation was set up in honor of Buffalo firefighter Jason Arno who died while battling a blaze earlier this year.