Morning News Brief

Members of the Rochester Union of Nurses and Allied Professionals working at the Rochester General Hospital voted Wednesday to ratify the new 42-month contract with the hospital, according to a social media post from the union.  RUNAP says 95 percent of the nurses voted in favor of the deal, which is said to increase wages and improve staffing levels, which were major sticking points during negotiations.  Both sides came to an agreement last week, averting a five-day strike. A strike that lasted two days was held back in August.

Hundreds of union workers who run the locks and bridges on the St. Lawrence Seaway are on strike, shutting down the crucial shipping lane and causing vessels to be parked on both ends of the Welland Canal near Buffalo.  Tens of thousands of jobs rely on the transportation industry along the seaway, contributing up to $100 million per day in economic activity, according to Syracuse University Supply Chain Professor Dr. Patrick Penfield.  The St. Lawrence Seaway connects the western Great Lakes to Lake Ontario through the Welland Canal and then extends east to Montreal, connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.  Workers want higher pay, while their employer — St. Lawrence Seaway Management — said the salary demands are unreasonable. Both sides are scheduled to resume talks Friday.

A man is now awaiting sentencing for his role in a deadly mass shooting on North Clinton Avenue in Rochester last year.  A jury convicted 29 year old Joshua Williams of second-degree murder and weapons charges after determining he shot and killed 24 year old Willie Wofford during the incident that left three others wounded during a large overnight party at a basketball court outside the Clinton Baden Community Center on July 5th of 2022.  Williams was arrested nearly a month later in North Charleston, South Carolina after fleeing the Rochester area, according to prosecutors.

A man who was allegedly rifling through peoples cars in the parking lot of Batavia Downs has been charged with criminal mischief and damage to property.  19 year old Tyler Burns was arrested on Sunday at around 4am after falling asleep in the bathroom at the Downs.  When security woke him up he became irate and wrecked the baby changing station in the bathroom before being taken by police.  Burns was transported to the Genesee County Jail for fingerprints and photos and was released on an appearance ticket. He will appear in Batavia Town Court on November 7th.

There will be an All Hallows Eve party and Ghost Walk in Bergen on Saturday.  The Bergen Business And Civic Association will be hosting the event at Hickory Park from 5 to 8 pm on Saturday.  The evening kicks off with a costume parade that will lead to Hickory Park, where festivities are to include a Trunk or Treat, food trucks, music, games, scavenger hunt, bonfire, face painting and historic ghost tours at Mount Rest Cemetery.  This is a free event, except for the ghost tour, which is $5. All proceeds benefit The Imagination Library.

Genesee County law enforcement agencies will be participating in a coordinated effort with the STOP-DWI program to bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving.  The statewide STOP-DWI Impaired Driving High Visibility Engagement Campaign runs: Oct. 27 – 31.  More police will be on the roads during this time to try and stop Halloween driving from becoming a horror fest.  They urge revelers to plan ahead, get designated drivers or take ride shares or taxis if they are planning to drink while celebrating the holiday.