Morning News Briefing

Gov. Andrew Cuomo

New Yorkers remain under a ban preventing them from enrolling in secure-traveler programs after Governor Cuomo failed to come to an agreement with President Trump.
Yesterday Cuomo attended a meeting with the President in Washington with the hopes of reaching a deal regarding the ban, which was made in reaction to the state’s Green Light Law according to the Department of Homeland Security.
The law gives illegal immigrants the ability to apply for driver’s licenses without providing federal officials access to state DMV records.
Cuomo claims that he would agree to provide the DMV information, but only on a case by case basis for those applying for Trusted Traveler programs.

Plot to pawn stolen goods ends in arrest for a Homeless man in Batavia.
36 year old Thomas Leonard is facing a felony count of Falsifying Business Records, Petit Larceny and Conspiracy following investigation into a fraudulent pawn shop transaction in Batavia.
According to the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office Leonard was attempting to pawn property he had allegedly stolen from the Walmart to the Pawn King Pawn Shop.
Leonard was and ultimately released with an appearance ticket for March 17th to Batavia Town Court.

LeRoy man busted by Deputies for drugs during a separate investigation.
Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputies took 26 year old Kyle Madden of Lake Street Road into custody yesterday afternoon on a count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance.
Madden was found in possession of the substance while officers were responding to an unrelated matter.
He was released with an appearance ticket for Leroy Town Court next Thursday.

Ex-Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb won’t be seeking re-election in November.
The announcement comes weeks after the Republican was arrested for DWI near his Ontario County home.
The 67 year old represents the 131st Assembly District which includes all of Ontario County and parts of Seneca County.
In a statement, Kolb said he’s proud of his time in office and thanked his family and friends for their support.
Kolb’s next court appearance on the DWI charge is set for March 5th.

The number of flu cases is continuing to rise across New York, but not by much.
The latest data from the Department of Health shows there were 17-thousand confirmed cases of the virus during the week ending February 8th.
That’s an increase of less than one-percent from the week before.
Meanwhile, the number of patients hospitalized due to complications from the flu was up one-percent.
Doctors say getting a flu shot and practicing good hygiene are the best ways to keep from getting sick.