Morning News Briefing

Genesee Community College has cut 13 full-time jobs — a move necessitated by the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the two-year college’s financial picture. Justin Johnston is vice president of Development & External Affairs – He says “Notice was given but it doesn’t take place until the end of December.” Johnston said that six of those positions are traditional faculty members and seven are non-teaching administrative employees. He would not disclose the specific job titles. This latest action comes on the heels of the summer layoff of 27 part-timers at the college, which previously had enacted measures in reaction to reduced funding and revenue triggered by COVID-19.

Genesee County has confirmed one new case of COVID-19…that’s based on the most recent report from the County Health Department. The latest infection involves a person from Pembroke. Nine new individuals are on precautionary quarantine due to travel from restricted states. Genesee County was also informed late last week that a student at the Le Roy Junior/Senior High School tested positive for COVID-19. The last day the student was in the school was October 27th. All contacts have been identified and have been placed under mandatory quarantine.

An 18-year-old was killed in a crash early Sunday morning in Webster. Police say they found a vehicle had crashed into a tree. An area resident pulled six people from the car before police arrived. The driver, Brody Spade of Webster, was pronounced dead at an area hospital. Five other occupants, ranging in age from 16 to 18, were taken to the hospital. They remain hospitalized with injuries ranging from minor to serious.

Just a reminder, New York’s expanded seatbelt law is now in effect. It requires every passenger, front and back seats, are now required to buckle up.

New York is replacing its COVID-19 travel advisory list with a new policy mandating travelers go through a testing process when coming to the state. The governor shared the news on a conference call with reporters, saying that with nearly every state on the advisory list, experts suggested shifting to a testing policy would now be more effective. Previously, travelers from states with significant community spread of COVID-19 were required to self-quarantine for 14 days on arrival to New York. Now, the state’s new policy requires travelers must have tested negative for the virus within 3 days of their arrival to New York. The new policy goes into effect Wednesday.

A Buffalo man faces multiple felony counts after being pulled over in Albion. State Police arrested 35-year-old Jason Mesler. He was charged with felony aggravated DWI, felony DWI for having another conviction within the last ten years and felony first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation. It happened Sunday at 4:30 a.m. Troopers had warned they would been looking for impaired drivers over the Halloween weekend.