Morning News Briefing
Written by Michael Baldwin on November 10, 2020
COVID-19 cases in Genesee County continue to spiral upward. Since Friday, 43 new cases have been confirmed. The Genesee County Health Department was notified of two positive teachers at Jackson Primary School. The individuals have been placed under mandatory isolation where they will remain until they have recovered. Contact tracing is in process to identify close contacts. Out of an abundance of caution, Jackson Primary School will remain 100% remote virtual learning until Monday, November 30. In Orleans County, 18 new cases were confirmed while in Wyoming County, official report ten new cases.
A pedestrian who was struck while crossing East Main Street on Friday night has been identified by Batavia Police as 45-year-old Casey Nutting, of Batavia. Nutting, according to witnesses, was running across the street when he was struck by a minivan. The drive of the minivan, whose identity has not been released, has not been charged and police said no charges are anticipated.
With growing COVID cases in New York, state officials said Monday they are less likely to allow high risk indoor winter high school sports, such as basketball, hockey and wrestling. New York has yet to announce any official decision on winter sports, but Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his top aides doubted whether the teams will be able to convene later this month as the schools had hoped.
New York Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay has tested positive for COVID-19. The Republican announced the positive test in a statement on Monday night. Barclay had taken the test as a “precautionary measure.”
Buffalo and Rochester shattered their record high temperatures Monday with temperatures reaching 76 in Buffalo and 77 in Rochester. This breaks a 129-year record at Buffalo and a 21-year record at Rochester.
Alleged phony money has led to an arrest. Sheriff’s deputies say they took 60-year-old Lawrence Williams Sr. of Ross Street in Batavia into custody. He was charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, a Class D felony. On Oct. 6, the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a counterfeit $100 bill at a store on Veterans Memorial Drive. Following an investigation, it is alleged that Williams knowingly presented the fake money He was arrested, arraigned virtually in Genesee County Court, then released on his own recognizance.
Effective immediately all City of Batavia facilities and meeting rooms will be closed to the public in light of increased in COVID-19 positive cases in Genesee County. Facilities that will remain open for public business include the City Clerk’s Office, DPW Administration/Inspection Bureau and Yard Waste Station. At this time, City Council meetings, Planning & Development Committee meetings and Zoning Board of Appeals meetings will remain as in-person meetings held in the Council Chamber with minimal City staff attending.
A grand jury is hearing evidence against the Rochester Police officers involved in the Daniel Prude case. Prude died in March, a week after being restrained by police on Jefferson Avenue. His death was not made public until months later, prompting a wave of protest and an investigation into how Rochester City Hall and RPD handled the case.
