Morning News Briefing

Like so many parts of our lives, Special Santa has moved online due to COVID-19. And the Hillside Family of Agencies is calling on the communities they serve to help make this program successful once again. Hillside has an office in Batavia, which serves children and families in Genesee County. For more than 35 years, the Special Santa program has brought together countless thousands of generous individuals, businesses and volunteers in a shared act of community spirit. COVID-19 prompted the 2020 program to shift to an all-online model that asks the community to use Amazon Smile Charity Lists that have been created by Hillside staff this season. Each of the 19 lists features specific gift requests made by youth in the programs. Supporters can also make monetary donations to help defray program costs.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos has announced the release of a draft Deer Management Plan for New York State for public review and comment. He says the plan builds upon the progress made by DEC’s first deer management plan, released in 2011, and will guide DEC’s deer management actions to balance natural resource protection, public safety, and recreational and economic interests for the next 10 years. The draft plan is available on DEC’s website and public comments will be accepted through Dec. 28.

Court action is pending for a Batavia man following his arrest on a warrant. State Troopers say they took 24-year-old Jacob Russell into custody. He was charged with bail jumping. After processing, he was released on his own recognizance.

A group of state lawmakers representing the Southern Tier, Finger Lakes, and Western New York are welcoming Governor Andrew Cuomo’s veto of legislation that they had recently warned would jeopardize the ability of local governments to accomplish critical stream and infrastructure protection projects if enacted. The governor vetoed the legislation late Friday. They and other opponents argued that the measure would force the reclassification of tens of thousands of miles of New York State streams and result in a more time-consuming, costly, overregulated, redundant, and impractical state-level permitting process for stream-related projects involving flood repair and mitigation, bridge and culvert maintenance, farmland protection, and other public works priorities.

The Buffalo Bills on Sunday defeated the Chargers 27-17. Buffalo improves to 8-3 on the season.

The National Weather Service says brace for the rain today. A storm system will bring a soaking rain with a general three quarters of an inch to an inch expected, and may result in ponding of water in poor drainage areas.

The Monroe County Department of Public Health reported a record number of COVID-19 cases Saturday. 515 positive coronavirus tests were confirmed since Friday, according to the county. Eight percent of people tested positive, according to the county dashboard. That’s the highest total since May 1 when 10.8 percent of people tested positive.

Congressman Chris Jacobs is calling for Congress to remain in Washington, D.C., until a new COVID-19 relief bill is passed. This comes as the Democratic leadership in the House released an amended legislative schedule with fewer voting days prior to the holidays. In a statement, Jacobs said “The idea that Congress should go home for the holidays and wait until the new year when a new presidential administration takes office is reprehensible.”  He added that…he has spoken with restaurants, small businesses, families, and local elected officials – and he can say with full authority there isn’t time left.