Morning News Brief

A former substitute teacher in Dansville now faces new charges in Batavia. Police arrested 29-year-old Derek Hagen and charged him with a felony count of use of a child in a sexual performance. Last week, he was charged with two count of child pornography. Court action is pending.

According to a Marist Poll, 59 percent of New Yorkers think the Governor should step down. The poll was conducted Tuesday night, after the results of the New York Attorney General’s Office’s investigation into Andrew Cuomo were announced. The report concluded that Gov. Cuomo sexually harassed several women. More than half of the registered Democrats who were surveyed say he should resign.

Starting on August 10, sections of the Center Street lot in Batavia will be closed for paving operations. This work will be performed during the business day between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. and is weather-dependent.

District attorneys in Westchester and Manhattan on Wednesday announced their offices had reached out to the attorney general for “investigative materials” from their probe into multiple sexual harassment allegations against Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The news comes after Albany District Attorney David Soares on Tuesday said his office had launched a criminal investigation into the allegations against the governor. Soares said his office was also planning to formally request information from the investigation by the AG. James revealed the conclusion of her office’s probe Tuesday morning, calling the findings “disturbing.”

Two inmate fights occurred in the Elmira Correctional Facility fieldhouse less than an hour apart on Sunday, according to union officials representing the officers. The fights resulted in two inmates being cut multiple times by make-shift weapons at the maximum-security prison. No staff were injured in either incident.

New York’s statewide COVID positivity rate has taken a decent decline in the past day. Officials say the rate is now 2.57%, down from 3.47% the day before. While that’s good news, there is less encouraging news. Officials say 50 more people have been hospitalized and 14 others have been admitted to Intensive Care. Seven new virus-related deaths have also been reported.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has announced that hunting and trapping licenses and Deer Management Permits for the 2021-2022 seasons are on sale now. In addition, DEC announced new opportunities for hunters this year, including expanded hunting seasons and allowing youth ages 12 and 13 to hunt deer with a firearm or crossbow in upstate counties that have passed a local low and ‘opted in’ to participate. Beginning this week, the DEC Call Center’s hours of operation are from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays through Nov. 30. Regular call center weekday hours will resume on Dec. 1.