Thursday Afternoon News Brief
Written by WBTA STAFF on January 30, 2025
A Lockport man has admitted to selling fentanyl that resulted in the death of a toddler in 2022. Authorities say 23-year-old Javonte Holloway sold large quantities of heroin, fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl in the Lockport area, usually in form of counterfeit hydrocodone pills known as “M-30s”. Officials say a Lockport couple with a small child purchased the pills between July and December 2022. In December 2022, the toddler was found unresponsive in a bedroom surrounded by fentanyl residue. Holloway pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, acetyl fentanyl and fentanyl. He’ll be sentenced on June 10th.
Three people have been arrested following a traffic stop in the Town of Pembroke. Following investigation, sheriff’s found a quantity of cocaine in the vehicle. The driver of the car was 41-year-old Teresa Hillin of Batavia; the two passengers were identified as 46-year-old Peter Dercqu of Lyndonville and 43-year-old Steven Hadden from Pembroke. Charges include criminal possession of a controlled substance, operating a vehicle without insurance and operating a vehicle without an inspection certificate. All were released on appearance tickets and are scheduled to appear in the Town of Pembroke Court at a later date.
According to the State Department of Labor, the unemployment rate in Genesee County was 3.4% in December, which is down from 4% in December 2023. Orleans County reported a 4% unemployment rate last month; Wyoming County had 4.3% of their population unemployed, as did Niagara County. Nationally, the unemployment rate was at 3.8% (compared to 3.5% a year earlier) while the statewide rate was 4.1%, compared to 4.4% a year earlier.

13WHAM file photo
Rochester Regional Health is providing some important training to EMT’s around the area. Those first responders are learning how to deal with childbirth emergencies they may encounter while out on a call. These sessions are taught by OBGYN experts from Rochester Regional Health, and data shows pre-hospital deliveries happen in one out of every 500 pregnant patients. Officials say while those instances are rare, there’s no such thing as too much training.

NBC News photo
The Canadian border patrol caught a person jumping off a moving train in Fort Erie, which is just across Buffalo’s U.S.-Canada border. Authorities say the person was entering Canada from the United States and was intercepted by Canadian Border Services and Canadian police. They were deemed inadmissible to enter Canada and were returned to the United States. Canadian authorities said the intercept was part of Project Disrupt and Deter, which was launched in December and aimed at monitoring “vulnerable” areas along the International Railway Bridge.

Unidentified couple in undated file photo of an older woman celebrating her graduation with her husband.
Governor Hochul is rolling out her plan to make college more affordable for some Empire State residents. In Syracuse yesterday, Hochul discussed a proposal to provide free community college tuition for students between the ages of 25 and 55 who are pursuing associate’s degrees in high demanding fields. The plan would cover not only tuition fees but also books and supplies. Some of those high demanding fields include advanced manufacturing, health care, education and engineering.

Peter Marlette, Jr. (X photo)
Buffalo Pro Soccer said they’re considering three sites for their new stadium, including one in Downtown Buffalo. The group has identified the parking lots for the former Buffalo News building and HSBC Atrium along Scott Street as its preferred site. Buffalo Pro Soccer President Peter Marlette, Jr. released a statement, saying that Downtown Buffalo is an ideal location for a professional soccer stadium, but that they have not yet made a final decision on the club’s future home. He also said that one key consideration is that building downtown would require public investment, whereas other potential locations could be developed primarily through private funding.
The Richmond Memorial Library is once again partnering with volunteers from the New York State Department of Tax and Finance to offer income-eligible citizens assistance with filing their taxes online this tax season. Tax Department employees will help by going through your income tax returns, step-by-step, as you complete and then e-file your tax return for free. The first session will be offered next Thursday, February 6th. For more information or to make an appointment, please call 585-343-9550, Extension 3. You can also find the library online at batavialibrary.org.