Thursday News Brief

Four Charged After Drugs Found in Stolen U-Haul in Batavia

Four people are facing drug charges after deputies say they were found inside a stolen U-Haul truck in the Town of Batavia.
According to investigators, Jennifer L. Sprague-Clark, Sandra L. Marsceill, Shandell M. Lissow, and Lindsay M. Pajek were located in the vehicle on March 2nd.
Authorities say the group was allegedly found to be in possession of cocaine and buprenorphine during the investigation. All four individuals were charged with two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Marsceill and Pajek were issued appearance tickets and are scheduled to appear in Town of Batavia Court on March 24th at 10 a.m.
Sprague-Clark was additionally charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property. Because she is listed as a predicate felon, she was held for CAP Court.

Genesee County Democrats Hosting Monthly Coffee Saturday

The Genesee County Democratic Committee is inviting the public to its monthly Coffee with the Democrats event this Saturday morning.
The gathering will take place from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council on East Main Street in Batavia.
Organizers say the informal event is an opportunity for residents to learn how to get involved in the 2026 election cycle at their own comfort level and help make a difference locally.
The event is free to attend and no RSVP is required. More information can be found on the Genesee County Democrats website.

Trump Fires Homeland Security Secretary Noem, Nominates Mullin as Replacement

President Donald Trump has fired Kristi Noem as head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security following growing criticism of her leadership.
Trump announced Thursday that he plans to nominate Markwayne Mullin to replace Noem. Mullin would still need confirmation from the U.S. Senate but could serve as acting secretary while his nomination is pending.
Noem had faced mounting scrutiny in recent days, including sharp criticism from lawmakers during congressional hearings over the administration’s immigration crackdown and the department’s disaster response efforts.
Trump said Noem will instead serve as a “Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas,” a new initiative focused on security across the Western Hemisphere and combating drug cartels.
The Homeland Security Department has also been in the spotlight during a 20-day government shutdown affecting the agency, though many employees have continued working without pay.
Advocacy groups and labor organizations quickly reacted to the move, with some welcoming the leadership change while others said broader policy shifts are still needed at the department.

GCEDC Approves Increased Investment for Proposed Data Center Project

The Genesee County Economic Development Center has approved a request from STREAM U.S. Data Centers to increase its investment in the proposed Project Double Reed data center from $11.1 billion to $19 billion.
The GCEDC board voted unanimously Thursday afternoon at its Med Tech Drive offices in Batavia to accept the change and move the proposal forward to a public hearing.
GCEDC President and CEO Mark Masse announced that a hearing on approximately $774 million in tax incentives tied to the project will take place March 19 at 7 p.m. at the Town of Alabama Fire Hall. Officials are expected to present details about the project during that meeting.
Masse said the increased investment will not impact the ongoing review under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, commonly known as SEQR, which is nearing completion.
STREAM submitted its SEQR application to the agency in December, and after notifying involved agencies, the GCEDC was able to claim lead agency status when no objections were received within the required 30-day window.
The proposed project calls for a 2.2-million-square-foot, three-building data center campus using roughly 500 megawatts of power. The facility would span about 135 acres, including 90 acres for permanent development and another 45 acres designated for construction staging.

Pavilion Republicans Seeking Candidates for Town Justice

The Town of Pavilion Republican Committee is seeking individuals interested in serving their community as a candidate for town justice.
Anyone interested is asked to submit a letter of interest by email to Committee Chair Erica Welch at republicancommittee.top@gmail.com no later than Monday, March 9. Applicants should also include a phone number where they can be reached.
Interviews with potential candidates will be conducted on March 10.

Scientists Finally Identify Cause of Devastating Sea Star Die-Off

Scientists say they have finally solved the mystery behind a massive die-off that wiped out more than 5 billion sea stars along the Pacific coast of North America over the last decade.
The epidemic, which began in 2013, was caused by a bacteria known as Vibrio pectenicida, according to a new study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution. The disease, known as Sea star wasting disease, causes sea stars to develop lesions before their arms detach and their bodies deteriorate.
Researchers say the outbreak devastated more than 20 species from Mexico to Alaska. One of the hardest hit was the Sunflower sea star, which lost roughly 90% of its population in the first five years of the epidemic.
The discovery came after scientists examined coelomic fluid — the bodily fluid surrounding sea star organs — where the bacteria was found.
Researchers say identifying the cause could help conservation efforts, including testing healthy sea stars, breeding them in captivity, or relocating populations to help restore ecosystems. Sea stars play a key role in ocean health by controlling sea urchin populations that can otherwise destroy kelp forests.