Thursday News Brief
Written by Pete Zehler on March 12, 2026
Le Roy Residents to Vote on $1.1M School Bus Purchase
Le Roy Central School District residents will head to the polls Tuesday to vote on a proposal to purchase six new school buses at a cost not to exceed $1.1 million.
Voting will take place March 17 from 2 to 7 p.m. in the Wolcott Street School Media Center.
District officials say the purchase would have no additional tax impact. The plan calls for using $600,000 from the district’s 2019 Capital Reserve Fund and borrowing the remaining $500,000. New York State reimburses about 90% of school bus purchases over five years, leaving taxpayers responsible for the remaining 10%.
The proposed purchase includes six 66-passenger diesel or gasoline buses equipped with two-way radios and built-in video surveillance.
District leaders say buying conventional buses now will also help manage the state’s mandate requiring all school buses to be zero-emission by 2035. After 2027, schools will no longer be allowed to purchase fossil-fuel-powered buses.
Officials note electric buses currently cost about $500,000 each, and upgrading the district’s bus garage to support electric charging infrastructure could cost several million dollars and would require a separate public vote.
Elba Invites Residents to Comprehensive Plan Workshop
Residents in the Town and Village of Elba are invited to help shape the community’s future at a public workshop for the new Comprehensive Plan.
The session will be held Tuesday, March 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Elba Central School cafeteria. Officials say the open house-style meeting will allow residents to review early findings and share input on priorities for growth, development, and community planning.
Residents can also complete an online survey to provide feedback as the planning process continues.
Some States Renew Push to Tax Millionaires
Several Democratic-led states are revisiting efforts to raise taxes on high-income earners as lawmakers look for new revenue.
Advocates like Chuck Collins, heir to the Oscar Mayer fortune, support the idea. Collins helped push a Massachusetts tax on income over $1 million and says more wealthy Americans are backing similar policies.
Lawmakers in Washington are now considering a proposal that would place nearly a 10% tax on income above $1 million to help fund school meals, childcare and tax credits. Similar taxes already exist in states like California, Maryland, Minnesota and New Jersey.
Supporters say higher taxes on the wealthy could help address inequality and fund public programs, while critics argue the policies could drive businesses and high earners out of those states.
Geneseo Man Charged After Animal Cruelty Investigation in Bethany
A Geneseo man is facing multiple animal cruelty charges after an investigation by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office in the Town of Bethany.
Emmett Antonio James Sherlock, 31, is charged with 17 counts of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals, along with failure to provide proper sustenance. Investigators say Sherlock allegedly abandoned seven cats and five dogs without food or water for about three weeks.
Authorities say deceased animals were also found at the scene with no available food or water.
Surviving animals were removed and transported to the Genesee County Animal Shelter for care.
Sherlock was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released. He is scheduled to appear in Town of Bethany Court on April 25 at 5 p.m.
STREAM Seeks $663M More in Tax Breaks for STAMP Data Center Project
STREAM U.S. Data Centers is requesting about $663 million more in tax incentives for its proposed data center project at the STAMP site in the Town of Alabama.
The revised application to the Genesee County Economic Development Center brings the total requested tax savings to about $1.44 billion for the $19.4 billion project.
Officials say the project would still generate about $285 million in PILOT and host community payments over 30 years.
The Genesee County Planning Board is expected to consider the site plan Thursday night in Batavia. A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for March 19 at the Alabama Fire Hall.
Study Finds King Penguins Breeding Earlier as Climate Changes
A new study suggests one species may be benefiting from shifting climate patterns.
Researchers studying about 19,000 King penguins on islands in the sub-Antarctic found the birds are now breeding about 19 days earlier than they did in 2000. According to research published in Science Advances, that earlier timing has increased breeding success by roughly 40%.
Scientists say warming temperatures have disrupted seasonal timing — known as phenology — for many species, often causing problems when animals and plants adapt at different speeds.
But king penguins appear to have unusual flexibility in their breeding season and feeding behavior, allowing them to adjust to environmental changes.
Researchers caution the advantage may only be temporary as ocean temperatures and food systems continue to shift.
Pavilion/York Wins State Title at NY Air Rifle Invitational
The Pavilion/York air rifle team captured the state championship in the three-position event Saturday at the New York State Rifle Invitational in Orchard Park.
The team qualified after winning Section V titles in both the three-position and standing competitions earlier this season. Pavilion/York finished with a program-record score of 1,143 to secure the state title.
Junior Myra Beardsley earned top individual honors, winning both the standing and three-position matches and finishing as the top kneeling shooter. Teammates Tyler Brian and Emily Harwood also recorded their first perfect prone targets during the competition.
The victory caps a remarkable turnaround season for the program, which went undefeated in league competition and claimed its first-ever sectional championships.
