Thursday News Brief

DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES TO DEBATE AT GCC

Democratic congressional candidates Diana Kastenbaum and Alissa Ellman are set to face off in another public debate as both campaigns continue battling for the Democratic nomination in New York’s 24th Congressional District.
The debate will take place at 7 p.m. on June 9 at Genesee Community College and will be sponsored by The Daily News and Livingston County News. The event will be moderated by the League of Women Voters of Rochester.
Kastenbaum, a Batavia resident, and Ellman, of Lockport, are both seeking the Democratic endorsement to challenge incumbent Republican Congresswoman Claudia Tenney in November.
The two candidates previously met for a debate earlier this month at Cayuga Community College in Auburn, where both campaigns say voters had an opportunity to better distinguish the candidates and their platforms.
Campaign officials for both sides say additional debates are expected before the June 23 Democratic primary as the race continues to ramp up across the district.
A specific location on the GCC campus and further event details are expected to be announced soon.

 

QUICKLEE’S SELLS BATAVIA LOCATION TO MIRABITO

Quicklee’s has sold its Batavia location as part of a larger deal involving nearly a dozen stores across western and central New York.
The Batavia store is among multiple former Quicklee’s locations now listed under Mirabito Holdings Inc., a Binghamton-based convenience store and fuel company.
The sale is part of a move that also includes locations in Monroe, Wayne, Niagara, Jefferson, and Livingston counties.
Quicklee’s, based in Avon, rapidly expanded over the past decade and at one point grew to nearly 30 locations across the region through acquisitions and new construction.
Neither company has publicly commented on the sale or what changes customers may see moving forward.

 

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ESCALATES PRESSURE ON CUBA

Federal prosecutors have charged former Cuban President Raúl Castro in connection with the 1996 shootdown of civilian planes operated by a Miami-based exile group, marking a major escalation in tensions between the United States and Cuba.
The indictment includes charges of murder, conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, and destruction of aircraft tied to the incident that killed four people.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Wednesday the United States expects Castro to eventually face the charges in an American courtroom “by his own will or by another way.”
The move comes as President Donald Trump continues increasing pressure on Cuba’s government following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this year.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel condemned the indictment, calling it politically motivated and accusing the U.S. of manipulating the events surrounding the 1996 incident.
The Trump administration has also intensified economic pressure on Cuba through sanctions and energy restrictions, contributing to ongoing fuel shortages and blackouts across the island.

 

GENESEE COUNTY FARMERS ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL DISASTER AID

Farmers across Genesee County are now eligible for federal disaster assistance following last year’s severe drought conditions.
The United States Department of Agriculture announced this week that Genesee and Orleans counties have been designated primary disaster areas due to drought conditions that stretched from June of last year through late December.
The designation allows local agricultural producers to apply for emergency loans and other recovery assistance through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency.
Officials say the aid can help farmers replace livestock or equipment, reorganize operations, or refinance certain debts tied to drought-related losses.
The drought heavily impacted western New York last summer and fall, with portions of Genesee County reaching severe drought conditions by October before conditions finally improved earlier this spring.
Genesee County producers are also eligible for additional disaster assistance tied to excessive rain events that occurred last year.

 

POLKA NIGHT RETURNS TO BATAVIA DOWNS TONIGHT

Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel is hosting a night of live polka music and dancing tonight featuring John Stevens’ Doubleshot.
Doors open at 6 p.m. with the show beginning at 7. Tickets are 10 dollars and include 10 dollars in free play for attendees.
The event will also feature Polish food specials at Homestretch Grill, and WBBZ-TV will be on site recording multiple tapings throughout the evening.
Batavia Downs is also offering a 99-dollar hotel special tied to the event.
Officials say attendees must be at least 18 years old to attend.

 

 

CAPITOL POLICE OFFICERS SUE OVER NEW FEDERAL SETTLEMENT FUND

Two police officers who defended the U.S. Capitol during the January 6th riot are suing to block payouts from a new nearly 1-point-8 billion dollar federal settlement fund created for people claiming they were victims of politically motivated prosecutions.
The lawsuit was filed by former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn and Metropolitan Police officer Daniel Hodges, both of whom were injured during the 2021 attack on the Capitol.
The officers argue the so-called “Anti-Weaponization Fund” could potentially allow January 6th rioters who assaulted police officers to receive government payouts.
The lawsuit comes after Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche declined during a congressional hearing to rule out the possibility that some January 6th defendants could qualify for compensation.
The officers claim the fund is unconstitutional and say it could encourage future political violence. More than 100 officers were injured during the Capitol riot, while nearly 1,600 people were charged before President Donald Trump later issued sweeping pardons related to the cases.

 

SECTIONAL ACTION UNDERWAY FOR LOCAL TEAMS

Sectional play continued Wednesday night with both baseball and softball action across the area.
In Class C1 baseball, No. 6 seed York/Pavilion defeated No. 11 seed by a score of 3-1. Johnny Ayers led Pavilion-York with three hits, including a double and an RBI, while Mason Snyder collected three hits for Alexander in the loss.
Meanwhile in Class B2 softball, No. 8 seed Attica rolled past No. 9 seed Marcus Whitman 10-0 in the opening round of sectionals.
Lily Scripp led the Blue Devils offensively with two triples and two RBIs, while Hailey Mills struck out nine in the circle to help Attica improve to 12-and-7 overall.
The Blue Devils now advance to Friday’s quarterfinal round where they’ll travel to face top-seeded Mynderse.