Thursday News Brief

Genesee County Sheriffs have caught up with a Batavia man who fled from them in July. 33-year-old Akeem Gibson of Batavia, who has a long criminal history, allegedly fled from Sheriff’s deputies on July 30 in a motor vehicle, but was arrested Tuesday in the town of Batavia. Gibson also faces reckless endangerment charges. He was held at Genesee County Jail pending CAP Court arraignment.

 

 

 

 

Monroe County Executive Adam Bello says he supports Governor Hochul’s decision to send members of the National Guard to the area. Bello says officials are taking a proactive approach because more asylum seekers might be coming to the county. He also says that so far, there have not been any major issues with the people who are already here. Migrants are currently staying at a Holiday Inn, and the National Guard is expected to arrive tomorrow.

 

State Attorney General Letitia James is making a request of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. She is urging the agency to expedite work authorization for migrants who are new to the United States. James says any delays in this process prevents migrants from finding work and makes it tougher for states to provide them with proper support. The AG went on to say that migrants helped build the Empire State and she’ll continue to fight to ensure they’re treated with dignity.

 

Over a dozen people who witnessed the mass shooting at a Tops supermarket in Buffalo last year have filed a lawsuit. They’re taking action against social media companies, the retailer that sold Payton Gendron his gun, and the company that manufactured his body armor. The plaintiffs claim they suffered severe trauma as a result of the shooting in May 2022 that left 10 people dead and three others hurt. Gendron has already pleaded guilty to state charges and will spend the rest of his life in prison.

 

 

Two people are lucky to avoid being seriously injured after the vehicle they were in fell into a sinkhole in Irondequoit. The incident happened yesterday as heavy rains soaked the area and officials believe a storm drain failed, which led to the hole near Saint Paul Boulevard opening up. A woman and her passenger needed to be rescued. The road is expected to be closed down for a couple of days. (13WHAM Photos)

 

ELSEWHERE…

The start of the New York State Fair is under a week away, and organizers have revealed the calendar of special days that will be happening during the event. The fun begins on Opening Day, which is August 23rd, and continues with Student Youth Day on August 24th, Pride Day August 25th and Law Enforcement Day on August 28th. Other special days include Women’s Day, Armed Forces Day, and Apple Day. For more information, including a list of concerts, head to NYSfair.NY.gov.

 

 

 

Surgeons at NYU Langone Hospital are doing groundbreaking surgery. The doctors successfully transplanted a gene-modified pig kidney into a brain-dead person and will be studying it for two months. Previously, the transplants lasted two to three days. Doctors say it’s a big step as a life-saving source for patients, when human organs aren’t readily available.

 

New York State is issuing a warning after multiple people died from rare flesh-eating bacteria. Governor Kathy Hochul confirmed on Wednesday that a person who died recently on Long Island had tested positive for the bacteria, and was the third person to die in recent weeks after being infected by it. (More information: Necrotizing fasciitis is a serious but rare bacterial infection. It is also known as a flesh-eating disease. Early signs and symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis include flu-like symptoms, severe pain in the affected area, and more. It happens when bacteria enter a wound and cause a skin infection that can spread quickly through the deep tissues in the body. It is very rare in the United States, affecting about .4 of every 100,000 people.

 

Younger people are being diagnosed with cancer more often than before. A study published in the journal JAMA Network Open shows that between 2010 and 2019 there’s been a “substantial” increase in the rates of early-onset cancers. Gastrointestinal cancers had the fastest-growing rates.

 

Today is Thursday, August 17th, the 229th day of the year.

August 16 in history…

 

…In 1903, Joseph Pulitzer donated $1 million to Columbia University. The Pulitzer Prizes were named in his honor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 1915, Charles Kettering patented the “engine-starting device.” It is considered the first electric ignition device for cars.

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1969, Hurricane Camille ravaged Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. The storm killed 259 people and injured thousands more. Camille packed winds in excess of 200 miles per hour.

 

 

 

 

…Also in 1969, the final day of Woodstock took place, closing with Jimi Hendrix and his newly formed band, Gypsy Sun & Rainbows, as the final act. However, they did not take the stage to start their two-hour set until nine o’clock the next morning due to bad weather and other delays. By that time, a large percentage of people had left; the audience of about 500,000 was down to roughly 40,000.

 

 

 

…In 1979, actress Vivian Vance died at the age of 70. She is best known for playing the role of Ethel Mertz on “I Love Lucy.”

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1992, actor-director Woody Allen admitted to being romantically involved with his adopted daughter Soon-Yi Previn.

 

 

 

 

…In 1998, President Clinton, via closed circuit TV, gave more than four hours of grand jury testimony in the Monica Lewinsky scandal. He later announced during a televised speech, quote, “I did have a relationship with Ms. Lewinsky that was not appropriate.” Clinton also denied previously committing perjury and criticized Kenneth Starr’s investigation.