Thursday News Brief

There is good news for everyone who needs to heat their home with gas this winter: National Fuel recently released its winter heating forecast and it anticipates a 30% decrease in home heating bills this winter compared to last winter. According to National Fuel, the average residential customer is projected to pay $572, or $114 a month, to heat their home from November through March. Last winter, the total heating bills averaged $816 during that same period, or $163 per month. National Fuel said natural gas prices have declined significantly since last winter and nearly half of the gas that customers will use this winter has already been purchased and placed into storage. If you need help paying for heating gas you can contact National Fuel at (800) 365-3534. There are several programs available to help with the bill.

 

Batavia City firefighters will be flow-testing fire hydrants today from approximately 9:00am until 3:00pm throughout the city. Homes and businesses near the hydrants being tested will be affected by water discoloration. As is always the case, do not attempt to wash any clothing if your water looks discolored. If you do experience a discoloration, run cold water for about 5 minutes or until it’s clear.

 

 

The jury in the Kelvin Vickers trial was back in court today to hear more testimony. Yesterday, the panel saw surveillance video showing what prosecutors say was Vickers approaching the undercover vehicle of Rochester police officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz. Vickers then allegedly opened fire towards the vehicle and Mazurkiewicz ended up losing his life while his partner, Officer Sino Seng, was seriously hurt. Seng was scheduled to take the stand today.

 

One person has been arrested following a stabbing at Riverside High School in Buffalo. According to authorities, 19-year-old Makai Cook was involved in the incident that occurred yesterday outside of the school. The victim was a student who is recovering from non-life-threatening injuries. The stabbing was the result of a dispute, and Cook is facing charges including felony assault.

 

 

A New York State Supreme Court judge has ruled to vacate the murder conviction of James Krauseneck. He was convicted last year of brutally killing his wife with an ax at the couple’s home in Brighton back in 1982. Krauseneck was sentenced to prison, but died while in custody this past May. Since there was an appeal pending at the time he passed away, state law requires that his conviction be thrown out.

 

The largest expansion of New York State’s legal cannabis market launched this week. Governor Kathy Hochul announced hundreds of cannabis licenses will be available to people and businesses interested in growing and selling legal marijuana. The application period started this Tuesday, and will remain open for two months. Hochul also highlighted a recent crackdown on illegal sales. She said more than 8,500 pounds of illegal product, which is roughly $42 million in street value, has been seized. The expansion announcement comes after months of setbacks for the state’s cannabis industry, as the retail marijuana-licensing program was continuously blocked in court.

 

Wegmans customers who were hoping to get the new COVID-19 vaccine at their nearest store may have to wait a while. The supermarket chain says right now the availability of that vaccine is inconsistent. That is because there have been shipping challenges with the vaccine, and demand for it is also high. Wegmans promises it is going to be working closely with suppliers to get additional doses as soon as possible. There have been similar issues with other vaccine providers, as well, so it might work best for you to call ahead.

 

NASCAR has announced when the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series will be taking to the track at Watkins Glen International next year. The 2024 Go Bowling at The Glen is scheduled for September 15th. The race is traditionally held in August, but next year it’ll be part of the Round of 16 in the Cup Series playoffs for the first time. For more information and to buy tickets, head to theglen.com.

 

A Rochester news anchor has broken the world record for the longest career as a male TV broadcaster. Guinness World Records says the title goes to 79-year-old Don Alhart, who’s worked in TV news at 13WHAM in Rochester for over 57 years. Alhart got his first TV news job at Channel 13 back in 1966 after graduating from Ithaca College, and is still with the station today.

 

ELSEWHERE…

 

C-3PO’s head will be up for auction next month. That’s just one of the props from iconic movies in the annual Propstore live stream auction November 9th through 12th. The light-up droid head from “Star Wars” is the headline item and is expected to bring more than a million dollars. Other items include a vest and pair of pants Leonardo DiCaprio wore as Jack Dawson in “Titanic,” the whip used in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” Captain America’s shield, Freddy Kruger’s metal glove from “Nightmare on Elm Street, and Batman’s suit. C-3PO’s head is expected to sell for at least $1.2 million.

 

The Powerball jackpot is now up to an estimated $1.4 billion. No one matched all six numbers in Wednesday night’s drawing so the jackpot rolled up to what would be the third-highest Powerball jackpot and fifth-largest in U.S. lottery history. A single winner in Saturday night’s drawing could claim a lump-sum cash prize of more than $640 million. Please play responsibly.

 

 

The CDC says it’s no longer distributing COVID-19 vaccine cards. It had to be shown at airports, Broadway theaters and restaurants in many cities during the height of the COVID pandemic but that time has passed. International travelers no longer have to show their COVID vaccine cards when arriving from other countries but the CDC says if you’re leaving the U.S. you should check what the rules are wherever you’re going.

 

Today is Thursday, October 5th, the 278th day of the year.

October 5 in history…

 

…In 1921, the World Series was broadcast on radio for the first time. Sportswriter Grantland Rice called the action between the New York Yankees and the New York Giants, who eventually went on to win the Series.

 

 

 

…In 1947, President Harry S. Truman became the first President to address the nation via television.

 

 

 

 

…In 1954, newspapers reported Marilyn Monroe decided the day prior to file for divorce from baseball star Joe DiMaggio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1989, former television evangelist Jim Bakker was convicted of using his show to defraud his followers of more than $158 million.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 2009, late night funny man David Letterman apologized to his staff and to his wife, Regina, as controversy swirled over his admission to having sexual relationships with several female staff members over the years. Letterman says he was forced to make the admission after an alleged blackmail plot threatened to expose him