Thursday News Brief

As reported by Tom Tharp this morning:  After experts were flown in from Florida and South Africa, lab techs drove from Albany and 40 years of waiting for justice for the 14 year old Wendy Jerome, the judge declared a mistrial. Judge Thomas Moran dismissed all the jurors and said they had done exactly what he told them not to. Throughout the course of the trial, Moran gave several instructions to jurors, including not to research or attempt to research any facts or law related to the case. Jurors were also told not to discuss the case among themselves or with anyone else. The judge noted as the jury was dismissed that, “nobody pays attention to rules anymore.” The man accused of raping and murdering the 14-year-old girl in 1984 on Thanksgiving day, Timothy Williams, gets a brief reprieve before a new jury will be brought in and the trial will start back at the beginning.

 

The cases of three of the four defendants accused of being involved in a sexual assault at Clyde-Savannah High School will be staying in youth court. The victim was assaulted in a locker room at the school back in October, and video of the incident later circulated on social media. Two of the defendants are 16-years-old and the others are 15 and 17-years-old. They’re all expected to face a judge again next month.

 

A third person is now under arrest in connection with a shooting at Buffalo’s Club Marcella. Authorities say 28-year-old James Pardo has been charged with gang assault. A 30-year-old man was shot in the bathroom of the Michigan Avenue business Sunday morning and is still recovering. Police say the shooting was gang-related and they are asking any witnesses to reach out to them immediately. The club remains closed indefinitely.

 

 

 

Buffalo Bills General Manager Brandon Beane says star defensive player Von Miller is still eligible to take the field this weekend. Miller was arrested in Texas last week after being accused of assaulting his pregnant girlfriend. Beane revealed yesterday that there have been talks with Miller, his agent, and also the NFL as the investigation into the incident moves forward. The 6-6 Bills travel to Kansas City to take on the 8-4 Chiefs Sunday afternoon at 4:25.

 

 

 

The Buffalo Sabres will be on the road tonight as they look to snap their current four-game losing streak against one of the top teams in the NHL. The Sabres are set to battle the Boston Bruins at TD Garden in Beantown. Buffalo last played Tuesday when the Detroit Red Wings came out on top, 5 to 3. Face-off this evening will be 7:00.

 

The Better Business Bureau has put out a list of tips to help people avoid having their packages stolen during the holiday season. The agency says never leave any packages you’re expecting unattended for long periods of time. Also, use a security camera so that if a package is taken, there is video evidence to give to police. If possible ask for signature delivery confirmation on any orders so you can physically receive the item as soon as it arrives at your home.

 

ELSEWHERE…

 

Former President Trump was a major topic of discussion at the fourth primary debate in Alabama. On the NewsNation debate, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie slammed former Trump for being what he called “an angry bitter man.” He claimed every other GOP hopeful is making a mistake by defending Trump. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Trump is basically too old for the job, but Christie challenged that DeSantis is afraid to slam Trump directly. (Pictured from left to right: Chris Christie, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy)

 

The world’s largest hex nut will soon be on display at a bolts and fasteners company in Humble, Texas. JK Welding Company is constructing “Big Tex: The Incredible Hex,” which is expected to break the current record of largest hex nut, held by a company in Slovenia. A company spokesman says the enormous steel nut will measure 16-feet from flat side to flat standing, and 18-feet from point to point. When it’s finished, which may be as soon as Friday, the nut will be on display at Patriot Bolt and Fasteners in Humble.

 

The shooter who killed three people at the University of Nevada Las Vegas on Wednesday was apparently a college professor. Authorities have not publicly identified the shooter, who was killed on campus during a confrontation with police, but law enforcement sources say the suspect was a 67-year-old career college professor who had unsuccessfully applied for a job at the school.

 

 

Ghost kitchens, which were expected to turn the restaurant industry on its head, are now crashing. Kitchen United announced last week it would sell or close all of its locations. Ghost Kitchens, which are commercial kitchens with no dine-in option, typically fulfill online orders from delivery apps. Now, after booming during the pandemic, some customers say they feel “catfished” by ghost kitchens.

 

Organizers of First Night Buffalo have revealed their plans for the upcoming virtual event. It’ll take place December 31st and gives families across the area a chance to celebrate the start of a new year is a safe and festive way. Among the featured performers will be DJ Milk who is going to host a dance party. Party packs are now available at select Tops stores in the area and cost just 25-dollars each. For more information, head to firstnightbuffalo.org.

 

Today is Thursday, Dec. 7, the 341st day of 2023 with 24 to follow.

The moon is waning. Morning stars are Jupiter, Neptune, Uranus and Venus. Evening stars are Jupiter, Mercury, Neptune, Saturn and Uranus.

December 7 in history…

…In 1909, Leo Baekeland patented the process for making Bakelite, the world’s first fully synthetic plastic, giving birth to the modern plastics industry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1941, Japan launched a sneak attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, catapulting the United States into World War II. The attack killed 2,403 people, wounded hundreds, destroyed 188 planes and crippled the U.S. Pacific Fleet. The following day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt called Dec. 7 “a date which will live in infamy.”

 

 

 

 

…In 1976, The Eagles released ‘New Kid in Town’, which became the group’s third US No.1 in February the following year. The single written by Don Henley, Glenn Frey and J.D. Souther was released as the first single from their fifth album Hotel California.

 

 

 

 

…In 2014, Pink Floyd’s classic album, The Dark Side Of The Moon made a surprise return to the Billboard chart when it landed at No.13, thanks to ultra-cheap pricing in the Google Play store where the album was discounted to 99-cents. Although it held the No.1 spot in the US for only a week when released in 1973, it remained in the Billboard album chart for 741 weeks.

 

…In 2015, David Bowie made his last public appearance when he attended the opening night of the Lazarus production at the New York Theatre Workshop in Manhattan. Tickets to the entire run of the musical (which ran until 20th Jan 2016), sold out within hours of being made available.