Thursday News Brief

A warning has been issued about scammers posing as Publisher’s Clearing House employees. According to sheriffs, the scammers are targeting people in our region by calling and telling the individual that they have won and are requesting processing fees. The scammer then tries to arrange electronic payment or a meeting place to receive the payment in person. The sheriff’s office says never give out personal information over the phone and to contact the police if you receive a call you think is suspicious. Publisher’s Clearing House Vice President Chris Irving says they will never ask for money from prizewinners in order to claim a prize.

 

As reported by Tom Tharp this morning: Employees at the University of Rochester Medical Center have voted to accept a 3-year contract. Close to 2,000 union caregivers and service workers with the University of Rochester Medical Center voted yesterday to ratify a three-year contract deal with their employer. The deal includes general wage increases of more than 18%, and will raise the new-hire starting pay rate to $17 per hour starting next year, according to union representatives. By the third year of the contract, the employees will reportedly earn $18.38 per hour. New hires were previously earning $15.45 per hour. This deal comes after the group of workers held a 17-hour strike last week, demanding higher wages and better benefits.

 

Governor Hochul is issuing a reminder to New Yorkers about an upcoming minimum wage increase. Starting January 1st, the state’s minimum wage is set to increase to $15 an hour upstate and $16 an hour in Long Island, Westchester County, and New York City. Workers who don’t see a bump in their paychecks can file a complaint with the Department of Labor. Minimum wage will rise through 2026 and index to inflation beginning in 2027.

 

The Mall at Greece Ridge is making a policy change following several disturbances at the shopping center earlier this week. The new guideline will be in effect through Monday and it requires anyone under the age of 19 to be accompanied by an adult at all times. Tuesday, hundreds of juveniles were involved in things like fights and the mall had to be closed early as a precaution. No arrests were made.

 

The Bills are preparing to take on the Patriots at home this Sunday in a match up that will be crucial to Buffalo’s playoff hopes. Earlier this season, the postseason seemed like a pipe dream for the Bills. But after falling to 6-6, the team has rattled off three straight wins. Now, if Buffalo beats New England and gets a little help from the rest of the NFL, the team would clinch their fifth straight playoff berth. But that all starts with the Bills taking care of business against a 4-11 Patriots team. The Patriots are coming off an emotional win this weekend against the Broncos. Kickoff at Highmark is at 1:00.

 

The Buffalo Sabres lost last night against the Boston Bruins 4 to 1. Erik Johnson put in the lone goal for the Buffalo team. Sabres Goalie Devon Levi blocked 21 shots while the Bruins goalie blocked 25. The Sabres are now 14th in the Eastern Conference with 14 wins and 22 losses. They host the Blue Jackets who sit in 15th place on Saturday afternoon. The puck drops at 5:00.

 

ELSEWHERE…

 

Google is out with its annual report on what we were searching for in 2023. When it came to actors, the most searched was Jeremy Renner, who was seriously injured on New Year’s Day in a snowplow accident; that was followed by Jamie Foxx, who was hospitalized with an undisclosed medical issue this year. Country music star Jason Aldean was the number one searched musician after he released his hit “Try That in a Small Town,” which gained widespread attention over the summer. In at number two was rapper Ice Spice.

 

 

 

Thousands want Donald Trump’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to be removed. A petition calling on the Los Angeles City Council to withdraw Trump’s star has received more than 4,000 signatures. Trump was awarded the star in 2007 and it has been vandalized and destroyed several times since the 2016 election. A star has never been removed from the Walk of Fame, but councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez told the Los Angeles Times that the council is looking into “what the legal issues may be” and what the process for removing the star would look like.

 

An asthma treatment that could reduce food allergies in children is one step closer to FDA approval. The antibody injection, sold as Xolair has been on the market since 2003 as a treatment for allergy-induced asthma but early data from a federally funded clinical trial showed that it helps recipients consume more peanuts, eggs, milk and cashews without allergic reactions.

 

 

Today is Thursday, Dec. 28, the 362nd day of 2023 with three to follow.

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

December 28 in history…

…In 1972, Miami Police cut a Manfred Mann and His Earth Band concert because residents in the neighborhood complained about the volume of the music. When authorities cut the sound to the P.A. system, fans rioted. The melee lasted about two hours.

 

…In 1973, comedian Seth Meyers was born (happy 50th birthday!)

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1981, the United States’ first test-tube baby, Elizabeth Jordan Carr, was born in a Norfolk, Virginia hospital.

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1983, Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys drowned while swimming in the Pacific Ocean. He was 39-years-old.

 

 

 

 

…In 2003, the Who’s Pete Townshend admitted to Britain’s “Observer” newspaper that he considered suicide in the wake of the police investigation on his alleged ownership of child pornography, but said he reconsidered because he thought taking his own life would have sent the wrong message and wouldn’t have helped clear his name.

 

 

…In 2016, Actress Debbie Reynolds, the mother of actress Carrie Fisher, died one day after her daughter’s death. She was 84.