Tuesday Afternoon News Brief

A traffic alert for you: The Town of Batavia Water Department is finishing a water service line project on Shepard Road, near the intersection of Ellicott Street Road today tomorrow, Wednesday, March 19^th from 7:00am until 4:00pm. Traffic is closed off from Shepard Road in the area the work is being performed. Please plan to use an alternate route. As is always the case, when the water is restored, it may be discolored. Folks in the effected area should refrain from doing laundry until the water runs clear.

 

A Chief of Narcotics and Intelligence officer is under investigation for an alleged hit-and-run cover up. A lawsuit filed about the incident last April states former officer Daniel “DJ” Granville was impaired at the time of the crash at the intersection of Jersey Street and Prospect Avenue in Buffalo. He had lost control and hit several vehicles in a county-owned truck before leaving the scene. He was ticketed for driving the wrong way down a one-way street and cost Erie County taxpayers 60-thousand dollars in a settlement. Buffalo Police Lt. Lucia Esquilin is “DJ” Granville’s sister-in-law who signed off on the police report. “DJ” Granville who is the older brother of undercover narcotics detective William “Billy” Granville was also involved in a car crash but eight years earlier. “Billy” Granville was accused of not reporting the accident and was disciplined for seven days without pay. A resolution was passed by Erie County legislators to create a special investigative committee for former officer “DJ” Granville hit-and-run cover up.

 

State Attorney General Letitia James has taken action to protect New Yorkers from unwanted robocalls. Together with 27 other attorneys general, James filed a brief to support and defend a rule by the Federal Communications Commission that stops telemarketers from obtaining and selling consumers’ phone numbers to robocallers without their consent. The coalition writes that the rule is effective by targeting robocalls at one of their sources: the point where consumer contact information is first obtained. In addition, they argue that the FCC’s rule protects consumers by providing them with clear and conspicuous disclosures when consenting to sharing their contact information with a seller, such as a website that they use to search for products or receive a quote on a service.

 

The deadline to pass a new state budget is two weeks away, and lawmakers say an agreement could be reached on time. Governor Hochul is proposing $252 billion dollars in spending while the Assembly and Senate are calling for $256 billion and $259 billion, respectively.   Negotiations will now center on coming up with a compromise on the budget’s final price tag as well as policy issues that’ll be part of it. Some of those items include inflation rebate checks, prison oversight and reforms and solar tax credits.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has joined with 31 other state senators demanding a reversal of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s cancellation of food purchase programs across the county, warning of the harmful impacts this move will have on families and farmers across the state. The USDA cancelled funding through the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program and the similar Local Food for Schools. The programs allowed state, territorial and Tribal governments to purchase food from American farmers to be distributed to food banks, schools, and child care centers. Canceling the funding puts more than $63 million for food purchases at risk this year, and subsequently decrease the availability of local foods for the programs that rely on them to feed New York residents in need.

 

A fraud investigation is ongoing against a former worker at the Department of Public Works. The Niagara County District Attorney’s Office said that person was employed by the city for over 14 years and the investigation is in relation to compensation.   The former employee has not been formally charged. No other information has been released.

 

A new bus driver shortage plan at Sweet Home Central School District is causing parents to be upset. The Board of Education’s new plan has students walking to school if they are living within a quarter of a mile away. Some parents said that they’re concerned over the lack of supervision with streets and no crossing guards, predators and severe weather conditions. Parents had placed a petition on change.org, which so far is supported with a little over 360 signatures. This new transportation rule “places an overwhelming burden on parents who are already struggling with the late school start times. This seemingly minor change disrupts the already hectic daily routines of parents and homeowners within the radius, making their lives even more challenging logistically and financially.” The Superintendent tells WIVB that “We will present a plan to our community at the April 8th Board of Education study session that specifically addresses the walking radius.”

 

More details are now being released about the death of an Avon man over the weekend. According to deputies, 61-year-old Jonathan Mills pushed the victim down a flight of stairs during a confrontation at a home on West Main Street Sunday. The victim was brought to Strong Memorial Hospital but couldn’t be saved. Mills was arrested at the scene and is charged with manslaughter. The circumstances surrounding the incident are still unclear at this time; the investigation into the incident is ongoing.

 

Construction is set to begin on a major bridge replacement project in Monroe County.   Transportation officials say aging structures that bring traffic on Interstate 490 over the Erie Canal and Kreag Road in Perinton are in need of significant upgrades. During this work, the highway will be reduced to just one lane in each direction, meaning motorists can expect delays and may want to seek alternate routes. The project is expected to wrap up by the end of 2027.

 

The Buffalo Sabres have earned back-to-back victories after an overtime victory on the road. Alex Tuch scored with just under 11 seconds left in the extra period as the Sabres beat the Boston Bruins by a final score of three to two at TD Garden last night. Peyton Krebs and Owen Power also had a goal each and Buffalo’s goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 19 of the 21 shots he faced in the contest. The next game for the Sabres is Thursday night in Utah against the Hockey Club. Face-off is at 9:00.

 

A five-time Grammy Award nominated band is coming to Western New York this summer. The Killers are set to take the stage at CMAC in Canandaigua on Saturday night, August 2nd at 8:00. Buffalo Bills fans know the group for their song “Mister Brightside” and the band also has other major hits including “When You Were Young” and “Somebody Told Me.” Seats for this show go on sale this Friday at 10:00am and they can be purchased through Ticketmaster.

 

Keeping teeth healthy doesn’t require fancy gadgets, just the basics.   That includes brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing. The Health Policy Institute says it’s also important to get regular dental checkups and cleanings.   Twice a year is what’s recommended.   The American Dental Association says fluoride matters because it has the power to fight cavities and tooth decay.   They recommend fluoride toothpaste and using a toothbrush with soft, rather than hard bristles to avoid scraping off tooth enamel or damaging your gums.

 

Teams at Georgia Tech have created a baby pacifier that detects a baby’s electrolyte levels. A professor in the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering tells the AJC the device uses membrane censors to analyze a baby’s saliva. The pacifier can then help detect health issues with a child and assist doctors in understanding a patient’s health. The pacifier developed is also wireless, compatible with Bluetooth, and can be used to transmit data onto a Smartphone or tablet.   Scientists say they hope the pacifier will be a better alternative for babies compared to the old way of drawing blood to check for electrolytes.