Tuesday News Brief

The Spencerport teacher arrested on child pornography charges has made an appearance in federal court. Prosecutors say 37-year-old Ian Milam posed as a high school student and sent explicit videos to at least one person. Milam is a sixth grade math teacher at Cosgrove Middle School. The FBI is still asking anyone who may have been in contact with him to call 585-279-0085.

 

 

 

20-year-old Raul Cruz of Warsaw and formerly of Albion, already faces 50 years to life in prison. He was convicted of murdering two migrant workers at a farm in Alexander. And while awaiting sentencing in the Genesee County Jail last December, Cruz was indicted and charged with promoting prison contraband for possessing shanks in the jail. He chose a bench trial, which was scheduled for this morning. If Cruz is convicted on these new charges, he faces an additional seven years in prison.

 

 

 

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz has announced steps that are being taken ahead of future winter storms that could put the lives of residents at risk. He says the county will be buying heavy-duty snow clearing equipment and industrial snow blowers to help with cleanup efforts. Ambulances will also work with tracked vehicles so they can get to patients who need medical help. Dozens of people died during a blizzard last year that lasted over 36 hours and left several feet of snow on the ground.

 

Monroe County Executive Adam Bello is asking for the National Guard to come to the area due to ongoing concerns about asylum seekers. In Erie County, two migrants were recently arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting women in separate incidents at hotels in Cheektowaga. In Monroe County, all emergency housing plans must be approved by the Department of Human Services before asylum seekers can arrive. But despite that policy, Bello is still requesting additional security.

 

Congressman Nick Langworthy is calling for immediate action to address what he’s calling a migrant crisis in the region. Langworthy says the fact that two asylum seekers were recently arrested for allegedly being involved in sexual assaults at hotels in Cheektowaga is proof that changes need to be made. He’s criticizing lawmakers in Albany and also President Biden, claiming that his administration has dangerous open border policies. No additional migrants will be coming to Erie County for the time being.

 

 

More information has been released about an incident at Buffalo’s Outer Harbor that resulted in several people being hospitalized. Officials believe a fight and a report of a firearm, which led to concertgoers scattering during a music festival on Sunday night, caused a disturbance. The worst injury among the people who were hurt was a broken arm. No gunshots were fired and no other issues were reported during the show.

 

 

A bookkeeper that used to work with the Southtowns Regional Chamber of Commerce has been sentenced for stealing over $168,000 from her former employer. The Erie County DA’s office says Cynthia Matla used the chamber’s debit card and issued checks to herself to pay for personal expenses. She’s now been ordered to spend the next five years on probation. She’s also paid back the money she took.

 

 

 

As reported by John Vazquez this morning: An audit from the state comptroller’s office says the state needs to make improvements to state parks for people with disabilities. The audit says the parks meet the minimum standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act, but more can be done. Out of the 40 parks that were reviewed, about two-thirds can be improved. Some parks have inaccessible entrances and bathrooms, and some have limited parking for those with disabilities. The audit did applaud some ways the parks have improved accessibility, including the Autism Nature Trail at Letchworth State Park.

 

The New York State Department of Labor is launching a new service to help businesses find skilled job candidates. The enhanced Virtual Career Center allows businesses to find qualified candidates with specific skills, and also allows employers to post jobs and communicate directly with job candidates. The free platform was initially launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to connect unemployed New Yorkers with job opportunities. The state says more than 80,000 job seekers have signed up to use this online resource:  https://dol.ny.gov/virtual-career-center

 

 

Fall will be here before you know it, and Six Flags Darien Lake is looking to hire people who want to work at this year’s Fright Fest. Open interviews for positions are taking place on Tuesdays and Saturdays through September 2nd at the human resources building. Perks of being a Six Flags employee include in-park discounts and other benefits. For more information, call 585-599-5108 weekdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. or go to sixflags.com/DarienLake.

 

ELSEWHERE…

Americans are consuming alcohol at a steady rate. Gallup’s latest Consumption Habits poll shows that 62% of Americans said they had “occasion to use alcoholic beverages such as liquor, wine or beer.” That’s in line with its findings for more than eight decades that the company has been tracking the number. It peaked in the late 70s at 71%. Meanwhile, this year 38% said that they do not drink at all and 24% of them responded they don’t care for alcohol at all. For those who do drink, 69% said they drank in the past week and 32% in the past day.

 

The Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney says former President Trump was part of a “criminal conspiracy” to overturn the state’s 2020 election results. Democrat Fani Willis said Trump has until noon next Friday to voluntarily surrender after he was indicted. Trump faces felony racketeering charges and more. The 97-page indictment includes 41 felony counts.

 

Meanwhile, the Trump campaign is blasting the latest indictment against the former President. The campaign accuses Democrat Fani Willis, the Fulton County District Attorney, of being a “rabid partisan.” It adds her election interference investigation is based on “fabricated accusations.”

 

 

Consumers are being encouraged to check their pantry shelves for packages of a Nestle Toll House product involved in a recall. Nestle is recalling two batches of their Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough “break and bake” Bar products. The products produced on April 24th and 25th could contain the presence of wood fragments. Specific batch codes can be found on the FDA’s website.

 

Today is Tuesday, August 15th, the 227th day of the year.

August 15 in history…

 

…In 1911, Proctor and Gamble Company introduced Crisco shortening.

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1914, the Panama Canal opened for traffic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1939, MGM’s “The Wizard of Oz” opened at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1948, CBS Television presented the first nightly news broadcast. Douglas Edwards was the anchorman.

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1969, The Woodstock Music and Arts Fair opened in upstate New York.

 

 

 

 

…In 1971, former President Richard Nixon announced a 90-day freeze on wages, prices, and rents to help fight inflation.

 

 

 

 

…In 1995, the popular song “Macarena” by Los Del Rio was released in the U.S.

 

 

 

 

…In 1998, Apple launched the first iMac computer.