Tuesday News Brief

The call came in early last evening to report a fire at 10 Prune Street. The neighborhood streets there are narrow, and houses are close together. The Tully’s parking lot was right behind the house. That made it tight quarters to maneuver trucks and fight the fire. Unloading hoses quickly and getting them into place fast was difficult. City Fire Chief Josh Graham relayed that there was significant damage to the second story of the residence with smoke and water damage to the first floor; and the garage, where the fire started was a total loss. Chief Graham added that a neighboring house sustained some heat damage. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Click below for the comprehensive story from our news partner:

https://www.thebatavian.com/howard-owens/house-on-prune-street-heavily-damage-from-fire-that-started-in-garage/636258

 

Genesee and Orleans County Sheriffs along with State Police responded to a call that came into Monroe County of a possible murder suicide in the area of Darien on Countyline Rd on Monday afternoon. The caller said that a person had shot his girlfriend and then killed himself. It was determined that the call was a prank or “Swatting” incident. Chief Deputy Joseph Graff said prank calls like this are a public hazard. Authorities are working to identify the caller and personally inform them of how dangerous swatting calls can be. They could face a felony or misdemeanor charge from the incident. The detailed story from our news partner is available below:

https://www.thebatavian.com/howard-owens/call-into-monroe-county-dispatch-found-to-be-swatting-incident/636254

 

Batavia Police are investigating a shots fired report on Oak Street in Batavia; multiple calls came into 9-1-1 last night a little before 11:00. There were no reported injuries and patrols remained in place overnight as crime scene investigators checked the area.

 

 

 

New York State Bridges are in desperate need of repair and replacement. A Scripps News investigation found 537 bridges in the state have been rated in “poor” condition for a decade or more. This is the ninth most in the United States. That’s just a portion of the 14,000 bridges that have been listed in poor condition for at least 10 years across the United States, according to data from the Federal Highway Administration. Five bridges in the City of Buffalo are on the list, including the Louisiana Street Bridge over I-190. New York State invested more than $80 million on bridge replacement and rehabilitation in Western New York over the last five years, but still falls short in fixing all state bridges in disrepair. There are many more bridges in need of repair than money available to fix them, both at the federal and local levels. (File photo)

 

The City of Buffalo is now ranked as one of the best places in the country to live for families. The study was conducted by U.S. News and World Report, which put Buffalo in 17th on its latest list. The three factors considered were quality of life, affordability, and also job market opportunities. Topping the list was Huntsville, Alabama followed by San Jose, California and Green Bay, Wisconsin. By the way, Rochester ranked 21st.

 

 

Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula has revealed an organizational change involving the National Hockey League franchise. Pegula Sports and Entertainment is being dissolved, and Pegula is now going to be serving as the team’s new president. Pegula’s wife Kim was previously the president of the Sabres, but she’s still recovering after suffering cardiac a arrest last year. Terry Pegula will work alongside both the Sabres COO and General Manager to run the team.

 

ELSEWHERE…

 

Idalia has now reached hurricane status. The National Hurricane Center says the Category 1 storm is packing maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour as it makes its way toward Florida. Forecasters expect Idalia to continue gaining strength, intensifying into an extremely dangerous, major hurricane before it makes landfall Wednesday.

 

That 200-year-old West Point time capsule opened Monday turned out to be a bust. The small lead box found in May in the base of an 1829 monument was met with great fanfare. What could be in it: medals, money, musket balls? As it turned out, nothing but silt, according to the scientist who examined the box. But, he promised to sift the silt and look further to determine what if anything was in the box.

 

 

A viral San Diego bike thief is under arrest thanks to an anonymous tip. Video shows a man walking up to an open garage and taking a $1,300 e-bike. As he’s leaving, a golden retriever walks up to say hello. The thief stops, walks the bike back into the garage and spends about a minute giving the dog kisses and belly rubs before he escapes with the bike. The police say the suspect is a 42-year-old male but have not released a name. As far as the golden retriever, his name is Ace and SDPD is on record calling him a very good boy.

 

Elton John is recovering after a fall at his home in the French city of Nice. Representatives for the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer said he went to the hospital as a precautionary measure, but has since been discharged and is back at home.

 

 

 

Supermarket chain Wegmans has announced a recall of its Jamaican Jerk Style chicken breast and thighs. The products have undeclared allergens in them including milk, soy, and wheat which are not listed on the label. According to the USDA, this problem was caused by an equipment malfunction that might have led to cross-contamination. No illnesses have been reported and anyone who purchased these products can return them for a refund.

 

 

Starting later this week, the cost of smoking is going to be rising across the Empire State. That is because the tax on a package of cigarettes will be increasing by $1 per pack beginning on Friday. The current state cigarette tax is $4.35 per pack, and the excise tax on little cigars will also increase by $1 for a pack of 20. This is the first time in more than a decade New York has raised taxes on cigarettes.

Today is Tuesday, August 29th, the 241st day of the year.

August 29 in history…

 

…In 1958, the Air Force Academy opened in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1977, three people were arrested in Memphis, Tennessee, for trying to dig up the body of Elvis Presley. Vernon Presley soon arranged to have the bodies of his son and his wife moved to the grounds of Graceland mansion.

 

 

…In 1996, golfer Tiger Woods made his professional debut when he teed off in the first round of the Greater Milwaukee Open.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1997, Netflix was founded by Marc Randolph and Reed Hasting in Scotts Valley, California as an online DVD rental business.

 

 

 

…In 2005, Hurricane Katrina tore into the Gulf Coast on this date leaving devastating effects in the city of New Orleans, and surrounding areas. Thousands of people who didn’t or couldn’t leave the city were trapped in the flooded city without food, clean water or power. Many took refuge at the city’s Superdome and Convention Center. The Category 5 Hurricane is estimated to have caused over $100 billion in damage and killed more than 1,500 people in Louisiana, including Barry Cowsill who lived in New Orleans at the time.

 

 

…In 2013, hundreds of fast food workers went on strike demanding the hourly wage be $15 an hour.