Tuesday News Brief

Governor Kathy Hochul is under fire for vetoing a retail crime task force as retailers in the state report a loss of billions of dollars to shoplifting. The bill, which had received bipartisan support, would have created a panel of experts to outline ways to respond to retail theft in New York State. Hochul rejected the bill last week, sparking outrage from retailers and lawmakers statewide. Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have criticized Hochul for the move, arguing that passing the bill would have brought “relief” to store owners.

 

The search for a missing Rochester Institute of Technology student is now being expanded. Matthew Grant has not been seen since last Monday when he left his house near the school’s campus. He told his roommates he was going to visit a friend but his vehicle was last tracked near Exit 36 of the Thruway in Syracuse. Monroe County deputies are working with Syracuse police and other law enforcement agencies to find any clues involving Grant’s whereabouts. Tips can be submitted by dialing 911.

 

 

 

The driver of a school bus for the Wellsville Central School District was seriously hurt in a crash Monday morning on State Route 19 in Allegany County. New York State Police say bus 156 was hit by another vehicle as it was transporting students to the Wellsville Secondary School. Eighteen passengers were on board at the time. None of the students was seriously hurt. The driver, however, suffered serious injuries and was taken to Jones Memorial Hospital. Students were also taken to the same hospital as a precaution for further evaluation and have all since been reunited with their families. An investigation into the crash is underway. State police are not releasing any additional information at this time.

 

Jury selection is expected to begin today in the murder trial of Timothy Williams. He is the man accused of sexually assaulting and killing 14-year-old Wendy Jerome back in November 1984. Williams ended up being extradited back to Rochester in 2020 after being linked to Jerome’s death through DNA evidence. Williams and Jerome didn’t know each other, but they did live in the same area at the time of the homicide. There’s no word how long the trial will take.

 

New information has been released on a weekend fatal three-alarm fire at a house in Clarence. The Erie County Sheriff’s Office says the person who was found dead following Sunday’s blaze on Spaulding Drive has been identified as 62-year-old Joan Wozer. No other injuries were reported.

 

 

 

 

With the cold winter months just around the corner, New York State is releasing $100 million to improve the safety of roads that are affected by severe weather. Repaving projects will take place at over 60 locations statewide, including locally in Monroe, Genesee, Ontario, and Wayne counties. In recent years, there has been a focus on making highways and roads safer and more efficient. Governor Hochul says these new investments will ensure roads are resilient in the face of extreme weather.

 

The Buffalo Sabres have avoided a second straight loss after picking up one of their biggest wins of the season on the road. Alex Tuch scored twice and Casey Mittelstadt, JJ Peterka and Kyle Okposo had a goal each as the Sabres defeated the New York Rangers 5-1 at Madison Square Garden last night. Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 25 of the 26 shots he faced in the contest. Buffalo’s next game is Thursday in Saint Louis against the Blues. Face-off is at 8:00

 

 

ELSEWHERE…

 

One of the biggest stars in the world of country music is bringing his tour to Western New York next year. Jason Aldean is scheduled to perform at the Darien Lake Amphitheater on August 1st. Aldean is a multi-time Grammy Award nominee and is known for several hits such as “Dirt Road Anthem,” and “Night Train.” Tickets will go on sale Friday at 10:00am on the singer’s official website.

 

 

Sports Illustrated says it has deleted several articles from its website after publishing them under fake names and author headshots created with artificial intelligence. The existence of the articles was revealed in a report from Futurism, which couldn’t find any evidence of the authors’ existence and found the headshots for sale on digital marketplaces.

 

Merriam-Webster’s 2023 word of the year is “authentic.” The online dictionary said this year saw a “substantial increase” in searches for the word. It attributes that to more “stories and conversations about AI, celebrity culture, identity, and social media.”

 

 

Today is Tuesday, Nov. 28, the 332nd day of 2022. There are 33 days left in the year.

November 28 in history…

…In 1964, the United States launched the space probe Mariner 4 on a course toward Mars, which it flew past in July 1965, sending back pictures of the red planet.

 

 

 

 

 

…Also in 1964, Willie Nelson made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1974, Elton John and John Lennon sang a duet of “I Saw Her Standing There” at Madison Square Garden in New York. The show was John Lennon’s last stage appearance.

 

 

 

…In 1979, Ringo Starr’s rented home in Los Angeles, CA, burned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1994, serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was slain in a Wisconsin prison by a fellow inmate.