Tuesday News Brief
Written by Doug Thompson on January 30, 2024
Attorney General Letitia James is reminding residents that the New York State Digital Fair Repair Act recently went into effect statewide, making repairs of cell phones, tablets, and other electronics simpler and more affordable. The law makes it easier to get electronics repaired at independent shops or do repairs at home by requiring manufacturers that do business in New York to make certain documents, tools, and parts widely available. Limited access to those materials meant fewer options for repairs; resulting in higher prices and longer wait times. Businesses that fail to follow the new rules could face civil penalties.
Registration for the 2024 Batavia Youth Baseball Season is now open until March 2nd. Divisions available in our House League are:
T-Ball (Ages 4-6)
Coach Pitch (Ages 7-8)
Minor Division (Ages 9-10)
Majors Division (Ages 11-12)
Any youth ages 4-12 interested in playing baseball can register @ https://www.nybataviayouthbaseball.com/
The Batavia Youth Baseball Board would like to welcome our new Board of Directors for 2024:
Kevin Rogers(President), Jenn Pacino-Lendvay(Vice President), Beth Kemp(Secretary), Jason Crater(Treasurer), Jose Arroyo, Dave D’Amico, Steve Fancher, Pat Fava, Pam Martin, Kristine McCarthy, James Patric, and Mark Sacheli.
The most recently released data provides us with some good news as it shows the spread of the flu appears to be on the decline across our region. During the week ending January 20th, Monroe County had the highest number of cases with 528; Erie County had the second highest number of cases with 201. Niagara County was third with 99 infections and Ontario County had 61. Since the beginning of flu season, over 193,000 residents statewide have contracted the illness.
Closing arguments are expected to be heard today in the murder trial of Troy Parker. Yesterday, jurors saw footage of Parker being questioned by authorities after he allegedly killed Fantasia Stone by setting her on fire in Rochester last year. The two were dating at the time, and had reportedly been involved in an argument before Stone’s death. Parker’s attorney continues to say his client is innocent.
Congressman Brian Higgins has announced a grant program that’ll provide a needed boost to local fire departments. The “Assistance for Firefighters Grant” will give first responders funds to modernize equipment and also train new members. Higgins says it’s important to make sure that emergency crews have all necessary tools available at their disposal so they can help the communities they serve. The deadline to apply for this program is March 8th.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is pledging federal action to help area kids get access to RSV vaccine. Immunizations are recommended for all babies that are born during colder months and the shot promises to lower their risk of being hospitalized for RSV by 80%. Currently, manufacturers say there is a shortage of this drug. Schumer is calling on the FDA and CDC to solve this problem.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is calling on his colleagues in Congress to renew the Undetectable Firearms Act. Schumer made that request during a visit to Albany yesterday. The legislation was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan back in 1988 and its currently scheduled to expire in March. Schumer believes if that happens, gun crimes across the country will rise. A measure to extend the UFA was put into the Defense Authorization Act but was removed by House Republicans.
ELSEWHERE…
A pilot and explorer says he found Amelia Earhart’s long-lost plane. CEO of Deep Sea Vision Tony Romeo sold commercial real estate to fund his deep-sea exploration of the Pacific Ocean last year. The former US Air Force intelligence officer used sonar technology to inspect the ocean floor in the area Earhart is suspected to have crashed in 1937. His team reviewed the data in December and say they found a shocking discovery: a blurry plane-like shape Romeo believes to be Earhart’s. It was taken about halfway between Australia and Hawaii.
A New York City man is going viral for comparing memorable sports photographs to works of art. According to The New York Times, LJ Rader, who lives on the Upper East Side, has 365-thousand followers on X and Instagram. The NFL approached him about Jason Kelce’s shirtless, beer-drinking antics in the freezing cold during the Kansas City Chiefs-Buffalo Bills game earlier this month. Rader’s choice was the 17th Century The Feast of Bacchus, a piece by the Dutch painter Phillips Kornick that depicts the Greek God of wine, shirtless and in a wine-induced haze. The NFL’s response was “Nailed it.” Rader grew up in Katonah and describes himself as a self-taught art enthusiast.
Writer and comedian Tom Johnson has died at the age of 55. His family confirmed that Johnson died at his Los Angeles home on January 14th. Johnson wrote more than one-thousand episodes for “The Daily Show” and won Emmy Awards and Peabody Awards for his work. His other writing credits include the Grammy Awards, “Comedy Central Roast” and “Talk Show with Spike Feresten,” Fox network’s longest-running late night show. Johnson’s family said in a statement Friday that he died “peacefully and unexpectedly.” A cause of death wasn’t given.
Today is Tuesday, Jan. 30, the 30th day of 2025 with 336 to follow.
The moon is waning. Morning stars are Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Uranus and Venus. Evening stars are Jupiter, Neptune, Saturn and Uranus.
January 30 in history…
…In 1951, Phil Collins was born (happy 73rd!).
…In 1998 Elton John received his knighthood.
…In 2000, Ringo Starr was featured in a commercial for the investment broker Charles Schwab, which aired during the Super Bowl.