Tuesday News Brief
Written by Doug Thompson on March 19, 2024
Today the Jackson Street water project will continue from Ellicott to Main Streets. Loss of water should be expected in this area and possible nearby areas, depending on which valve closures are needed. If discolored water occurs once water pressure is regained, it is best to avoid doing laundry or cook until the water runs clear.
Michael Sweet
38-year-old Michael Sweet of Batavia has been arrested. He’s charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and operating a motor vehicle without inspection certificate. Following a traffic stop, Sweet was found to be in possession of a controlled substance. He was released with an appearance ticket and scheduled for City of Batavia Court on April 2nd.
28-year-old Anthony Gabri of Rochester has been arrested in LeRoy. He is charged with criminal impersonation of a public servant and for having a non-transparent front windshield. This followed a traffic stop, during which it was found that Gabri was wearing the badge of a Village of East Rochester Constable and outer carrier tactical vest commonly used to carry body armor, on his way to Batavia to serve paperwork for his privately owned business and not under the direction of the Town of East Rochester. Gabri was issued an appearance ticket for Town of LeRoy Court on April 9th.
A State Supreme Court judge in Erie County has made the decision that a civil lawsuit brought on by the families of the victims of the May 14 mass shooting in Buffalo against social media companies can go forward. The decision yesterday struck down the motions of seven social media platforms to dismiss the lawsuit, which contends teenage gunman Payton Gendron, through his use of social media, became exposed to racist ideology, and radicalized to the point of executing a plot to seek to kill Black people. They further contend that the social media companies bear some responsibility for that. The decision, which allows the lawsuit to proceed, could lead to the first time a platform is held liable for a mass shooting.
A Cheektowaga man is in some trouble with the law after being accused of aiming a laser pointer towards an airplane. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says the incident involving 29-year-old Joseph Crapsi happened March 1st. The pilot of a Delta aircraft reported seeing a green laser while approaching Buffalo Niagara International Airport. A search of Crapsi’s home led to the discovery of a laser pointer in his bedroom. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Updated data from the state shows the spread of the flu is rising once again in our region. During the week ending March 9th, the area with the highest number of infections was Erie County with 531, followed by Monroe County with 468. Niagara County reported 117 cases of the flu and Chautauqua County, 108. Doctors say it’s not too late for people to get vaccinated against the flu; more information is available at vaccines.gov.
File photo of two women with eclipse glasses
Governor Hochul is launching a statewide effort to protect New Yorkers ahead of the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8th. To protect viewers’ eyes, the state will distribute eclipse glasses at 30 locales statewide including along the Thruway. Meantime the Governor is also urging everyone to be wary of scams, fake merchandise and phony accommodation listings. The eclipse will encompass western and northern New York State with the roughly 100-mile wide path of totality entering in the southwestern part of the state just after 3:15pm and departing northern New York just before 3:30pm.
Jeff Skinner prepares to score on his way to a hat trick last night.
The Buffalo Sabres are back on the winning track after cruising to a victory in the Pacific Northwest. Jeff Skinner had a hat trick and Alex Tuch, Tage Thompson and Owen Power scored a goal each as the Sabres defeated the Seattle Kraken six to two at Climate Pledge Arena last night. Buffalo goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen faced 34 shots in the contest and stopped 32 of them. The next game for the Sabres is tonight in Vancouver against the Canucks.
ELSEWHERE…
The ruby slippers have been returned.
The FBI has returned a pair of ruby slippers stolen from a Minnesota museum to their original owner. The agency confirmed yesterday that it returned the slippers that were worn in “The Wizard of Oz” to owner Michael Shaw during a ceremony on February 1st at the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids. The FBI called the event a “restoration of justice,” though the ceremony was kept secret due to the ongoing investigation into the theft of the shoes. The slippers were stolen from the museum in 2005 and recovered by the FBI in 2018. An elderly man has pleaded guilty to stealing the shoes, while a second man appeared in federal court last week on charges connected to the theft.
