Wednesday Afternoon News Brief

48-year-old Jennifer Moscicki of Batavia has been arrested and charged with petit larceny. It’s alleged she stole merchandise from Aldi. Moscicki was issued an appearance ticket to return to court. ALSO: 49-year-old Kelly Mungo of Batavia was arrested for petit larceny, after allegedly stealing merchandise from Aldi. She was issued an appearance ticket. ALSO: 31-year-old Mercedes Ramon-Rodriguez of Batavia was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child. She allegedly left a 3-year-old child home alone. Ramon-Rodriguez was issued an appearance ticket for City Court next Tuesday, March 25^th. ALSO: 20-year-old Jazmyn R. Bater of Batavia was arrested by City Police and charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Bater allegedly struck another person in the head several times, while the other person was holding a child. Bater was issued an appearance ticket. ALSO: 38-year-old Jennifer Wilson of Auburndale, Florida was arrested on a bench warrant. Wilson was initially charged with criminal trespass, obstructing governmental administration, and resisting arrest, following an incident on February 26, 2024. The warrant was issued after Wilson failed to appear in court. She was arraigned in CAP Court and is scheduled to appear in City Court at a later date.

 

Governor Hochul says more than $270 million in funding will be used to preserve over 1,800 affordable homes across New York. In our region, money is going towards the Fine Arts Building Lofts and Fernwood Avenue Apartments in Rochester as well as the Creekside Clearing Redevelopment in Livonia. The governor believes that the solution to the state’s housing crisis is building more homes. She’s also expressing support for passing legislation to expand the Low-Income Housing Tax credit.

 

Federal prosecutors are looking to hold convicted Pharaoh’s Gentlemen’s Club owner Peter Gerace in criminal contempt after he gave interviews this past weekend about his trial. While talking to reporters, Gerace reportedly shared criticism about how prosecutors handled his case, as well as sharing his decision not to testify.   Prosecutors say he violated a judge’s order issued last week, which said he must follow the policies of the U.S. Marshal’s Service, which requires permission on several levels to do interviews with media outlets.

 

A new report is showing that 40% of kids in Rochester are currently living in poverty. This data was gathered by The Children’s Agenda and that group is making recommendations it believes can help address this problem. They include boosting employment opportunities and career pathways for residents, making investments in neighborhoods and supporting youth development. The City Parks and Public Works Committee will discuss this report during a meeting April 8th.

 

Erie County officials have announced that they’re filing a lawsuit against the Corporation for National and Community Service, also known as Americorps.   The decision comes after the agency ended a grant program that funded the placement of hundreds of senior volunteers. Erie County officials say Americorps wants to take it away because of President Donald Trump’s executive order, which seeks to end support for diversity, equity, and inclusion purposes.

 

The victim of a fatal house fire in Lancaster on Monday has been identified.   Authorities say 41-year-old Kimberly Kloc died after the blaze broke out at her house on Central Ave., which is just north of Walden Avenue. Crews had to demolish the house due to the damage. The cause of the fire remains under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact Lancaster police.

 

Testimony is scheduled to resume today in the manslaughter trial of Jarrid Mix.   He’s the person prosecutors claim was involved in the beating of his girlfriend’s two-year-old son back in 2022.   An autopsy revealed the boy suffered severe internal injuries while he was being cared for by Mix. His lawyer believes the prosecution won’t be able to prove the allegations against his client. If convicted, Mix could be ordered to serve prison time.

 

A judge has ruled to uphold a law that limits how much money state lawmakers can earn in outside income. That income limit went into effect this past January, and there are nearly 40 lawmakers whose outside income surpasses the $35,000 per year barrier. This legislation was aimed at reducing any conflicts of interest connected with outside employment. Some legislators have already filed a notice of appeal.

 

The Buffalo Sabres are on the hunt for three wins in a row as their road trip continues. They play tomorrow night in Utah against the Hockey Club. Face-off is at 9:00.

 

Rochester Red Wings fans are going to notice a big change at Innovative Field this season. That’s because the venue will be cashless for all transactions including concessions, parking, tickets and merchandise. The team says folks can use their credit or debit cards as well as Apple Pay and Google Pay. The home opener for the Red Wings will be April 1st against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

 

Tomorrow evening (Thursday, 3/20) from 6:30 to 8:00, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy music performed by Bart Dentino. The Batavia First Presbyterian Church, 300 East Main Street, Batavia is hosting the event, which is free and open to the public. Donations are welcome and appreciated, with all proceeds benefiting and supporting the Genesee Wyoming County Warming Center, during the cold, winter nights.

 

Governor Kathy Hochul says the tariff war between Canada and the U.S. is continuing to hit New York State hard. Hochul says the average New York family may end up paying up to $3,000 more over the course of a year if the tariffs remain in effect that long.   Hochul says fewer Canadians are crossing the border to visit. She says that’s the word she got from Manhattan hotel managers as well as theaters in Buffalo.   Hochul says the tariffs are also going to make it harder to build more housing at a time when there is a severe housing shortage in the state.