Wednesday Afternoon News Brief
Written by WBTA STAFF on February 26, 2025
Governor Hochul and striking workers (Associated Press photos)
While an illegal strike by state corrections officers continues, Governor Hochul wants to further shake-up the prison system in New York with more proposed cutbacks. They appeared last week from the Governor’s office in Albany and now among her amendments to the state budget proposal from January, Governor Hochul is seeking the closure of up to five Department of Corrections state prisons. It would be part of a trend where the New York Focus publication reports over 20 prisons have been closed over the past two decades as the prison population has dropped from over 70,000 to just over 33,000. Also as expected following the fatal Marcy prison inmate beating with now charged prison staffers, Hochul wants all corrections officers to wear body cameras by state law.
Nikolas Romeo (13WHAM photo)
Nikolas Romeo, a Rochester police officer, has been charged with sexual abuse and harassment. He appeared in Greece Town Court Tuesday. Romeo is currently suspended after an off-duty incident when he allegedly subjected an adult victim to nonconsensual sexual contact. Authorities said a complaint was filed “on or about Oct. 31, 2024.” Romeo has been with RPD since 2006; Greece police eventually arrested him on January 7th. The Rochester Police Department said it became aware of the incident early November, when Police Chief David Smith immediately ordered an internal investigation.
Cole Kish
A North Tonawanda man was arrested on multiple sexual assault charges Tuesday, including promoting a sexual performance by a child, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office said. It is alleged that 24-year-old Cole Kish sexually abused a 15-year-old girl. He was charged with first-degree criminal sexual act, first-degree sex abuse, promoting a sexual performance by a child and criminal sex act. Kish is currently being held at the Niagara County Jail pending arraignment.
There will be a meeting this evening at Batavia Town Hall starting at 6:00. The New York Green Project received funding from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds for design of a proposed new public park. It will be located on a property owned by the Town of Batavia, located on Park Road in the city. The agenda tonight includes sharing and soliciting public feedback on the conceptual design for the proposed new park.
Raymond Moody reacts to the verdict. (13WHAM photo)
A jury in South Carolina is ordering the convicted killer of Brittanee Drexel to pay $700 million in total damages. Raymond Moody has to give $200 million to Drexel’s mother and the remaining $500 million are for punitive damages. Moody is serving life in prison for kidnapping, sexually assaulting, and killing the 17-year-old Drexel while she was on a trip to Myrtle Beach in 2009. The lawsuit filed by her mother said her daughter suffered emotional distress before being murdered.
Henry Jurek, III
A Clarence man has been sentenced to a year-and-a-half in prison in connection to a domestic violence incident in July 2023. Investigators say 47-year-old Henry Jurek the Third attempted to cause injuries to a victim by slamming their head into a cement ground at a home on Silver Birch Court. The victim had to be taken to the hospital via ambulance for treatment. Jurek pleaded guilty back in May to second-degree attempted assault.
A brand-new version of the popular board game Monopoly has been released, and it features the City of Rochester. The official unveiling took place yesterday at the Strong National Museum of Play. This special edition features landmarks like Highland Park and the Rochester Institute of Technology as well as items such as garbage plates and lilacs. The game is available for $44.99 and can be purchased at us.toptrumps.com.
The Buffalo Sabres kept their winning ways going last night at the KeyBank Center. JJ Peterka, Alex Tuch and Henri Jokiharju all scored goals in the third period to dig Buffalo out of a two-goal deficit and defeat the Anaheim Ducks 3-2. The Sabres have now won six straight games on their home ice, which is the longest streak since November 2018. Buffalo hits the ice again tomorrow as they travel to play the Carolina Hurricanes.
