Wednesday News Brief

Jankowski Re-Elected Batavia City Council President

Joanne Beck with the Batavian reports, Eugene Jankowski Junior has been re-elected as Batavia City Council president, securing a third term in the role following a vote Monday night at City Hall.
There were three nominations for council president. Newly elected members Nick Lord and Sammy DiSalvo nominated and voted for one another, but the remaining council members voted along party lines to return Jankowski to the presidency. Council member Paul Viele was unanimously selected as president pro tempore.
Jankowski has served on the council and as president for a combined twelve years. In a statement following the vote, he thanked the community and fellow council members for their support, saying Batavia is a great place to live and raise a family and that he looks forward to continuing to serve.
Lord and DiSalvo acknowledged the outcome, saying they respect the process and plan to represent the voters who elected them by asking questions and engaging the public. Both say they intend to host community meet-and-greet events moving forward.
The vote followed the official swearing-in of Batavia s newly elected council-at-large members.

Gillibrand Urges USDA to Speed Up Aid for Farmers

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to speed up and increase disaster and economic assistance payments for farmers, especially specialty crop growers.
Gillibrand joined a group of Democratic senators in pressing USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, warning that rising input costs, trade uncertainty, and natural disasters are putting serious strain on farmers. The senators say less than six billion dollars of the sixteen billion approved by Congress has been paid out so far.
They re calling for faster payments and additional funding, saying farmers need help now as they plan for the upcoming growing season.

Supreme Court Signals Support for State Bans on Transgender Athletes

The U.S. Supreme Court appears likely to uphold state laws that bar transgender girls and women from competing on female school sports teams.
After more than three hours of arguments Tuesday, a majority of the court s conservative justices signaled support for bans enacted in states like Idaho and West Virginia. The justices suggested the laws do not violate the Constitution or Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education.
The cases come amid broader efforts by President Donald Trump to roll back protections for transgender Americans. Supporters of the bans argue they are necessary to preserve fair competition for girls and women, while opponents say they discriminate against transgender students.
The three liberal justices appeared to seek a narrow ruling that would allow the individual athletes involved to continue competing. A final decision is expected by early summer.

Batavia Approves $638,000 in City Centre Interior Upgrades

The City of Batavia has approved $638,000 in contracts to move forward with interior upgrades at the Batavia City Centre.
City Council approved agreements with 4 contractors: Steve General Contractor for $296,000, Hewitt Young Electric for $205,000, M.K.S. Plumbing for $122,000, and Quackenbush Company for $15,000.
Director of Public Works Tom Phelps says the project focuses on the concourse interior, including removing outdated wiring and unused ceiling equipment, repainting the ceiling, upgrading restrooms, and adding a new ADA-compliant family bathroom. Phelps says the City Centre is currently about 80% occupied.
City officials explained that while Batavia does not own most of the mall, the city controls and maintains the concourse and common areas under a 2017 settlement agreement that resolved lawsuits with the Batavia City Centre Merchants Association.
City Manager Rachael Tabelski says the work is part of a $1.4 million capital project, funded through state grant money, county economic development funds, and city facility reserves.

New Mental Health Resource Launched Locally

Residents of Genesee and Orleans Counties now have access to a new online mental health tool called CredibleMind.
The platform, offered through county health and mental health departments, provides confidential access to articles, videos, podcasts, and self-check tools on topics like stress, anxiety, sleep, and relationships.
Officials say CredibleMind helps residents find trusted resources and connect with local mental health services anytime support is needed.

Clintons Reject House Subpoena in Epstein Investigation

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton say they will not comply with a House subpoena demanding testimony in the congressional investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
In a letter released Tuesday, the Clintons called the House Oversight Committee s probe legally invalid and accused Chairman James Comer of selectively enforcing subpoenas. Comer says he plans to begin contempt of Congress proceedings next week, though no former president has ever been compelled to testify before Congress.
The dispute comes as lawmakers from both parties continue pressing the Justice Department over delays in releasing Epstein-related files. Republicans say they have questions, not accusations, while the Clintons say they will forcefully defend themselves.

Genesee County High School Basketball — Tuesday Scores

In boys basketball Tuesday night, Le Roy Oatkan Knights jumped out early and rolled to an 84–52 road win over Letchworth Legends. Le Roy hit 13 of 17 shots in the first quarter to take a 30–14 lead. Aidan Weaver led the Knights with 25 points as Le Roy improved to 7–4.
Also in boys action, Pavilion Golden Gophers defeated Perry Yellowjackets 56–37.

In girls basketball, Notre Dame Batavia earned its third straight win, beating Byron-Bergen Bees 63–29. Sofia Falleti led all scorers with 24 points.
Batavia Blue Devils fell to Pittsford Sutherland Knights 60–28.
Elba Lancers defeated Lyndonville Tigers 50–29, and Pembroke Dragons topped Alexander Trojans 60–29.