Wednesday News Brief
Written by Pete Zehler on February 11, 2026
Preschool costs put pressure on Genesee County Health budget
Preschool special education is the most expensive program run by the Genesee County Health Department, largely due to transportation costs.
Director Paul Pettit says the county will spend about 1.1 million dollars on preschool services in 2026, including a 145-thousand-dollar increase in transportation expenses, even with fewer students enrolled and Batavia City Schools providing some busing.
Under New York State law, counties — not school districts — are responsible for paying for preschool special education, including transportation. State reimbursement covers about 60 percent of the cost, leaving the county to pay the rest.
Pettit says staffing shortages continue to strain the program, and the department is pushing for a shift that would make school districts responsible for transportation — something he says could reduce costs and improve access to services.
Dine Out Fundraiser supports local families
A reminder for today — the Down Syndrome Parent Support Group is hosting a dine-out fundraiser tonight at Miss Batavia Diner.
Stop by or grab takeout between 4 and 9 p.m. at the diner on East Main Street in Batavia. A portion of the proceeds will support local families connected to the group.
Organizers say community support makes a big difference, and everyone is encouraged to take part.
U.S. to revoke passports over unpaid child support
Parents who owe large amounts of child support could soon lose their passports under a stepped-up enforcement effort by the Trump administration.
Federal law has allowed passport revocation for unpaid child support over 2,500 dollars since 1996, but enforcement largely depended on someone applying for a renewal. That’s about to change.
The State Department will now proactively revoke passports using data shared by Health and Human Services. The first phase targets people owing more than 100-thousand dollars, fewer than 500 nationwide, with the option to avoid revocation by entering a payment plan.
Officials say lowering the threshold later could impact thousands more. Since the program began, it’s collected more than 620 million dollars in overdue child support.
Trump Immigration Chiefs Defend Deportation Crackdown in Heated Capitol Hill Hearing
The leaders of President Donald Trump’s immigration agencies forcefully defended the administration’s mass deportation campaign during a tense House Homeland Security hearing Tuesday. ICE Director Todd Lyons rejected criticism of enforcement tactics, refusing to apologize amid claims that officers violated civil rights. He testified alongside the heads of Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, as lawmakers questioned expanded arrests, warrant policies, and use of force. The hearing followed deadly encounters involving federal officers and comes as public support for Trump’s immigration agenda shows signs of slipping, despite increased funding.
Pembroke Wins 12th Straight; Le Roy Girls Earn Thriller Over Geneseo
Pembroke kept rolling Tuesday night with a 52-40 win over Attica, stretching its streak to 12 straight. Nolan Peterson led with 17 points, Hunter Mast added 14 and 9 rebounds, and the Dragons improved to 14-2. Blake Kines had a monster 25-point, 17-rebound night for Attica.
Elsewhere, Kendall topped Byron-Bergen 65-45 and Oakfield-Alabama beat Wheatland-Chili 47-35.
On the girls side, Le Roy edged Geneseo 36-34 after Kylie Wilson hit the go-ahead three with 34 seconds left.
