Wednesday News Brief

Genesee County Exploring Joint Code Enforcement Study

Genesee County may hire a consultant to study whether municipalities could combine code enforcement services.
Speaking at Thursday night’s County Planning Board meeting, County Planner Felipe Oltramari said several towns have expressed interest in sharing services, if not consolidating efforts at the county level.
The proposed study would examine potential cost savings and improved efficiency. Oltramari noted code enforcement positions are often part-time and require extensive training, making them difficult to fill.
A consultant would survey municipalities and develop recommendations for possible cooperative agreements covering building code and zoning enforcement.
County Manager Matt Landers’ office has asked the Planning Department to lead the effort. The study is expected to take about six months once underway.

Dense Fog Advisory in Effect for Genesee County

Drivers across Genesee County and much of Western New York are dealing with dense fog this morning.
The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a dense fog advisory through 7 a.m. Wednesday. Visibility could drop to as low as a quarter mile at times, especially on hilltops and near the Lake Ontario shoreline.
Forecasters say conditions may improve slightly later today before worsening again overnight.
Drivers are urged to slow down, use headlights, and leave extra distance between vehicles.

Iran Temporarily Closes Strait of Hormuz During Military Drills

Iran says it temporarily closed parts of the Strait of Hormuz as it conducted live-fire military exercises in the vital waterway.
The narrow passage connects the Persian Gulf to global shipping routes and carries about 20 percent of the world’s oil supply. Iranian media described the closure as lasting several hours for safety reasons, though the full impact is unclear.
The move comes amid rising tensions with the United States, which has warned of possible military action tied to Iran’s nuclear program. The U.S. military has not commented on the latest closure.
Iran’s Supreme Leader warned any U.S. attack would bring serious consequences, escalating concerns about stability in the region.

Batavia Train Show Moving to Rochester Area

After more than 50 years in Genesee County, The Great Batavia Train Show is relocating.
Organizers say scheduling conflicts at Genesee Community College led the Genesee Society of Model Engineers to move the longtime event to the Rochester Dome Arena in Henrietta. The newly branded Greater Rochester Train Fest launches March 1 and will continue as a bi-annual show.
Chairman Mike Pyszczek says attendance has remained strong, averaging about 3,000 visitors a year, with continued interest from model railroading enthusiasts across the region.
The show will run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Dome. Admission is seven dollars for adults, three dollars for ages 13 to 17, and free for children under 13.

Schumer Pushes Bill to Extend Rights for Trafficking Survivors

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was in Rochester Monday promoting “Virginia’s Law,” legislation that would eliminate the 10-year statute of limitations for sex-trafficking survivors to file civil lawsuits.
The bill is named for Virginia Giuffre, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s trafficking ring, who later became an advocate for victims.
Schumer says justice should not expire and that survivors deserve the time they need to come forward.
He was joined by advocates from Willow Domestic Violence Center, who say removing time limits restores power to survivors seeking accountability.

Two Dead in Shooting at Rhode Island Youth Hockey Game

Two people were killed and three others injured when a gunman opened fire during a youth hockey game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
Police say the shooting happened Sunday inside the Dennis M. Lynch Arena. The suspected shooter, identified as 56-year-old Robert Dorgan, died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Authorities say a spectator intervened, helping bring the attack to a swift end. Investigators have interviewed nearly 100 witnesses and believe the incident may have stemmed from a family dispute.
Rhode Island’s governor called it another devastating tragedy for the state.

Oakfield-Alabama Completes Historic Undefeated Season

History was made Tuesday night as Oakfield-Alabama girls basketball capped off the program’s first-ever undefeated regular season with an 85-32 win over Attica.
The Hornets finish 20-0, the only unbeaten team in Section Five this year. Hadley Hicks led the way with 20 points, while Alexa Clark, Harper Hicks and Allie Williams also scored in double figures in a total team effort.
Oakfield-Alabama now enters the Class C2 sectionals as the two seed.
Meanwhile, Notre Dame closed its regular season with a 61-20 Senior Night win over Lyndonville. Sofia Falleti posted 19 points and 13 rebounds, helping the Irish finish 15-5 and earn the four seed in Class D.