Wednesday News Brief

From the Sheriff: 53-year-old Mark Frongetta of Batavia has been arrested for disorderly conduct. This followed an investigation into a complaint of a male intentionally causing public inconvenience and annoyance by yelling obscenities in the lobby of the Best Western Inn on Park Road, and then throwing the hotel’s phone. Frongetta was held for CAP Court and will be in front of a judge in Town of Batavia Court next Tuesday. (File photo)

 

The National Guard will be headed to Buffalo and Rochester to assist with the influx of asylum seekers being moved from New York City to both cities. This comes after assault cases involving a handful of the asylum seekers. Some of the asylum seekers have returned to New York City, because they didn’t realize they were being transported to western New York, and wanted to return to New York City.

 

As you heard this morning with John Vazquez: The leader of the New York State Assembly says don’t expect state lawmakers to tweak cannabis laws to allow more retails shops to open. Currently, no new recreational cannabis shops can open up in New York State due to a lawsuit by four veterans who say they should be among the groups given priority to obtain a cannabis license. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie says the current rules which prioritizes awarding licenses to those with prior marijuana-related convictions is not meant to exclude others, but to make up for communities that were devastated by incarceration around cannabis. The lawsuit will be heard in state Supreme Court on Aug. 25.

 

Governor Hochul is awarding nearly $40 million in grant money for locations throughout New York State to prepare to bring in more semiconductor supply chain jobs. The governor made the announcement yesterday during a visit to SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica. The County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency is set to receive $20 million. The governor believes this money will help New York attract elite companies that will create good jobs and boost the economy.

 

 

The investigation continues into a string of vehicle thefts at the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester. According to police, a number of vehicles have been taken from the parking lot this month alone. Additional patrols have been set up in the area to try and catch thieves. Anyone who spots suspicious activity is asked to call 911.

 

 

 

The Niagara County Department of Health will be starting a workshop next month to help residents who are suffering from diabetes. The first meeting is set for September 8th, and the program will last for six weeks. Sessions will be held each Friday from 9:30am until noon at the North Tonawanda Public Library. The workshop will cover things including healthy eating, skin care and dealing with emotions. To sign up, call 716-278-1900.

 

 

Monroe County deputies are looking for whoever is responsible for leaving a bomb threat at a Target store in Penfield. An employee reported seeing the threat in a women’s bathroom yesterday and called police. The store was evacuated as a precaution, but after nothing dangerous was discovered, customers were allowed to go back inside. Officials don’t believe there’s any threat to the public.

 

Country music superstar Luke Combs is bringing his brand-new tour to Western New York next year. He’ll be performing two shows at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on April 19th and 20th. Combs is one of the most popular country artists right now, and is known for hit songs such as “Hurricane” and “Beautiful Crazy.” Tickets for the concerts go on sale next Friday at 10:00am through Live Nation.

 

The fourth edition of Josh’s Jaqs cereal is going to be appearing on store shelves at Wegmans and Tops Friendly Markets stores. The cereal features Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and all proceeds will go to the John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo. Folks can also scan a QR code on the box that will let them make their own donations. For more information, go to plbse.com.

 

 

 

ELSEWHERE…

 

13-year-old Wyatt Kauffman fell 100 feet into the Grand Canyon. Scroll to the end of today’s News Brief page for the details.

 

 

 

 

This news in from Wales: Metal detectorists in Wales have found 2000-year-old gold coins. That’s the first Iron Age gold coins discovered in the country, according to CNN. The 15 coins were found on the Welsh island of Anglesey and have been declared as treasure. They’re known as staters. The coins are believed to have been struck between 60 BC and 20 BC and belonged to the Corieltavi tribe.

 

A new survey shows saying hello to your neighbors is linked to a higher well being. According to Gallup, American adults who regularly greet more than one neighbor have better well being than those who don’t say hello or just greet one. Older Americans and those with higher income tend to greet their neighbors more often. On average, the poll says Americans report greeting five neighbors. Over a quarter say hello to six or more.

 

 

For the first time ever, television accounts for less than half of Americans’ viewing time. According to Nielsen, traditional cable and broadcast TV made up less than half of all TV watching at just 49.6% combined. On the other hand, streaming services including Netflix and YouTube grew to a record of nearly 40% of total TV watching.

 

Negotiators for striking Hollywood writers and the studios sat down to talk Tuesday. One source told Deadline the meeting ended with “mixed results.” The Writers Guild of America is said to have presented a counter to the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers’ counterproposal from Friday. There was no word on future talks or proposals.

 

 

Today is Wednesday, August 16th, the 228th day of the year.

August 16 in history…

…In 1896, Skookum Jim, Dawson Charlie and George Carmack discovered gold in Rabbit Creek, a tributary of the Klondike River. The discovery led to the Klondike Gold Rush.

 

 

…In 1898, the vertical loop roller coaster was patented by Edwin Prescott.

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1948, baseball legend Babe Ruth died at the age of 53.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1954, the first issue of “Sports Illustrated” was published.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1962, the Beatles’ drummer Pete Best was let go by the band’s manager Brian Epstein. Best was replaced by Ringo Starr.

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1977, rock and roll legend Elvis Presley died at the age 42. He is widely regarded as “The King of Rock and Roll.” He is a member of both the Country Music and Rock and Roll Halls-of-Fame.

 

 

 

 

…In 1983, singer Paul Simon married actress Carrie Fisher. The two divorced a year later in 1984.

 

 

 

 

 

…In 1985, Madonna and actor Sean Penn were married in Malibu Beach, California. The couple filed for divorce three years later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The detailed story of Wyatt Kauffman:

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. — A 13-year-old North Dakota boy has survived a fall of nearly 100 feet at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon during a family trip. Authorities said it took emergency crews two hours to rescue Wyatt Kauffman after he slipped on a cliff Tuesday and plunged the nearly 100 feet at the Bright Angel Point trail.

 

The teenager was airlifted to a Las Vegas hospital for treatment of nine broken vertebrae plus a ruptured spleen, a collapsed lung, a concussion and a broken hand and dislocated finger. “I was up on the ledge and was moving out of the way so other people could take a picture,” Kauffman told NBC affiliate KPNX of Phoenix. “I squatted down and was holding on to a rock. I only had one hand on it. “It wasn’t that good of a grip. It was kind of pushing me back. I lost my grip and started to fall back,” he added. Rescue crews had to rappel down the cliff and get the injured boy out of the canyon in a basket. “I just remember somewhat waking up and being in the back of an ambulance and a helicopter and getting on a plane and getting here” to the hospital, said Kauffman, who lives in Casselton, North Dakota. Brian Kauffman was in North Dakota when he heard about his son’s fall and rescue.

 

A National Park Service search and rescue team set up a rope rescue down to the steep and narrow trail and raised the teen safely to the rim. “We’re extremely grateful for the work of everyone. Two hours is an eternity in a situation like that,” Brian Kauffman said. He said Wyatt and his mother were on a trip to visit national parks when the Grand Canyon fall occurred. Brian Kauffman said his son was discharged from the hospital Saturday and was being driven home. Wyatt and his mom were expected to reach Casselton on Tuesday. “We’re just lucky we’re bringing our kid home in a car in the front seat instead of in a box,” Brian Kauffman told NBC News station KPNX.