Wednesday News Brief
Written by Doug Thompson on December 20, 2023
Michael Rhynes (center) is now a free man. (13WHAM Photo)
A Rochester man has been set free after having his murder conviction vacated. Michael Rhynes left the Attica Correctional Facility yesterday where he was serving time for the 1984 killings of two men during a robbery on Lexington Avenue in Rochester. He was found guilty back in 1986 and ordered to spend more than 50 years behind bars. Two men who testified in Rhynes’ trial later admitted they lied while on the stand and the District Attorney’s office says there are no plans for a retrial.
Batavia Walmart – file photo
30-year-old Amanda Knauss of Batavia was caught stealing from Walmart. She’s charged with petit larceny and arrested after it was alleged she stole property valued at over $230. Knauss is scheduled to appear in Batavia Town Court on January 9th. ALSO: 22-year-old Deajah Johnson, 25-year-old Diamond Reed and 24-year-old Jahki Jackson, all of Rochester, have been arrested in Batavia. Sheriffs were called to Walmart to find the trio pushing a cart full of stolen items. Johnson and Reed were taken into custody without incident; Jackson took off on foot but was caught shortly after. It’s alleged all three individuals stole the merchandise. They were issued appearance tickets for Batavia Town Court on January 9th.
Starting today, thousands of state employees will be getting money for working overtime during the COVID-19 pandemic. The nearly $3 million in back payments are going to be distributed to PEF, CSEA, and also other union members. The money is for work that was completed outside of a person’s normal hours at the height of the health crisis. Qualifying workers who don’t receive funds today will get them during the December 28th pay cycle.
Updated data from the New York State Flu Tracker shows the spread of the illness is rising across Western New York. During the week ending December 9th, the area with the highest number of cases was Erie County with 425. Monroe County had the second highest with 372. Niagara, Ontario and Livingston Counties each had the third-highest total during that same time period with 39 and Genesee County had 20. Since the start of flu season, over 32,000 Empire State residents have contracted the virus. Ask your Primary Care Provider or pharmacist for information about getting immunized, or visit vaccines.gov.
Coach Granato looks up at the scoreboard during third period last night; the faces of (from left to right) #23 Samuelsson, #50 Robinson and #72 Thompson tell the story of the game (Associated Press photo)
In a high scoring game the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Buffalo Sabres 9 to 4 at the KeyBank Center last night. Rasmus Dahlin, Kyle Okposo, Tage Thompson, and Dylan Cozens made goals for the Sabres. Goaltender Devon Levi stopped 14 of 18 shots before Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen entered the game midway through the second, stopping 10 of 15 shots in relief. Up next the Sabres host the Toronto Maple Leafs tomorrow for the second night of WinterFest, featuring the North Pole. The puck drops at 6:30.
The American Red Cross has issued some simple tips to help people avoid fires caused by decorations. The agency says that December is the peak time of year for such fires, and it’s recommended that if candles are being used that they be kept away from pets, children, and anything that might burn. Also, double check light cords to make sure they are not broken or frayed. Folks who have an artificial tree should make sure it’s labeled as being fire-resistant, while live trees need to be properly watered.
ELSEWHERE…
Excelsior Scholarship applications are now open for new applicants ahead of the Spring 2024 semester. The scholarship allows students to attend a SUNY or CUNY school for two years or four years, tuition free. Students who come from homes with federal adjusted gross incomes up to 125-thousand dollars can take part in the program. Applications will be accepted through February 2nd and more details can be found by visiting the state’s Higher Education Services Corporation website.
“How did you get this number?”
A humpback whale in southeast Alaska is making history. Scientists from the California-based SETI Institute say they had a conversation with the whale back in August 2021. They played a recorded call underwater, and the whale responded. Scientists say it’s the first known communication between whales and humans. The SETI Institute, which looks for potential signs from aliens, also admits it could become the model for communicating with extra-terrestrials.
Officials say a new COVID-19 variant is on the rise this holiday season. The CDC says cases of the new variant, which has been dubbed JN.1, now account for one in five new infections. An official estimated that the new variant would become the dominant strain within a week.
Americans are less satisfied with nearly every major part of the health care system. That’s according to a recent analysis from Gallup, which found that satisfaction has dropped since 2010. Hospitals, drug makers, and physicians took some of the biggest hits in the survey. Gallup says the souring sentiment can be attributed to factors including COVID-19, the opioid crisis, and rising costs.
Please play responsibly.
The Powerball jackpot is now at $572 million ahead of Wednesday’s drawing. The total climbed when no tickets matched Monday’s $542 million drawing, according to the multi-state lottery. If someone wins Wednesday’s drawing, they would either take a $286 million lump sum or get yearly payments. Please play responsibly.
Today is Wednesday, Dec. 20, the 354th day of 2023 with 11 to follow.
The moon is waxing. Morning stars are Jupiter, Uranus and Venus. Evening stars are Jupiter, Mercury, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus and Venus.
December 20 in history…
Lewis and Clark with Sacajawea, depicted at Three Forks, Montana
…In 1812, Sacagawea, the Indian woman who helped guide the Lewis and Clark Expedition, died.
“Sir, yes sir!!” Elvis in the Army, 1957.
In 1957, Elvis Presley received his U.S. Army draft notice.
Donny Osmond with Andy Williams, 1962 (NBC Photo)
…In 1962, The Osmond Brothers appeared on NBC-TV’s “Andy Williams Show” for the first time. Donny had just turned 5 on December 9, 1962.
David Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen
…In 1968, the so-called Zodiac Killer killed his first two confirmed victims — David Faraday, 17, and Betty Lou Jensen — in Vallejo, Calif. He would go on to kill at least five people, though he took credit for three-dozen deaths.
…In 2017, the U.S. Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the first major overhaul of the U.S. tax code in 30 years. The legislation slashed corporate taxes permanently from 35% to 21% and temporarily cut the top income tax bracket from 39.6% to 37%.
