Wednesday News Brief

Governor Kathy Hochul is providing money to help state residents stay cool this summer. Applications are now being accepted for new, free air conditioning units, which will be provided through the state’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Cooling Assistance. HEAP recently received $22 million in additional funding for this initiative, which is expected to provide AC units to more than 27,000 homes. In order to apply, households must meet certain criteria based on income and size, and must include at least one member who:
· Suffers from a medical condition aggravated by extreme heat
· Is under age 6
· Is over age 60
In Genesee County, contact the Department of Social Services (344-2580) or the Genesee County Office for the Aging (343-1611)

 

The Genesee County Highway Department tells us a bridge replacement project begins tomorrow in Bethany, to upgrade the current bridge on Fargo Road over Black Creek, near Route 63 and Little Canada Extension. The bridge will be closed during construction, with a designated detour in place. Construction is expected to continue until the end of August.

 

 

A man is now awaiting sentencing after being convicted of murder for a shooting that killed another man and injured a security guard at a bar in the East End of Rochester on Memorial Day last year. Prosecutors said the now 37-year-old Randy Burney shot and killed 41-year-old Kimanhi Hinds around 2:00am on May 29th inside Flour City Station on East Avenue. The security guard was hit by the same bullet but survived. What apparently started as a bar fight quickly turned into a homicide. Burney’s sentencing is scheduled for May 24th.

 

 

 

A sex crime suspect facing serious charges in Wayne County has been released from custody. 26-year-old Cory Neild of Williamson, is facing eight felony counts of promoting and possessing a sexual performance by a child following a months-long investigation stemming from a cyber tip line report, according to New York State Police. Neild was released and referred to pretrial services for weekly check-ins. His next court date is one week from today, Wednesday, April 24.

 

 

A Buffalo man who was convicted of stabbing multiple family members will be spending the next 40 years behind bars. Prosecutors say 27-year-old Davante Thompson attacked the victims at a home they shared on Humboldt Parkway back in August. All three individuals were taken to Erie County Medical Center but survived their wounds. Thompson will spend a decade on probation once he’s released from custody and must stay away from the victims until 2068.

 

 

The state Department of Motor Vehicles is reminding motorcyclists about an important deadline that is coming up. The agency says all motorcycle registrations expire April 30th and need to be renewed by then. The registration lasts one year and the DMV says motorcycles must be inspected at a licensed station. For information on how to renew a motorcycle registration, visit dmv.ny.gov.

 

A reward is now being offered for information that helps police solve the murder of a 12-year-old Buffalo boy. Crime Stoppers WNY says up to $7,500 will go to whoever helps authorities make an arrest in connection with the death of Jaylen Griffin. The boy’s remains were discovered Friday at a residence on Sheffield Avenue almost four years after he went missing. Tips can be submitted by calling 716-867-6161.

 

 

 

 

The Buffalo Sabres have fired head coach Don Granato. It happened yesterday; making him the seventh coach to be ousted during what’s grown into an NHL-record 13-season playoff drought. Granato completed his third full season in Buffalo after taking over on an interim basis in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened 2021 season after Ralph Krueger was fired. And the move comes with the 56-year-old Granato still having two seasons left on his contract, which featured an extension that kicked in to start next season. He finishes with a record of 122-125-27 in Buffalo. The team also announced the firing of assistant coach Jason Christie and video coordinator Matt Smith. The Sabres stumbled through a season in which the team won three straight games just twice and were too often unable to overcome slow starts. The Sabres only missed the playoffs last season by two points but finished this season with a 39-37-6 record, and had been eliminated from playoff contention last week. The Sabres’ playoff drought is tied with the New York Jets as being the longest active drought in North America’s four major professional sports.

 

The playoffs-bound Rochester Amerks host the Toronto Marlies tonight. Face-off is at 7:05.