Wednesday News Brief

Authorities have released the name of the man who lost his life in the boat capsize incident in the Lockport Cave Tour on Monday. 65-year-old Harshad Shah of Niagara Falls became trapped under the boat when it went over and died of his injuries before rescuers could get him out of the underground canal. All 29 people aboard the Lockport Cave Tours boat were thrown into the water when it tipped over near the end of the tour that takes people through an unfinished part of the tunnel from the 1800s. People who were on board the boat say it happened when it was time for the tour to return back down the tunnel and people were getting up to look back the way the boat had come. Officials say 11 people were hospitalized with minor injuries. No one on board was wearing a life preserver at the time of the accident. The company is closed until further notice, pending an investigation into the incident.

 

 

41-year-old Jill Turner of Batavia has been charged with harassment, criminal contempt, obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest and endangering the welfare of a child. She was arrested for threatening the life of a person who she had been ordered to stay away from by becoming combative and then trying to kick officers. Turner also started a fight in front of an 11-year-old child. She was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released under supervision.

 

 

 

Almost 50 people have been arrested and more than $9,000,000 (million) worth of drugs seized following a massive bust in our region. According to Attorney General Letitia James, the probe took two years to complete and led to the removal of fentanyl, cocaine and guns from the streets. The drug ring was operated in Wayne and Monroe counties mainly. Some of the defendants are in jail while others have already posted bail.

 

Governor Hochul has announced that paid parental leave is going to be expanded in the Empire State. The governor said yesterday that thanks to an agreement with unions, more than 80% of state workers will soon have access to paid leave. Employees will be offered up to 12 weeks of full paid leave so they can spend time with a newborn, fostered, or adopted child. Earlier this year, the state began offering paid leave to some state employees who were not members of unions.

 

The Muckdogs will be having a larger fireworks display for July 3rd thanks to a grant of $4,000 from the city that was originally intended for a picnic for GO ART!, which was canceled. 100 tickets will be donated to families in need.

 

 

People who still want to take part in the Tour de Cure now have a date that they can circle on their calendars. The event was set to happen last weekend, but it ended up being pushed back due to poor air quality in the region. Now, it is going to take place on Saturday, July 22nd. The tour serves as a fundraiser for the American Diabetes Association and is being held at the Xerox campus in Webster.

 

 

The Buffalo Bisons are going to be hosting an event tonight that will help renovate veterans posts around the area. Flag Day at the Ballpark is taking place at Sahlen Field where the Bisons are set to take on the Syracuse Mets. Proceeds from ticket sales will go towards improvement projects at veterans posts in Erie County. To purchase a seat, go to milb.com/buffalo.

 

 

ELSEWHERE…

 

A boy from New York is going viral for saving a baby deer in his backyard. Anthony Masaitis’ father taped him pulling out the deer after it fell in the pool in St. James, on Long Island. As of Tuesday morning, the video had over 19-million views on TikTok. The fawn was reunited with its mother shortly afterwards.

 

 

 

 

An outbreak of Hepatitis A virus infections is being investigated and has been linked to Frozen Strawberries (February 2023). An additional recall is now underway for products sold at Walmart and Costco. Do not eat recalled Frozen Organic Strawberries; return the package from where you purchased it for a full refund. FDA’s investigation is ongoing.

 

 

An archive profiling the career of TV personality and comedian Joan Rivers will soon be in display at the National Comedy Center in Jamestown. The archive will include jokes from the time period covering the start of her career back in the 1950’s to when she died in 2014. Rivers began as a standup comedian, but she soon became one of the biggest names in Hollywood. Her daughter Melissa says her mother would be thrilled to be included with the comedians represented at the center.

 

A man running for Town Council on Long Island is losing support after photos show him standing naked at the front door of his home. Babylon’s Republican Committee told Eye Witness News on Tuesday they’re not going to support Kevin Sabella, Sr. in his run. Witnesses say Sabella has been standing nude behind the screen of his front door for the past two months, just feet from his campaign sign. Sabella did not return calls to the media outlet asking if he would withdraw from the race. Police are investigating the claims.

 

 

 

Researchers say a new type of beaked dinosaur has been discovered in eastern Utah. Information published last week indicates the new species was discovered in a 99,000,000 (million) year-old rock found near Emery County. Paleontologists have been examining the rock since 2015 and describe the dinosaur as about 12-feet long with a bill like a duck. The dinosaur appears to have died out during the Cretaceous Period, which occurred more than 66,000,000 years ago. Researchers are hopeful that more fossils will be discovered that will provide more information about the new species.’

 

 

The PGA Tour’s commissioner says Congress left the PGA to fend for its self. Jay Monahan wrote to Senators in a letter and said their inaction was key to them agreeing to the controversial LIV Golf merger. He wrote that the idea of “another decade of expensive and distracting litigation” pushed them to partner with LIV. Monahan suggested the federal government avoided the issue because of its “complex geopolitical alliance” with Saudi Arabia.

 

Today is Wednesday, June 14th, the 165th day of the year.

June 14 in history…

 

In 1775, the United States Army was founded on this date.

 

 

 

 

In 1777, U.S. Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes flag designed by Francis Hopkinson to replace the Grand Union Flag.

 

 

 

In 1922, Warren G. Harding became the first president heard on radio.

 

 

 

 

In 1942, Anne Frank wrote her first diary entry, two days after she received it for her birthday.

 

 

 

 

In 1943, the Supreme Court ruled schoolchildren could not be forced to salute the American flag if it conflicted with their religious beliefs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 1951, Univac One was unveiled in Washington, D.C. It was billed as the world’s first commercial computer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 2011, then President Barack Obama met with government officials in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In doing so, he became the first sitting U.S. President to visit the Caribbean island since President John F. Kennedy in 1961.