Weekend News Brief

A Rochester woman has been charged with several crimes after she burst into the maternity ward and started throwing things and attacking a mother with her newborn baby.  27 year old Destiny Thompson entered the Unity Hospital’s August Family Birth Place around noon on Thursday and threw a tray with surgical instruments at a mother and her baby and then proceeded to attempt to strike them with her hands.  She was taken out by security but then took a baseball bat and attacked cars in the parking lot.  Thompson was arrested shortly after 6 p.m. and charged with harassment, endangering the welfare of a child, and two felony counts of criminal mischief.  The hospital said it is increasing security and thanked staff for acting quickly.  Thompson was previously acquainted with the father of the baby.

Police are investigating a school bus crash in Elba just off Oak Orchard Road Thursday afternoon.  One person was taken to the hospital but no injuries were reported.  According to State Police Sergeant Benjamin Fasano the bus was going north on 98  when it went off the right side of the road and hit a ditch then a utility pole.  There was only one child on board, a student at the school for the blind.  State police are still looking into the cause of the single vehicle crash.

A new poll by Co/Efficient, a national polling company, shows that Lee Zeldin is in the lead against Governor Hochul.  The lead is very small, .3 percent, well within the margin of error, but far away from the 17 point lead Hochul had at the end of the summer in other polls.  They surveyed 1,056 likely voters.  The poll showed that Zeldin is performing well with a number of key demographic groups.

A federal appeals court is putting a temporary hold on President Biden’s student debt relief program.  The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit ruled it will be put on hold while challenges play out.  The Biden administration must now respond by Monday night.  The president announced earlier that over 22 million people have applied for student loan debt forgiveness since the release of an application earlier this week.

The downtown Batavia Business Improvement District has announced its annual Christmas in the City event and parade.  They will be held on Saturday December 3rd from 2 to 6pm with the parade starting at 6.  Any business, organization or group can walk, ride or enter a float.  Downtown businesses are encouraged to host activities or do store specials.  Vendors will also be invited to attend.  This year’s event includes Santa’s Village, pictures with Santa, hot cocoa & cookies, crafts, cookie decorating, kid’s zone, Santa’s workshop, shopping specials, Dickens Carolers, Scrooge, adult tastings and more.  There are also events happening in the mall.  On top of all this is the annual wreath contest.  People interested in entering can pay 20 dollars and get their wreath on November 19th.  Interested parties can contact Shannon Maute at director@downtownbataviany.com.