Weekend News Brief

Over 12000 kindergarten through 8th grade students took an assessment in Rochester City Schools and it turned up a negative trend.  Over 4800 of the students are 3 grades or more behind in reading, and math according to the iReady assessment.  Rochester Central School District Academic Officer Shanie Keelan  says “this didn’t just happen in the past year because of COVID.”  The district is currently working on a plan to address the issue.  

A man is suing House of Mercy homeless shelter in Rochester after he was stabbed by another resident there in August.  20 year old Cameron Schuler says that the House of Mercy didn’t have adequate security when a man suffering a mental health episode came into his cubicle room and slashed at him with a machete like blade.  Schuler says that the homeless shelter knew the man had violent outbursts and a history of mental illness.  His attorney says the House of Mercy lacked security and failed to follow Department of Human Services rules meant to keep staff and residents safe.  The shelter closed following the attack and reopened last week.

The location of the Former Sweet Betty’s restaurant in LeRoy is in the process of being purchased by a commercial contractor who already owns an apartment building in Brockport and his out of state business partner.  Dustin Beardsley lives in Stafford and presented a plan to buy the Sweet Betty’s location and put in a restaurant and apartments.  Sweet Betty’s closed last month and the sale of the property by Gabrielle Keister to Beardsley and Dean is contingent on the partners obtaining the special use permit for the apartments.  Beardsley said they will seek a qualified operator for the restaurant space but are open to operating the restaurant themselves if necessary.

The White House is temporarily not accepting any more student loan forgiveness applications.  The announcement comes one day after a Texas judge ruled against the debt relief program.  The government website that used to lead to the student loan applications now shows a message that says a temporary pause is being put in place due to the ruling. 

Beginning on Veteran’s Day, veterans now have a lifetime pass to national parks, wildlife refuges and other public land. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement from her department that this is part of a “sacred obligation” to Americans who have served in the military. Each free pass will cover entrance fees for all passengers in a personal vehicle and amenity fees at national forests and grasslands.

The Buffalo Bills released the team’s injury report Friday afternoon and quarterback Josh Allen is officially listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings.  Allen suffered an elbow injury late in Sunday’s loss to the New York Jets and did not practice Wednesday or Thursday. He was listed as a limited participant in Friday’s practice.