Governor Hochul’s Covid-19 update, the Catskill taser incident, mobile sports betting to begin, two new female officers join Elmira Police, new Buffalo Bills stadium plans, woman dies in Warsaw falls
New York Governor Kathy Hochul updated residents on the states effort to manage Covid-19 amidst a record-setting surge from the Omicron variant of the virus. The state infection rate has increased to 22.17% and several counties like Erie county, witnessed a rapid increases in positive tests. New York recorded 54 deaths on January 8th as a result of Covid-19. Read the full report from the Governor here:
In Catskill, NY, police officers dealt with a terrifying taser incident and their reaction has drawn much criticism. A man entered the police station and threatened to harm himself after dosing himself in flammable liquids. In an effort to mitigate that threat, officers used a taser on the man. After he burst into flames, the officers retreated behind lock doors while the man burned. A concerned citizen who saw the man ablaze, entered the police station to comfort him.
The man spent 47 days on a ventilator in a Syracuse hospital before dying. Professional observers note that police are trained to never use a taser in a flammable situation. Additionally, retreating from the burning man was been widely criticized. The NYS Attorney General is investigating.
Read the whole story: https://www.timesunion.com/state/article/catskill-taser-police-video-16756717.php?IPID=Times-Union-article-popular-ribbon
Mobile sports gambling in live in NY
Do you like to gamble? New Yorkers are now able to place wagers on sporting events using mobile sports betting apps like Draft Kings. The Empire State online gambling industry faces a major hurdle with a 51% tax rate. Compared to neighboring New Jersey, the nations capital of online sports betting with only a 13% tax on winnings, New York’s gambling industry is expected to have a slow start. CNBC has a good comprehensive look at the national industry and New York’s entrance into the online betting world.
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/08/mobile-sports-betting-goes-live-in-new-york.html
The new, larger Buffalo Bills stadium will host fewer fans
As plans for the future home of the Buffalo Bills take shape, fans have reacted with a mix of concern and season ticket spending. The stadium will hold thousands fewer fans, but will be about one third larger than current Highmark Stadium. The heavily taxpayer funded stadium is expected to break ground in 2024 and could be ready for the 2026 season.
The famously enthusiastic fans have raced to the ticket office and already purchased 50,000 season tickets for the 2022-23 season at about $1000 per ticket, or license. Plans for the new stadium intend to host about 60,000 fans per game, demand for the remaining tickets will be high. Read all about it in recent Buffalo News piece:
Young woman dies after fall into gorge at Warsaw Falls
First responders in Warsaw reported the sad news of an apparent accident at the landmark Warsaw Waterfalls. Responding to a request for a welfare check, police determined that the young lady had ventured in the gorge. A search and rescue operation located her remains and the family asked her identity be withheld.
Elmira PD welcomes new recruits
Nicole Lawson and Aubree Cruz have joined the Elmira City Police Department as patrol officers. Read the departments news on the recruits, who both will begin police academy training Monday morning.
The future officers join the force at a time when crime in Elmira is at an all time high. The challenges of policing in the era of “defund the police,” and bail reform await all those joining law enforcement.
