Photo by Tom Rivers – This photo shows the Oak Orchard Lighthouse at Point Breeze on Thursday evening, when temperatures were in the 80s.

It will be much cooler today with a high near 48 with showers and patchy fog, according to the National Weather Service.

The Weather Service is warning of potential hazardous weather late this afternoon and evening for Orleans and much of western and central New York. The region could see ¾ to 1 ½ inches of rain.

“A cold front will stall to the south of the region this morning,” the Weather Service said. “A wave of low pressure will form on this cold front and advance northeastward along the boundary. This wave of low pressure will bring another round of moderate to significant rainfall this late afternoon and evening to Western New York and the across the region tonight.”

The forecast shows more rain on Monday with a high of 45, followed by a high of 61 on Tuesday and 66 on Wednesday. By Thursday, the high will be up to 75 with 81 on Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

Press Release, State Sen. Robert Ortt

The “Protect Our Children Act” (S2964), sponsored by State Sen. Rob Ortt (R-North Tonawanda), would help ensure appropriate punishment for cruel and repeated mistreatment of children.

This bill passed in the New York State Senate on Thursday. The measure would create a new crime of aggravated murder of a child. An individual convicted of this crime would receive a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

The bill would also strengthen the current law of reckless assault of a child by creating the felony offenses of aggravated abuse of a child in the first, second and third degrees; aggravated manslaughter of a child; aggravated endangering the welfare of a child; aggravated murder of a child; obstructing the location of a missing child; and concealment of a death.

“This legislation is the next step we need to take in protecting our children,” said Sen. Ortt. “Anyone entrusted with the welfare of a child must be held to a higher standard that ensures they’re truly protecting that child. Current law doesn’t go far enough to protect our children from serious abuse. Quite frankly, our children deserve better than a legal loophole and I hope the Assembly Majority will act on this common sense measure to prevent further, potentially fatal, abuse.”

Current law relating to reckless assault of a child would be expanded in the “Protect Our Children Act.” The law, which currently only applies to day care providers, now would apply to a parent, guardian or person in a position of trust who recklessly causes physical injury to a child under the age of 14.

The bill identifies a person in a position of trust to mean any person who is charged with any duty or responsibility for the health, education, welfare, supervision or care of a child, no matter how brief a time period it may be.

A felony offense would be created for the new statute of aggravated endangering the welfare of a child. This provision would create the crime of failing to notify law enforcement when the whereabouts of a missing young child is unknown.

Repeat child abusers would have increased penalties.

Existing statutes often make prosecuting child abuse very difficult, or current laws carry such disproportionately low punishments that they essentially have no meaningful consequences, Ortt said.

Under current law, unless physical injury results, the infliction of sadistic, painful, dangerous punishments on children can typically be charged only as misdemeanors. Other low-level charges with probationary sentences are not seen as sufficient to protect the most vulnerable children. The “Protect Our Children Act” would fix these problems, Ortt said.

The bill has been sent to the Assembly.