A missing person's case from the city of Jamestown has taken local, state and federal police agencies across the state line into Warren County, Pennsylvania. That much from officials with the FBI and Jamestown Police. Chief Harry Snellings did confirm that city police investigators and the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Department Forensics Team were in southern Sugar Grove Township much of the day Tuesday, following up on leads in the case. Since the search has crossed state lines... the FBI is handling the case. FBI Spokeswoman Maureen Dempsey from Buffalo would only tell the media that they were "executing a federal search warrant on this properly with our state, federal, and local partners." Since the warrant is sealed... she said they couldn't talk about what they're looking for on Jones Hill Road. New York and Pennsylvania State Police are also involved in the search.
A Jamestown man faces menacing charges for allegedly threatening some of his eastside neighbors with what was later determined to be a BB-gun. City police were called to the scene at 20 Bush Street shortly before 4:30 Monday afternoon on a report of the man threatening other people. Officers say two of the victims directed them to a place where four people were sitting... and, one fit the description of the suspect. Police later detained 19 year-old Tyree Holland and secured the BB-gun... which looked like a rifle. The victims say Holland came outside... and, allegedly pointed the gun at them while they were in a truck. He was booked on two counts of second-degree menacing... and, released on bail.
A new state law will allow the use of sparklers and other small fireworks to help celebrate the Fourth of July, but only in certain counties. The law was signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo last fall... and, it included an 'opt in' provision. That from Chautauqua County District Attorney David Foley... who tells us that Chautauqua County chose not to 'opt in....' State officials say 30 counties across New York have exercised their options. Foley says in Chautauqua County it is still illegal to possess fireworks, even those that are now allowed under the new law. I n counties where it’s legal... including Cattaraugus County... state law allows sales of the consumer fireworks from June 1st to July 5th. There is another window for selling fireworks from December 26th to January 2nd.
Officials say 12 more staffers at the New York prison where two killers escaped three weeks ago have been put on administrative leave -- including the prison's superintendent and his deputy in charge of security. An official with knowledge of the move says Clinton Correctional Facility Superintendent Steven Racette and Deputy Superintendent Stephen Brown are among those on leave.
New York state returned a record, 427-million dollars in unclaimed funds last year to residents... and, the state Comptrollers office is urging people to again see if they are owed money. State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli tells us his office is ready to again handle searches by residents to see if they are owed some of the 14-billion dollars total in unclaimed monies they have received. DiNapoli says this is usually money from a financial institution that can't locate you for some reason or other. DiNapoli says... even if you don't believe you have money coming... it doesn't hurt to check. He says you can do that on-line by either doing a Google search at New York State Comptroller's Office... or going on line to ocs-dot-state-dot-ny-dot-US. DiNapoli says then just click on "unclaimed funds." He says all you have to do is enter your name... and, if there's a matching name... you can get the check pretty quickly. DiNapoli say there are 10-million dollars worth of unclaimed funds in Chautauqua County... and, about 5-million more in Cattaraugus County.
New York officials say 7.3-billion dollars is going to 25 networks of health care providers statewide to help overhaul the delivery of care and cut unneeded hospital visits. Meanwhile, state health officials say average spending for the state's Medicaid patients has declined to $8,233 annually while enrollments rose by 500,000 to nearly one-third of the state's 19 million people. Hospitals, physician groups and other providers are getting so-called Medicaid waivers to apply projected federal savings over five years to establish more outpatient clinics, reduce hospital beds, use electronic records and enable low-income patients to see doctors and psychologists in the same visit. Funding ranges from $1.2 billion for the network which includes New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation to $187 million for the group that includes Adirondack Health Institute, Incorporated. A total of 225-million dollars will go to the Southern Tier Rural Integrated Performing Provider System.
Last Friday's U-S Supreme Court ruling allowing Same Sex Marriage may ultimately put religious liberty in jeopardy... and, that will be the focus of a special forum in Jamestown next Monday night. The Reverend Mel McGinness of the Kiantone Congregational Church... along with other local pastors... will host the program in the Community Room at the Prendergast Library in Jamestown beginning at 7 PM. McGinness says that, since the Supreme Court has redefined marriage, he's afraid it will also redefine religious liberty... forcing ministers that don't want to marry same sex couples to do so. He says there's also fear that businesses owned by Christians that are in a marriage-related business -- but, don't believe in gay marriage -- will be forced to do so.
Officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection are advising travelers to be prepared for increased traffic this week at border crossings in western and northern New York. Today is Canada Day, a national holiday north of the border, while Americans will be celebrating the Fourth of July on Saturday. U.S. Customs officials say they expect a major boost in border traffic this weekend and again next weekend. They're reminding travelers planning to cross the border during this period to expect delays and prepare accordingly. The border crossings in the Buffalo-Niagara region and at Champlain in northern New York are some of the busiest ports of entry along the entire U.S.-Canada border.
