A Jamestown man has been arrested for allegedly firing the shot that accidently wounded a young boy he was hunting with just after last Thanksgiving in the Falconer-area. Ellicott Town Police say 22 year-old Cody Didomenico was arrested last weekend by Jamestown Police at his Euclid Avenue home. Didomenico was arraigned on charges of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon... and, second-degree reckless endangerment... and, sent to the county jail without bail. Police were called to the scene on East Elmwood Avenue the morning of November 27th... and, found the youth with a shoulder wound. Officers say they learned that Didomenico was hunting with two others, and they split up. However... police say the suspect thought the other two were a deer moving through the brush, and he fired. The boy was treated at Women and Children's Hospital in Buffalo, and is now recovering at home.
Chautauqua County's representative in the state Assembly says he likes a lot in Governor Andrew Cuomo's 2016-17 budget plan... but, he also has a problem with a couple of other proposals. Jamestown-area Republican Andy Goodell says the positives include the plan to cut the small business tax rate. Goodell says he feels the 2.5-percent reduction in that rate will be a plus for the county's employers. Goodell says he also likes Cuomo's plan to boost tourism funding... increasing the "I Love New York" program to 50-million dollars a year. He says it's proven to be "very effective..." and, has helped Chautauqua County tourism greatly. On the downside... Goodell says he's opposed to the governor's multi-year plan to phase-in a 15-dollar an hour minimum wage. He says it will put all New York employers at a "huge competitive disadvantage" compared to neighboring states because the New York wage would be twice as high as the others. Goodell also doesn't agree with expanding Family Leave legislation to paying for 12-weeks.
A commitment of major dollars to improve upstate New York's aging roads, bridges and other infrastructure is what State Senator Cathy Young likes about the governor's budget proposal. The Olean Republican says it's "great to hear" that Governor Cuomo wants to upgrade the state's "crumbling" infrastructure to deal with 21st Century needs. Young says there's one particular project that she's interested in for the 57th Senate District. Those opportunities include a proposal to cut the Small Business Tax by 2.5-percent. Young says she was pleased to hear Cuomo talk about the push to convert coal-fired power plants to natural gas. She says there is a lot of concern over the future of the NRG Plant in Dunkirk... and, adds "we need to get that project underway." On education... Young says the Senate GOP Majority is pushing to get the so-called "Gap Elimination Adjustment" taken out of the public school aid forumula. Cuomo said in his speech that lawmakers will get that done. Young will be the Senate Majority's Finance Chair for the Conference Committee with the Assembly.
A leading business group says it remains ``adamantly opposed'' to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's proposal to raise the minimum wage to 15-dollars an hour. President and Chief Executive Ofifcer Heather Briccetti with the Business Council of New York State says such an increase would be particularly harmful to the upstate economy... and, could lead to fewer entry-level jobs overall. Cuomo, a Democrat, repeated his call for a $15 minimum during his state-of-the-state address to lawmakers on Wednesday. If approved, that would be the highest state wage floor in the nation. The Business Council also has concerns about Cuomo's proposal for paid family leave... a measure which would grant up to 12 weeks of paid time off for workers caring for sick loved ones or a new child.
Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan was among the local officials who attended Governor Andrew Cuomo's State of the State Address in Albany on Wednesday. Horrigan says Cuomo revealed an "ambitious" 2016 agenda in his annual address... and, budget message. The executive applauded Cuomo's efforts at improving the upstate economy. Horrigan not only backed the governor's plan for a record 22 billion-dollar, five-year investment in roads and bridges... and, his call for 250-million towards rebuilding local sewer and water infrastructures... but, he was also pleased to hear Cuomo acknowledge the threat of ISIS in New York State. Among the items that Horrigan criticized is Cuomo's plan to increase the state's minimum wage to 15-dollars an hour... which he says will hurt small business growth. He says he also wanted to hear Cuomo address the issue of opioid abuse, an issue which he says is a "big priority" in Chautauqua County.
The new mayor of Dunkirk is back from a successful trip to the state Capitol in Albany. Not only did Willie Rosas listen to Governor Cuomo's State of the State message... but he also had an opportunity meet face-to-face with the Governor following the speech. Rosas tells us the brief meeting occurred at the Governor's Mansion. Speaking of NRG... Rosas says he also met with the Deputy Director of State Operations Mathew Millea. He says they are well aware of the situation and are willing to work with the city... and, he says Millea pledged to do all they can to help get the project going, as well as help them if the plant doesn't stay open. Besides the Governor... Rosas also met State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, and State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. The Mayor was pleased with the trip felt the city and Western New York were well represented in Albany.
The Acting District Attorney in Chautauqua County was also among those from the county on hand for Wednesday's State of the State Address. Fredonia's Patrick Swanson was invited to the address, and budget presentation by Governor Cuomo's office. Swanson says it's "nice to see that they are paying attention to us in Albany. It was an honor to attend the Governor's address representing the citizens of Chautauqua County." Swanson adds it's the first time he's attended that kind of event. He adds that he's still settling into his new role... and, "understanding where our state is heading as a whole, will only help me in crafting a plan for my office." While in Albany... Swanson also said he had informal meetings with state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
New York state health officials are announcing that 479 CVS pharmacies across the state will start selling the heroin antidote naloxone -- or Narcan -- without a prescription. State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker says he hopes the agreement with CVS announced late Thursday will save lives and get drug users on the road to recovery. Narcan temporarily blocks the effects of heroin, OxyContin and other powerful painkillers. It has been used by ambulance crews and emergency rooms for decades. People who receive naloxone as a treatment should go to a hospital before the drug's effects wear off. The health department says naloxone itself has no potential for being abused because it has no effect unless a person has opioids in his or her system.
