A Jamestown man has been arrested on two charges... including being found with an illegal weapon... after he was pulled over on the city's eastside. Jamestown Police say they spotted 57 year-old Thomas Lauer driving on Bowen Street -- near Peach Street -- Saturday morning... and, knew his driving privledges had been revoked. Officers pulled Lauer over... and, found a set of Chuka Sticks in the back seat of his car. He was taken into custody for second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation... and, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon -- a Felony. He was jailed pending arraignment.
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer is calling on the federal government to investigate cases of exploding electronic cigarettes. The New York Democrat said Sunday that at least four New York residents have been injured within the past few weeks when electronic cigarettes suddenly exploded or burst into flames. Schumer says new federal regulations give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the power to investigate the incidents and require warning labels, or even product recalls, if the agency determines the devices pose a risk. The federal government announced this month that it will subject electronic cigarettes to regulations requiring manufacturers to submit their products for review. The new rules will prohibit sales to anyone under the age of 18.
Local organizations and other groups with economic development projects that could use a funding boost to get off the ground are encouraged to apply to the state's sixth-round of funding opportunities. Western New York received 83-million dollars for 125 projects during last year's fifth-round of the Consolidated Funding Application program. County Executive Vince Horrigan says applications are now being accepted through the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council. Horrigan says about 750-million dollars are available for projects -- such as the National Comedy Center in Jamestown. He says you can learn more about what kind of projects fit the state's criteria by going on-line at Regionalcouncils-dot-NY-dot-GOV. Horrigan adds you can also contact Planner Don McCord at the county's Planning Office for more information... or to get help with the application. He expects Chautauqua County to do well again in the funding program. Last year... the county received the most funding outside of Buffalo and Erie County. Horrigan made his comments during last weekend's "Community Spotlight" program on the five Media One Group stations.
New York students won't see a tuition hike at state colleges next year... but, it's still possible for out-of-state students. A provision in the recently passed state budget won't allow the State University of New York board of trustees to vote on raising in-state tuition, effectively freezing it for at least a year. However... trustees are permitted to vote in June on whether to increase out-of-state tuition by up to 10 percent at SUNY's top university centers: the University at Albany, Binghamton University, Stony Brook University and the University at Buffalo. That has raised concerns SUNY will be less competitive. While the system's first mission is to educate New Yorkers, it does look outside the state to fill seats.
There's a lot of activity in Dunkirk's Department of Development, with the recent announcement of the Athenex facility and the potential for waterfront development. Mayor Willie Rosas says the department has received a lot of inquiries following word of the Athenex plant that will be coming to the town of Dunkirk. Rosas says that should bode well for Dunkirk's future. Rosas also says the department is working closely with the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency on waterfront development. He says Charles Pringle... who owns Holiday Harbor on Chautauqua Lake... are taking over operations at Chadwick Bay Marina. Rosas says the IDA helped them put that deal together. The Common Council this week approved the appointment of Deborah Williams of Buffalo to become the city's new Director of Planning and Development. She will succeed Duane Beard who was serving as an interim director.
They have a swing set... now they need to raise funds for a new slide to make Kallie's Playground at Allen Park complete. That from one of the co-presidents of the Allen Park Women's Club... which helped lead last year's effort to set up the new swings near the park's pavillion. Shannon Neubauer made the announcement at the end of last Friday afternoon's tree planting ceremony near the swings. Neubauer says they're trying to raise 73-hundred dollars. Neubauer adds they'll also be raising money for the effort during the Summer Concert Series at the Goranson Bandshell at Allen Park. The women's club provides the refreshments during the series. Kallie Swan's mother, Tara, thanked the women's club... and, adds they decided to plant a tree next to the swings on the one-year anniversary of Kallie's passing. Kallie Swan was three when she passed away from Acute Lymophoblastic Leukemia. Her fight against the disease led her parents to form "Kallie's Krusade" Foundation. It raises money to help families with children fighting Leukemia or Cancer.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is supporting a legal challenge to North Carolina's new law limiting the rights of LGBT people. Cuomo says the state will file an amicus brief in support of the lawsuit filed by Lamba Legal, the ACLU and Equality North Carolina seeking to overturn the law. The North Carolina law restricts transgender people to public restrooms aligned with their biological sex and prevents governments from passing their own anti-discrimination rules. Shortly after the law passed, Cuomo banned state-funded travel to North Carolina to protest what he says is a discriminatory and illegal law. The U.S. Justice Department has warned North Carolina officials that the law violates federal civil rights rules and should not be enforced.
A woman employed at an upstate residence for disabled New Yorkers has pleaded guilty to endangering a client whose leg was broken during transport. State authorities say 21-year-old Sabrina Allen is expected to face five years' probation at sentencing July 7th in Saratoga County Court. Allen worked for AIM Services. The Justice Center says Allen admitted she disregarded the client's warning that his wheelchair wasn't properly secured in a van. When he was thrown from the chair... she admits she ignored his demand to call 9-1-1, leaving him on the floor in pain for 10 to 20 minutes before staff at his residence called for medical help. The Justice Center investigated and prosecuted the case. AIM Services is certified by the state Office for People With Developmental Disabilities.
A man who's taught music for 50 years in Jamestown was honored by the Jamestown High School Bands at their spring concert Saturday night. Bill Knight was hired to direct the Lincoln Junior High School Bands in 1966, and since then has conducted a number of other bands... and taught over 400 brass students in his private studio. Jamestown High School Band Director Meghan Murray was among those praising Knight's work. Knight said, "When you're surrounded by greatness, it's easy to be successful" and added. A special video was shown during the concert, featuring a number of Knight's teaching colleagues.
