**(New)Three arrested for alleged marijuana and crystal meth possession....
Jamestown police have arrested three people for allegedly trafficking a large amount of marijuana and a small amount of crystal methamphetime. JPD Captain Bob Samuelson says the three were arrested at 22 Spring St. Extension, 20 West Third St., and 129 Fulton Street. Samuelson says the three were allegedly found with about 25 pounds of pot, and half-a-pound of meth. More on this story later.
Lake Effect Snow Warning in effect now for Chautauqua County...
The National Weather Service is continuing a Lake Effect Snow Warning that's underway now, and continues until 10 p.m. Friday for Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and southern Erie counties. Meteorologist Jeff Wood in Buffalo says the lake effect snow will kick in later in the day and will target mainly the higher elevations. Wood says the main event will be tonight after a cold front passes over Lake Erie, producing the necessary conditions for Lake Effect. Wood says storm totals of 7 to 16 inches are possible in the most persistent lake effect snows, mainly over the Chautauqua Ridge. He says there should only be about 3 to 6 inches along the Lake Erie shoreline.
One car, rollover crash send two to north county hospital...
A South Dayton woman and her young passenger were hurt when the car they were riding in yesterday morning went off a Chautauqua County road and overturned several times. Sheriff's deputies say 39 year-old Patricia Shear of Bartlett Hill Road was eastbound on Prospect Road in the town of Hanover about 8 AM. Officers say Shear's car slid on black ice, and went off the road before rolling over. She and her passenger... an unidentified 14 year-old boy... were both taken to Brooks Hospital in Dunkirk for treatment of their injuries. No charges were filed.
Huber pleased to see NYS health insurer's have to pay for Heroin, Opioid Addiction services...
The head of a local agency that's been on the front-line of the battle against the area's Heroin and Opioid drug addiction crisis is pleased to see a new law taking effect on New Year's Day. The rules are intended to make it harder for health insurers to deny coverage for inpatient addiction treatment and medications used to fight addiction. Governor Cuomo signed the measure into law earlier this year. The head of the Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County, Rick Huber, is praising the governor and legislature for their action because it's been "so need for so long." Cuomo late yesterday... said the changes were "landmark reforms" that would remove barriers to care. Huber says the insurance issue has been a big one in getting people into short, and long-term rehabilitation. Cuomo says the new rules are part of a broader effort by the state to address heroin and opioid addiction. Other initiatives include expanded treatment services and tighter limits on first-time opioid prescriptions.
Reed says he and Collins having some influence over Trump transition appointments...
The Western New York region will have unprecidented influence on determining who is, and will be part of President-elect Donald Trump's administration. That's because local Congressman Tom Reed, and Buffalo-area Congressman Chris Collins, are involved as members of Trump's transition team... with Collins being on the executive committee. Reed was also Trump's campaign co-chairman in New York state. He says Collins' has been more "out-front" in what he's done... while Reed has been more behind the scenes....and, believes it bodes "very well" for the region. Another area where Reed and Collins could wield some influence is over the appointment of U-S Attorneys... and, federal judges. He says there will have to be a replacement for retired U-S Attorney William Hochul, Junior here in western New York. Typically... the state's U-S Senators have made recommendations to the president -- if they are from the same party. But, Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand are Democrats.
Paladino apologizes for inflamatory comments about the Obama's...
A businessman who co-chaired the Trump campaign New York state says his recent derogatory statements about President Barack Obama and his wife weren't meant for publication but were nevertheless "inappropriate" and a "mistake." In a statement first reported on WBEN in Buffalo... Carl Paladino said he intended his email response to a weekly alternative publication's survey to only go to a couple friends, not the newspaper itself. He says he mistakenly hit "reply" on his computer instead of "forward." The millionaire developer told Artvoice last week that he hoped President Obama would die from mad cow disease... and, that Michelle Obama would "return to being a male." Paladino is a member of the school board in Buffalo.
Gasoline prices up 2-cents a gallon this week...
Gasoline prices in Chautauqua County are up by about two-cents a gallon this week to just under $2.46. That from the AAA's weekly Fuel Gauge Report.... which says retail average prices have gone up for 28 of the past 30 days. Last week's price was just under $2.44. Nationally... the average price for regular, unleaded is $2.29 a gallon, which is five cents more than one week ago. That's also 16 cents more than one month ago and 29 cents more year-over-year. Most U.S. drivers are expected to pay the second-cheapest New Year’s Day gas prices since 2009, when the national average was $1.62.
