NYS budget late, lawmakers hope to have final agreement early next week...
The New York state legislature has blown through a budget deadline... but, top lawmakers say they'll work through the weekend to pass a new state spending plan. Republican Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan told reporters late Friday that there is broad support for increased tuition assistance, permitting Uber to expand upstate and new funding for the state's aging water systems. Disputes remain, however, over proposals to raise the age of criminal responsibility so 16-and 17-year-old offenders aren't prosecuted as adults. Top lawmakers and Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo had hoped to pass the more than $150-billion dollar spending plan before a new fiscal year began Saturday. Cuomo announced early Saturday that if lawmakers can't agree on a budget by the end of the weekend he will propose extending current spending levels.
Reed talks tax reform with local officials, business leaders at Jamestown Electoplating...
Tax reform should be a bi-partian issue because it affects all Americans. That from local Congressman Tom Reed... who talked about efforts to make the U-S Tax code simpler and fairer at a Jamestown manufacturer yesterday morning. Reed met with local elected and business leaders at Jamestown Electroplating on Water Street to discuss a proposed 20-percent reduction in the federal Corporate tax, and other reductions to relieve the tax burden on individuals and businesses. As a member of the House Ways and Means Comittee... he says it's important to hear from everyone that's affected so they can put a tax policy in place "that encourages the making of products and job growth in the U-S." Reed says they hope to have a tax reform package in place by early 2018. It would be the first such reform since 1986. He met earlier with Jamestown Electroplating Owner and President Chase Churchill... and, the head of the Manufacturer's Association of the Southern Tier, Todd Tranum, who says local manufacturer's need a "fair chance to complete globally..." and, that would happen with tax reform.
Puerto Rican man arrested on warrant for Sexual Assault in Dunkirk...
A man from Puerto Rico has been arrested in Dunkirk on a Felony sex-related crime on that island nation. Police Chief David Ortolano says officers assisted U.S. Marshals early Wednesday morning in the arrest of 31-year-old Jonathan Figueroa-Martinez on Lincoln Avenue. Ortolano says Figueroa-Martinez was found inside an apartment at 76 Lincoln Avenue after police checked several locations for him. He says that Figueroa-Martinez was taken into custody without incident... and, he's being held in the Chautauqua County Jail pending extradiction.
Head of Meals on Wheels in Jamestown-area says elimination of CDBG program would not impact local program, but, other possible cuts could...
Meals on Wheels of the Jamestown-area would not be impacted by the proposed elimination of the federal Community Development Block Grant program... but, there are other proposed cuts that could severely impact the program. That from Meals on Wheels Director Barrie Yochim... who says they served a record 154,000 meals over the past year. In addition... Yochim tells us they face the likelyhood of having to create a "waiting list" for seniors and other shut-ins who get their meals because demand is continuing to rise... and, the financial resources are down, or stagnant. He says they are feeding more people than they ever have over the past 17 years. Yochim says they've seen steady increases in demand of about 10-percent each of the past six years. While the CDBG funding is not an issue locally... he says they are concerned about possible sequestration... and, other -- across the board cuts -- averaging about 16-percent. He says 50 to 55-percent of Meals on Wheels's funding comes from county, state and federal sources. Yochim says their annual budget now runs between $1.6-million and $1.7-million... and, any cut in funding would be devastating. Yochim made his comments for this weekend's "Community Spotlight" program on the five Media One Group stations.
Jamestown Jackals make PBL Playoffs, play Sunday...
The Jamestown Jackals have made the playoffs in the Premier Basketball League. Team owner, and coach, Kayla Crosby says they finished the season fourth in the league with 10 wins and 7 losses... and will play an away game at Rochester Sunday afternoon. Crosby says a victory Sunday against the Razorsharks would set the team up for at least one more playoff game next Wednesday, April 5, at Jamestown Community College. Jamestown would play the winner of the game between Ohio and Kentucky. Jamestown lost by 12 points to Rochester in the final regular season game last weekend. Crosby says they've been reviewing video all week, and planning some surprises for Rochester.
