There is now a Winter Storm Warning in effect for much of western New York -- including Chautauqua County -- through early Wednesday evening...
With that, the National Weather Service is calling for a large amount of the white stuff in Chautauqua County. That from Forecaster Aaron Reynolds with the weather service's Buffalo office, who says it started with dropping temperatures and rain changing to snow.
Reynolds says a low pressure system to our west is what's bringing the snowfall. He says it will slow-down once it reaches New England and, that will touch off lake effect snow off Lake Erie. Reynolds says the snowfall is expected to taper off about late afternoon on Wednesday. The National Weather Service asks motorists to prepare for travel accordingly.
After some brief -- but heated debate -- the Jamestown City Council last night approved a nearly $36-million budget for 2019 with no amendments....
First-year Councilman Andrew Liuzzo did try to offer some last minute amendments, arguing that only Police Chief Harry Snellings took his proposal to cut two-percent from his proposed spending plan seriously. Liuzzo says he heard from no other department heads on the matter, but wanted to at least consider a further, smaller across-the-board cut.
That triggered a back-and-forth with Finance Committee Chairman Tony Dolce, and committee member Kim Ecklund, who accused Liuzzo of last-minute grandstanding without having followed through on getting the information needed for council to consider. The proposed amendments by Liuzzo went no further and, the budget was approved 7-1 with Liuzzo casting the lone "no" vote. The approved budget includes no tax increase.
Local Congressman Tom Reed is blasting Governor Andrew Cuomo for his support of a bill that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain drivers licenses...
Reed says, for Cuomo to support such a measure, is "reckless." The Corning Republican says giving licenses to illegal aliens is "not fair for the men and women who immigrated here legally, for hardworking taxpayers or the mothers who worry about the safety of their children."
Reed says he and the "Problem Solver's Caucus" he co-chairs is working to change the House rules "so we can reform our immigration system responsibly and make it easier for bipartisan bills to pass." He says they have a two-part plan to better secure the border... and, deal with the "Dreamer" or DACA issue to allow those people a path to citizenship. Another lawmaker chiming in is local State Senator Cathy Young, who says "all New Yorkers should be alarmed about the Governor's support of a proposal that would allow illegal immigrants to apply for driver’s licenses." Reed made his comments during his recent telephone conference call with Southern Tier Media.
There is great optimism that the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County will meet -- or exceed -- it's 2018 General Campaign goal of $1.335-million.....
That from Marketing and Resource Development Coordinator Cynde Johnson, who says they were at $989,000 by the middle of last week. Johnson says United Way volunteers and staff have has several short meeting with local employers about the campaign, including the County Landfill, Weber Knapp and, New Flyer.
Johnson says they are ready and able to go out and meet with any local employer or agency and, their workers, to discuss the campaign and where the money goes. She adds that 100-percent of all the money they raise stays here. Johnson adds that they are seeing some new employers taking part this year -- including New Flyer. The United Way Campaign funds 39 local programs at 26 member agencies. For more information on the campaign, call the United Way at 483-1561 or go online to UWaysCC.org.
A woman is poised to lead the New York state Senate for the first time in history...
Senate Democrats on Monday plan to formally tap Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins of Yonkers to lead the Senate when the 2019 session begins in January. Democrats won a majority of Senate seats in this month's elections, eliminating the Republican Party's last bastion of political power in state government. Stewart-Cousins was first elected to the Senate in 2006 and has led the Democratic minority since 2012. Democrats already hold all four statewide offices and have a big majority in the state Assembly. Now that they control the Senate, Democrats are predicting passage for several bills long blocked by Senate Republicans. They include protections for abortion rights, legalization of recreational marijuana and voting reform.
A state lawmaker is proposing a change to New York's gun laws to allow authorities to search social media for potential red flags before approving a handgun license...
State Senator Kevin Parker's bill would mandate that applicants provide investigators with their Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram passwords and access to their Google, Yahoo and Bing searches. The Brooklyn Democrat wants investigators to look at the last three years of an applicant's social media postings and a year of their search histories for "any good cause for the denial of a license," such as racial slurs, threats of violence and terrorism-related posts. The bill, submitted on November 14, appeared to come in response to recent mass shootings whose suspects had posted threats or ranted about potential targets. No vote is scheduled.
Thanksgiving is over but for many around Pennsylvania Monday marks the start of an unofficial holiday: the opening of deer rifle season....
The season goes until December 8. Hunters are only allowed to take deer with antlers until Friday. After that, both antlered and antlerless deer can be taken. The game commission says unseasonably warm weather, high levels of precipitation and a later-than-normal leave drop have made it more difficult to track deer movements this fall. The commission is encouraging hunters to scout for deer before setting up their spot. Also this year, deer hunters are helping to feed those in need around the state. The state's Hunters Sharing the Harvest program lets hunters donate their deer to food banks, soup kitchens and hungry families.
