Governor Andrew Cuomo and fellow Democrats who control the New York Legislature say they've reached an agreement on a $175.5-billion state budget a day before the spending plan deadline....
Cuomo and legislative leaders Andrea Stewart-Cousins of the Senate and Carl Heastie of the Assembly announced the agreement in a statement at 12:30 AM Sunday. Lawmakers began passing budget bills Sunday during what's expected to be an all-day session. The spending plan is for the 2019-2020 state fiscal year that starts today. Agreed-to items in the budget include a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags, closing up to three yet-to-be-determined state prisons and congestion tolls for traffic below 60th Street in Manhattan. Major issues that didn't make it into the spending plan include legalization of recreational marijuana.
Garage Fire in Jamestown....
Sparce details were made available, but the Jamestown fire department made quick work of putting out a garage fire Sunday evening. The Post-Journal reports crews were called to 100 Willard Street about 7:45 PM and heavy smoke was seen coming from the structure. The paper says firefighters doused the fire in five minutes. The cause is unknown at this time.
Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce President and Chief Executive Officer Todd Tranum says the business group is keeping a close eye on the on-going state budget deliberations....
Tranum said late last week that there are a number of concerns and positives they are hoping to have resolved in the final, $175-billion spending plan. Tranum says they one key item they're looking at is continued economic development support for the upstate region.
Governor Cuomo recently said that he would not sign-off on a budget that doesn't include making the 2-percent property tax cap permanent. Tranum adds it's hard to tell what impact a proposed plastic bag ban will have on local businesses, namely grocery and other retail stores. The budget was due by Midnight Sunday night, Midnight Monday starts the state's new fiscal year.
A new law will affect the types of smoke detectors on sale in New York.....
Starting today, all new or replacement smoke detectors sold in the state must either be powered by a non-removable battery good for at least 10 years or be made to be hard-wired to buildings. State officials say these types of smoke detectors can be safer because they do not require periodic battery replacements, reducing the chances of human error. The law does not require the replacement of any existing smoke detectors powered by replaceable, removable batteries. Retailers also will be able to sell remaining residential smoke detectors with removable batteries that were ordered before April 1st.
Car-versus-Pedestrian Accident in Lakewood...
A unidentified male was taken to UPMC Chautauqua with serious injuries after being struck by a car in front of the Fifties Restaraunt in Lakewood last Friday night. Lakewood-Busti police report the incident happened just after 8:30 PM at the West Fairmount Avenue restaraunt. Witnesses say the male ran out in front of an East bound vehicle and was struck. The investigation is still on going at this time.
Three Dunkirk residents have been arrested for allegedly trafficking drugs following a "several month" investigation in the north county city....
Dunkirk Police and members of the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force had been investigating the alleged sale and distribution of illegal narcotics from a home at 49 East Second Street and, obtained arrest warrants for all three. Law enforcement also obtained a search warrant and, raided the residence shortly before 8 PM last Friday. They arrested 45 year-old Jose Rodriquez, Junior, 35 year-old Aixmary Rodriguez-Rosa, and 29 year-old Christian Manuel Padilla-Rivera on multiple counts of criminal possession and sale of a controlled substance. Police say they also seized a "large amount" of money from inside the home. All three were taken into custody, pending arraignment. If you have any information on illegal drug activity, call the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force at 1-800-344-8702.
The lastest effort by the Trump Administration to finishing dismantling the Affordable Care Act through a recent court challenge is being met with skepicism by local Congressman Tom Reed....
The Corning Republican, who has voted several times to eliminiate the ACA, says he would rather see lawmaker in Washington work to improve what's also referred to as "Obamacare." Reed made his comments after the president this past week against voiced his desire to completely elminate the law.
Trump, through the Department of Justice, is again asking a court to throw out major elements of the ACA, including hugely popular provisions that protect sick people from being denied health insurance or charged higher rates. The administration was successful in getting the individual mandate, which called for every American to have health insurance, struck down. However, there is much concern among more moderate GOP members of Congress that getting rid of provisions covering pre-existing conditions will turn voters against them.
A Jamestown woman is accused of being in possession of a small amount of Heroin -- with Fentanyl mixed in -- during a traffic stop in the city earlier this week....
Officers pulled over 34 year-old Jacqueline Delo shortly before 3 AM Monday at the intersection of Cherry and West Fourth Streets and, she allegedly gave police a false name. She was later identified as Delo and, that she had a suspended driver's license. Officers say she was also wanted on a warrant issued from Erie, Pennsylvania. She was arrested on a Felony charge of Fugitive from Justice and, criminal impersonation and, criminal possession of a controlled substance.
