Two men arrested following alleged incident at Crown Street home that leads to loaded gun, and significant amount of narcotic drugs...
Jamestown police arrested two men for allegedly breaking into a Crown Street home Thursday morning... and, displaying a hand-gun before fleeing the scene. JPD Captain Bob Samuelson says officers were called to the scene shortly after 11 a.m., and, quickly found the suspect vehicle... and, one of the suspects in the front yard at 512 Newland Ave. Samuelson says 22 year-old Andre Richards was taken into custody and the car impounded. The second suspect... 26 year-old Michael Bland of Buffalo... was found a short time later in the area of Forest and Newland Avenues. Police got a search warrant for the vehicle... and, found a loaded 9-mm pistol inside a hidden compartment of the car... and drugs... including more than 76-grams of crack cocaine... 16.9 grams of crystal methamphetamine... and, just over 68-grams of Fentanyl. Both men face several charges... including second-degree criminal possession of a weapon... multiple counts of second and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... and, menacing. Both are being held pending arraignment. If you have any information on illegal drug activity... call the JPD confidential tips line at 483-8477.
State budget is late, again, due to hangups over bail reform, and universal child care...
New York's final 2022-2023 state budget is late again this year. However... the process of approving bills is underway. That from State Senator George Borrello and Assemblyman Andy Goodell. Both chambers have approved one budget bill so far -- that being the annual debt service measure. However... the total budget includes 9 or 10 bills. Borrello says it appears that one main hold-up is over proposed changes to bail reform... a move that's drawn protests. He says one Assembly member is doing a hunger strike, while some nine protesters were arrested at the capitol. Borrello says it's a "very bad sign" that the majority of bills have not "dropped" yet, because they are required to spend three-days on lawmakers desks before they can be acted on. They could be acted on sooner if Governor Kathy Hochul issues a "message of necessity." Borrello says progressive Democrats have "dug their heels in" regarding changes to the bail reform law. He says another major hurdle concerns universal child care.
County's Health Dept. reports on wastewater surveillance program...
The Chautauqua County Health Department is reporting "low levels" of COVID-19 being found in wastewater samples collected since Mar. 8 in the city's of Jamestown and Dunkirk. Public Health Director Christine Schuyler made the first report Thursday of what's been found since the legislature approved funding for the new program last week. Schuyler says persons infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus -- which causes COVID-19 -- whether or not they have symptoms, shed the virus in fecal matter. She says wastewater testing is a nonintrusive and anonymous way to detect basic levels of COVID-19 in a community without relying on ill individuals to seek out testing. Schuyler says the wastewater surveillance program is an "early warning system" for managing COVID-19 as we transition to an endemic phase." The testing of wastewater is being done by the University at Buffalo's Department of Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering.
Reed pleased to see U.S. win first trade case against Canada in USMCA...
Dairy producers in the United States have won the first major trade case brought against Canada for unfair trade practices under the U.S., Mexico, and Canada Trade Agreement. That from local Congressman Tom Reed, who got more information about the case while meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tei. Reed has supported local dairy producers, who claim that Canada has unfairly kept them out of that market. He says a dispute panel found that violation did take place, and they're awaiting resolution of the case. The issues with getting dairy products... especially cheese... into the Canadian market was one of the goals of the USMCA, which was approved by Congress a few years ago. So far... Reed says Canada's response has not been adequate. But... after meeting with Tei, Reed says he was pleased to be assured the U-S will push for a full resolution.
Gillibrand helps reintroduce postal banking legislation in the Senate...
U-S Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has helped re-introduce legislation that would re-establish postal banking to provide financial security to millions of Americans in low-income, and rural communities. Gillibrand says the Postal Banking Act would strengthen the U.S. Postal Service by providing low-cost, basic financial services to people who have limited or no access to the nation’s banking system. She says it would give low-income people access to small dollar checking and savings accounts, along with debit cards, and on-line banking. Gillibrand also released an original report, which finds that over 25-million households, including more than 1.5-million in New York, stand to benefit from postal banking. Her report also demonstrates that postal banking could generate nearly $19-billion in annual revenue for the Postal Service.
NYS Judge rejects Congressional Maps...
A judge has ordered New York's Democrat-controlled Legislature to redraw the state's congressional and legislative districts after finding they were unconstitutional. Judge Patrick McAllister said in a late Thursday ruling that maps redrawing the state's congressional districts were gerrymandered to benefit Democrats. McAllister said those districts must be redrawn, along with the legislative districts, in a way that attracted at least some bipartisan support. The judge gave lawmakers until Apr. 11 to try again.
