City of Jamestown and BPU awarded $17.3-million for new microgrid, other fail-safe systems to keep power on during severe weather...
The manager who developed the idea of a microgrid for the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities says he's very pleased to see the BPU getting a $17.3-million federal grant for the project.  Transmission and Distribution Manager Kris Sellstorm also tells us it's the full amount the BPU and city was seeking for the project... which will also update and enhance their systems if there's a widespread outage due to extreme weather.  Sellstrom says they still need to go through the formal process of getting the grant... but, he adds it will bring a lot of value to our community."  The grant money will come from the federal Infrastructure and Jobs Act... through the U.S. Department of Energy.  U.S. Senator Charles Schumer announced the award Wednesday... and, says the project will also add and create, good-paying union jobs.  Sellstrom says... between their gas turbine and steam generators... they can produce just over 80 megawatts of power.  However... if their interconnect with the Dow Street Substation goes down... they can't run those systems right now.  He says the microgrid would allow those systems to be not only up... but, get necessary power to the community.  In addition... Sellstrom says they have a number of underground connections that would be upgraded so that... if a storm that takes down several major power lines... they would have the underground systems in place as back-up to keep electricity flowing to local schools... and, other key locations.

Twin brothers accused of parking violations... fighting with police; one sucker punches officer...
Twin brothers from Jamestown are in trouble with the law after one refused to park his Sports Utility Vehicle legally... and, he fought with police and his brother then sucker punched one officer.  City police working a Gun-Involved Violence Enforcement detail spotted the SUV pulled over at Superior Street and Forest Avenue just after 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.  Officers say the vehicle... driven by 18 year-old Ruben Medina... was parked illegally and blocking traffic.  Police asked Medina several times to park the vehicle legally.  However... he failed to comply... and he also refused to provide his driver's license and registration.  He was advised he would be arrested if he didn't comply... but, he continued to refuse.  Ruben Medina then punched and fought with the officer.  During the altercation... his twin brother, Raymond... tried to pull him away so he could evade arrest.  However... failing to break contact, Raymond sucker punched the officer.  Raymond Medina then fled the scene... and, other officers responded to assist getting Ruben into custody.  Officers searched for some time to find Raymond... but, he remains at-large... and, faces second-degree assault, and resisting arrest charges.  Ruben Medina was taken to the city jail pending arraignment.  Anyone with information on Raymond Medina's whereabouts is asked to call JPD at 483-7537... or their Anonymous Tip Line at 483-Tips... that's 483-8477.

County D-A announces plea agreement with north county man for illegal weapon's possession...
A Silver Creek man has pleaded guilty to being in possession of a weapon illegally... and, faces 3 to 6 years in prison when he's sentenced in December.  Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt says 28 year-old Dakota Sugg entered the plea Wednesday in County Court to third-degree criminal possession of a weapon as part of a plea agreement.  At the time of his plea... Schmidt says Sugg was also indicted on another charge.  In addition to his indicted cases... he had several pending matters in local justice courts across the north county involving damages to the personal property of other people.  As part of his plea deal... Schmidt says Sugg's pending charges were settled and he has agreed pay restitution for property damages alleged in his pending cases.  He will be sentenced in Chautauqua County court by Judge David Foley on Dec. 18. 

Gillibrand calls for additional funding to protect synagogues and other houses of worship due to "troubling rise" in anti-semitism, and Islamaphobia...
The recent terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel has exacerbated an already troubling rise in anti-semitic... and, Islamaphobic crimes in New York -- and the nation.  That's why U-S Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is urging both houses of Congress to increase the amount of funding for a program that helps defend synagogues, and other religious institutions.  During a video conference call with statewide media Wednesday morning... the New York Democrat said she had previously requested a record $360-million for the National Security Grant Program.  She wants that increased to $500-million now to help made those places safe because "hatred and violence have no place in our communities."  Gillibrand says the grants allow house of worship to make physical improvements to provide more protection and security for them.  Earlier this year... she says that the FBI issued a new report on anti-semetic attacks... showing that those increased by more than 37% in 2022... the biggest increase since such crimes have been tracked.  Gillibrand adds that the number of hate crimes against Muslims since 2020 have more than tripled in New York state. 

Gillibrand says not having a House Speaker could delay security, and defense funding for houses of worship, and generally for Israel and Ukraine...The current dysfunction in the House of Representatives could derail any efforts to increase funding to help houses of worship improve their security.  Senator Gillibrand was asked about the on-going problem majority Republicans have had in voting for a new Speaker to replace Kevin McCarthy.  Efforts to elect Ohio Republican Jim Jordan have not garnered the necessary 217 votes.  In addition to the additional security funding for synagogues and other houses of worship... Gillibrand says funding for the war in Ukraine... and, for Israel... will be held up if nothing is resolved.