NWS Forecaster says expect "persistant" snow from outer edges of Nor'easter...
A slow-moving, Winter storm is moving up the East Coast... and, will bring nearly a foot of snow to parts of Western New York. However... it won't be a heavy snow. That from Forecaster Jim Mitchell with the National Weather Service in Buffalo... who says we'll pretty much be on the perifery of this nor'easter. Mitchell says we won't see heavy snow during that 48 to 72 hour time period. Mitchell says the greatest amounts will occur over the higher elevations of Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties... with totals of 4 to 8 inches generally. By late Thursday... some places may see about a foot of new snow. The National Weather has issued a Winter Weather Advisory from 4 a.m. Wednesday to 4 a.m. Friday for an area that includes Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties. We'll have the latest forecast coming up shortly.
No one hurt in Portland house fire; Red Cross helping families involved...
Flames have extensively damaged much of a two-family home on Route 20 in the town of Portland. Portland Fire Chief Steve Burgeous says crews were called to the scene at 6384 Route 20 about 3:30 this morning... and, found heavy fire near the front of the house when they arrived. He adds flames were showing through the windows. Burgeous says the two families living there were able to get out safely. But... he adds there was damage through-out the house, mainly to the front of the building. However... he says there was smoke and water damage through-out the building. Burgeous says it took some time to bring the flames under control because of the way the house was built. He says the home was made of concrete, and, has a metal roof that kept the heat inside. Burgeous says the Red Cross is helping the fire victims. He adds that Brocton... and, Westfield firefighters were called to the scene... while Stockton was on stand-by. Crews were at the scene about 5 hours. The Chautauqua County FAST team was also called to the scene... and, investigators are still looking for the cause.
Hearing underway on raising minimum wage for workers who receive tips...
Restaurateurs and hoteliers plan to weigh in as a state board considers whether to mandate they pay tipped workers the standard minimum wage in New York. The Wage Board is reviewing whether to eliminate the so-called tip wage of $5 an hour for food servers and $5.65 for hotel housekeepers. New York law lets employers to pay them less than the state's $8 minimum wage... set to rise to $8.75 in January... provided tips make up the difference. Hospitality industry groups say federal data show tipped workers average $11 an hour. Workers say the law treats them as second-class employees.
