Community Spotlight, the area's longest running local public affairs radio program, airs on all six Media One Radio Group stations each weekend and is also available to hear in our Podcast Section.  Each week we sit down with a community leader or another special guest to talk about issues within our community.  


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WJTN News Headlines

A judge says she plans to release information later today hat puts another blemish on former New York state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's record in office.  Manhattan federal Judge Valerie Caproni announced her intention late Thursday after a Silver lawyer argued against it.  Silver declined comment.  The 72-year-old Democrat was convicted in November in a 5-million dollar corruption case.  Prosecutors say he traded favors to enrich himself and then lied about it.  He is scheduled to be sentenced May 3rd.  Lawyers for The New York Times and WNBC-TV asked the judge to unseal documents pertaining to evidence excluded from trial. The judge said the evidence pertained to something that wasn't one of Silver's better moments.  Silver's lawyers had opposed the unsealing on grounds they could jeopardize a fair trial if Silver wins an appeal.

 

Another Democratic leader in Chautauqua County is coming out strongly in favor of former U-S Senator Hillary Clinton for president.  Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi says he first supported Mrs. Clinton as the state's U-S Senator... then in 2008... as the Democratic candidate for President.  However... current President Barack Obama won that year.  Still... Teresi says he remains 100-percent behind Cliton. While some polls show Clinton has a "trustworthIness" issue... Teresi says he doesn't have one with her.  He says she's the kind of person who "looks you in the eye..." and, has shown substance and results.  Teresi was among those at a rally this week in Jamestown of city and county Democrats... pledging their support to her for this "all important primary."  Clinton faces U-S Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont in next Tuesday's vote.  Teresi reminds Democrats that polls are open from Noon to 9 PM. The mayor made his comments for this weekend's "Community Spotlight" program that'll be heard on all five Media One Group stations.

 

The head of an organization that supports preserving Social Security says Democrat and Republican candidates for president vary widely on where they stand on the issue.  That from the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare president and Chief Executive Officer, Max Richtman... who says Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders both support increasing the payroll deduction cap.  Richtman says Mrs. Clinton is also proposing changes to help women. Richtman said yesterday that Sanders supported increasing the wage cap from 118-thousand-500 dollars to 250-thousand.  However... high-wage earners would also get a bump in benefits.  As for Republicans... Richtman says Donald Trump has said he won't make any cuts to benefits.  But, he adds that in one of Trump's books... the Billionaire developer called it a "ponzi scheme."  As for the other GOP candidates... Ted Cruz and John Kasich... Richtman says both are calling for "reforming" the program.  However... he says both are basically proposing cuts to benefits to keep both Social Security Insurance... and, Social Security Disability... solvent.

 

A native of Mexico, who most recently lived in Olean, has been convicted of illegally re-entering the United States.  U-S Attorney William Hochul, Junior has announced that 48 year-old Maurilio Bautista-Feria was convicted in U-S District Court of re-entry of a removed alien, subsequent to a conviction for an aggravated felony.  He was then sentenced to one-year in prison by Senior District Court Judge William Skretny.  The special prosecutor handled the case says Feria was convicted in 2009 of harboring illegal aliens.  Subsequent to that conviction... Feria was removed from the U-S to Mexico for having illegally entered the United States and committing the felony.  In 2013... U-S Immigration and Customs Enforcement found the defendant working at a Mexican restaurant in Olean. 

 

Authorities say a 19-year-old man is hospitalized after being shot by a state trooper during an altercation following a traffic stop on a western New York road.  The trooper pulled over a vehicle around 11 PM Wednesday on Routes 5 and 20 in the Livingston County town of Lima (LY'-muh)... about 20 miles south of Rochester.  Police say the driver, Tyshawn Jones of Brooklyn, got out of his car and attacked the trooper.  State police Captain Kevin Reilly says the trooper then fired three shots, hitting Jones in the shoulder and abdomen.  The trooper, who hasn't been identified, was treated at Strong Memorial Hospital for a fractured eye socket, concussion and bruises.  State police say Jones is being treated at the hospital for injuries that aren't life-threatening.

 

With the tax deadline coming up next Monday... area police departments are getting more complaints about the IRS telephone Tax Scam.  Chautauqua County Sheriff Joe Gerace says his office has received dozens of calls about it. Gerace says it’s a scam that is happening across the nation.  Unfortunately... he says there's not much law enforcement can do about it... due mainly to the fact these are mostly international calls... and, the U-S does not have reciprocating law enforcement agreements with them.  Gerace says you should never give out any personal information to anyone you don't know over the phone.  He says if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.  Law enforcement officials are also urging anyone who may have elderly family members, or friends, to tell them about the scam and the importance of avoiding it.

 

New York has ended its ban on professional mixed martial arts, as Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a law to regulate the fights.  Cuomo said Thursday at a signing ceremony at Madison Square Garden that the fights will boost the economy. New York was the last state to prohibit the bouts.  The Garden is a potentially lucrative venue for big promotions like Ultimate Fighting Championship, which plans to hold an event there November 12th.  The law takes effect in September, giving the State Athletic Commission time to add two members, adopt regulations, train staff and start licensing promoters, trainers and fighters.  The commission already regulates pro boxing.  The law also brings amateur MMA, operating unregulated in New York, under state jurisdiction.  The sport's violence drew opposition from some lawmakers.  The law requires increased medical coverage for professional fighters in New York.

 

Donald Trump was showing off his knowledge of all things Pennsylvania during a Pittsburgh rally when he asked a baffling question - about Penn State's famed football coach.  "How's Joe Paterno?," Trump asked supporters Wednesday night.  "Are we gonna bring that back?"  paterno died in January 2012 just months after being dismissed following a child sex abuse scandal involving his assistant coach.  But... the GOP presidential frontrunner wasn't asking about Paterno.  He wanted to know about his statue, which was removed from outside the football stadium four years ago.  That's what The Daily Mail's U.S. political editor David Martosko says on his Twitter page.

 


The Fairway Pointe Senior Village had its official ribbon cutting and grand opening Thursday.  The 116 unit facility on Southwestern Drive in Lakewood provides apartments for people 55 and over.  Marc Guizzo (gwee-zoh) is the facilities manager for Calamar, the firm that built Fairway Pointe.  He says it's their sixth senior apartment community in Western New York. About half the apartments in Fairway Pointe have already been rented.  Susan and Roy Lindahl of Jamestown are some of the first residents. Calamar invested 12 million dollars in Fairway Pointe.  Among the amenities are an exercise room, community meeting area, and garages.  Amanda Chase, the local manager, will give tours to those who call 489-3601.