The Jamestown-area has it's first hunting fatality of this year's shot-gun deer hunting season so far.  Busti Fire Chief Mike Volpe says their rescue crew was called to the scene on Orr Street Extension -- between Southwestern Drive and Garfield Road shortly before 1 PM Monday afternoon.  Volpe says it took quite a while to get workers to the scene... located just outside of the city... where they found the victim -- identified as 50 year-old Thomas Carlson of Jamestown. Volpe says they were also assisted by the Chautauqua County Emergency Services Office in processing the scene, and removing Carlson's body.  He says a number of neighboring fire companies also assisted... including Lakewood, Kiantone, and Frewsburg Departments.  Lakewood-Busti Police are heading up the investigation... which they say began as a search for Carlson... who was reported as overdue to return by his family.  Investigators say he died from a gun-shot wound from his own weapon.

Law enforcement agencies are investigating the death of a woman in a fatal hunting accident in western New York over the past weekend.  Authorities say the accident occurred just before 4 PM Sunday in a wooded area near the Genesee River in Caledonia in Livingston County -- south of Rochester.  The unidentified victim was in a hunting party with four other people when she was shot in the abdomen.  The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear.  The woman was rushed to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, where she was pronounced dead.  Sheriff Thomas Dougherty says the shooting occurred in a section of woods, making it difficult for first responders to get to the woman.  State Department of Environmental Conservation police say this was the state's third deer hunting fatality this year.

An agreement by New York state to help close a nearly 825-thousand dollar deficit in 2017 has allowed Jamestown city lawmakers to approve a balanced budget.  That from Council Finance Committee Chairman Tony Dolce... who announced the news before last night's voted on the 35-million dollar spending plan.  However... Dolce cautioned fellow lawmakers that the state is stipulating that they work with the state's Restructuring Board to continue finding savings in the budget. Dolce called the tentative, one-time payment "Transitional Aid..." similar to what the city of Dunkirk is receiving to stem the loss of payments in lieu of taxes from the moth-balled NRG Power Plant.  He was pleased the state came through after years of State Aid cuts.  However... fellow Republican Brent Sheldon expressed skepticism over the state helping at the 11th hour... and voted against the budget.  However... it was approved, 8-to-1... giving the budget the "supermajority" that is needed because the spending plan exceeded the state's 2-percent property tax cap.  The city budget includes a 150-thousand dollar tax increase... taking it to the city's constitutional taxing limit.

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand traveled to Fredonia Monday afternoon to announce legislation that would help close the gap when it comes to access to high-speed internet in Western New York.  During a visit to DFT Communications... the New York Democrat says the legislation called the Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Program Act would help build an improved broadband system in rural areas. County Executive Vince Horrigan, who joined Gillibrand for the announcement, says providing better broadband access will be a big help -- especially to the agricultural community.  Gillibrand says she is working with House Republicans on the measure... including local Congressman Tom Reed.  She says Reed is a co-sponsor of the measure in the House.  Gillibrand says she's also making a push with the Federal Communications Commission to approve New York State's request for 170-million dollars in federal funds for improving broadband service in the Empire state.  Dunkirk Mayor Willie Rosas and DFT's Mark Maytum were also on hand for the announcement. 

Federal lawmakers are expected to vote shortly on a bill local Congressman Tom Reed says will jumpstart medical research, and speed up the approval process for medical treatment options.  Reed says today that the House is ready to vote on the landmark, "21st Century Cures Act..." which is designed to encourage medical research for incurable diseases. Reed says the bill dedicates 5-billion dollars for the National Institutes of Health for "targeted research..." and another 500-million dollars to help the Food and Drug Administration speed up the approval process for medicine and treatment options.  He adds that the funding will also provide additional funding to help deal with the local, and nationwide Heroin and Opioid drug crisis.  Reed -- who is a co-sponsor of the bill -- says a joint conference committee is already working to reconcile the bills currently in the House and Senate.  Some Senator's have reportedly expressed reservations about the bill... but, he expects those to be ironed out.  Reed made his comments on his weekly conference call with Southern Tier Media.

A lot of people took advantage of Cyber Monday... but, a lot of people are doing their online shopping over the course of several days.  That from Melanie McGovern of the Better Business Bureau of Upstate New York... who says if you do your shopping by mobile phone, you need to take extra precautions. Cyber Monday was preceded by a strong "Cyber Weekend" for holiday shoppers.  That from the National Retail Federation which reports it's survey shows that while shoppers spent an average 3.5 percent less money than a year ago over the 4-day weekend... there was an increase in online shopping.

The recent cold snap... and, about a foot-of snow allowed some local ski areas to open up over the long Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend.  One of those was Holiday Valley in Ellicottville... where they had a hand-ful of trails open last Friday through Sunday.  Marketing Director Jane Eshbaugh says they received a good first snowfall from the recent lake effect storm... but, adds they had to make snow to open late last week. Eshbaugh says they took to social media... and, other means to advertise the fact they were open.  She says there was a terrific turn-out to begin the weekend -- especially on Saturday.  However... she says the crowd of skiiers was down a bit on Sunday.   Eshbaugh says they had a base of zero to 20 inches on their five slopes.  Holiday Valley is closed today... and, she says their status for the coming weekend up in the air right now.  However... they will tentatively open next Saturday and Sunday.  For more information... go on-line to Holidayvalley-dot-COM... or their Facebook page and twitter.

The hands-on management style President-elect Donald Trump has brought to his many businesses over the years will be challenged by the presidency.  At times... Trump has been reluctant to delegate.  But while his multinational business is indeed vast, the scope of the federal government exceeds any of his previous endeavors.  The occupant of the White House oversees a workforce of more than 2-million people.  Even those close to Trump are gently suggesting that he will have to do some more delegating given the sheer volume of decisions needed to get his administration up and running.  A person familiar with private discussions regarding the transition but not authorized to speak about them by name says Trump has signaled willingness to relinquish some personal control, even if it chafes a bit.