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WJTN News Headlines for Feb. 1, 2018

An apparent equipment failure triggered a just over day-long power outage that affected nearly 1,500 National Grid Company customers in the towns of Chautauqua and Ellery...  
 
That from National Grid Spokesman Dave Bertola, who says the outage began about 9:45 a.m. Tuesday at a substation in the town of Chautauqua.  Bertola says crews restored power about 10:30 Wednesday morning. The Chautauqua County Office of Emergency Services is reminding those affected by the outage to check their homes for any burst water pipes or flooded basements due to sump pump failures.  Director John Griffith is also urging residents to look out for the possibility of electric shock due to electrical contact with water. 
 
 
 
Finding emergency shelter was important to National Grid Company once Tuesday's outage occured around the northern end of Chautauqua Lake...  
 
Customers affected were in the Hartfield, Dewittville, Maple Springs and Ellery areas... who lost their electricity just before 10 a.m. Tuesday.  American Red Cross Spokesman Jay Bonafede says volunteers helped to staff a warming station in Mayville.  Bonafede says they were contacted by the county Office of Emergency Services to provide the centers.  He says one person spent Tuesday night at the shelter, and two additional people checked in Wednesday morning. 
 
 
 
The state plans to provide every inmate with a free computer tablet from a Florida-based company that provides services to prison systems...  
 
The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision says Wednesday that the approximately 51,000 inmates in 54 prisons will be eligible to receive one of the portable personal computers being provided to the state by Miami-based JPay Inc. at no cost to taxpayers.  DOCCS officials say the tablets will come pre-loaded with educational material.  However, the devices won't be able to access the internet.
 
 
 
Emergency rooms across Chautauqua County-- and the nation-- have been very busy in recent weeks with people who have come down with the flu, or are showing flu-like symptoms...  
 
That from UPMC Chautauqua WCA Hospital Medical Director of Occupational Services, Dr. Todd Jacobson.  Dr. Jacobson says they've especially seen an uptick in the number of cases coming through their doors over the past two to three weeks. 
 
Jacobson says this year's flu is the H3-N2 strain of the virus, which is the worst seen in the past 10 to 15 years.  He says the early signs can be similar to a cold, but he says this will be accompanied by a fever.  Jacobson says it starts with a cough, sore throat, and muscle and head aches with a 100 to 101-degree fever.  He says this strain of the flu is especially a problem for the very young, and the very old among the population.  He says if you -- or a loved one -- are exhibiting such symptoms, contact your family doctor.
 
 
 
Prevention can play a big role in determining whether or not you end up with the flu this season...  
 
First of all, Dr. Todd Jacobson says -- if you haven't received one yet -- you can still get the flu shot.  While it's only been found to be 30% effective this year in combating the flu virus, Jacobson says it can help lessen the severity of the flu.  He adds there are a few other things you can do, including wearing a surgical mask.
 
Jacobson says surgical masks can be found in several places, namely drug stores.  He says taking Tamiflu during the early stages of the flu can also help lessen the virus's severity.  While there have been shortages of Tamilflu in some places across the United States, Jacobson says it has not been an issue around the Jamestown-area.
 
 
 
Chautauqua County's Congressman has been following developments in the wake of a train striking a dump truck in Virginia that was taking members of the House Republican Caucus to a retreat...  
 
House member Tom Reed was NOT on the Amtrak Train, which was traveling to West Virginia shortly after Noon Wednesday.  He tells CNN that he's been in contact with members of the caucus who were on the train, adding that "all reports are the situation is under control" and, there were "no reports of serious injuries" on the train.  However, one person in the truck died.  Reed was back in the 23rd District, speaking from Ithaca.
 
 
 
Education leaders from across New York made their case Wednesday for more money from the state next year...  
 
Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia and New York City Chancellor Carmen Farina are among those who testified before a joint legislative hearing on Governor Andrew Cuomo's budget proposal.  Also scheduled to appear were leaders of the biggest teachers unions, as well as superintendents or representatives from the Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers school districts.  Cuomo has proposed a $769-million increase in school aid.  That's less than the Board of Regents' recommendation for a $1.6-billion bump.  Other groups say even more is needed.