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WJTN News Headlines for Mar. 15, 2018

Students across the United States staged walkouts yesterday, calling for stricter gun laws in the wake of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida...  
 
Local Congressman Tom Reed spoke about the walkouts during his weekly telephone conference call with Southern Tier Media Wednesday afternoon.  He says there are a couple of items being seriously looked at federal lawmakers in Washington.  One is supporting school resource officers, and providing help for facility and staffing improvements.  Reed also indicated that he was encouraged by the student walkouts, saying it was important for them to be "engaged in democracy."  A walkout was held yesterday morning outside the Dunkirk High School on Sixth Street with about 300 students taking part.
 
 
One person was sent to the hospital following an alleged stabbing at an apartment in Jamestown Wednesday evening... 
 
The Post-Journal reports city police and firefighters were called in for assistance at 303 Lafayette Street just before 8:00. The newspaper says the man appeared to suffer a head injury in the incident and was rushed to UPMC Chautauqua WCA Hospital. The severity of injuries wasn't immediately known.  Additional information was not yet available this morning. 
 
 
The enlarged Jamestown City School District is still mandated to provide certain services, even though it's getting a relatively small increase in state aid...  
 
That from School Superintendent Bret Apthorpe, who says the district is currently looking at a no-tax increase budget for 2018-19.  The school board reviewed the first budget draft this past Tuesday night. While Governor Cuomo is proposing a general, 4% aid increase next year, Apthorpe says Jamestown would only see about a 2% increase to help out with special education, and English-language learning services.
 
Jamestown's Director of Finance and Business Affairs, Vern Connors, says the current revenue budget proposal for next school year has increased to $84.8-million.  Apthorpe says he's encouraged that both State Senator Cathy Young and Assemblyman Andy Goodell are on the record opposing the lesser amount of aid for Jamestown.  He adds that he's heard from various groups that the item may be "negotiated away" as they resolve school aid in both the Senate and Assembly. 
 
 
Two young students in Warren County, Pennsylvania have been accused of making threats to teachers and staff at the Warren Area Elementary Center...  
 
State Police in Warren say they were called to tthe scene about 9:30 Tuesday morning after a 10 year-old boy allegedly made a hand-written threat with "disturbing" hand-drawn sketches.  Troopers assessed the situation and investigated and removed the child from school.  They then made a Juvenile Petition for the child on one count each of terrorist threats and disorderly conduct.  Shortly after 10 a.m. while investigating the earlier incident, troopers were alerted to another alleged threat involving a 7 year-old boy.  Another juvenile petition is also being prepared in that case.  State Police say the investigation is ongoing.
 
 
Fear of retaliation by neighbors for allegedly housing code violations has left some Jamestown residents deciding not to contact the city about those problems...  
 
That from City Council Housing Committee Chairwoman Vickeye James during discussion at this week's Council work session.  James brought up alleged retaliation by some people after someone complained about the condition of one house.  She says someone "lasered out" a cellphone being used to call in a complaint.  City Council President  (past Housing Committee Chairwoman) Marie Carrubba says it's too bad that some people are fearful of reporting housing violations.  She says those problems can grow bigger in scope when violators move to another location.
 
James was urged to remind residents that they should report housing issues, and can do so anonymously.  If the problem is significant enought to warrant a police check, Chief Harry Snellings said that's certainly something they can do.  Snellings says people can go on their cell phones to the department's Tips 411 app.
 
 
A north county woman arrested by federal authorities nearly a year ago has pleaded guilty in U-S District Court in Buffalo to possessing and attempting to traffic 28-grams or more of crack cocaine...  
 
U-S Attorney James Kennedy, Junior has announced that 49 year-old Minerva Maestre of Dunkirk entered the plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kenneth Schroder; she faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $5-million fine.  Prosecutors say Dunkirk Police and members of other agencies raided Maestre's home at 51 East Second Street, and found 60 grams of crack cocaine, 42 grams of cocaine, and more than $171,000 in cash.
 
 
Gas prices in the Jamestown area remained steady for the seventh consecutive week at $2.76 for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel...  
 
That from AAA's weekly gas price report, which says every state in the region is paying more than at this time last year.  A handful are paying as much as $0.25 or more to fill up (in New York the price is $0.26 more than in March 2017). Regional inventory sits at 61.8-millions barrels despite a 3.4-million barrel drop on the week.  The national average price for regular gas has remained steady at $2.53 for the last nine days.  Officials say the price at the pump reflects an unseasonably high demand for fuel this winter.  Get prices along your route GasPrices.AAA.com.
 
 
A proposal to cut about a quarter of state lawmakers from the Pennsylvania General Assembly is moving ahead, but it's still not certain that the constitutional amendment will make it onto the November ballot...  
 
The House voted 109 to 80 on Tuesday for a bill that would cut the House from 203 to 151 members, and the Senate from 50 to 38.  Supporters predict it will make the Legislature work more efficiently and could produce some cost savings.  Opponents warn it will dilute the voices of constituents and give more power to leaders when new district lines are drawn after the 2020 census.  Procedural rules mean that the proposal to cut the Senate would have to be eliminated in order for the bill to go before voters later this year.