Democrats who control the Assembly are planning to start interviewing applicants for attorney general after Eric Schneiderman abruptly resigned amid allegations he physically abused four women...
Speaker Carl Heastie says applicants had until last Friday to submit a resume and cover letter to the speaker's legislative counsel. Among those reportedly applying were Jamestown-area Republican Randy Elf. A committee of legislators will review applicants' resumes. Public interviews will be held in Albany on Tuesday and Wednesday at a time and place yet to be determined. The names aren't officially being released until later today. Under state law, the Legislature has the authority to appoint a new attorney general with a joint vote by the Assembly and Senate. Democrats hold the overall majority.
Chautauqua County officials are hard at work on a "draft proposal" for a San Francisco-based air service provider to come into the county Airport near Jamestown...
That from County Executive George Borrello, who says they've been working with federal lawmakers from the state to try and bring in Boutique Air to be the airport's new Essential Air Service carrier.
Borrello says Boutique Air sees the county as a good location to move into, if Jamestown can get the EAS designation reinstated. He says their proposal will include some new ideas that should boost ridership. A key one to Borrello is beginning an early morning flight, which Jamestown hasn't had in a long time. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced last week that they are urging U-S Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to reconsider the decision to terminate EAS eligibility in Jamestown. The county lost that designation earlier this year due to low ridership.
The latest round of the state's Regional Economic Development Council 's Consolidated Funding Application program is underway with the first meeting this past week...
The Western New York REDC held it's iintial session at the SUNY College at Fredonia. Jamestown was represented by Development Director Vince DeJoy. However, Mayor Sam Teresi is in close contact with council members and, says notice was recently given to the 10 regional panels about the money now being available this year.
Chautauqua County Executive George Borrello is a new member of the council and, says he spoke to the panel about the need for workforce development in Chautauqua County. It was the chief issue in Borrello's recent State of the County message and, he asked the council to help the county address the issue, given what has already been done to fill skilled trade jobs in the Buffalo area. The Western New York council is among those competing for more than $750-million dollars in state economic development resources. SUNY at Fredonia President Dr. Virginia Horvath is co-chair of the Western New York council.
The National Rifle Association has filed a lawsuit against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and the state's financial regulatory agency for what it says is a blacklisting campaign to prevent firms from doing business with the gun owners' group...
The lawsuit filed Friday in federal court for the northern district of New York names the Democratic governor as a defendant along with the state Department of Financial Services and its superintendent, Maria Vullo. It accuses Cuomo of depriving the NRA of its First Amendment rights through selective prosecution and threats. The lawsuit comes after New York state fined insurance broker Lockton Cos. LLC $7-million for underwriting an NRA-branded insurance program called Carry Guard. Cuomo called the NRA lawsuit "a futile and desperate attempt" to advance the group's "dangerous agenda."
It may be a while longer before the clock tower comes down at the Family Church of Fredonia...
The clock tower was hit by flames last Friday when a portion of the gutter came loose and made contact with a nearby power transformer. Pastor Scott Wise of Family Church says that experts have been brought in to determine the best way to remove the scorched clock tower.
Wise says the clock tower must come down, but they want to do it in a manner is safe for the community and does not cause further damage to the remaining structure. He says the church is also looking beyond the clock tower after putting about a million dollars into the overall structure. He says they reinforced the roof structure, and have tried to upgrade the outside appearance. The Family Church pastor once again commends the work of police and fire and their quick response to last week's blaze.
The unofficial "end-of-academic year" celebration in the village of Fredonia -- known as "Fred Fest" -- led to 77 arrests by local police...
Village Police say the arrests took place one weekend ago during a five-day period in an around the SUNY College at Fredonia. The Dunkirk Observer reports that of those arrests, 57 involved open container violations, and 38 involved underage alcohol possession. Village police add that there were a total of 273 reported incidents. College officials announced they were cancelling the "on-campus" festivites in February of 2015, though activities have continued in recent years off-campus.
A Jamestown man has been arrested for allegedly trespassing in a garage apartment at a home in the Cattaraugus County village of Randolph...
Sheriff's officers in Little Valley were called to the scene at 22 Sheldon Street last Friday and, found 31 year-old Dakota Kaltenbach had been told to stay away from the property. Kaltenbach was arrested... and, charged with trespassing. He was issued an appearance ticket for Randolph Town Court at a later date.
Americans are facing an "epidemic of dishonesty" in Washington...
That from former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who warned in a commencement speech at Texas' Rice University that "an endless barrage of lies" in national politics poses a dire threat to U.S. democracy. The 76-year-old billionaire, who flirted with an independent presidential run, did not call out any politicians by name.
