Sheriff Gerace urges drivers to be safe, and obey the laws during Labor Day Weekend...
The Labor Day Holiday Weekend is now underway... and, AAA is estimating that some 35-million people will travel at least 50 miles this weekend across the nation. You can expect local law enforcement to also have a presence. That from Chautauqua County Sheriff Joe Gerace... who coordinates the county's Stop DWI program. Gerace says patrols will be active over the holiday weekend. He says they urge motorists to use "good common sense, don't drink and drive, don't text and drive, and wear your seat belt." Gerace says the Sheriff's Dept. Navigation Division will also likely have a busy weekend. He's urging boaters practice water safety... observe the law, and have the people on your craft wearing personal floation devices. AAA of Western and Central New York expects the heaviest traffic volume to occur Monday when people are on their way back home. Traffic is expected to peak around 3 p.m., so the best time to head back is before noon on Monday.
AAA says Labor Day Weekend gas prices remain high, but, have "leveled off..."
As summer comes to a close, many travelers are ready to squeeze in a last minute vacation before the cooler temperatures settle in. Triple-A adds that those heading out for a road trip ove rthe weekend will see gas prices that have "leveled-off..." though they are higher than last Labor Day Weekend. AAA says the current national average is $2.84... which is two-cents less than a month ago. In New York state... the price is $2.99... which is 45-cents more than last year. In Pennsylvania... it's $3.04 a gallon... which is 42-cents more.
Mitrano, Reed, spar over support for West Valley clean-up...
The Democratic candidate running for the 23rd Congressional District says the West Valley Nuclear Demonstration site clean-up in Cattaraugus County is not getting enough funding from the federal government. Ithaca's Tracy Mitrano also believes that incumbent Republican Tom Reed is not doing enough to get funding for the cleanup. The House Energy and Commerce Committee recently passed a reauthorization bill to provide $75-million dollars a year for the next eight years for the cleanup effort. The bill, sponsored by Reed, represents $10-million more than is currently allocated... but, Mitrano says it falls short what is needed. She says the studies she has seen say the cost will total about $6-billion to $10-billion. Mitrano says she's not an "expert" but, adds a third-party study seems to be fairly accurate. During this week's conference call... we asked Tom Reed about Mitrano's statement and said his political challenger is "out of touch." Reed says they've worked with everyone involved to try and get the situation taken care of best as possible, and says he's "very proud" of the work being done at West Valley.
Former WCA Hospital is now UPMC Chautauqua Hospital...
It's a small... but, still significant step in integrating the former WCA Hospital in Jamestown into the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center family of health care faciliites. UPMC Chautauqua WCA Hospital has had it's name shortened to UPMC Chautauqua. The move took place a few weeks ago... and, Hospital President and Chief Executive Officer Betsy Wight says it's part of a "system-wide" re-branding by UPMC. Wright says they have looked at the branding of all their hospitals and facilities... and, she says they are a regional hospital, and officials want the name to reflect that. She says WCA is one of seven specialty and health care facilities that have been renamed as part of the UPMC family. She says it tells the community that they are now intergrated with the main Pittsburgh facility... and, she says that intergration continues to grow through investment in IT... and, network upgrades, along with employee benefits. Wright says the integration has even continued over the past couple of weeks with the hiring of 24 new nurses who recently graduated from nursing school... along with four new, experienced nurses.
Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon in Upstate NY this weekend...
Actress Cynthia Nixon is taking her campaign for governor upstate as the Democratic primary nears. The longtime liberal activist and former "Sex and the City" star will make stops in Rochester, Syracuse, Ithaca, Schenectady and Saratoga Springs on Friday and throughout the long Labor Day weekend. Her campaign says Nixon will meet with volunteers and voters and make a stop at the state fair in Syracuse. She faces Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo in the September 13th primary. Nixon's upstate trip comes after the two candidates held a debate on Long Island Wednesday that focused largely on downstate issues.
