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WJTN News Headlines for Mar. 20, 2019

Jamestown Board of Public Utilities water customers along Hunt Road in West Ellicott, Celoron and parts of Lakewood could see discolored water this morning through Thursday morning....  

BPU Spokeswoman Becky Robbins says Water Division crews will tie two water lines together between Southwestern Drive, and the Jamestown City line on Hunt Road starting about 8 AM today.  Robbins says laundry should be delayed until water appears clear in the area.

 
Local Congressman Tom Reed says he's encouraged by the local support for a new commercial air carrier during a meeting held Monday at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in Celoron...  

The meeting, hosted by County Executive George Borrello, was held as a way of gauging local support and sustainability for a new Essential Air Service carrier at the Jamestown Airport.  Reed says local support will help make the application to the U-S Department of Transportation better..

Reed says one new stakeholder asked how they can show support... including purchasing so many tickets, or directing so many out-of-towners to use the new carrier.  The Corning Republican was able to get the DOT to allow a "revised" application by the county and Boutique Air that will reduce the time needed to re-apply.  He also praised Borrello for his leadership on the matter.  Reed says having community support will be key to preventing what the airport has seen in the past and, that's lack of riders leading to cancellation of flights and flight cancellations leading to a lack of riders.


A city man has been jailed without bail for allegedly committing several traffic violations -- and leading police on a vehicle chase last weekend....  

Jamestown police say officers tried to conduct a traffic stop on a westbound motorcycle Saturday night on Falconer Street that didn't have a taillight.  However, the operator -- identified as 44 year-old Victor Cameron -- allegedly rode off.  Officers pursued the bike through the city, and towns of Ellicott and Busti before returning to Euclid Avenue in the city.  Police say Cameron tried to flee from officers and resisted arrest before taken into custody.  He was reportedly found to have a revoked drivers license... and, was also charged with several traffic infractions from the pursuit.  City officers were assisted the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Department and Lakewood-Busti Police. 


A Cattaraugus County man has pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring to commit bank fraud and money laundering....  

U-S Attorney James Kennedy, Junior says 35 year-old Sergiy Bezrukov of Salamanca entered the guilty plea before Judge Lawrence Vilardo late Monday.  Bezrukow was accused of opening two western New York offices -- one in Salamanca -- to operate a fake debt restructuring business.  Prosecutors say he solicted small businesses under "various fictitious names..." offering high interest loans.  Once the businesses agreed, Bezrukov and others would withdraw money from it's bank accounts... but, they never repaid the loans.  Law enforcement officers raided Bezrukov's business when they learned he planned to move his Salamanca office and, seized $1.4-million --  $393,000 of it in cash, and computer hard drives.  The charges carry a maximum penalty of 35 years in prison and a one-million dollar fine when he's sentenced next July 24th.


Where you live matters when it comes to a person's overall health.  That's according to a new report that ranked Chautauqua County as the fourth-worst county in New York State....  

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin's Population Health Institute today released their annual rankings of the health of nearly every county in each state.  In New York, the county finished 59th out of 62 counties in health outcomes and, Foundation Director of Program Communications, Joe Marx, says they look at more than 30 factors in those rankings.

Marx says one area of major concern is the link between housing and health and, he says 14-percent of households are "facing a severe housing burden."  He says that's because they have to spend more than half their income on that.  Another concern is the percentage of children under age 18 living in property.  Marx says the foundation hopes the ranking stimulates discussion involving local residents and community leaders, to address these issues.  For more information... go to the foundation's website at rwjf.org.

 
An opportunity for individuals and families to get a free portrait will be offered this Saturday at the Weeks Gallery at Jamestown Community College..... 

'Help Portrait Chautauqua' is organized by Marc Kirsch, photography teacher at Southwestern High School and JCC.  He says from 11 AM to 3 PM, people can stop by, get help with hair and make-up, and then have a picture taken, edited, printed and framed, all without cost.  Kirsch adds, it's a way for photographers to give back to the community.  Three photographers will be assisting with 'Help Portrait Chautauqua' this year, along with students from Southwestern and JCC.  Email Mark Kirsch for more information at mark.kirsch@icloud.com.  The Weeks Gallery is on the 2nd floor of the Sheldon Center at JCC.


New York state is considering providing medication-assisted treatment to all prison and jail inmates struggling with opioid addiction....  

Experts say drugs such as methadone and suboxone can greatly improve inmates' chances of recovery and reduce the risk that they will commit other crimes. But the drugs are expensive, and advocates say it could take $7 million a year to make it available in every state and local lockup.  Governor Andrew Cuomo and his fellow Democrats in the Legislature are currently debating how much money to budget for the medication.  Federal statistics suggest more than half of all inmates in state prisons nationwide have a substance-abuse problem.  New York officials put the number as high as 80-percent in state and local lockups, which have about 77,000 inmates.


Advocates for New Yorkers with mental illness are urging state lawmakers to increase funding for housing for that vulnerable group....  

The so-called 'Bring It Home Coalition' was created to push for greater housing resources for people whose mental illness puts them at risk of being homeless.  The group rallied Tuesday at the state Capitol to highlight their request, which comes as lawmakers are putting together the next state budget.  The coalition says the state has 40,000 housing units currently at risk of closing because of decades of lackluster funding.  Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo has included $10-million for community-based mental health housing in his budget proposal.  Advocates say much more is needed to address the problem.