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News Headlines for Sat., Mar. 23, 2019

Goodell says it's looking like a new State Budget won't be adopted by April 1st deadline...
It's looking less and less like there will be an on-time New York state budget plan... but, lawmakers continue to work on a final spending plan which is due a week from next Monday.  Local State Assemblyman Andy Goodell is questioning whether an agreement will be reached in time for the April 1st deadline.  Goodell says the hold up this time, though, is disagreements between Majority Democrats in both the Assembly and Senate.  He says he would be surprised if there is an on-time budget plan because Governor Andrew Cuomo is now fighting with both Democratic majority leaders in the Assembly and Senate.  In fact... Goodell says Cuomo called both "fiscally irresponsible."  Senate Republicans lost control in the Senate after losing seats during last Fall's elections.  The state is facing a nearly $2.3-billion dollar shortfall in revenues... but, Assembly Democrats were looking at eliminating economic development funding, and big increases in taxes.  Goodell says Senate Democrats are also looking at tax hikes -- but, not as large. 


County Legislature's Audit and Control Chairman says new, $15-Million state grant will help Public Defender provide counsel for more indigent residents...
New York state has approved a five-year, $15-million grant to help the Chautauqua County Public Defender's Office provide legal services to poor residents.  Public Defender Ned Barone this week discussed the grant... through the state Office of Indigent Legal Services... with the legislature's Audit and Control, and Public Safety Committees.  Audit and Control Committee Chairman Pierre Chagnon says the grant should solve the Public Defender's financial problems, and still provide competent representation.  Chagnon says there will be performance standards attached as well.  He says the first year's funding will be at a "set level," and if the defender's office uses the funding properly, more will be doled out the next four years of the program.  Chagnon says the grant... which is retroactive to last April 1, will help put additional staff in place, and, relieve some of the tax burden on local property owners.  Barone told committee members that his office handles more than 7,000 cases a year with a staff of 10-full time attorneys.  He says... by the time the grant expires in 2023... that number should be 18 to 20.  Barone says overall staff would double during that time -- based on performance and efficiency.


City woman arrested for committing more than $10,000 in Welfare Fraud...
A Jamestown woman has been arrested for welfare fraud totaling more than $10,000 over a three-year period.  Sheriff's officers say investigators determined that 42 year-old Jessica Corkins failed to tell the county's Department of Health and Human Services that her children's father was gainfully employed and lived with her between September 1, 2014 through September 30, 2017.  Deputies say the unreported income allowed Corkins to receive $10,822 in unentitled benefits.  She was released with tickets for seven counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, third-degree welfare fraud, and grand larceny.  The Sheriff's Departmetn says you can report incidents of suspected welfare fraud to their Fraud Tip-line at 1-800-388-5365.


Reed continues to push for more transparency from colleges following national admissions scandal...
Chautauqua County's Congressman says he is continuing to ask questions... and, push for more transparency in what colleges and universities do with donations, and why they charge the tuition they do.  Corning Republican Tom Reed says he's also applauding the students and families that worked to get into college the "right way."  Reed made his comments in light of the recent college admissions scandal that's led to 50 people being charged.  He's been especially critical of schools that have huge endowments... and, yet continue to increase tuition and other costs.  The U-S Justice Department recently announced the charges lodged against a number of people... including two well-known actresses in California.  Many of those allegeldy included paying bribes for preferential treatment.  Reed made his comments for his weekly telephone conference call with Southern Tier Media.


Federal Judge says New York's Stun Gun Ban is unconstitutional...
A federal judge has ruled that New York's ban on personal ownership of stun guns is unconstitutional.  Friday's ruling by a district judge in Utica is the latest in a series of court decisions that have led to the loosening of restrictions on the weapons in several states.  The decision came in a lawsuit filed by Matthew Avitabile, who said he wanted to buy a stun gun for self-defense in his rural upstate New York home.  His lawyers argued that New York's longstanding ban on civilian ownership of stun guns violated the Second Amendment right to bear arms.  Illinois' Supreme Court made a similar ruling Thursday, deciding in favor of two men charged with carrying stun guns.  A Massachusetts court struck down that state's stun gun ban last year.