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WJTN Headlines for Sat., Feb. 1, 2020

Jamestown man arrested following high-speed chase in city...
A city man has been arrested for allegedly leading Jamestown on a high-speed car chase early Thursday morning.  City police say an officer spotted a northbound black-colored Lincoln Sports Utility Vehicle speeding shortly after 4 a.m. on Washington Street... and, began a pursuit.  Officers say the driver then make a reckless right turn onto Fluvanna Avenue, and traveled east to North Main Street.  The driver then sped at more than three-times the speed limit to the intersection of North Main and Interstate 86 where 24 year-old Braedon Kim finally pulled over.  Police say Kim was arraigned on charges including speeding in zone, third-degree unlawfully fleeing an officer, and reckless driving.  He was released with appearance tickets for City Court.


Borrello, other officials, join in rally to save TLC/Lakeshore in wake of news of Emergency Dept. closing...
The Brooks-TLC Hospital System has announced that the emergency department at the TLC/Lakeshore Campus in Irving will be closing this Sunday night due to the lack of available medical coverage.  The hospital system added that a paramedic-staffed ambulance will be stationed at the at the facility in the event there is need for emergency care.  Meanwhile, at a news conference and rally held outside the hospital Friday afternoon... State Senator George Borrello said that he believes Brooks-TLC did not have permission from the Department of Mental Health to close the emergency department.  Borrello says he was on the phone with OMH just prior to the rally, and he says nothing was said about the Sunday closing.  A coalition of community leaders, healthcare workers and elected officials attended the event.  Peter DeJesus of 1199 S-E-I-U says the hospital system's board needs to "do the right thing" and stop the closure.  Assemblyman Andy Goodell, Allison Hunt from Congressman Tom Reed's Office, and healthcare worker Lillian Harrington were among the other speakers at the rally.


Buffalo Diocese facing imminent bankruptcy...
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo says bankruptcy is imminent after posting a $5-million loss in 2019, with a barrage of clergy sexual misconduct lawsuits still pending.  The western New York diocese released its annual financial report Thursday.  It says a bankruptcy filing would best allow the diocese to manage sexual misconduct claims fairly.  The diocese would become the second of New York's eight dioceses, after Rochester, to seek bankruptcy protection.  Buffalo's financial report cites lower revenue from donations and investments as hundreds of alleged child victims of clergy abuse have come forward with claims.  The news comes as the Diocese's Catholic Charities begins it's $10-million Appeal for 2020.


Rosas high-lights improving downtown area, other goals, in State of the City address in Dunkirk...
Dunkirk Mayor Willie Rosas outlined the city's accomplishments in 2019... and, his goals for the city in 2020 during his annual State of the City Address late last week.  In his presentation at City Hall... Rosas emphasized economic achievements, including the city having a $1.3-million increase in its fund balance since he took office in 2016.  He says that came out in the 2018 audit.  Rosas added that his primary goal in 2020 is improving the downtown area by helping existing businesses expand and bringing in new businesses.  The mayor says, in order to do that, the city will offer incentives for businesses to locate downtown and apply for grant assistance for facade improvements.  More on that Monday.


Activists pushing to get New York to do more to fight Climate Change...
New York state has set some of the nation's most ambitious goals on fighting climate change, but some activists say it isn't moving fast enough.  Lawmakers holding budget hearings this week faced protests from environmental and left-leaning groups who criticized the lack of new solar and wind projects breaking ground in the state.  This year, the governor has proposed borrowing $3-billion for food protection projects, wildlife habitat restoration, and construction of small renewable energy systems.  Still, the state has a long way to go to reach its environmental goals.


Wendel and other officals meet Friday with Truck-lite officials... 
The effort to try and preserve about 100 manufacturing jobs at Truck-lite Company just outside of Jamestown was the focus of a meeting Friday between company and elected officials.  New Chautauqua County Executive P-J Wendel and others met with Truck-lite officials at the Falconer plant to try and see if the facility can be kept operating beyond this year.  The maker of vehicle lighting systems announced tentative plans earlier this month to end production at the end of 2020.  Wendel says they want to keep all of Truck-lite's current operations here.  He says Truck-lite was founded in Jamestown back in the mid-1950s.  Wendel says company officials have so far indicated that management, financial and accounting departments will stay in Falconer. 


PA State Senate passes tougher drunk driver law...
The Pennsylvania State Senate has passed legislation to substantially increase penalties for motorists who have multiple DUI convictions to end what the bill's sponsor called it's ``revolving door system'' for the most serious drunk drivers.  The bill passed Tuesday, 43-6, and has gone to the House of Representatives.  Under the bill, penalties would rise for those who receive multiple driving-under-the-influence convictions and have higher blood alcohol content levels.  In addition, the bill would create a court-administered sobriety monitoring program and make it a condition of bail for at least three months for someone who is charged with their second DUI offense.