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WJTN News Headlines for Mar. 27, 2020

A Jamestown man is being treated for non-life threatening injuries following a reported "targeted" shooting on the city's westside late Thursday morning.  City Police Captain Bob Samuelson says officers were called to 707 Jefferson Street at 11:35 AM on a report of a shooting.  On arrival... police learned the man was shot during an argument that took place in the front yard.  Samuelson says several other callers also reported multiple shots being fire.  He says the victim had been able to drive himself to UPMC Chautauqua County, where he's being treated.  The investigation is continuing.  Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call JPD at 483-7537... of the anonymous tips line at 483-TIPS. You can also contact their Tips 4-1-1 app.


The number of new cases of the COVID-19 Virus in New York state continues to climb... and, the number of actual hospitalizations is also way up.  However... the rate of cases appears to have slowed somewhat.  That from Governor Andrew Cuomo during his daily COVID-19 briefing in Albany Thursday.  He says they still need more ventilators... because some of those who end up on one are on much longer than the usual time of 3-to-4 days.  Overall... he says 80-percent of those getting the virus won't need hospitalization.

Cuomo says they now have approval... in some cases... to have one ventilator shared by two people.  He says the number of cases has increased to more than 37,000 in the state... with 5,300 now hospitalized.  Fiscally... Cuomo says the state is receiving $5-billion in the new, $2-trillion economic stimulus package being finalized in Congress.  However... he says that's strictly to cover COVID-19 related costs.  Cuomo says his financial team believes the state will lose 10-billion to 15-billion dollars in revenues in the coming fiscal year. 


There are no new positive cases of the COVID 19 Virus in Chautauqua County... and, there have now been 53 negative lab reports. County Executive P-J Wendel says that's a "positive sign that community mitigation strategies are working."  Wendel adds that people should keep practicing social distancing and everyday precautions to decrease the spread of illness.  At the same time... he says the county's goal is to "identify new cases quickly and prevent or limit secondary exposures to ensure public health and safety." 


Delivery of police services is important during critical times... and, Chautauqua County Sheriff Jim Quattrone says they taking special precautions because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Quattrone says deputies and dispatchers are already following procedures when dealing with potential cases. Quattrone says dispatchers are asking medical screening questions before sending out deputies.  The Sheriff says he has also been in touch with other law enforcement agencies should the virus affect available manpower.

Quattrone adds that... if you call the County's 9-1-1 dispatch center... you will be asked a series of health-related questions.  He adds that responding officers are being advised of whether someone may have COVID-19 before their arrival on scene.

Two brothers from Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania accused in the armed hold-up of the Kwik Fill station there have been found, and arrested in Buffalo.  The Post-Journal reports that police took 20 year-old Joshua, and 19 year-old Aaron Jacoby into custody Wednesday... and, says they are suspected in several "active criminal cases" in the Buffalo-area.  State Police in Warren say Aaron Jacoby is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; robbery – threat of immediate bodily injury; and robbery – taking property by force; and Joshua Jacoby faces those charges plus a charge of theft by unlawful taking.  Investigators say the brothers went to the Kwik Fill station -- where they both worked -- late Tuesday night, March 17th -- and held up the clerk with a knife.  Both are being detained in Buffalo.


The suspect of a menacing complaint that involved a shotgun on the State Thruway in the town of Hanover on Wednesday, is now the focus of an investigation into explosives in the city of Niagara Falls.  State Police Troop A's Bureau of Criminal Investigation reports that possible explosives were located Wednesday evening in the residence of 47-year-old Jose Gandia in Niagara Falls and the area near the home had to be evacuated.  Gandia is being held while the investigation is ongoing.

 

New census figure show rural counties suffering the sharpest population drops in New York since 2010.  The population estimates for 2019 released Thursday show Hamilton County in the Adirondacks posted a state-high drop of almost 9-percent.  Delaware County posted an almost 8-percent drop and Chenango County saw a loss of close to 7%.  Experts say rural areas are caught in a mutually reinforcing down-cycle in which businesses shutter and people move away.  


The Jamestown Department of Public Works has announced the temporary road closure of  East Third Street starting today. The city's Director of Public Works Jeff Lehman says construction will begin on East Third Street from North Main to Pine Streets.  He says that portion of roadway will be closed for about a week. Motorists must use alternate routes of travel.