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WJTN News Headlines for Sept 10, 2020


Charges are pending against a group of juveniles following a fight on Franklin Street in which an adult male was injured Wednesday night. City Police Captain Bob Samuelson says officers responded to the scene just before 6:30 PM Wednesday... and, located the unidentified victim with a head laceration from an apparent sharp instrument. Samuelson says the man allegedly received the injury after he engaged a group of juveniles who were involved in a separate altercation.. and, was treated at the scene. The incident remains under investigation at this time. Anyone with information is asked to contact JPD at 483-7537 ..... use the confidential Tip-line 483-TIPS.... or via the TIPS 4-1-1 app.  


Chautauqua County is receiving more than $10-million in federal CARES Act funding to create a new revolving loan fund to help small businesses hurt by the coronavirus pandemic.

That's Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs for the U-S Department of Commerce, Anthony Foti, during a press announcement at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in Celoron Wednesday.  Foti says the money will go to the county's Industrial Development Agency to establish the fund... which can also be used by non-profit organizations.  Local Congressman Tom Reed was among those who pushed for the money, which is coming directly from the Economic Development Agency.

Interim County Executive P-J Wendel praised the team effort in getting the funding... and, says the county has a track record of establishing such programs to help local businesses.  At the beginning of the pandemic... he says the IDA established a $250,000 Emergency Working Capital Loan Program with most of the remaining money in its Al Tech Trust Fund.  The program was very successful... but, nearly depleted that fund.


There are 12 more cases of the COVID-19 Virus being reported in Chautauqua County the past day... with nine of those coming from the SUNY College at Fredonia.  Interim County Executive P-J Wendel says the one-dozen new cases brings the total number of cases since the pandemic began to 534... and, there are now 122 active cases that continue to recover.  Wendel says 402 people have recovered...and, 497 cases under quarantine or isolation orders, and are being monitored.  He adds there are 242 persons under the "domestic traveler quarantine." 


The COVID-19 infection rate in New York State has now remained under one-percent for more than a month.  But... Governor Andrew Cuomo says Western New York remains under a caution flag because the infection rate remains higher than the statewide average.  Cuomo on Thursday praised residents for continuing to help stop the spread.

However... Cuomo says the rate in Western New York was at 1.5 percent on Tuesday, up from one-percent the previous day.  Cuomo says state health officials are closely watching the numbers... and working with officials.  He says it appears that people "got the message."  In addition... Cuomo says indoor dining can resume in New York City on September 30th at 25 percent capacity.  Tables must be spaced and at least one diner in each party must leave contact information.

 
School officials are not happy about Governor Andrew Cuomo's new executive order requiring all school districts in New York state to report any new COVID-19 infections, and the number of people being tested.  One of them is Falconer Superintendent Steve Penhollow... who says the first "COVID Report Card" was due at the end of business Tuesday.  Penhollow says they just learned about it Tuesday afternoon... and, says it comes at a time where a lot is already expected of local districts.

Cuomo announced his executive order during a video press conference in Albany Tuesday.  He says it's being done to deal with the anxiety parents and families have... and, provide factual information to the community.  He says the final information will be verfied by three sources... the district, local health department, and the lab doing the tests.  To get the public school COVID 19 "Report Card..." go on-line to Schoolcovidreportcard.health.ny.gov.

Local Congressman Tom Reed says he's been working with local school districts to get them the equipment they need to start the school year through local health care providers.  The Corning Republican says he's held a number of Zoom meetings with providers across the 23rd Congressional District to get personal protective equipment to schools that need it... along with other resources.

However... Reed says New York state needs to release some of the billions of dollars it's received from the first three COVID-19 Stimulus bills to schools.  He says he understands the situation in Albany... but, he says those issues are being encountered across the state.  He says local governments and school districts are facing "significant financial pressure."  During his Tuesday press briefing... governor Andrew Cuomo leveled perhaps his strongest criticism of how President Trump has handled the COVID-19 Pandemic... calling the president "incompetent."