Cuomo faces mounting leadership challenges regarding COVID in Nursing Homes controversy...
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo faces mounting challenges to his leadership on the COVID-19 pandemic as state lawmakers threaten to strip him of the power to issue emergency orders.  In addition... federal investigators are scrutinizing his administration's handling of nursing home data.  The U.S. Justice Department has been looking at the governor's coronavirus task force and trying to determine whether the state intentionally manipulated data regarding deaths in nursing homes.  During a press conference call Wednesday... Cuomo blamed state Republicans... including local Congressman Tom Reed, who has pushed for a Department of Justice investigation.  However... several Democrats have also criticized Cuomo in recent days after one of the governor's aides admitted that the administration had delayed getting deaths in nursing home data to them.  Melissa DeRosa told the Democrats on a Zoom conference that they "froze" after two federal requests were made for the data.  A spokesperson for the governor said the administration was cooperating with the investigation.

Chautauqua County reports just 24 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday, as numbers continue to fall...
The Chautauqua County Health Department is reporting just 24 new confirmed cases of the COVID-19 Virus the past day... and no new deaths.  In fact... all the key numbers continue to decline in the county... which now has had 7,335 total cases.  Health officials say the most cases -- 10 -- were reported in the Jamestown 14701 zip code.  They say the infection rate remains 2-percent... and, the number of active cases has dropped to 181... and, only 13 people are hospitalized.  Officials say there are now 7,019 cases that have recovered.

Two new deaths, 28 new COVID cases in Cattaraugus County...
The Cattaraugus County Health Department is reporting two new deaths of residents over the past day due to COVID-19 related complications.  Officials say the 84th death was a 68-year-old woman who developed respiratory failure and was unable to overcome her illness.  The 85h death was a 62-year-old man who also had developed respiratory failure and couldn't overcome the illness.  Health officials say there were 28 new cases... and there are now 4,170 total cases.  They say 205 cases are currently active... and, 21 are hospitalized.  Cattaraugus is reporting 3,874 recovered cases.

Reed says Problem Solvers Caucus working together to try and get COVID relief bill moving...
A bi-partisan group of members of Congress has begun talking about areas they could agree on in President Biden's $1.9-trillion COVID-19 Relief Bill.  Local Representative Tom Reed says he was on a conference call Monday night with fellow members of the Problem Solver's Caucus that he co-chairs.  The Corning Republican says many of them see the immediate need for one part of the package... the $160-billion allocation for vaccine production and distribution, which he says could be approved early next week if lawmakers could agree to bring it up for a vote.  He also believes there is common ground to be found in other parts of the president's proposal. 

Some places in New York seeing people traveling to get COVID-19 vaccine...
Some New Yorkers are taking hourslong drives to get the COVID-19 vaccine because of a lack of available appointments at a handful of state-run sites.  Residents in Albany and Buffalo in particular have had to sign up for appointments hours away in Utica, Rochester, Binghamton or Syracuse.  The Department of Health did not provide The A--P with the number of appointments made in Albany or Buffalo since Sunday, when several million people with health issues hoped to sign up for vaccination appointments.

National Comedy Center beings "Family Field Trips" today, through end of Spring Break...
School children and teens up to age 17 will have the chance to visit the National Comedy Center in Jamestown for free over the next eight weeks.  Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson says they are starting their new “Family Field Trips” in which all county youths will be admitted free through Spring Break.  Gunderson... who outlined the program at the City Council's recent work session... says it's part of their effort to make the Comedy Center more accessible to local residents.  She adds they will work with local districts -- regardless of their budget situation.  Gunderson says they're already given some tours to Jamestown High School students.  She says -- starting today -- students will be admitted for free at any time with an accompanying adult paying a discounted rate of just $10 -- wich is 60-percent off their regular adult admission price.  Gunderson went before city lawmakers to discuss the use of the center as a polling location for Ward-Three... and, says she hopes the situation will bring more children to the center to enjoy the experience.  She says the "Family Field Trips" program runs through April 11 for up to three children and teens per adult.   She adds that -- due to occupancy limits... advanced reservations are strongly recommended at ComedyCenter.org/Family.

Cuomo administration gives go-ahead for Amusement Parks and Summer Camps opening...
New York is set to let amusement parks open in early April and overnight camps open this summer as long as they submit reopening plans to the state.  Governor Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that arcades and other indoor family entertainment centers can open with 25-percent capacity starting Mar. 26.  Outdoor amusement parks can open with a third of their normal capacity by April 9, while day and overnight camps can start planning for reopening this summer.  New York is seeing a drop in infections statewide, though at a slower pace than the nation.