COVID numbers continue downward trend in Chautauqua County...
Chautauqua County's overall COVID-19 numbers continue to trend in the right direction as we end the week. The number of hospitalizations is down to just 9... and, the infection rate is now under 2... at 1.8-percent. The county Health Department reported 34 new cases Thursday... and, no new deaths. In fact... officials say there have been no deaths reported so far this week. They say there have now been 7,368 total cases... with 19 new ones in Jamestown. The number of recovered case is now 7,047.
Borrello says several bills are on the table to strip Governor Cuomo of at least some of his emergency powers in wake of COVID nursing home scandal...
A New York state lawmaker from the region says there have been a number of bills introduced to curb Governor Andrew Cuomo's emergency powers, now that there are federal investigations looking into his handling of nursing homes during the pandemic. State Senator George Borrello says he is glad to see that several Democrats have join the effort... but, he says it remains to be seen what's in the legislation. While there's been a lot of discussion, he says it still "lacks transparency." Assembly Republicans are calling for the formation of an impeachment commission. Borrello says all options should be on the table... and he says a commission may be prudent. Borrello's comments come at the end of a week in which the embattled governor has been unable to fully address accusations that he misled lawmakers demanding answers about his handling of COVID-19 in the state's nursing homes. Federal investigations by the Justice Department and US Attorney's Office are now underway.
Reed says at least two federal investigations are now underway in NYS nursing home matter...
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is now facing at least two new federal investigations regarding COVID-19 related nursing home deaths in the state. In addition... local Congressman Tom Reed is also working jointly on a federal complaint surrounding statements made recently by a Cuomo aide to several Democratic state lawmakers about the number of deaths... and potential cover-up. Reed says he also believes the Cuomo administration lied to federal investigators during two Department of Justice investigations. He's accusing the administration of "manipulating the numbers, obstruction of justice, and potential outright perjury." This week... it was revealed that both the FBI... and, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York have begun investigations into the Cuomo administrations' handling of the nursing home situation. Reed also announced the complaint... as well as pushing for a House Ways and Means Committee investigation. He says that panel has federal jurisdiction over nursing home matters. Reed says the DOJ could also launch a civil rights investigation, in addition to it's current look at the governor's Coronavirus Task Force.
CNN stops Cuomo -- Cuomo interviews...
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is in the news because of questions about nursing home COVID deaths, but it's not a story you'll hear on his brother Chris' prime time show on CNN. The network says it has restored a policy preventing Chris Cuomo from interviewing his brother, after notably overlooking that role last spring. Back then, in the early days of COVID with New York an epicenter and Chris suffering through the disease, the brothers appeared together several times. But... others on CNN are covering the nursing home story now, and the network's Jake Tapper says Andrew Cuomo has declined dozens of requests to be on his show. However... the younger Cuomo did comment on the state's situation last night, saying that if the allegations are true, it was "shameful."
Fredonia man arrested in serious assault...
A Fredona man has been arrested for allegedly assaulting another person, and trying to choke them during an altercation in the town of Pomfret Thursday. Sheriff's deputies were called to a home on Webster Road for report of an assault. Upon further investigation... officers say they found that 30 year-old Paul Samuelson punched and hit the victim numerous times... causing serious injuries. In addition... Samuelson is accused of trying to strangle the other person, and keeping them from calling 9-1-1 for help. Samuelson was found and taken into custody on charges of second-degree assault... second-degree strangulation... as well as fourth-degree criminal mischief. He was taken to the county jail in Mayville, pending centralized arraignment.
Gas Prices continue climbing in the region...
Gasoline prices in the Jamestown-area have risen about six-to-nine cents a gallon for regular, unleaded fuel through the middle of this week. The AAA's Gas Price Report says the price is now up to between $2.68 to $2.70 a gallon in the area. Last week... the figure was about $2.60 last week. AAA says the price was about $2.76 a gallon one year ago... prior to the pandemic. Officials say prices continue to rise, despite low demand. AAA says this is the result of increasing oil prices, which settled at $59.47 a barrel at the end of last Friday’s formal trading session. Crude oil accounts for more than 50 cents of every dollar spent at the pump, and prices have been increasing since the beginning of the year. Nationally... the average price is now $2.51 a gallon.
