Two arrested by Jamestown police on gun and drug charges during traffic stop...
Two people -- one from Jamestown -- have been arrested for allegedly being found in possesion of a loaded handgun and drugs during a weekend traffic stop.  Jamestown Police conducted the traffic stop in the area of Allen and Scioto Streets just after 5 p.m. Saturday for a number of infractions.  Officers say further investigation found the passenger, identified as 38 year-old Desiray Corrigan, was wanted on several city court warrants.  She was also allegedly found in possession of a quantity of Fentanyl, and was arrested without incident.  Police say the driver, 44 year-old Abubaker Osmun of Buffalo, was found in possession of the 9-millimeter handgun.  Osmun is charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and aggravated unlicensed operation... while Corrigan is charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.  Both were jailed pending arraignment.

Sheriff's Department warns about new telephone scam...
The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about a recent telephone scam in which a caller identifies themself as a Medicare employee... and, says they are seeking to upgrade your Medicare card.  The department says do not entertain any calls of this nature as its a type of phone solicitation and potential fraud or scam.  If you should get one of these calls hang up and don't entertain the call.  There is no reason to immediately call the authorities upon getting one of these calls as there is nothing the police can do.  However... Sheriff's officials say if you are a victim of such a call, and suffered a theft then please report that to your local police.

Whitaker says JPS District likely to see post Holiday COVID uptick this week; test kits now in the hands of student families...
The full impact of the COVID-19 Omicron variant during the Christmas-New Year's holiday period is likely to be seen this week in the Jamestown Public Schools.  That from School Superintendent Kevin Whitaker... who says the district began distributing test kits containing two tests each this past week.  Whitaker says -- initially -- they hoped to have the kits in parents' hands before returning from the break.  Now... there are two instances where they should be tested.  One is if their child is sick and or showing symptoms.  He adds that if a positive result comes back, contact those people who were in close contact so they can be tested and follow proper protocols.  Whitaker says that allows those close contacts to also be tested.  He says the other variable is the "test to stay" initiative recently announced by Governor Kathy Hochul that would allow close contacts to be tested immediately in school.  However... Whitaker says they need more test kits to do that... and, said late last week that they had not seen a spike in cases in students or staff when they returned to school a week ago. 

Hochul says NYS will be requiring health care workers get COVID Booster shots...
New York is joining a handful of states in requiring health care workers to get a COVID-19 booster shot.  Governor Kathy Hochul said last Friday that she was expanding on a vaccine mandate she instituted last fall requiring health care workers to get vaccinated because too many breakthrough infections were being reported among health care workers.  Hochul says those workers need "the best fortification they possibly can" while taking care of vulnerable people and that means having a booster shot.  She said under the new order, health care workers will be required to get their shots within two weeks of becoming eligible for a booster.

Hochul addressed population loss in NYS during State of State Address...
Governor Kathy Hochul is acknowledging that New York lost 300,000 residents over the past year... and, is offering several proposals geared toward stemming the migration from the state.  During her first State of the State Address last week... Hochul spoke about the population loss... and, urged those who have left to return for the renaissance.  She also pledged to make New York the most "business and worker-friendly state" in the U.S., including for farms and other agri-businesses... including a tax credit for overtime hours they are paying, and the extension and doubling of the Farm Credit Workforce Retention Act.  Hochul also outlined measures to help small businesses... in particular restaurants... which have been hard hit by the pandemic.  She says her plan to "redefine ourselves" will involve the use of the State University... and, City University of New York to prepare the workforce of tomorrow.  Her 35-minute address has been generally well-received... but, criticized for lack of specifics.

City pleads guilty to federal drug charges...
A Jamestown man faces up to life in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring and trafficking drugs... including Fentanyl... in the area.  U-S Attorney Trini Ross announced late Friday that 28 year-old Jun Martinez pled guilty in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 100 grams or more of acetyl fentanyl; 400 grams or more of fentanyl; 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; and 500 grams or more of cocaine.  During a trip in September of 2020 to acquire more drugs... Ross says Martinez’s vehicle was stopped by an Illinois State Police Trooper.  She says a search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately 9,589 grams of methamphetamine, 3,157 grams of fentanyl, 2,241 grams of cocaine, and marijuana products.  The following month... police also found meth, a drug ledger, and large amount of cash during a raid on Martinez’s Wescott Street home.