City man convicted of assaulting corrections officer at County Jail...
A Jamestown man has been found guilty in the first jury trial to go to completion since the court shut-down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt has announced that the jury found 51 year-old Oliver Bookman guilty of second-degree assault for an attack on a Corrections Officer at the county jail in June of last year. Bookman had been jailed on another charge at the time. Schmidt was pleased with the outcome because "this is really about violence committed against corrections officers." He adds "we just cannot tolerate any use of use of abuse or violence against them." Schmidt tried the case... along with First Assistant D.A. Andrew Molitor. He says "this conviction was the result of the Corrections Officers’ professionalism and preparedness, especially during their trial testimony." Schmidt says sentencing before Judge David Foley is set for May 16... and, Bookman faces up to seven years in prison.
Borrello formally announces run for second, full term in State Senate...
State Senator George Borrello made it official on this week: He'll be seeking re-election to the Senate in Albany. The Sunset Bay Republican declared his candidacy for the newly drawn 58th State Senate District. In making the announcement... he says he's grateful to serve the district, and is proud of his record since being elected to the Senate in 2019. Borrello first ran in a special election to fill out the term of former Senator Cathy Young and is now completing a full, two-year term. He says he's "very proud" of what he's been able to accomplish in the Senate. Borrello says that among the issues on the campaign trail will be what he calls the "devastating impact" of one-party rule. He says crime has "sky-rocketed" in New York... and, the cost of living has gone up with inflation. The new district will include Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany and Wyoming counties, as well as part of Erie County.
During speech in NYC, Cuomo hints at running for office again...
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is dangling the possibility he may run for his former job just six months after he resigned amid sexual harassment allegations. Cuomo gave a campaign-style speech Thursday to a friendly audience of about 100 people in the Bronx. Asked afterward if he would run for office, Cuomo told reporters he is "open to all options." He wouldn't say whether he was thinking about challenging Governor Kathy Hochul, his former lieutenant governor and successor. But he ripped the state's current governance during his speech and said there's enough time to get on the ballot in the general election.
Chris Cuomo wants $125-million from CNN for alleged "unlawful" firing...
Former prime time anchor Chris Cuomo on Wednesday asked an arbitrator to award him $125 million for what he called his "unlawful" firing. Former CNN chief Jeff Zucker fired Cuomo in December, saying he hadn't been aware of the extent the anchor had helped his brother, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, fight sexual harassment allegations. Cuomo says Zucker was fully aware of what he'd done, and that Zucker and former top aide Allison Gollust tried to help his brother politically, too. CNN wouldn't comment.
Hochul announces new Russian sanctions...
New York Govevernor Kathy Hochul said Thursday that state agencies and public authorities will cease business with companies that have continued to do business in Russia. The Democratic governor previously signed an executive order banning state agencies from doing business with Russian companies. Hochul spoke Thursday at the humanitarian Afya Foundation in Yonkers. She said New York will also send 100,000 pounds of medical supplies including masks and gowns to Ukraine. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has entered its fourth week.
City woman arrested following DWI crash in Jamestown...
Jamestown woman faces a drunk driving charge after the car she was driving crashed into a utility pole on the city's eastside early yesterday morning. City police were called to the scene on Buffalo Street about 12:30 a.m., and, found that 23 year-old Courtney Thomas was driving while was intoxicated. She was not hurt. Officers took her to the city jail without incident on charges of DWI, and moving from lane unsafely. Thomas was released with an appearance ticket for Jamestown City Court.
JHS Boy's Basketball team ready to being play in state "final four...."
The Jamestown High School boy's basketball team got a huge send off to the New York state championships in Glens Falls Thursday morning at the school. It included the JHS Band played "On Red Raiders" as the team left the school... and, boarded the bus for the trip to northeastern New York. The Raiders will play Green Tech of Section 2 in tonight's Class AA Semi Final at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Co-Captain Trey Drake said on the district's Facebook page that it's been kind of a surreal experience. The other co-captain, Jaral Farmer, echoed those sentiments. Tonight's game against Green Tech tips off at 7:45 p.m., and, you can hear all the play-by-play on WJTN. If JHS wins... they'll be in the championship game Saturday night.
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On the girl's side... Sherman will play in the Class-D semi-finals at Hudson Valley Community College at 6:15 p.m. tonight. The Class-D Final is at 8:45 p.m. Saturday. Good luck to both teams!
