Borrello sworn in to new State Legislative session, GOP Senators outline goals...
New York state lawmakers kicked-off their annual legislative session in Albany this week.  Local State Senator George Borrello says he and his fellow Republicans have two major goals in the session that got underway on Wednesday.  Borrello says they are "making New York safer, and more affordable."  The Sunset Bay Republican says he is very concerned about the outward migration of New Yorkers... because no state is losing state residents like New York is.  He adds that even Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul has acknowledged this.  Borrello... whose from Sunset Bay... was also pleased to nominate Rob Ortt in his re-election as Senate Republican leader. 

Borrello "encouraged" by NYSERDA Wind Turbine study showing "lack of benefits" to state...
The state agency charged with energy research and development has issued a report stating that there are a "lack of benefits" to the placing of wind turbines in the Great Lakes.  That's good news to State Senator George Borrello... who says “I am encouraged that after nearly two years of intense study and stakeholder engagement on the environmental, economic and social issues surrounding the potential siting of wind turbines in Lakes Erie and Ontario... commission members came to essentially the same assessment that opponents of this effort have advanced all along: the risks, costs and uncertainties are too great and the possible benefits too little."  The study was done by the New York State Energy Research and Development Agency.  Borrello adds that he's "grateful to the group 'Citizens Against Wind Turbines in Lake Erie...' and every organization and individual that rallied with us, testified at hearings, wrote letters and lobbied their representatives on this issue."

City man arrested on drug-fireworks possession charges...
A Jamestown man has been arrested on drug and fireworks-related charges following a traffic stop on the city's eastside Wednesday afternoon.  City police say a patrol pulled over 31 year-old Kasey Sweeney in the area of Falconer Street and Niagara Avenue just after 1 p.m. for a traffic violation.  During the stop... officers found 'dangerous' consumer fireworks inside the car... along with drug paraphernalia.  During a search of the vehicle... police say they also found a quantity of Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, Cocaine and cash believed to be proceeds from drug sales.  Officers say Sweeney was taken into custody and taken to the city jail pending arraignment on two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.. criminally using drug paraphernalia... unlawfully dealing with fireworks... and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Warren, Pa. woman arrested for drug possession following traffic stop...
A Warren, Pennsylvania woman has been arrested in Jamestown for being in possession of quantities of Fentanyl, suboxone, and methamphetamines during a traffic stop.  City police say a patrol stopped Katheryn Steinkamp about 1 p.m. Wednesday for not wearing a seatbelt at Falconer and James Streets.  Officers say Steinkamp was taken into custody on four counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.  While being taken to the city jail where she tried to destroy narcotics in the back seat of the patrol vehicle that she was concealing.  With that... she was also charged with tampering with physical evidence.

Hamlin showing "remarkable improvement" in hospital, Co. Exec. comments from former athlete, EMT perspectives...
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has shown what his doctors Thursday called "remarkable improvement over the past 24 hours."  The NFL team announced that update three days after Hamlin went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated on the field.  The team said that while Hamlin is still critically ill, the 24-year-year old has demonstrated that he appears to be neurologically intact.  That's good news for a team -- and region -- still trying to understand what happened.  Chautauqua County Executive P-J Wendel is a former athlete and coach... and, says being a well-conditioned athlete works in Hamlin's favor.  However... Wendel says we still don't know what long-term effects he might have.  The incident during late Monday night's Bills-Bengals game has drawn a lot of attention to people being trained in performing CPR... and, using Automatic Defibrillators... or AEDs.  Wendel -- who is also a long-time EMT -- says this actually occured in a situation where those who are trained were able to get to work quickly.

JPS back to school with no signs of "tridemic" locally...
There have been no big number of absences in the Jamestown Public Schools from what many medical experts have been calling a "tri-demic" of illnesses.  That from Superintendent Kevin Whitaker... who says they've only seen the usual number of COVID-19, flu, and RSV cases in the district since returning from the Christmas Break.  Dr. Whitaker says... while returning to mandating masks has occured in a few places nationally... there is no movement towards doing that in New York state.  However... he does say people who still want to wear one, they can.  In addition... with plenty of Winter left... Whitaker says the district is anticpating delivery "any day now" of two new sidewalk snowplows for the district as part of an agreement worked out with the city.  While the district is obtaining the plows... the city will provide the manpower.  That had been an issue initially... but, Whitaker says some people are being trained on the older machines.  He made his comments on WJTN's Dennis Webster Show Thursday morning.