Langworthy blasts verdict in Trump Hush Money trial, Gillibrand respects jury decision...
Chautauqua County's Congressman issued a statement late Thursday... blasting the guilty verdict in the hush money trial of former President Donald Trump. Buffalo-area Republican Nick Langworthy says it "marks an unprecedented corruption of our justice system and a very dark day for America. We have witnessed a blatant action to imprison a Presidential nominee and steal the election out of the hands of the voters." However... the judge in the case will make that decision at a later time. Langworthy says "a corrupt prosecutor, a corrupt judge, and a corrupt jury conspired to undermine our democracy in a manner more fitting of a banana republic than the United States of America."
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U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued a statement... saying "no one should be above the law. Like every criminal defendant, Mr. Trump had the opportunity to mount a vigorous defense and to be judged by a jury of his peers." The New York Democrat adds, "I respect the jury’s verdict."
Wendel names new county attorney...
Chautauqua County has a new County Attorney. County Executive P.J. Wendel has announced the appointment of Ana Morgan to the position. Wendel says Morgan brings a wealth of experience and a distinguished professional background to the position, and, is promising to uphold the highest standards of legal service for the county. She replaces Patrick Slagle, who recently resigned after taking a new position with the state court system. Morgan holds dual law degrees from the University of Zagreb in Croatia... and, the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Most recently, she served as the Social Services Attorney with the Department of Mental Hygiene and Social Services, where she played a pivotal role in representing the Department before various Courts and tribunals, particularly in the child welfare arena and the civil prosecution of neglect and abuse cases involving children.
Two Dunkirk men arrested following Wednesday morning drug raid...
Two men from Dunkirk have been arrested on drug and weapon's possession charges following a raid in the north county town of Dunkirk late Wednesday morning. Sheriff's officers say their narcotics investigators and Dunkirk Police concluded a four-month investigation into alleged narcotics activity by executing a search warrant on a lot at the Lakeside Mobile Home Park on Route 5 shortly before Noon. They were assisted by SWAT Team members... and found two suspects inside: 34-year-old Jesus Aponte-Rosario... and 20 year-old Felipe Otero-Otero. During their search... investigators seized just over 21-grams of cocaine, a quantity of fentanyl and controlled prescription pills... two 9-millimeter handguns, two large capacity magazines, scales and packaging materials... along with $778 in cash. Aponte-Rosario faces charges including: third-degree and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance... two counts each of second-and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon... and, first-degree criminal nuisance. He was also charged as a fugitive from justice on a warrant out of Cape May County, NJ. Otero-Otero was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Both were jailed pending arraignment.
Dunkirk police continue investigatiion alleged stabbing...
One person was taken into custody following an early morning stabbing incident in the city of Dunkirk Thursday. Dunkirk Police Chief Dave Ortolano says officers were called an apartment at 123 Lake Shore Drive West at about 3:30 AM. When police arrived... Ortolano says they found a suspect inside the apartment and two stabbing victims. He says the suspect was arrested, and the two victims were treated for non-life threatening injuries. Ortolano adds that the name of the suspect, who was also injured, has not been released at this time. He says the suspect is currently being treated at UPMC Chautauqua Hospital. Until the suspect is released from the hospital... and, police have concluded their investigation... they won't release his name.
Four injured when car strikes Amish buggy near Ashville...
Four people were injured on Thursday morning when a car struck an Amish buggy on the Blockville-Watts Flats Road in the town of Harmony. Sheriff's deputies were called to the scene just after 8 a.m., and, on arrival, they found a female youth was driving northbound when her car struck the buggy -- which was traveling in the same direction. Deputies say two of the three men in the buggy... and the female youth... were taken to a local hospital. They add that the third man in the buggy was taken to a Pennsylvania hospital. At this time... officers say none of the injuries appear to be life threatening. The female youth driving the car was issued traffic tickets.
Third Bird Flu case in Michigan leads to more concern; Gillibrand urges White House to share plan for dealing with it...
With a third case of bird flu being discovered in Michigan... there's a renewed push to do more to stop the spread of that disease... which has already had an impact on food prices. There's been an outbreak among U.S. dairy cows... and, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has called on the White House to share it's plan to control the outbreak. The New York Democrat is calling for approval of her "One House Security Act" that would codify the White House Pandemic Response program... and, adds it would also oversee a "24/7... 365 day" prevention network. She adds that farms need to make sure to protect workers. At the same time... Gillibrand says the overall risk to humans is "very low..." and there's little cause for concern. She adds that the main concern is over dairy milk that hasn't been pasturized... and, that's already been seen in raw milk samples. The person at the center of this third case developed respiratory symptoms, unlike the two workers, who had only mild eye symptoms.
