City man faces slew of charges following car crash, assault, attempted carjacking...
A Jamestown man faces several charges after being involved in a motor vehicle accident... then trying to car-jack another vehicle... and, then trying to flee police late last week.  City police say they were called to an accident -- with injuries -- in the area of West Third and Fourth Streets just before 9 a.m. Thursday.  When they arrived... officers say they encountered a confrontation involving several people in a nearby parking lot.  During the encounter... police say 20-year-old Blake Perry tried to assault an officer before fleeing the scene.  Subsequently, the officer deployed a  Taser to detain Perry, and he was caught without further incident.  Police say their investigation showed that Perry had been speeding... resulting in a crash that injured the other driver.  They say Perry got out and assaulted an uninvolved man before trying to hijack a car driven by a woman.  He's then accused of forcibly getting into a van with a passenger inside... leading to a fight with the driver.  During the altercation... Perry allegedly punched the driver in the face while trying to flee in the van.  Police then arrived... and, arrested him for second-degree attempted robbery... third-degree attempted grand larceny... two counts of third-degree assault... resisting arrest... failure to keep right... speeding... reckless driving... and, leaving the scene of a personal injury accident.  Perry was arraigned in City Court... and, released with appearance tickets in accordance with state bail reform.

Borrello says he's been assured that Chautauqua Lake Bridge is safe to travel on during reconstruction...
New York State Department of Transportation officials and Governor Kathy Hochul's Office are both insist the Veteran's Memorial Bridge over Chautauqua Lake is safe to travel on.  State Senator George Borrello says he's been in contact with both in the wake of multiple social media positings about alleged issues over the work being done on the $78-million dollar project.  The Sunset Bay Republican says he will continue following up on the matter... after asking about the claims with the DOT and the governor's office.  He says they assured him that the span is safe to travel on.  The new span is being constructed between Stow and Bemus Point where the current bridge located... and, traffic is being restricted to one side during the multi-year project.  Borrello adds that he has confidence that if the bridge was not safe... they DOT would take measures to halt traffic on it.  One social media post questioned the pressure washing of some steel beams... and he says that was why he felt it was urgent to speak with state officials about it.  Borrello says he appreciates the additional reviews of the bridge during it's reconstruction... but, adds he will continue to monitor the project as it moves forward.

Sinclairville woman faces arson charge in connection with July 23 fire...
A woman from Sinclairville has been arrested for allegedly setting a fire that heavily damaged an East Avenue home in the village late last month.  Sheriff's Department investigators say they were called to the scene at 38 East Ave. after the fire had been put out the morning of July 23.  Fire Investigation Team members say their preliminary findings found the blaze was suspicious in nature.  Further investigation showed that 53 year-old Vicki Rumsey intentionally set fire to the residence... and, a warrant was issued for her arrested for third-degree arson.  Officers say Rumsey turned herself into the Sheriff’s Office where she will be arraigned.

Borrello calls on state leaders to stop almost "daily occurances" of violence and drug exposure against corrections officers...
Some 16 corrections officers in Western New York were recently exposed to a deadly chemical suspected to be fentanyl by inmates inside two prisons.  One of the incidents involved 11 officers at the Collins Correctional Facility in southern Erie County... while the other incident took place in Wyoming County.  Local State Senator George Borrello says dangerous incidents like that are becoming a daily occurrence statewide because of legislation like the HALT Act... that essentially allows more contact between prisoners and visitors... which he says allows more contraband into the jails.  He calls it "just outrageous."  Borrello... a Sunset Bay Republican... is accusing Democrats in Albany of being "criminally negligent" for putting state employees in harm's way.  He says Governor Kathy Hochul and legislature Democrats are trying to appease radical, left-wing groups.  Borrello is calling on lawmakers to reverse the HALT Act, adding in a social media post, "It's prison, not daycare."

New York Times editorial board decides to stop making endorsements for NYS and NYC elections...
The New York Times editorial board will stop endorsing candidates in New York elections, the paper's opinion editor said Monday.  The editorial board, which operates independently from the paper’s newsroom, will continue to make endorsements in presidential elections.  In a statement, Kathleen Kingsbury, head of opinion at The New York Times, did not explain a reason for the decision on the New York endorsements... but, said “opinion will continue to offer perspective on the races, candidates and issues at stake.”  The paper reported the change would take effect immediately, with the editorial board not endorsing candidates in New York congressional or Senate races this fall, or in next year's mayoral race.  Many newspapers have stopped endorsing political candidates in recent years for various reasons, including concerns over alienating readers as well as dwindling staff and resources, among other things.