Frigid temperatures; Lake Effect Snow, arrive in Chautauqua County...
Bitterly cold temperatures... strong winds and lake effect snow will plunge the Jamestown-area into the deep freeze... conditions we haven't seen in a few years -- through mid-week. The National Weather Service has already issued a Lake Effect Snow Warning now until 10 a.m. Wednesday... along with a Cold Weather Advisory beginning at 4 this afternoon... through 11 a.m. Wednesday. That from Forecaster Dave Thomas with the National Weather Service Office in Buffalo... who says an Arctic cold front has moved through the region... and, will bring dangerously cold wind chills to the area. Thomas says the lake effect snow band areas in Chautauqua County will receive about 10 to 20 inches of snow during the warning period. Accompanying that... beginning this afternoon... will be the bitterly cold wind chills... with overnight lows well below zero. Wind chills overnight will be -15 to -20. The Weather Service says wind chills in the area will be -10 during the day today with gusty winds at times. That wind chill drops to - 20 during the overnight hours. The high Tuesday will only be about 7-above... and, the low -9.
City man arrested on firearms charges following domestic violence incident...
A Jamestown man has been arrested for allegedly being found with a large number of firearms inside his home during a domestic violence incident on the city's westside last weekend. City police were called to the scene about Noon Saturday for the incident... involving a man who was allegedly drunk... and, whose behavior was loud, violent and threatening outside the home. Police say they arrested 31 year-old NeKyle Taylor at the scene... and, soon after found the firearms... which were secured for safekeeping during the domestic incident. After Taylor was taken to the city jail... he was additionally charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon for possessing an assault weapon... along with a second criminal possession of a weapon charge for allegedly having a "large-capacity" ammunition feeding device. He was also charged with disorderly conduct... and, jailed pending arraignment.
Former postal worker from Jamestown pleads guilty to stealing, and delaying mail...
A Jamestown woman formerly employed by the U.S. Postal Service has pleaded guilty to several counts of theft by mail and delay of mail by a postal employee. U.S. Attorney Trini Ross has announced that 41 year-old Anita Miller entered the plea last Friday before U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence Vilardo to six counts of theft of mail by a postal employee... and, two counts of delay of mail by a postal employee. Ross says the charges carry a maximum of five years in prison... and, a $250,000 fine. Prosecutors say that on six different occasions in February and March of 2022... Miller... while employed by the U.S. Postal Service... stole gift cards and cash from mailed envelopes. In addition... one two occasions in March 2022, Miller delayed delivery of mailed envelopes. Ross says sentencing is scheduled for next May 29 before Judge Vilardo.
Borrello believes some of Hochul's proposal to strengthen Mental Health laws will contain part of bi-partisan legislation he co-drafted...
Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced plans to strengthen existing mental health laws in New York... and, detailed more in her State of the State Address. However... a local state lawmaker says her proposals will likely echo the provisions of a bill that he introduced in 2022. Senator George Borrello says Hochul's plan comes amid an "alarming rise" in violent attacks committed by people with mental health issues. The Sunset Bay Republican says such incidents could have been prevented had Democratic leaders in Albany taken action on legislation he and Democratic Senator Diane Savino co-sponsored. Three years ago, he says the answer they received was "we can't hold people for longer periods of time because it'll violate their civil rights, and it stigmatizes mental illness." Borrello adds, though, what about the people who have been killed or severely injured by someone with mental illness. He says the legislation would expand the criteria for involuntary commitment and allow longer hospital stays for people who don't follow their court-mandated assisted outpatient treatment. He is urging Hochul to include that bill in her plan... to help people that need it -- and make the streets safer. Borrello says one component would strengthen Kendra's Law, which is named after Fredonia native Kendra Webdale.
Langworthy applauds new USDA Federal Milk Marketing Orders...
Local Congressman Nick Langworthy is applauding the decision by the U-S Department of Agriculture following the release of its final decision on the Federal Milk Marketing Orders. Langworthy says... one of the key improvements is the return to the previous “higher of” Class-One mover formula — a change he says will support dairy farmers across his 23rd Congressional District, and America. The Buffalo-area Republican pushed for reform in that legislation -- known as the Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act of 2023 -- and, successfully got it included in the base text of last year’s Farm Bill, which successfully advanced out of the House Agriculture Committee. The reform was also taken up during a Farm Bill Listening Session hosted by Langworthy and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson in the town of Portland in September of 2023. Langworthy says the decision "marks a long-overdue victory for dairy farmers across the nation."
