Jamestown man arrested after refusing to leave UPMC Chautauqua Hospital grounds twice...
A city man who was treated at UPMC Chautauqua Hospital in Jamestown Thursday morning... and, then refusing twice to leave the premisis... has been arrested.  City police say they were initially called to the Foote Avenue location about 10:30 a.m., and, on arrival... were made aware that 42 year-old Joseph Kulig II was refusing to leave after being seen and treated.  Police later escorted Kulig out without further incident.  However... about 20 minutes later... they saw a security guard flagged down the officer, and said Kulig never left.  He allegedly got into a random person's car in the front entrance of the hospital.  The officer made contact with Kulig who was sitting in the back seat of the vehicle and gave several commands for him to get out... but, he failed to comply and had to be forcibly removed.  Kulig continued to resist... but, police were able to get him into custody.  He was jailed on charges of criminal trespass, obstruction, and resisting arrest.

Molitor weighs in on the "good, bad and ugly" of Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposed budget...
Chautauqua County's new representative in the New York State Assembly has mixed reviews of Governor Kathy Hochul's 2025-26 budget proposal.  However... Westfield Republican Andrew Molitor says the $252-billion spending plan increases spending by too much... and, still leaves too much of a burden on local property taxpayers because of unfunded mandates.  He says several local communities are looking at signficant increases... or just trying to hold down increases... due to more costs passed down from Albany.  Hochul estimates the state has a $5-billion surplus heading into the new budget year.  Molitor says he does like Hochul's three-part plan to lower the burden on middle class income earners.  Her proposal cuts the middle class tax rate... provides inflation rebate checks for individuals and families respectively... and, expands the child tax credit.  
----

Hochul is also proposing changes to the state's discovery law... which was changed at the same time as bail reform a few years ago.  Molitor says he needs to review that part of the budget more... but, at first blush... he feels closing it's loopholes is important because it's made life too easy for defense lawyers to obtain a mistrial.  Molitor is able to speak to that proposal as a former First Assistant District Attorney in Chautauqua County through last year.

Borrello says Hochul's budget proposal is "unsustainable..."
If there's one word a state lawmaker from Chautauqua County is using to sum up Governor Kathy Hochul's 2025-2026 budget proposal for New York, it's "unsustainable."  Senator George Borrello is criticizing Hochul for adding $19-billion in spending while the state faces multi-billion-dollar budget gaps in future years.  The Sunset Bay Republican says her $252-billion dollar spending plan does nothing to address waste, fraud and abuse in state government -- including Medicaid.  He says that's been confirmed by the state Comptroller's Office.  Borrello also believes that Hochul is going in the wrong direction on the affordability issue, which she heavily focused on in her State of the State message.  He says the inflation rebate checks are little more than a one-shot gimmick.  Borrello says he believes taxpayers will end up paying more taxes and fees in order to fund the budget.
-----
 
Meanwhile, he says there are also several "bright spots" in the spending plan.  Borrello says one of them is her investment in health care, in particular a partnership involving Kaleida Health and three area hospitals, including Brooks-TLC... and, adds this is what state government "should be doing."  Borrello also backs her proposal to expand criteria for involuntary commitment and strengthening Kendra's Law, which is something he has supported since 2022.

Hanover man arrested for alleged burglary and attempted assault...
A town of Hanover man has been arrested for allegedly breaking into another person's home... and, trying to assault them.  Sheriff's officers say they and State Police were called to a town address about 10 p.m. Wednesday night for a reported "burglary-in-progress."  Their investigation showed that 32 year-old Jesse Figuero had forced his way into the home... and, damaged property in the process.  He was also accused of trying to assault the unidentified victim.  Figuero was arrested for second-degree burglary... third-degree attempted assault... and fourth degree criminal mischief.  He was take to the county jail pending arraignment.

County legislature approves measure rejecting Wind Turbines on Lake Erie...
Chautauqua County is the first county in New York state to go on the record Opposing any plans to put huge, industrial wind turbines in Lake Erie.  The measure was approved unanimously at Wednesday night's monthly meeting in Mayville.  State Senator George Borrello arrived back in Chautauqua County in time for the meeting... and, says when he was a county legislator about a decade ago... he pushed to keep wind turbines off the lake.  The Sunset Bay Republican praised lawmakers for taking the step.  Wednesday night's vote came after two members of the public earlier spoke in favor of the resolution -- one of them is a member of Citizens Against Turbines in Lake Erie -- known as CAWTILE.  Turbines have been a source of controversy since they were first proposed... and, then built in parts of the north county several years ago.