City man to spend 17-plus years in federal prison for distribution of Child Porn...
A man from Jamestown has been sentenced to 17-and-a-half years in prison for his conviction on a federal child pornography charge. U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced Thursday that 24 year-old Brandon Uber, who was convicted of distribution of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 210 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Richard Arcara. Prosecutors say that in March of 2021... Uber sent a Snapchat user image and video files of a 16-year-old girl engaging in sexually explicit conduct. They add that he also received images and videos of child porn from other users of social media applications. In addition, Uber had online conversations with another known minor female victim, during which he persuaded her to create sexually explicit videos of herself to send to him. Uber stored the videos he received and distributed on various electronic devices that were seized during the investigation, including two cell phones and two tablets.
Schumer blasts Trump's budget proposal that eliminates or slashes spending on important programs to Upstate NY...
President Donald Trump's so called "skinny budget" is an "all-out assault on Upstate New York familities... seniors and communities. Those are the feelings of U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer in a preliminary look at the president's proposal... which was released to Senate members Wednesday night. The New York Democrat says "these devastating cuts would totally eliminate and slash many of the federal programs the upstate region relies on." Schumer says state governments will lose billions of dollars under the spending plan. Of biggest note for the city of Jamestown... Senator Schumer the budget completely eliminates the Community Development Block Grant... and, HOME programs. He calls CDBG one of the country's "best bang for the buck" investments the federal government makes. Between the annual CDBG and HOME programs... the city most recently received about $1.5-million. In addition... Schumer says the cuts would eliminate the Low-Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program... and 89% of the funding for clean water through lead pipe removal and replacement.
City of Jamestown releases statement on proposed CDBG, HOME Program elimination...
The city of Jamestown is expressing "deep concern" over President Donald Trump's proposed federal budget's elimination of two critical community and housing programs. Mayor Kim Ecklund's administration this morning issued the statement regarding the Community Development Block Grant... and, HOME Programs. The statement says they are "critical funding streams" that have "enabled local efforts to address housing needs, drive economic development, improve public infrastructure, and support our most vulnerable residents. Eliminating these programs would severely undermine our ability to revitalize neighborhoods, reduce homelessness, and provide safe, affordable housing." Development Director Crystal Surdyk says "these funding sources are absolutely essential to our work in Jamestown. Without HOME and CDBG, we lose the ability to directly invest in our neighborhoods, assist residents and their families, and support community-driven revitalization." She adds they urge Congress "to reject the proposed cuts and continue its longstanding bipartisan support for these vital programs."
Borrello and Molitor voted against final NYS Budget... but, do find some good in it...
New York State finally has a budget in place for the 2025-2026 fiscal year... just over a month late. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the $254.3-billion spending plan Friday morning at an event in Broome County after lawmakers finalized and passed the final budget bills late Thursday. Both of Chautauqua County's state lawmakers voted against the final budget, criticizing the amount of spending it contains. State Senator George Borrello characterized the spending plan as a "monument to mismanagement." He says the process was not transparent, and that breeds corruption. Borrello... a Sunset Bay Republican... says while the budget contains "modest wins" like a middle-class tax cut and inflation refund checks, he believes there was a missed opportunity to bolster some other things... such as Medicaid reimbursements for nursing homes and hospitals. On the positive side... Borrello applauded the expansion of involuntary commitment standards and the strengthening of Kendra's Law.
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State Assemblyman Andrew Molitor, a former prosecutor, says he was pleased that there were changes to the state's discovery law, but he doesn't believe they go far enough. The Westfield Republican also feels the budget tries to address access to child care... which he was pleased to see. However... Molitor feels "the good cannot outweigh the bad." Both lawmakers were critical of the $3 billion allocated for the New York City transit system.
Iglesias on hand at National Comedy Center to cut ribbon on display of his iconic, 1959 VW bus...
Several hundred people crowded onto Comedy Center Plaza... behind the National Comedy Center... to help open it's newest exhibit. Record-setting comedian Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias and his advisor, Ron DiBlasio, cut the ribbon. Behind them was Iglesias’ iconic, 1959 VW Bus from his record-breaking Stadium "Fluffy special." He was introduced by Comedy Center Executive Director, Journey Gunderson, who welcomed people who came from as far away as Tennessee. Iglesias didn't disappoint. He talked glowingly about the comedy center... and, it's mission. He brought some friends with him... along with pet dog. Iglesias says comedy is something that brings people together... for both people and dogs. The Comedy Center was a buzz around the time of the event... because it was a free day for attendees. Iglesias says that's the way he wanted it because he wanted to celebrate with his fans.
