Westbound lanes of NYS Thruway back open this morning after multiple accidents involving 60 vehicles litter the highway near Dunkirk...
A six-mile stretch of the westbound lanes of the New York State Thruway near Dunkirk... which were closed after several crashes Tuesday... has now been reopened. That from State Police... who say the accidents began occuring shortly before 1 p.m. in white-out conditions... and, involved a total of about 60 vehicles. Troopers now say that two people were hurt... and, sent to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. State Police say all westbound traffic between Exit 59 and Exit 60 was blocked by an initial, multi-vehicle accident... and there were additional lane closures in the area due to several nearby accidents involving multiple jack-knifed tractor trailers and passenger vehicles. The lake effect snow that piled up also left about 40 people stranded at the Angola Service area on the Thruway yesterday. A travel advisory remains in effect in the city of Dunkirk... but, the others in the surrounding area have been lifted. In the immediate Jamestown-area, residents had to deal with bitterly cold temperatures, but, it was sunny most of the day.
One person killed in train-car crash in Dunkirk...
Meanwhile, one person died after a vehicle got struck by a train at the CSX crossing on Middle Road in the city of Dunkirk. Dunkirk Police, Dunkirk firefighters, and Alstar Ambulance were called to the scene about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Police say the driver of the vehicle was taken to Brooks Memorial Hospital, where they later died. The identity of the victim is being withheld at this time, pending notification of next of kin.
Hochul outlines proposed 2026-27, $260-billion, NYS budget proposal...
New York Governor Kathy Hochul is proposing a 2026-27 budget that totals roughly $260-billion... or about $6-billion more than the current years spending plan. The governor made her presentation in Albany Tuesday afternoon... and, says it reflects many of the initiatives in her State of the State Address. Hochul says revenues the past year came in much better than expected... and that should offset increased costs... and, major cuts -- totaling $10.3-billion -- in federal aid. Hochul says the biggest savings found were in administration of the state's Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program -- or CDPAP -- which is a Medicaid program empowering eligible individuals with chronic illnesses or disabilities to hire, train, and manage their own paid caregivers... which she says was frought with waste and abuse. She says "we put the program on the path to long term fiscal stability" -- after finding $1.2-billion in savings. Hochul adds that her budget includes no increase in the state's income tax... but, keeps the corporate rate at 7.5% because of Wall Street bonuses... and, that helps the state's bottom line. As for Universal Child Care... Hochul is proposing to invest an additional $4.5-billion to expand access and cut costs." She says she can fund the expansion because the "revenue is there." She's also proposing a 4.3% increase in state School Aid.
Sex offender arrested in Fredonia...
A north county woman has been arrested for allegedly engaging in a sexual relationship with a 15 year-old... and, giving the teen indecent material. Sheriff's officers say their Criminal Investigation Division was recently made aware of an alleged sex offense. Deputies say further investigation led to the arrest of 21 year-old Melody Snyder-Pratt of Fredonia at her home. They determined that Snyder-Pratt had allegedly engaged the relationship with the 15 year-old for a period of time. In addition... officers say she allegedly propositioned the victim to meet and engage in sexual acts. She is charged with first-degree disseminating indecent material to a minor in the First Degree in the Chautauqua County Supreme Court at a later date.
Jamestown man arrested for stealing steaks from northside business...
A city man has been arrested for allegedly stealing two steaks from a business on Jamestown's northside Tuesday morning. City police were called to the unidentified location shortly before 8 a.m. on a report of a shoplifting. Officers say store employees told them that a man -- later identified as 37-year-old Joshua Ross -- had taken the steaks without paying for them. Police found him a short distance away... and, he was arrested for petty larceny. Ross was arraigned and released on his own recognizance with an appearance ticket for city court.
City man faces drug-related charges following vehicle stop on Jamestown's northside...
A Jamestown man faces multiple drug-related charges following a recent traffic stop in the city's downtown area. Jamestown police say they stopped the vehicle for observed traffic infractions in the area of East Second and North Main Street about 7:30 p.m. last Thursday. Officers say the man inside... 20 year-old Samuel Arrington, Jr.... was in possession of a quantity of cocaine. They say Arrington was taken into custody... and, taken to the city jail without incident. Police say a search of Arrington's person was conducted there... and, officers allegedly found another 28-grams of Fenatnyl individually packaged. He was charged with third, fourth-and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Arrington was held pending arraignment in City Court.
