First it was the major snowfall, and now the bitterly cold temperatures are part of a one-two punch that's hitting Chautauqua County and all of western New York....
The National Weather Service is continuing a Wind Chill Warning for the county through 7 o'clock tonight, as temperatures across the Jamestown-area fell below zero overnight. Forecaster Jon Hitchcock says wind chills will be bone-chilling through tonight.
Hitchcock says, while there may be some lake effect snow at times, there won't be much accumulation. He says there will be 1 to 2 inches at most. But, Hitchcock says the problem will be snow being blown around by winds gusting to about 30 miles per hour. He says it'll be another bitterly cold night tonight, with clear skies, and temperatures falling to 5 to 10-below zero. However, he says winds will be much lighter, so the "real feel" temperature will be as low as 15-below zero. Forecasters say make sure to dress warmly, and in layers and don't leave skin exposed when you are outdoors.
There were several impressive snowfall totals from the Winter Storm that hit late Saturday night, starting with 18.5 inches in Forestville in northern Chautauqua County....
Meteorologist Jon Hitchcock with the National Weather Service says Perrysburg had 16-and-a-half inches, while Jamestown had 16.3-inches. Elsewhere in New York state, the Albany area saw anywhere from 10 to 15 inches, with up to 18 to 20 inches in the higher elevations of the Adirondacks. Buffalo received about a foot of snow, and about 16 inches in the higher elevations.
A Mayville woman has been arrested for allegedly driving drunk and, being in possession of marijuana during a traffic stop late last Friday in the village....
Sheriff's officers say they stopped a car, driven by 49 year-old Michelle Ward, on Elm Street after seeing several traffic violations. Deputies say Ward appeared to be intoxicated and, she was also found with a small quantity of pot in her possession. She is also accused of pushing an officer and, tampering with Sheriff's Department property. Ward faces several charges including DWI, third-degree criminal tampering, speeding in a 55 MPH Zone, second degree harassment and, Unlawful Possession of Marihuana. Ward was arraigned, and sent to the county jail pending further court action.
A Fredonia man has been arrested for allegedly being found in possession of a quantity of Methamphetime in the village of Brocton....
Sheriff's officers were assisting County Probation in serving a Dunkirk City Warrant on 31 year-old Aaron Clark at a Fay Street address early last weekend. When Clark was picked up, deputies allegeldy found the meth. Officers say Clark was arraigned on his charges out of Dunkirk and then taken to the County Jail where he will be arraigned using the Centralized Booking Procedure for seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
There is more spending proposed in Governor Andrew Cuomo's 2019-2020 budget proposal, but the state is also facing a more than $3-billion shortfall...
Cuomo is proposing to add one-billion dollars in more school aid and, to fund various infrastructure and other projects in the coming year. The Democrat did not give a lot of specifics on how that spending gap will be dealt with, but local State Senator Cathy Young says she won't support the idea of new or additional taxes.
Cuomo is proposing about a 1.3-percent cut in income taxes for middle-income earners, but is also proposing to continue a millionaire's tax on individuals who earn one-million dollars a year, or families earning two-million or more. However, Young opposes continuing that. She also rejects the idea of using taxpayer dollars to fund political campaigns. The Olean Republican says -- given the budget deficit and "many more pressing fiscal priorities, allocating hundreds of millions of dollars for public campaign financing does not make sense."
Towns around New York state are objecting to a budget proposal from Governor Andrew Cuomo that would cut nearly $60-million dollars in funding to local governments....
The state Association of Towns on Friday called the cut "disrespectful" and said it could force local officials to trim services or dip into reserves. Cuomo, a Democrat, inserted the reduction in a $175 billion state budget proposal submitted to lawmakers this week. More than 1,300 towns will lose funding if state lawmakers support the cut. Cuomo's budget spokesman defended the reduction, saying it amounts to less than 1 percent of the typical town's annual budget. The governor is also proposing a change in the way internet sales taxes are collected that could allow towns to split a $350 million windfall.
Governor Andrew Cuomo's state budget proposal released this week contains a couple of initiatives regarding economic development that good-government groups have been seeking for years.....
The first spending plan of the Democrat's third term includes proposals to boost procurement regulations for oversight of certain state contracts and create a searchable online database of projects receiving funding from the Cuomo administration's economic development agencies. The proposals follow last year's convictions of a former top aide and Cuomo's own "economic guru" on corruption charges stemming from upstate development projects. Government watchdog groups say the cases show the need for better oversight of the billions doled out each year in corporate tax breaks and business grants. Increasing oversight of economic development deals is supported by the state Senate and Assembly, both controlled by Democrats.
