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News Headlines for Tues., Mar. 2, 2021

Pair of city men arrested following alleged incident with hand-gun...
Two Jamestown men have been arrested for allegedly brandishing a gun during an argument about some stolen property early last weekend on the city's eastside.  City police were called to 20 Willis St. about 12:30 a.m. last Saturday after the victim was able to get away, and call officers.  Police say... at one point during the argument... 52 year-old Roberto Morales-Sanchez... pulled a gun and started threatening the victim.  He was helped by 23 year-old Taylor Austin in stealing the victim's phone.  Morales-Sanchez then allegedly forced everyone inside the home to get into a room and be quiet so police wouldn't hear them.  Once the victim called 911, Morales-Sanchez and Austin fled in a car to find the victim, who -- at that point -- was with police.  Officers than got the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force to obtain a search warrant for the house... and, later found nearly $25,000 cash, a .357-magnum revolver, and some drug packaging.  Both Morales-Sanchez and Austin face first-degree robbery, and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon charges.  Morales-Sanchez is also charged with menacing and unlawful imprisonment.


Calls for Cuomo to resign step up as third sexual harassment claims becomes public...
Calls for New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign are intensifying now that a third woman has accused him of offensive behavior.  Anna Ruch told The New York Times on Monday that Cuomo touched her back and face and asked if he could kiss her moments after they met at a wedding in 2019.  Her account prompted tweets of support from two former Cuomo aides who say he sexually harassed them.  The governor has denied wrongdoing and said his actions were misinterpreted.  The state's attorney general is hiring a law firm to investigate his conduct. 


Bennett rejects Cuomo's apology...
One of the women who said she was sexually harassed by Governor Cuomo is rejecting his attempt to apologize for his behavior and excuse it as an attempt to be "playful."  Charlotte Bennett said in a statement released Monday that the Democrat had "refused to acknowledge or take responsibility for his predatory behavior."  New York's attorney general said she's moving forward with an investigation into the harassment allegations after receiving a letter from his office Monday authorizing her to take charge of the probe.  Cuomo has said he will cooperate with the investigation.


Borrello says concerns growing on both sides of political aisle about Cuomo's ability to govern in the wake of investigations...
There's growing concern among New York state lawmakers about whether Gov. Cuomo can continue to lead the state with investigations into sexual harassment claims, and the state's handling of nursing homes during the pandemic.  Local State Senator George Borrello says he is glad the Attorney General will conduct an independent investigation into the sexual harassment allegations.  However... Borrello is critical over how Democratic legislators have handled the matters... adding they have taken no action regarding his emergency executive powers he was given during the pandemic.  Borrello... a Republican from Sunset Bay... was also critical of Cuomo's apology.  He says it was only an apology "if people misinterpreted what I was saying or doing."  Many Democratic lawmakers have supported the call for an investigation into the sexual harassment allegations... but nothing has been introduced to remove the Governor's COVID-19 powers. 


County reports 65 new COVID Cases from past weekend...
The Chautauqua County Health Department is reporting 65 new confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus over the past weekend.  However... there was a notable drop in the number of hospitalizations.  The Health Department reports there were 32 cases reported in Jamestown 14701 zip code... making the total now 7,590 during the pandemic.  They say 7,324 cases have now recovered... while 129 are currently active.  Six of those are hospitalized, and there were no new deaths. 


St. Bonaventure, and western New York communities mourning passing of University president... 
The president of St. Bonaventure University in Olean has died from complications from COVID-19.  In a printed statement... the university announced that 62 year-old Dennis DePerro died early Monday morning in a Syracuse Hospital.  DePerro had been admitted back on December 29th after testing positive for the coronavirus on Christmas Eve.  Robert H. Jackson Center President Kristan McMahon is also a member of the St. Bonaventure Board of Trustees, and says it's a "very sad day" for the Bonaventure community and says he made "a number" of changes in curriculum... and, boosted enrollments three years in a row.  McMahon says he "loved St. Bonaventure," and was active in both the college, and Olean communities.  The university says DePerro was put on a ventilator in mid-January.  The university flag will fly at half-staff in his honor through the end of the month.  In addition to being a board member... McMahon was part of the search committee that recommended DePerro be hired... and, says he certainly stood out -- especially as a visionary.  Joseph Zimmer, the provost and vice-president of Academic Affairs, was named acting President last month.


HUD announces CDBG and HOME funding for Jamestown...
The city of Jamestown is receiving just over $1.5-million in federal funding to help with housing, community and economic development issues.  The U-S Department of Housing and Urban Development late Monday announced the city will be receiving it's projected allocation of $1.17-million in Community Development Block Grant funding... and, nearly another $339,000 in HOME Program funding.  For the past 30 years, or so, Jamestown has been an "entitlement community" for CDBG and HOME funding.