Western NY News Now

App users, tap here to watch live stream. DUNKIRK – A tornado warning has been issued for parts of Northern Chautauqua County.   The warning remains in place until 6:30 p.m. according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.  At 6:04 p.m. a severe thunderstorm ... read more

JAMESTOWN – An ambulance has been called to the scene of a house fire in Jamestown.  The Jamestown Fire Department was dispatched to the corner of North Main and Crossman Streets around 5:20 p.m. Friday for the reported blaze.   Reports from the scene indicated heavy smoke and flames showing ... read more

WASHINGTON (AP) — A panel of U.S. health advisers endorsed booster doses of Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot COVID-19 vaccine Friday, saying they should be offered at least two months after immunization. J&J has asked the Food and Drug Administration for flexibility with its booster, arguing the extra dose adds important ... read more

App users, tap here to watch video report. CHERRY CREEK – A parent from Cherry Creek is speaking out about their children’s education after a Pine Valley School history teacher gained national coverage from protesting COVID-19 mandates in school. Pine Valley School History Teacher Angela Bittinger first spoke out during ... read more

HINDSALE – A Hinsdale man is facing charges related to the rape and sexual assault of a child, according to the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office.  Scott D. Vaughn, 36, was arrested without incident Thursday morning at his residence following an investigation by the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Bureau. Vaughn ... read more

JAMESTOWN – 70 years ago I Love Lucy made its television premiere, and today, the show is still loved by millions of fans worldwide. The program has inspired many, including a Jamestown resident who has decorated his car in the show’s memory. Founder of the Los Contrincantes Car Club Jose ... read more

GERRY – The area’s largest nursing home provider has announced a new Corporate Director of Communications. Heritage Ministries President and CEO Lisa Haglund says that Melissa Anderson will serve as the primary point of contact for the organization. Specifically, Anderson will develop new ways to communicate to the public, including handling public relations and ... read more

JAMESTOWN – One of Jamestown’s largest churches are hosting a special prayer for healthcare workers this weekend. St Luke’s Episcopal Church at 410 North Main Street celebrated the heroic actions of healthcare work at the start of the pandemic, however over a year-and-a-half later the church says they have grown ... read more

App users tap here to watch video JAMESTOWN – The Storm Prediction Center has upgraded the risk for severe storms Friday to a slight (level 2/5) across all of Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania. Right now we are look at a 3 to 6 p.m. timeframe with damaging winds ... read more

JAMESTOWN – Municipal leaders in Jamestown have received a $3 million state grant to help pay for water main replacement. The New York State Governor’s Office announced the news on Thursday. The state funding is among $44 million approved by the State Environmental Facilities Corporation for similar projects statewide. In ... read more

JAMESTOWN – With Election Day just weeks away, a debate to help inform voters about the Chautauqua County Clerk candidate’s priorities took place in Jamestown on Thursday.  Incumbent Republican Larry Barmore and Democratic challenger David Salley took the stage during the forum hosted by WRFA in partnership with WJTN and ... read more

ALBANY (WENY) – Gov. Kathy Hochul announced partnerships and resources to Help refugees resettle in New York State, including educational resources and temporary housing. “We can meet the challenges of today and tomorrow with compassion, imagination, and grit, and there are vast resources across the State to give the Afghan evacuees ... read more

HARRISBURG, PA. (Erie News Now) – A second recreational marijuana bill has been announced in Pennsylvania within the last month.   However, this bill is a bipartisan Senate bill. State Senators Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) and Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) introduced the bill on Tuesday. The introduction of SB 473 comes just two weeks after the announcement of HB 2050 by Representatives Jake Wheatley (D-Allegheny) and Dan ... read more

WASHINGTON (Erie News Now) – Thursday the FDA advisory panel unanimously recommended emergency authorization of booster shots for the moderna vaccine for people age 65 and up, as well as adults at high risk for disease and those who are frequently exposed at work. “I think that its about time ... read more

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton was admitted to a Southern California hospital with an infection but is “on the mend,” his spokesman said. Clinton, 75, was admitted to the University of California Irvine Medical Center on Tuesday evening for a non-COVID-19-related infection, Angel Ureña said Thursday in a ... read more

App users, tap here to watch video report. JAMESTOWN – It might be fall, but the City of Jamestown is looking towards next summer and discussing several new projects that are on the horizon. There are 500 acres of parkland in the city and Mayor Eddie Sundquist plans to take ... read more

App users, tap here to watch video report. JAMESTOWN – What’s causing gas prices to skyrocket? One expert points to those dirt-cheap gas prices we saw at the height of the pandemic, happening as most of us stayed home and roads sat nearly empty. “In some case, the $1.38 gallon ... read more

App users tap here to watch video JAMESTOWN – While the mild air will stay in place through the end of the workweek, showers and maybe a couple storms will arrive towards the weekend with more fall-like air cumin in for a brief stay. High pressure built in ahead of an impending warm front which ... read more

JAMESTOWN – Landlords who suffered financial losses because of New York’s eviction moratorium now have a chance to receive financial relief under a new program. State Senator George Borrello announced that the Landlord Rental Assistance Program is now accepting applications from owners of rental properties. The program is specifically for ... read more

BUFFALO – A SUNY Fredonia grad has been sworn in as the next United States Attorney in Western New York. Trini Ross was nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the Senate for the job last month. Ross is responsible for overseeing the prosecution of any federal criminal case brought ... read more

WASHINGTON (WENY) – Americans who receive Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will see a nearly 6% increase in their benefits next year. The Social Security Administration announced today roughly 70 million Americans will have benefits increase by 5.9%; the adjustment is to account for the cost of living, ... read more

WASHINGTON (WENY) – School districts nationwide, including those in New York State and Pennsylvania, are still facing school bus driver shortages. Wednesday, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand sent a letter to Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, urging the agency to issue “clear guidance” to states and districts about using Elementary and ... read more

ERIE (Erie News Now) – It might not be long before we see kids ages 5 to 11 rolling up their sleeves and getting the long awaited for COVID-19 vaccine. Pfizer announced last week they requested FDA emergency use authorization for kids in this age group. Once approved and the ... read more

WASHINGTON – Digging into the data, that’s what’s on the agenda for vaccine advisers to the FDA. Thursday they’re scheduled to vote on whether to recommend Moderna’s application for a half-size booster of its COVID-19 vaccine for certain groups at least six months after the second dose. The company says ... read more

LAKEWOOD – A new bargain outlet retail store opened at the Chautauqua Mall in Lakewood on Thursday. Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, who announced they planned to open a new location at the former Office Max earlier this year, cut the ribbon this morning. The store moved into the former Office Max ... read more

POLAND – A 67-year-old Lakewood woman was injured after a deer struck her motorcycle near Kennedy on Wednesday. The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened on Route 394 near the Chautauqua/ Cattaraugus County around 3 p.m. Deputies say Patricia Portale was riding west when a deer ran into ... read more

VAN HORN, Texas (AP) — Hollywood’s Captain Kirk, 90-year-old William Shatner, blasted into space Wednesday in a convergence of science fiction and science reality, reaching the final frontier aboard a ship built by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin company. The “Star Trek” actor and three fellow passengers hurtled to an altitude ... read more

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Beleaguered business owners and families separated by COVID-19 restrictions rejoiced Wednesday after the U.S. said it will reopen its land borders to nonessential travel next month, ending a 19-month freeze. Travel across land borders from Canada and Mexico has been largely restricted to workers whose jobs ... read more

App users, tap here to watch video report. FALCONER – Firefighters in Falconer are stressing the importance of checking smoke detectors and children knowing what sounds they make as part of a nationwide education effort during Fire Prevention Month.  Falconer Fire Department EMT and Fire Prevention Officer Katie Delahoy says ... read more

App users, tap here to watch video report. ALBANY – New York will appeal a judge’s ruling that protects those with religious exemptions from the state COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers. Governor Kathy Hochul announced the news on Wednesday morning, just 24-hours after a federal judge in Utica ruled ... read more