Western NY News Now

JAMESTOWN – The area will see a mix of rain and dry time as two fronts move through the region. Saturday will be partly to mostly cloudy with a chance for a few showers and storms in the afternoon. Highs near 80 with moderate humidity. Saturday night will be mostly ... read more

CHAUTAUQUA — Dr. Randy Elf will discuss How Political Speech Law Benefits Politicians and the Rich before the Advocates for Balance at Chautauqua at 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20. The Chautauqua County native will address constitutional law, particularly the constitutionality of law regulating political speech, in a program called “How ... read more

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf is recommending, but not mandating, that there be no school sports in his state for the rest of the year. During a press conference, Wolf said “the recommendation is that we don’t do any sports until January 1st.” “The guidance is that we ought ... read more

JAMESTOWN — The 21st Annual Cents for St. Susan’s Campaign, by the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities, raised $18,399.15 to help fund the soup kitchen. “We are grateful to these wonderful donors and to the Jamestown BPU for its efforts to raise funds for our soup kitchen,” said St. Susan ... read more

JAMESTOWN – Jamestown Public Schools released an update on their plan to reopen school this fall following the COVID-19 shutdown. The district provided the update Friday evening following modifications to its original plan. School officials say the district will open the school year with a hybrid learning model for grades ... read more

App users, tap here to watch video report. MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County District Attorney Patrick Swanson says he and his staff have accomplished a lot in four-plus years, and he says he’s not done yet. WNYNewsNow spoke with Swanson extensively during a one-on-one interview Thursday. The Fredonia Democrat is running ... read more

App users, tap here to watch video JAMESTOWN – The battle of two fronts will dictate our weather pattern this weekend with a few showers from time to time before a big cool down come our way early next week. High pressure has slide on out which will allow for ... read more

MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County’s Executive says he wants to sit down with developers working with Amazon to discuss bringing their Western New York distribution center to the county. Executive PJ Wendel in an interview with WNYNewsNow Friday morning says the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency reached out to developers after ... read more

BUSTI — The Busti Historical Society has been forced to cancel this year’s Busti Apple Festival because of state limitations on the size of crowds and it will cost the organization as much as 90 percent of its annual income. Organizer Judy Schultz told WNYNewsNow that the annual tradition was ... read more

ALBANY — Human Trafficking cases have been steadily rising in New York, up 70 percent in 2020. In reaction, New York State is launching a social media campaign to raise awareness and dispel myths about the issue. The state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and the Division of Criminal ... read more

JAMESTOWN — A Jamestown man was charged with assault after he allegedly struck another man in the face with a foot-long piece of lumber last night. According to the Jamestown Police Department, Andrew Meacham, 21, was charged with second-degree assault and second-degree harassment after police were called to Allen Street ... read more

WEST ELLICOTT – Police in the Town of Ellicott are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing 78-year-old suffering from Dementia. In a post on social media Friday morning, Ellicott Police say Ralph Heeter is missing from his West Ellicott home. Heeter is a white man, 5 feet, ... read more

RANDOLPH — A Randolph man faces up to 30 years in prison after he was charged with production of child pornography, according to U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy Jr. Alexander Carnahan, 27, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with production of child pornography. The charge carries a mandatory minimum ... read more

BUFFALO — A Jamestown man is set to spend the next six and one-half years in state prison for his role in trafficking heroin, according to U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. Bryan Ferrer-Vazquez, 27, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and was sentenced ... read more

App users, tap here to watch video interview. MAYVILLE – Among Chautauqua County Executive P.J. Wendel’s chief concerns is reopening the county economy while still being responsible and safe. Wendel, in an interview Thursday, told WNYNewsNow that he sees no reason local gyms can’t open and has been saying this ... read more

App users, tap here to watch video JAMESTOWN – We’ll bring some heat and a little humidity for the end of the workweek with a few showers and thundershowers this weekend before a big cool down occurs next week. High pressure continues to rule our weather pattern through the next ... read more

BUFFALO — A Jamestown man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on drug and gun-related charges and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison up to life, and up to  a $10 Million fine, according to U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy Jr. Wade J. Paulisick, Jr., ... read more

FALCONER —The Falconer Volunteer Fire Department has been awarded a federal grant of $125,238, according to Congressman Tom Reed. Reed announced the grant Thursday through the Assistance to Firefighters program. In addition, the City of Dunkirk Fire Department will receive $155,304.76. The Assistance to Firefighters Grants program is administered by ... read more

JAMESTOWN — The City of Jamestown Department of Public Works has announced additions to the annual streets program that are being made possible through an increase in anticipated funding through the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program, known as CHIPS. These new projects, in addition to the previously announced ... read more

MAYVILLE — Chautauqua County will receive $54,633 in federal grant money to support planning and operational readiness for any type of disaster the county may experience. The grant was announced this week by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who said the money can be used for items ranging from development and implementation ... read more

ALBANY – A new law in New York State now prohibits housing providers from discriminating against a person who relies on an animal for help alleviating the symptoms or effects of a disability. According to the Governor’s Office, housing providers must now provide reasonable accommodation by permitting a support animal ... read more

JAMESTOWN — A Jamestown man has been hit with several charges after he allegedly stabbed two people and assaulted a third person, according to the Jamestown Police Department. Police said Demetrius Goldsmith, 29, was charged following response to an assault call at 5:51 p.m. Tuesday on Johnson Street. Goldsmith allegedly ... read more

HANOVER — The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office says charges are pending after two people were injured in a car crash Wednesday evening a in the Town of Hanover. Deputies responded to a crash on Alleghany Road at about 9:30 p.m. They say two people were transported to Brooks Memorial Hospital ... read more

ORCHARD PARK – The Buffalo Bills have signed coach Sean McDermott to a multiyear contract extension. A person with direct knowledge told the Associated Press the contract is a four-year extension that runs through the 2025 season. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Bills have not ... read more

DUNKIRK — The City of Dunkirk Police Department confirms one person was killed in a one-car crash Wednesday afternoon. Police responded to a crash at 4:18 p.m., at the 600 block of South Roberts Road where a single vehicle struck a tree. Officers said the driver was dead at the ... read more

JAMESTOWN – The National Comedy Center is presenting its Lucille Ball Comedy Festival virtually this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The previously scheduled summer lineup was postponed to next summer due to gathering restrictions. In the meantime, center officials plan to offer a taste of comedy this coming weekend, ... read more

POLAND – A suspect wanted out of Canada has been arrested following a vehicle pursuit on I-86. Law enforcement officials tell WNYNewsNow the chase started on the I-86 bridge over Chautauqua Lake on Wednesday afternoon when New York State Police attempted to pull over a stolen vehicle. The pursuit continued ... read more

App users, tap here to watch video report. JAMESTOWN – Tim Hortons is celebrating Camp Day today, which will help benefit disadvantaged kids in the U.S. and Canada. Blake Tarana, the owner of the Jamestown Tim Hortons chain, says the purchase of any hot or cold coffee goes to sending ... read more

App users, tap here to watch video JAMESTOWN – The heat and humidity have come down for the next day or so but we’ll be right back into summer by the weekend with a few showers possible. After the passage of the cold front Tuesday night, the humidity values have ... read more

JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown Police Department welcomed the newest member of their team this week, a police K-9 named in memory of Kallie Swan. In a post on Twitter Wednesday morning the department announced Officer “Kal” joined the force on Monday. Kal, police say, is named in memory of 3-year-old ... read more