Western NY News Now

PORTLAND – A Forestville roofer is facing charges after allegedly scamming a homeowner in the Town of Portland last year. The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office says that James Haskins, 40, was hired to complete a roofing job in the Town of Portland in October 2019 but failed to complete any ... read more

FALCONER – An annual event to raise money to help those diagnosed with cancer is scheduled to take place next week. “Hoops for Hospice,” hosted by the Falconer Girls Basketball Team, will donate funds raised to Hospice of Chautauqua County in honor of 1990 Falconer Central School graduate Heather (Lefford) ... read more

LAKEWOOD – The Chautauqua Mall is getting ready to usher in the Valentine’s Day season with two events on Saturday, February 1. Taking place in the mall’s center court, the Bestie Bash Hearts and Crafts features singing, dancing, crafting and more all free of charge from 11:30 a.m. to 1 ... read more

DUNKIRK – A Village of Gowanda man is facing several charges following a vehicle pursuit in Dunkirk this week. City of Dunkirk Police say Ethan McHale, 21, was driving after allegedly switching registration plates on his vehicle Tuesday night. Police say officers tried to pull McHale over but he fled ... read more

CORNING – Congressman Tom Reed this week blasted Governor Cuomo and the effects of New York’s Green Light Law that allows illegal immigrants to obtain drivers licenses. Reed says the Federal Government may not accept New York’s enhanced driver’s licenses since non-citizens are able to obtain the ID under the ... read more

MAYVILLE – A 74-year-old woman convicted in the death of a Town of Busti man last year is now being sued by his family. Marylou Johnson, the Town of Busti woman who previously plead guilty to second-degree manslaughter in the death of Wilfredo Colon-Rodriguez, Jr., was named in a lawsuit ... read more

JAMESATOWN – City of Jamestown Fire Investigators have released the cause of a fire that destroyed a Spring Street house Monday morning.

Image by Justin Gould/WNYNewsNow.Crews say an unattended torch left on the first floor of the multi-story house caused the blaze that was first reported around ... read more

ALBANY — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo released a $178 billion budget proposal this week alongside a host of laws he wants to pass — from allowing e-bikes to a ban on single-use Styrofoam containers. The Democrat has made it a practice of his to propose multiple new laws with ... read more

JAMESTOWN – One of Jamestown’s longest running baseball teams has a new name.

Image by Justin Gould/WNYNewsNow.The Jamestown Jammers announced Wednesday they are rebranding as the Jamestown Tarp Skunks. General Manager Frank Fanning says the name has a local connection. “Tarp representing Mr. Howard Ehmke, former Chautauqua ... read more

JAMESTOWN – A City of Jamestown man is facing charges after allegedly driving under the influence of drugs on Tuesday evening. Jamestown Police say Shawn Lawson, 28, was pulled over in the area of Hallock Street and Newland Avenues for an alleged traffic violation . Officers say while speaking with ... read more

CHAUTAUQUA – Congressman Tom Reed says the Chautauqua Opera Company will receive a $15,000 Art Works grant to help fund its 2020 opera festival. The opera company’s season will focus on the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, the Women’s Suffrage Centennial, with three different operas: “Tosca,” ... read more

ALABNY – New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo aims to fix Medicaid spending and legalize marijuana in 2020. Governor Cuomo on Tuesday unveiled a $178 billion state budget proposal that hinges on a plan to launch a team tasked with reining in the nation’s largest Medicaid program. Cuomo says the ... read more

SEATTLE — The United States has now confirmed its first case of the new Coronavirus virus that appeared in Wuhan, China, last month. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is only identifying the patient as a male U.S. Resident. He is currently in isolation at providence regional medical center ... read more

NEW YORK — A federal appeals court upheld former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s corruption conviction Tuesday but ordered a resentencing after reversing the conviction on some charges. The ruling by a three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals means the Democrat may get a fresh ... read more

JAMESTOWN – The City of Jamestown is looking for a new ambulance service as medical calls contintue to increase. City leaders say they are in the process of drafting a request for proposals to provide ambulance service within city limits. If a company is selected following the open bid process, ... read more

JAMESTOWN – A new poll has found New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s favorability rate has increased, although support for new bail reforms passed by the state is dwindling. The Siena College Poll found that at least 2/3 of voters are in support of 11 of the Governor’s State of the ... read more

FALCONER – A bill introduced by New York State Senator George Borrello aims to rename part of Route 394 between Falconer and Kennedy in honor of a fallen war hero. The highway would be renamed in memory of Staff Sgt. David Textor, who was killed July 15, 2008 during combat ... read more

JAMESTOWN – The National Comedy Center in Jamestown has been nominated for the 2020 USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Award for “Best New Museum.” The National Comedy Center was one of 20 new museums in the United States nominated for the award by a panel of nationally-recognized travel experts ... read more

FREDONIA – The Village of Fredonia remains first in the running to receive a half-million dollar transformation on the hit reality show “Small Business Revolution.” Last week, the village found out they made the top five list after it was previously announced they were in the top 10. Officials with ... read more

NEW YORK — Sen. Chuck Schumer stood at the finish line of a half-marathon in New York City, slapping high-fives. Then he was off to Washington for a meeting about the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. By the end of the night, he was back in New York, insisting ... read more

PORTVILLE – A Cattaraugus County woman was arrested after allegedly stabbing a neighbor several times. New York State Police say Kaylee Hicks, 21, is charged with burglary, assault and criminal possession of a weapon. Troopers say Hicks was arraigned in village court, taken the county jail and is scheduled to ... read more

ALBANY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo appears ready to set an April 28 special election — the same day as the state’s presidential primary — to fill a congressional seat left vacant by a western New York Republican who has since been convicted of insider trading. Republican leaders have said Cuomo ... read more

JAMESTOWN – A house destroyed by fire Monday morning on Spring Street in Jamestown is slated to be torn down today. The Jamestown Fire Department was called to 614 Spring St. just before 6:45 a.m. Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist, who was at the scene helping coordinate city resources, says in ... read more

LITTLE VALLEY – A City of Salamanca man was charged for allegedly driving while intoxicated following a crash on Route 353 in Cattaraugus County over the weekend. The Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office says Kyle Brock, 56, was located a short distance away from where his vehicle was found crashed off ... read more

JAMESTOWN – Monday marks a day to honor for one of the world’s most renowned civil rights leaders. Martin Luther King Junior Day was first officially declared a national holiday in 1983 by President Ronald Reagan. Though, the first national celebration didn’t take place until three years later. Doctor King ... read more

JAMESTOWN – A City of Jamestown man was arrested after allegedly punching a woman in the face and taking her vehicle without permission Sunday morning. Jamestown Police say that Robert Ridgeway Jr., 38, was arrested after returning to the Forest Avenue address while police were investigating the incident. Ridgeway is ... read more

ELLICOTTVILLE – When the snow falls in ski country, people from all over make their way to Ellicottville for a weekend of hitting the slopes and checking out the local shops. “All I can say is I’m glad we have the team that we do because keeping up with the ... read more

RANDOLPH – A Randolph man is facing charges after allegedly hitting a woman with a glass during a dispute Saturday afternoon on Main Street in the Town of Randolph. The Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office says the woman was taken to UPMC Chautauqua Hospital for treatment. Deputies say Joshua Meacham, 38, ... read more

ALBANY — A minor political party in New York has sued over a new law approved by political appointees that will make it harder for parties to get on the ballot. The Serve America Movement Party filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Manhattan Tuesday claiming the new requirement ... read more

JAMESTOWN – Fire crews are responding to a house fire on Spring Street Monday morning. The City of Jamestown Fire Department was dispatched to 614 Spring Street, just blocks from their central fire station, at 6:42 a.m. Photos submitted by viewer Joseph Lang show the house fully engulfed in ... read more