Western NY News Now

App users tap here to watch video JAMESTOWN – The warm air will slowly fade throughout the remainder of the week as the weather becomes more unsettled and much cooler towards the end of the weekend. The passage of a cold front has brought in a bit cooler air for Wednesday ... read more

PANAMA – A bill that would have released the Panama Central School District from paying a $1.9 million fine from the New York State Education Department was vetoed by the Governor. New York State Senator George Borrello in a statement said there is zero justification for diverting critically-needed education dollars ... read more

ERIE (Erie News Now) – With Halloween getting closer, the Erie Zoo is getting ready for one of its biggest annual events. Zoo Boo kicks off Wednesday night, starting three weeks of spooky fun. The yearly party runs every Wednesday through Sunday night through Saturday, Oct. 30. If you go, ... read more

ALBANY (WENY) – Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday $7.4 million in federal funding is available to New York State county emergency management agencies to support preparedness for any type of disaster. The announcement comes in response to the damages New York has seen over the months due to natural disasters, ... read more

WARREN (Erie News Now) – The Warren County School District’s revised face mask policy will stay in place for at least another week or so after a federal judge agreed to delay Wednesday’s scheduled court hearing on the matter. The judge granted a delay in the case to give the ... read more

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. will reopen its land borders to nonessential travel next month, ending a 19-month freeze due to the COVID-19 pandemic as the country moves to require all international visitors to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. Vehicle, rail and ferry travel between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico has been largely ... read more

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House said Wednesday it has helped broker an agreement for the Port of Los Angeles to become a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week operation, part of an effort to relieve supply chain bottlenecks and move stranded container ships that are driving prices higher for U.S. consumers. President Joe ... read more

WASHINGTON (AP) — With the calendar slipping toward a new deadline, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is warning that “difficult decisions must be made” to trim President Joe Biden’s expansive plans for reimagining the nation’s social service programs and tackling climate change. Democrats are laboring to chisel the $3.5 trillion package ... read more

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Cross-country traveler Gabby Petito was strangled, a Wyoming coroner announced Tuesday. Petito, 22, died three to four weeks before her body was found Sept. 19 near an undeveloped camping area along the border of Grand Teton National Park in remote northern Wyoming, Teton County Coroner Dr. ... read more

App users tap here to watch video JAMESTOWN – You might dodge a raindrop or two this evening but the weather remains fairly quiet for the rest of the week until a big pattern flip occurs over the weekend. High pressure has started to scoot on out of the region, which will ... read more

JAMESTOWN – A leader with the National Comedy Center in Jamestown is receiving recognition for their work to keep tourism alive during the pandemic. National Comedy Center Vice President of Finance and Operations Rochelle Mole was recognized by the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce last week. Mole is credited with working behind the scenes ... read more

JAMESTOWN – An event to celebrate “coming out” stories during National LGBTQ History Month is happening this week in Jamestown. Hosted by Jamestown Pride, in collaboration with the Fenton Historical Society and the Robert H. Jackson Center, the “coffeehouse” event is happening on Friday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at ... read more

WARREN – The trial for a Pennsylvania man charged with murder was moved to December.  Court records obtained by WNY News Now reveal that Haggar Steven Brewer, 57, will now stand trial on Dec. 7 in Warren County Court. The trial was originally slated to begin last Monday. Brewer is ... read more

UTICA (WENY) – A federal judge ruled Tuesday New York State must allow religious exemptions from the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for state health care workers. Previously, Judge David Hurd issued a temporary restraining order after more than a dozen health care professionals filed a lawsuit, saying that their rights would ... read more

ERIE (Erie News Now) – In February of 2020 at Age 36, Sarah Johnson was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. She is a cancer survivor who now works as Executive Director for Linked By Pink to raise awareness to the importance of breast cancer screenings.  Her breast cancer was detected early at a checkup, done only because the gene ... read more

JAMESTOWN – The average price of gas in the United States has jumped nearly six cents in the last two weeks. This increase is bigger than any since last spring. It is a result of a price hike in crude oil. On average, Americans are paying more than a dollar more ... read more

JAMESTOWN – A man fell from an upper floor of the High Rise Apartments in Jamestown on Tuesday. The Jamestown Fire Department, Alstar EMS and Jamestown Police responded to the scene around 9:30 a.m. The victim was taken to UPMC Chautauqua Hospital via Ambulance. It is unclear why he fell ... read more

ERIE (Erie News Now) – Breakthrough cases of COVID-19 are climbing and officials at UPMC Hamot in Erie confirm that their data is keeping pace. Vaccinated people with breakthrough cases of COVID-19 now account for 26% of all those hospitalized, that’s up from 5% in September. UPMC Hamot Director of ... read more

WELLSVILLE (WENY) – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was in Allegany County Monday, touting the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the provisions in it that aim to expand broadband access in underserved rural and urban communities. According to the FCC, 23% of Allegany County’s population – nearly 10,800 residents – do ... read more

ALBANY (WENY) – Enrollment for New York’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is now open ahead of the winter season. HEAP helps low-income people pay the cost of heating their homes. Those eligible may receive one regular HEAP benefit per program year; they could also be eligible for emergency benefits ... read more

BEMUS POINT – Two people are facing around a half-a-dozen charges after police allegedly recovered stolen social security cards, credit cards, checks and drugs during a traffic stop last week. New York State Police say troopers made contact with 25-year-old Tyisha Kaiser and 34-year-old Dakatoah Kaltenbach while investigating a disabled ... read more

TAMPA, FL – Gabby Petito’s disappearance and death have sparked many questions and stoked national attention, and on Tuesday a piece of the mystery could be revealed as authorities are scheduled to provide an update on her final autopsy report. The Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue will discuss the ... read more

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Biden administration urged the courts again Monday night to step in and suspend a new Texas law that has banned most abortions since early September, as clinics hundreds of miles away remain busy with Texas patients making long journeys to get care. The latest attempt ... read more

App users, tap here to watch video report. RANDOLPH – A Jamestown area pet store is expanding their reach to rural areas, in what the store owner says will fill demands from his customers. Jamestown business entrepreneur Jason Skinner is expanding his family-owned business Pearl City Pets to the Town ... read more

App users, tap here to watch video report. RANDOLPH – The wife of a late Vietnam War Veteran from Western New York says she wants the community to remember her husband’s patriotism while driving over a bridge dedicated in his memory. Over the weekend the I-86 bridge over School House ... read more

App users tap here to watch video JAMESTOWN – Unseasonable warmth will continue early this week with a running shot at record highs on Tuesday while remaining mainly quiet until a bit a big change heads our way for the weekend. We are on the western, or the “weaker” side of high pressure this Monday, which ... read more

JAMESTOWN – While New York State’s Department of Motor Vehicles has run out of registration stickers, those looking to renew in-person at DMV locations in Chautauqua County are in luck. County Clerk Larry Barmore says if you plan to renew your registration online or by mail to Albany, a four-to-six-week ... read more

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Economy has hit a roadblock in its efforts to recover since the pandemic. The Bureau of Labor Statistics released the latest jobs report, detailing that employers only added 194,000 jobs in September. It is the second-straight month where the economy added fewer jobs than expected. Jobs ... read more

JAMESTOWN – The Democrat incumbent for Jamestown City Council’s Ward VI seat says that there’s more work to be done to improve the Ward and the City as a whole. Councilman Tom Nelson, who is attempting to fend off a challenge by Republican Andrew Faulkner in the November election, recently ... read more

LAKEWOOD – A 33-year-old Jamestown woman is facing charges after allegedly stealing over $250 in merchandise from a local Walmart store. Lakewood-Busti Police allege Byrnn Castellano left the store with 32 stolen items concealed in her purse on Sunday. Following an investigation officers say Castellano allegedly walked away with those ... read more