Western NY News Now

WASHINGTON — While a new COVID-19 package proposed by Tom Reed and The Problem Solvers Caucus has been rejected by several key Democratic committee members, a Reed spokesman told WNYNews Now the package still has a life. The spokesman said late Wednesday morning there is still support and that the ... read more

JAMESTOWN – A Jamestown man is facing multiple charges after Jamestown Police say he led them on a vehicle pursuit Wednesday morning.  Jamestown Police say they were called to help a citizen who was following a vehicle that had allegedly committed a burglary in the Town of Kiantone. Police say ... read more

JAMESTOWN — An apparent vehicle pursuit involving multiple law enforcement agencies ended in a crash on Fifth Street at about 10 a.m. today. East Fifth Street, between North Main and Pine Streets has been closed as police investigate the incident. One woman was transported to UPMC Chautauqua Hospital with unknown ... read more

ALBANY – New York State health leaders sent out updated guidance for nursing home visitation this week, now allowing them to open to visitors as long as they have been COVID-19 free for 14 days. The New York State Department of Health previously sent a directive stating a nursing home ... read more

CATTARAUGUS COUNTY — Local Department of Environmental Conservation Rangers, along with other agencies spent this past weekend in a two-day training exercise sponsored by the regional tech rescue team. The first day consisted of two rope rescue scenarios in the Zoar Gorge, which forced members of different departments to jointly ... read more

ALLEGANY COUNTY – New York State Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing 70-year-old man with Dementia. Troopers say Bradford Forster was last seen on Cloverleaf Road in the Town of New Hudson in Allegany County at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. Police say Bradford was driving a ... read more

JAMESTOWN – A City of Jamestown street will be getting new curbs, sidewalks and driveway aprons later this month. The Jamestown Department of Public Works announced the news on Tuesday evening. Leaders say the project is funded through a $100,000 Community Development Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Urban ... read more

LITTLE VALLEY — The Cattaraugus County Board of Elections has released the unofficial results of several village elections. Village of Cattaraugus: Trustee: Jason Crawford 55, Diane S. Wienk 23, George E. Borrowdale 58, Write-in 1. Village of Ellicottville: Mayor: John A. Burrell 87, William S. Coolidge 39. Trustee: Douglas S. ... read more

MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County officials have reported eight new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday afternoon with 59 active cases. The new cases consist of one case in Dunkirk, five cases in Fredonia, and two cases in Portland. There are currently three active cases among employees of Fieldbrook Foods with no active community ... read more

App users, tap here to watch video JAMESTOWN – Fall will take a very brief vacation tomorrow as a surge of warmer air pushes in. Then, it’s back to the cool stuff for the remainder of the week into early next week. With the Jet Stream continuing to dig into the ... read more

ALBANY – The future of Halloween trick-or-treating will not be decided by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo. The Governor, in a phone interview with News 12’s Tara Joyce on Tuesday morning, said he will leave the decision up to parents. “You have neighbors – if you want to go ... read more

ALBANY – Six states have been removed from the tri-state Coronavirus travel advisory, which requires incoming travelers from areas of high infection rates to self-quarantine for two weeks upon arrival. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced the update Tuesday; New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey formed the tri-state advisory back in ... read more

JAMESTOWN – Jamestown City Council continued its talks on the potential implementation of a residency requirement for new JPD hires during a Work Session meeting Monday night, with one Councilman calling for the municipality to negotiate with the Jamestown Kendall Club. Councilman At-Large, and retired JPD officer Jeff Russell (R), ... read more

JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown Board of Public Utilities is looking for five residential customers to partake in a water heating study where they could receive a free water heater. BPU officials say the new water heaters are demand response-enabled, meaning that the heating elements can be turned down or off ... read more

App users, tap here to watch video. ALBANY – Assemblyman Andy Goodell and Senator George Borrello recently testified before the New York State Farm Laborers Board in support of the efforts by the New York State Farm Bureau, local farmers, and farm workers to delay changing agricultural overtime standards. In ... read more

PITTSBURGH – A federal judge on Monday struck down Gov. Tom Wolf’s pandemic restrictions that required people to stay at home, placed size limits on gatherings and ordered “non-life-sustaining” businesses to shut down, calling them unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge William Stickman IV sided with plaintiffs that included hair salons, drive-in ... read more

JAMESTOWN – Two Buffalo residents are facing several charges after Jamestown Police allegedly found a large amount of counterfeit cash during a traffic stop on Monday. Officers say Louis Thomas, 23, and Jade Hooks, 22, were pulled over in the area of E. 2nd and Winsor Streets for a traffic ... read more

NEW YORK — A Macy’s Thanksgiving parade reimagined for the coronavirus pandemic will feature floats, performers and giant balloons along a one-block stretch of 34th Street in front of the retailer’s flagship Manhattan store, Macy’s officials announced Monday. The spectacle will be broadcast as usual from 9 a.m. to noon ... read more

WASHINGTON — Election Question: Why is it that one candidate can win the popular vote but another wins the electoral vote and thus the presidency? Answer: That’s how the framers of the Constitution set it up. This unique system of electing presidents is a big reason why Donald Trump won ... read more

MAYVILLE – Twenty-four new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Chautauqua County from over the past weekend. County health officials say the new cases were reported from Saturday to Monday. Of the cases, six are in the City of Dunkirk, four are in Fredonia, six are in Jamestown, one is ... read more

DUNKIRK – A 33-year-old Dunkirk man was arrested after allegedly hitting a man in the head with an axe over the weekend. Dunkirk Police say Brian Nowak was arrested Saturday afternoon following the alleged assault. Nowak is charged with felony second-degree assault and was remanded to Chautauqua County jail on ... read more

App users, tap here to watch video JAMESTOWN – It’s a sign of the times ahead as rather cool air dumps into the region tonight creating the first frost of the season for some. The National Weather Service has issued a Frost Advisory for Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties, effective 1 ... read more

JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown City Council will vote on a resolution authorizing a Parking Ticket Amnesty Program during its September Work Session Monday evening. The resolution calls for the amnesty to be for all license plate numbers that currently owe monies for parking violations to the City of Jamestown, except ... read more

FREDONIA – The Village of Fredonia will be distributing bottles of water this week after officials issued a State of Emergency due to a problem with its water system. Officials say the water will be distributed at the Village DPW, 176 Eagle St., Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to ... read more

JAMESTOWN – The average price for a gallon of gas continues to drop. According to AAA, the demand for gas is going down with summer vacations wrapping up. Virtual learning has also contributed to a lesser need for gas since fewer students are actually going to school facilities due to ... read more

LAKEWOOD – Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel has been endorsed by one of the state’s largest unions representing government workers. Wendel, in a media release on Monday, announced he has been endorsed by Civil Service Employee Association Chautauqua County Local 807 and the CSEA Region VI Political Action Committee. The ... read more

KENNEDY – A 57-year-old Frewsburg woman is facing DWI charges after New York State Police said she crashed her car into construction barriers while allegedly driving drunk over the weekend. Troopers responded to the Saturday crash on Route 394 in Kennedy. Through investigation they allege Christine Peterson drove through barriers ... read more

ALBANY – A bill that aims to divide New York State into three regions is coming back into the spotlight. Sponsored by Senator Robert Ortt, and co-sponsored by local state Senator George Borrello, the amendment is based on a pervious idea of separating upstate and downstate. Specifically, the measure would ... read more

GERRY – A Town of Gerry man was arrested after allegedly threatening to kill a woman on Sunday. New York State Police say James Spitale, 43, violated an order of protection by visiting a woman at a residence in Gerry. Through investigation it is alleged that Spitale threatening to assault ... read more

JAMESTOWN – A cold front passing by the region today will allow cooler Autumn like air for the start of the new work week.  For Sunday, scattered showers and thunderstorms possible throughout the day, otherwise mostly cloudy with highs in the lower-70’s. Tonight, mostly cloudy with a shower possible. Lows ... read more