Tuesday, March 11
Jamestown Awarded $2 Million for Vacant Rental Improvement Program to Revitalize Housing
27Nov By Grace ThompsonNo Comments
Community

Jamestown Awarded $2 Million for Vacant Rental Improvement Program to Revitalize Housing

(WNY News Now) In an effort to battle poverty and offer affordable housing in the struggling city of Jamestown, a $2 million state grant will be used to renovate abandoned, condemned rental properties.New York's Jamestown The New York State Homes and Community Renewal Vacant Rental Improvement Program has granted $2 million to the City of Jamestown's Department of Development in collaboration with Citizens Opportunity for Development and Equality (CODE Inc.).In an attempt to turn abandoned and condemned housing units into reasonably priced long-term rental homes, the Department of Development and CODE Inc. submitted joint applications for more than $2.9 million in October of this year. The Department of Development and CODE Inc. were able to supervise the rehabilitation of up to or aroun...
Read More
Buffalo Man Admits Guilt in Fatal Masten Park Shooting
27Nov By Grace ThompsonNo Comments
Buffalo

Buffalo Man Admits Guilt in Fatal Masten Park Shooting

Buffalo, New York (WNY News Now).In relation to the shooting death of a 33-year-old man in the Masten Park neighborhood last year, a Buffalo man has entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder.During a hearing before Erie County Court Judge Sheila A. DiTullio on Monday, 45-year-old Martinko Jamel Caver acknowledged the charge of a Class A-I felony. The indictment against him is entirely satisfied by the plea.Around 2:15 a.m. on September 5, 2022, the incident took place. Authorities claim that Caver shot George McGee, III, in the 300 block of Glenwood Avenue using an illegal handgun. After being taken by EMS to ECMC, McGee passed away from his wounds.Caver could now receive a term ranging from 25 years to life in jail. At 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 30, 2025, he will be sentenced. He ...
Read More
Olean Mayor Announces Homeslessness Task Force Progress
27Nov By Grace ThompsonNo Comments
Cattaraugus County

Olean Mayor Announces Homeslessness Task Force Progress

(WNY News Now) Olean Mayor Aiello has reported that the Homelessness Task Force has made strides in comprehending the community's homelessness problem.Olean Mayor Aiello is happy to report that the Homelessness Task Force has convened twice and is collaborating to better understand the nature of the issue and its scope in our community. The task force's members are drawn from a variety of networks that support the homeless and the vulnerable across the County. The taskforce members possess a practical understanding of the situation and its causes in our community.Casa-Trinity, the Cattaraugus County Department of Social Services and Community Services, the City of Olean Code Enforcement, the City of Olean Common Council, the City of Olean Fire Department, the City of Olean Police Departmen...
Read More
New Law Simplifies Process for New Yorkers to Reclaim Lost Money
27Nov By Grace ThompsonNo Comments
Comptroller

New Law Simplifies Process for New Yorkers to Reclaim Lost Money

(WNY News Now) Comptroller DiNapoli's office is empowered by a historic statute passed by Governor Hochul to expedite the return of unclaimed monies under $250, putting money back into New Yorkers' pockets more quickly than before.Following the Governor's signing of legislation allowing the Office of the State Comptroller to accelerate some unclaimed funds payouts of $250 or less, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli released the following statement on Monday.The measure, which was proposed by DiNapoli's office, amends the Abandoned Property Law to allow the State Comptroller to oversee a recently created expedited payment program. This program does away with the requirement that individuals and organizations submit a valid claim for abandoned property valued at $250 or less. As...
Read More
Felon’s Wrong Turn Leads to Firearm Seizure at U.S. Border
27Nov By Grace ThompsonNo Comments
Arrests

Felon’s Wrong Turn Leads to Firearm Seizure at U.S. Border

(WNY News Now) A felon who is not allowed to own a handgun was arrested after a navigation accident at the U.S.-Canada border turned up a firearm.LEWISTON, N.Y. — After finding a firearm in a commercial vehicle, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials arrested a 62-year-old U.S. citizen at the Lewiston Bridge border crossing.The driver mistook his GPS for the Canadian border while trying to deliver a commercial package to Michigan, but he did not have the required documentation to gain access. He returned to the United States after being rejected by Canadian officials, and during an initial screening, he admitted to possessing a handgun.A Hi-Point C9 semi-automatic 9mm handgun and 40 rounds of ammo were found by CBP agents during a secondary examination. The driver, a native o...
Read More
Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in University Heights Shooting
27Nov By Grace ThompsonNo Comments
Buffalo

Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in University Heights Shooting

Buffalo, New York (WNY News Now) Buffalo resident Michael A. Barnes, 37, entered a guilty plea to first-degree manslaughter in connection with a shooting death in the University Heights community. Prior to Barnes' planned jury trial next week, the plea was entered yesterday before Judge Sheila A. DiTullio of the Erie County Court.The incident happened on the 3100 block of Main Street close to Winspear Avenue early on Tuesday, September 12, 2023. Barnes acknowledged shooting 28-year-old Thomas Davis many times with an illegal handgun. At the scene, Davis passed away from his wounds.Barnes could now receive a prison term of up to 25 years. At 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 6, 2025, he will be sentenced. He is still being held without being granted bail.Detectives Jerry Guilian, Erin McCar...
Read More
Ohio Man Indicted in South Carolina for Exploiting and Stalking Minors on Social Media
27Nov By Grace ThompsonNo Comments
Government

Ohio Man Indicted in South Carolina for Exploiting and Stalking Minors on Social Media

For Quick Publication U.S. Attorney s Office, District of South Carolina Columbia, S.C.Jack Keegan Davis, 21, of Columbus, Ohio, is charged with coercing and enticing juveniles, producing, distributing, and possessing child pornography*, as well as cyberstalking, according to a six-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury. According to the indictment, Davis pretended to be a juvenile and engaged with minors on social media between August 2022 and October 2024 using at least four social media platforms and 130 social media display names. Davis produced material about child sexual abuse and used those claims to encourage young victims to have sex. According to the allegations, Davis obtained that content, kept it, and shared some of it with other children, including one of his victi...
Read More
Explore Chautauqua County’s Trails and Recreation: Join Audubon’s First Friday Event on December 6
27Nov By Grace ThompsonNo Comments
Audubon

Explore Chautauqua County’s Trails and Recreation: Join Audubon’s First Friday Event on December 6

(WNY News Now) At the Audubon Community Nature Center's First Friday event on December 6, trail expert Jacob Bodway will discuss Chautauqua County's expanding system of recreational trails and waterways.First Friday, December 6, 11 a.m. to noon, at the Audubon Community Nature Center, Chautauqua County Trails with Jacob Bodway, Jamestown, N.Y.Take a look at Chautauqua County's amazing recreational activities with Bodway, trail coordinator for the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth.In recent years, Chautauqua County has witnessed a significant increase in canal and trail improvements, as well as the creation of a new mobile and interactive trail map. In addition to giving an overview of how we got to where we are now and where we plan to go in the future, this presentation wi...
Read More
Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire takes effect
27Nov By Grace ThompsonNo Comments
News

Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire takes effect

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden declared that a truce in Lebanon, mediated by the United States, had been reached between Israel and Hezbollah and would go into effect a few hours later. Tens of thousands have been displaced on both sides of the border, and the heightened tensions and back-and-forth strikes over the past year have killed dozens in Israel and hundreds in Lebanon, increasing the likelihood of a regional conflict. In describing the ceasefire, Biden stated that it was "designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities." The agreement was set to take effect Wednesday at 4 a.m. local time and was intended to end combat at the Israel-Lebanese border. According to Biden, France and other allies of the United States "will make sure this deal is implemented fully." "Let me be clea...
Read More
Assault trial for man accused in wrong-door shooting of Ralph Yarl moves forward
27Nov By Grace ThompsonNo Comments
News

Assault trial for man accused in wrong-door shooting of Ralph Yarl moves forward

A judge announced Tuesday that the prosecution of an 86-year-old white man accused of killing a Black youngster in Kansas City, Missouri, last year through the wrong door will proceed. Judge David P. Chamberlain of Clay County Circuit Court approved Andrew Lester's mental exam in September. It was finished and recorded on November 15 but was otherwise kept private. According to court documents, the trial is set to begin on February 18 during a hearing in early October, and the report has not yet paused that date. If necessary, a second trial week was set for February 24. Ralph Yarl's mother, Cleo Nagbe, said the family is happy the lawsuit was kept on track. In a statement to Kansas City, Missouri's NBC station KSHB, Ralph Yarl's family expressed gratitude that the trial against Andrew Les...
Read More