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WJTN Headlines for Sept. 20, 2018

There are problems with an overpopulation of deer in some parts of Jamestown, but now there is also an issue with the predators that hunt them....  
 
That was brought into clear focus at this week's City Council work session, as Public Safety Committee Chairwoman Maria Jones talked about recent discussions she had with some people who live in the area of Chadakoin Park.  Jones says one family was near the new playground-area and, saw a deer run out of the woods, chased by three coyotes.  They turned the deer back to the woods and three other coyotes chase the deer back out before they took it down.
 
No people were hurt, but Jones says it's a reminder that where there are lots of deer, their natural predators will end up there as well.  There is little that can be done at this point about the problem, but At-Large Councilman Andrew Liuzzo says the state Department of Environmental Conservation has approved eight additional deer hunting permits for landowners outside the city in the 9-J territory.  It is against the law to hunt within the city limits and, lawmakers have already decided against any kind of legal deer harvest in the city. 
 
 
A one-year-old child was pepper-sprayed, along with a man, during what is described as a neighborhood dispute in Jamestown's eastside...  
 
City police were called to the scene on Midgely Street about 5 p.m. Tuesday and, found that 22 year-old Mariah Jackson had used the pepper spray on the unidentified man and, that the one-year-old -- who was nearby -- also got sprayed.  Fortunately, the todder was not hurt.  Police say Jackson was arrested on one count of endangering the welfare of a child.
 
 
A judge will decide whether a former top aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo receives leniency or a long prison sentence for his conviction on federal bribery and fraud charges...  
 
Joseph Percoco is set for a sentencing in Manhattan federal court today.  Prosecutors say he should serve well over five years in prison. His lawyers say he should get no more than two years.  Percoco was convicted in March. He was acquitted of extortion and a bribery count.  Prosecutors say Percoco and his family accepted more than $300,000 in bribes from companies that wanted to gain influence with the Cuomo administration.  Cuomo, a Democrat, wasn't accused of wrongdoing, but testimony presented an unflattering picture of the inner workings of his office.
 
 
Indicted Congressman Chris Collins says he'll campaign for his Buffalo-area seat, and the Republican is vowing to serve if voters re-elect him in November...  
 
Collins' announcement on Twitter Wednesday comes two days after he said he would remain on the ballot despite previously suspending his campaign in the wake of insider trading charges.  The 68 year-old Buffalo-area representative tweeted that the stakes "are too high" to allow a Democrat to take control of his seat representing a right-leaning Buffalo-area district.  He says he'll actively campaign, while fighting the federal charges filed last month. 
 
 
A problem for a local veteran getting access to dental care has led Congressman Tom Reed to co-sponsor legislation that will allow vets better access to those services...  
 
Reed says he worked with New Hampshire representative Carol Shay Porter on the legislation.  The Corning Republican says the measure would eliminate some provisions in the regulations that blocked such care.
 
Reed says he was on a street in Corning when a woman stopped him to talk about her husband's plight in dealing with the barriers to getting the dental care he needed.  He says they've been taking feedback from veteran's regarding the "Choice Program" to make it work better.  Reed says that's also come into play with the "Blue Water Program... " which expanded coverage for Vietnam veteran's affected by "Agent Orange."  Reed made his comments during his weekly telephone news conference call with Southern Tier Media.
 
 
The legacy of a legendary automobile will be celebrated this weekend, with the 3rd annual Studebaker Swap Meet at the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds in Dunkirk...
  
Steve Grant of Fredonia, the founder and Vice-President of the Kinzua Region Chapter of the Studebaker Driver's Club, says there will be used cars for sale, toys, parts (new and used), memorabilia and more that's Studebaker related.
 
Around 30 vendors will be on the grounds for the show, Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m..  Steve Grant has owned 30 Studebakers over time.  He says people sometimes think it was a bad brand because it went out of business in 1966. But he says they were a really "well-built and dependable" car and truck company.  Grant adds, people will come from a wide area for the Dunkirk show, as Studebaker swaps are rare today.  The show at the fairgrounds is free, with free parking.  Food will be available.  
 
 
Republicans and Democrats are joining forces to speed legislation combating the misuse of opioids and other addictive drugs through the Senate...  
 
It's expected to be passed easily in a rare show of unity against a growing and deadly health-care crisis.  The measure would increase scrutiny of arriving international mail that may include illegal drugs.  It would also make it easier for the National Institutes of Health to approve research on finding non-addictive painkillers.  The Food and Drug Administration would be allowed to require drug makers to package smaller quantities of drugs like opioids.  And there would be new federal grants for treatment centers, training emergency workers and research on prevention.  The government estimates that over 72,000 people died from drug overdoses last year - double the 36,000 who died in 2008.