Langworthy issues statement on Job Corps program's status...
Chautauqua County's representative in Congress says he's a "strong believer in creating pathways to good paying jobs..." but, he questions the Job Corps', current, nationwide performance. Buffalo-area Republican Nick Langworthy issued a statement this morning about the program... as the Trump administration has paused the program while it's effectiveness is being evaluated. Langworthy's office sent a statement to The Post-Journal... and has now shared it with us. In it... he say he believes in other programs that don't require a -- "traditional four-year degree, and the mission of Job Corps is commendable. However, I have serious concerns about the program’s current performance. The national cost per student now exceeds 80-thousand dollars... yet Department of Labor statistics reveal alarmingly low graduation and certification rates – figures that stand in stark contrast to what we’ve been told by program staff. While the recent pause in funding is under judicial review and only a small number of local residents are enrolled at the Cassadaga site, I will continue actively digging into the data and seeking answers from Job Corps leadership about these troubling discrepancies." He concluded that "any program funded with taxpayer money must meet the highest levels of scrutiny and accountability.”
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Earlier this week... U.S. Senator Charles Schumer said President Trump’s 2026 budget proposal would completely eliminate funding for Job Corps centers, effectively killing the program. Schumer has gone on record saying both he and New York's other U.S. Senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, support Job Corps.
City teen arrested for possessing ammunition, feeding device during GIVE Probation Detail...
A Jamestown teenager has been arrest for allegedly being found in possession of several bullets and a large-capacity feeding device during a Gun-Involved Violence Detail on the city's northside. Jamestown police say a GIVE Probation Detail responded to a residence just before 10:30 last night to do a probation check. While investigating... they allegedly found 19 year-old Anthony Rivera in possession of the feeding device and the bullets. Rivera was arrested for third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was taken into custody without incident... and, held pending arraignment.
Schmidt announces Tenamore sentenced to 3 to 6 years in prison for burglary plea...
A Dunkirk man will spend the next 3 to 6 years in state prison after being sentenced in Chautauqua County Court for third-degree burglary. District Attorney Jason Schmidt says 44 year-old John Tenamore received the indeterminate sentence from County Court Judge David Foley earlier this week. Schmidt says Tenamore was arraigned in March 2024 on charges of second-degree burglary for an incident that occurred in May 2021 in the Town of Pomfret. On Sept. 5 of last year... Tenamore pled guilty to the lesser burglary charge. Schmidt thanked the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation for their hard work on the case.
Gillibrand calls for restoration of $1-Bill in federal funding to support mental health services in schools and their communities...
New York's Junior U.S. Senator is calling on the Trump administration to restore federal funding for two grant programs that support mental health services in schools. Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand made the plea during a virtual press conference Thursday... during which she said the two programs received $1-billion as part of the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Gillibrand says that legislation passed in the wake of deadly mass shootings at the Tops Market in Buffalo... and at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. She adds the legislation also included major funding for mental health programs, including two critical ones: the Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration... and, School-based Mental Health Services grants programs were meant to develop a pipeline for more mental health professionals to go into schools. However... Gillibrand says... in late April, the Trump administration announced that it was cutting off the funding for these two programs. This decision impacts almost $50-million of the $71-million in funding for schools and school districts in New York State. Gillibrand says she's now written twice to the administration about it... and, gotten few answers. The first time was in May... the second one was last week. She asked where are students in many places going to go if the services aren't there due to the cuts.
Tomorrow is last day to register to vote in upcoming primaries...
The deadline for voters to register for the upcoming June 24 primaries is tomorrow... Saturday, June 14. That from Chautauqua County Elections Commissioners Luz Torres and Nacole Ellis... who says the county's Board of Elections will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for anyone wishing to register. They add that New York State election law says that voters who are already registered needed to change their political party affiliation by this past Feb. 14 to be eligible to vote in this Primary Election. All Democratic party members in the village of Fredonia, Republican party members in the town of Carroll and Conservative party members in the town of Portland will be eligible to vote in the June 24 Primary. Ellis and Torres add that there will be one early voting poll site for the Primary Election. That will be at the Robert H. Jackson Center in Jamestown. Early Voting starts tommorrow... and, continues through Sunday, June 22. Early Voting will not be held on Monday, June 23. For times... and, where to go on Primary Day... go on-line to votechautauqua.com.
