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WJTN News Headlines

The top three officials of New York state government have gathered behind closed doors for the first time since the Senate picked a new leader.  Republican Senate Leader John Flanagan says Wednesday morning's meeting with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie... and, Governor Andrew Cuomo focused on priorities for lawmakers before their annual session ends next month.  The Senate picked Flanagan to be its new leader on Monday following the resignation of Long Island Republican Dean Skelos, who is keeping his Senate seat while he fights federal corruption charges.  Big issues facing lawmakers before they adjourn include the renewal of New York City's rent regulations and its local control of public schools.  Lawmakers will also consider extending a tax break for real estate developers created decades ago to spur development in Manhattan.


State regulators have released the final version of an environmental impact review of shale gas development that's expected to lead to a state ban on fracking.  Last December... Governor Andrew Cuomo said he would defer to the judgment of his health and environmental conservation commissioners, who said they'd recommend a ban on high-volume hydraulic fracturing.  Under state law... a formal decision on whether to allow or ban fracking will come 10 days after the environmental review's release today (on Wednesday.)  The environmental review was launched in 2008.  A state health study released in December found ``significant uncertainty'' over whether safety measures could adequately protect public health.

 

A final 2015-16 budget for the village of Lakewood could not be approved by the board... so, the new spending plan defaults to the original plan offered by Mayor David Wordelmann.  The village board recently voted 2-to-2... with Wordelmann and Sue Drago voting yes... and, board members John Jablonski and David DiSalvo voting no.  With that... Wordelmann says the just over 3-million dollar budget holds the tax levy where it's been for the past three years.  He says that's good news. Wordelmann adds that while they have room under the state's 2-percent property tax cap... he didn't want to see a big increase in spending... or the tax levy.  Property values are up in the village... so he says there will be a corresponding 36-cent per thousand drop in the tax rate to 7-dollars-12 cents.  He says total assessments, due to additional development, and a reval, are up another 12-million dollars.  Wordelmann says there were a few spending increases in the village...but, nothing major.  The new budget took effect on May 1st.

 

The village of Lakewood will have a new disposal company collecting garbage beginning the first of June.  That after the village board this week approved the hiring of Best Way Disposal of Fredonia to pick-up trash for the next three-years.  Mayor David Wordelmann says village officials decided to seek bids after current contractor, Casella, instituted a major, 50-percent rate hike three years ago.  Wordelmann says Best Way had the lowest bid... one that will save taxpayers 10-thousand dollars a year. Wordelmann says the fact there was more competition for the contract this time around helped hold down the price.  Village officials say more information will be circulated prior to the date Best Way takes over.  Service is slated to begin on June 1st.

 

Gasoline prices in Chautauqua County have held steady after jumping by 11 cents a gallon about a week ago.  That from the Triple-A's Fuel Gauge Report... which says the average price is now 2-dollars-85.4 cents a gallon for regular, unleaded fuel.  Triple-A says the price is based on reports from 19 local service stations.  The price was 3--85 last year at this time.  The Fuel Gauge reports the national average is now about 2-dollars-66 cents a gallon.  The Triple-A says the national average price has increased for the past 26 days... and, the current average is the highest it's been so far in 2015.  Relatively low crude costs continue to translate to significant savings at the pump for consumers.  Today’s national average is about a dollar less than a year ago... and is at the cheapest level for this date since 2009.  With that... Triple-A predicts that travel by car this Memorial Day holiday will be up 5.3 percent over last year’s holiday weekend.  That would be the highest volume in ten years.  The price of crude has moved higher since the middle of March due to slowing U.S. production... and, speculation of demand growth from China. 

 

One incumbant and one newcomer will be running for two open seats on the Jamestown School Board next Tuesday.  The incumbant is first-term board member Dan Johnson.  The retired Jamestown Police Officer says he loves working with the board... teachers... and, staff in the district.  Johnson adds that he feels three-years is not enough time to completely learn the job. However... the other incumbant... 13 year member Laurel Lucas... won't be seeking re-election.  School Superintendent Tim Mains says he's saddened by that news.  But... he also thanked Lucas for her service.  She says... for the most part... it's all been good.  Lucas adds the board has been doing a good job, and she believes they'll "do a good job going forward."  She just wishes they had more "a little more help" from the state.  Lucas also praised the district's educators for making the "roll-out" of Common Core as smooth as it was.  She will be replaced on next Tuesday's ballot by Nina Karbacka.    

 


Food television star Sandra Lee says her surgery for breast cancer has been postponed until next week because of an upper respiratory infection.  Lee says in a Twitter message Wednesday that her doctors decided it would be best to delay the double mastectomy until early next week.  The procedure had been scheduled for today.  The 48-year-old lifestyle personality and live-in girlfriend of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo shared the news of her breast cancer on ABC's ``Good Morning America'' this week.  In her message Wednesday... Lee thanked those who offered prayers and messages of support.  Cuomo plans to take some personal time to be with Lee following the procedure.  She and Cuomo share a home in Westchester County.

 

The union representing about 120 workers... including registered nurses... at Brooks Memorial Hospital will have a new contract.  Members of the New York State Nurses Association approved a four-year contract extension by a unanimous vote according to union officials.  Terms of the agreement have not been released... but, the contract will run through June of 2018.

 

Pennsylvanians would see billions in lower school property taxes under a proposal that made it out of the state House and into the hands of the Senate.  The House voted 105 to 86 on Wednesday for what supporters call the most significant action in decades on relief from the state's widely reviled property taxes.  The legislation would increase the sales tax rate in most of the state from 6 percent to 7 percent and the personal income tax rate from 3.07 percent to 3.7 percent.  Opponents warn that short-term savings will eventually be lost when schools return property taxes to current levels.