Community Spotlight, the area's longest running local public affairs radio program, airs on all six Media One Radio Group stations each weekend and is also available to hear in our Podcast Section.  Each week we sit down with a community leader or another special guest to talk about issues within our community.  


Weather Forecasts are available across our radio stations each day and also as your fingertips! 

Connect with The National Weather Service's Buffalo Office or with WGRZ-TV for accurate weather information!

 

 

 


 

WJTN News Headlines

 

The city man accused of shooting and killing his wife last Thursday during an incident on Jamestown's southside is now in custody following a 6-hour stand-off with police early Tuesday.  City Police Chief Harry Snellings says police received a citizen tip of suspicious activity at 2 Todd Avenue on the westside about 11:40 PM Monday.  That house is owned by the father of the suspect, 36 year-old Keith Robbins.  Snellings says police got consent to go inside... and, searched the bottom two floors before checking the attic. Snellings says Mitchell was stabbed in the area of the throat.  He says their officers backed out, and established a perimeter while tactical teams were called in.  Snellings says they established communications with Robbins... who finally gave up shortly before 6 AM.  He confirmed for us that the home was checked when police were following up leads on Robbins' vehicle near 24 Woodworth and 2 Todd Avenues last Thursday morning.  He says they found his pick-up truck near his father's home.  Snellings did say that Robbins' father was cooperating with the investigation.  Robbins is being treated for a self-inflicted stab wound... and, will later be charged with second-degree murder in the death of his 36 year-old wife, Shari.


There are reports that murder suspect Keith Robbins was abusive towards his wife... and, that she had an order of protection again him.  That was not the case at the time... but, Chief Snellings did confirm that Shari Robbins had what's called a "refrain order" against him.  District Attorney Patrick Swanson was at Tuesday morning's press conference... and, clarified what that is. There has been a report that Robbins had contacted... and, threatened Sheri Robbins a number of times recently... including the night before the murder.  Snellings says they are investigating that... but would not comment any further.

 

Jamestown Police Chief Harry Snellings is thanking residents --- along with several area police agencies and the FBI -- for their help in the manhunt for Keith Robbins.  However... he also expressed concern over how local residents were using social media during the investigation... and, the problems it posed for them early in the manhunt.  In fact... he says people were putting out false information about what actually happened. Jamestown police also held back on some information early in the investigation... and, subsequent manhunt... because they said it could have jeopardized their investigation.

 

A call to raise the salary of New York state lawmakers has been rejected.  Lawmakers now make 79-thousand-500 dollars for what is technically a part-time job.  Lawmakers haven't seen a raise since 1999 but still make the third-highest legislative salary in the country.  Many lawmakers say their pay hasn't kept up with the cost of living and doesn't reflect the work they put in outside the six-month legislative session.  A state commission with the power to grant a raise balked at the idea Tuesday.  Lawmakers could convene a lame-duck session this year to vote on a pay raise or appoint a new commission to reconsider.  Legislative pay is seen as a touchy subject following scandals that have seen more than 30 lawmakers leave office facing ethics or criminal allegations since 2000.

 

Jamestown's public library is facing a financial "armageddeon" if it can't find a way to make up a quarter of a million dollar cut in the city's 2017 budget proposal.  That from Library Director Tina Scott... who's spending plan was reviewed by city lawmakers last night.  Scott says they've already cut all they can from their approximately one-million dollar yearly spending plan. Scott says that loss will be "huge" going forward... especially for residents who take advantage of the library's many services... including eduational.  In addition... she says a cut that large it puts the library in jeopardy of losing 25-percent of it's state funding.  The city's Department of Development, meantime, was also reviewed Monday night.  Development Director Vince DeJoy says they've been as busy as ever this year... with just over 11-hundred code enforcement complaints to date.  However... he says they had one fewer code enforcement officers due to a retirement.  Conversely... Fenton History Center Director Joni Blackman says they -- and their building -- are in decent shape this year.

 

The village of Fredonia will now have to fill a third position after a long-standing employee has decided to retire.  The Board of Trustees unanimously accepted the resignation of Inspection Officer Lawrence Barter during a meeting Monday night.  Barter's resignation will take effect on November 25th.  He is retiring after 31 years of service to the village.  Mayor Athenasia Landis says a search process for a successor will be begin immediately to fill the latest opening.  The village is currently in the process of trying to fill two other positions, including Wastewater Treatment Plant Chief Operator and Superintendent of the Department of Public Works/Street Commissioner. 

 

A bus driver for an upstate New York school district is in trouble for allowing students who would have voted for Donald Trump to exit the vehicle before children who would've voted for Hillary Clinton.  The Canandaigua City School District say the incident occurred two days after Trump defeated Clinton in the presidential election.  Administrators say the bus driver held a mock election by asking elementary school students who they would have voted for last Tuesday.  After a show of hands... the driver let the kids who said Trump get off the bus first.  Those who raised their hands for Clinton had to sit back down and wait until the other children got off.  After some parents complained, district officials said the bus driver will write a letter apologizing to everyone involved.

 

Pennsylvania state government is getting sobering fiscal news.  The Legislature's independent budget analyst projected Tuesday that more big deficits are looming, as is a shortfall this year.  The Republican-controlled Legislature has fought Democratic Governor Tom Wolf's efforts over the last two years to fill a stubborn deficit with a multibillion-dollar tax increase.  Another fight is likely looming next year.  The Independent Fiscal Office is projecting a $1.7-billion dollar deficit in the 2017-18 fiscal year that starts next July 1st.  It's also projecting a nearly $600 million shortfall in the state's current $31 billion budget.  That's partly due to an agreement to underfund human services and health care programs by more than $300 million.  Meanwhile, tax collections are running behind expectations, as well as behind last year's collections at this point.