State Assembly begins vote on 2013-2014 budget...
The State Assembly has begun final legislative approval of the $135-billion state budget. The Assembly began deliberating the remaining bills about 1 p.m. Thursday and could finish voting by evening, although a late session and Friday session are still possible. The Senate gave its approval to budget bills in an overnight session that ended just after 4 a.m. Wednesday. The budget includes extending an income tax on millionaires that was to expire next year, an election year. It also continues for three years a big business tax on energy costs that had been set to expire this year. New Yorkers with incomes between $40,000 and $300,000 who have at least one child would get a $350 check per family just before the 2014 elections. The budget is due by midnight Sunday.
NY-P League President denies that he, or Minor League Baseball CEO said Jammers might be relocating to West Virginia...
There was never anything said at a press conference Tuesday by minor league baseball officials that the Jamestown Jammers baseball franchise would be relocating to Morgantown, West Virginia. That from NY-P League President Ben Hayes... who says two published reports stating that Jamestown would -- or could be the team moving in 2015 are "totally" erroneous. The comment was attributed to both Hayes and Minor League Baseball Chief Executive Officer Pat O'Connor. Hayes says the only mention of Jamestown was regarding it's player development agreement with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He says that was during a question and answer session following the press conference. That player development contract was signed late last year... and covers 2013 and 2014. Hayes and O'Connor were in Morgantown for an announcement that the NY-P League plans to relocate one of it's teams there in time for the 2015 season. Hayes did add that any move by any franchise is contingent on West Virginia University pushing through construction of a new stadium.
County Legislature approves added Waterway Funding for Chautauqua Lake weed harvesting...
County lawmakers have approved a proposal that will boost funding for the Chautauqua Lake Association by $40,000. Republican Legislator Vince Horrigan of Bemus Point says its an effort to avoid the out of control weeds that hit parts of the lake last summer. Horrigan says the idea is to have the money up front so the CLA can hire people, and get the crews together to begin working on the lake sooner. Legislator George Borrello of Silver Creek supported the increase... but, the Republican says the county will have address issues involving another large body of water... Lake Erie. The problem there is lower lake levels, and the need for dredging in some locations. The legislature approved the CLA proposal by a 20-0 vote. The lake association will receive a total of $90,000 from the county's bed tax that is set aside for lakes and waterways. The proposal also doubles the amount of funding the Bear Lake Association will get, from $750 to $1,500.
Tanker truck driver hurt in State Thruway crash that closes Exit 59 ramps Thursday morning...
Both ramps have re-opened after a crash involving a tanker truck closed down Exit 59 on the state Thruway near Dunkirk Thursday morning. The big rig carrying a food additive called Liquid Latex rolled onto its side around 7:30 a.m. State Police Troop 'T' says first responders had to free the driver from the truck and then transport to Brooks Memorial Hospital in Dunkirk. They described the injuries as "non-life-threatening." Firefighters from Fredonia and East Dunkirk responded to the scene. Both ramps were closed for about three hours. State troopers are continuing their investigation to determine what caused the crash.
Gas prices hold steady for the week...
Gasoline prices in the Jametown area are pretty much unchanged for the third week in a row. The AAA's Fuel Gauge Report says the cost for a gallon of regular, unleaded... remains around $3.94. The Fuel Gauge says the price is actually down about 2-tenths of cent for the week. On the National front... the AAA says the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is just under $3.66. That's 3-cents less than one week ago. AAA says it's still "too soon" to say whether retail prices have peaked for the spring.
