Man arrested after allegedly striking 2-year-old with car Thursday night...
The Jamestown Police Department is investigating a hit-and-run accident involving a young child on the eastside Thursday night.  JPD Captain Bob Samuelson says officers were called to the area of 336 East 5th Street at 9:30 PM, and learned that a 2-year-old was struck as they were walking along the side of the road with their family.  Samuelson says the operator of the vehicle didn't stop initially, and continued into a parking lot at East 4th and East Second Streets.  He says a group of people who witnessed the accident allegedly approached the car, and broke out the driver's window.  Samuelson says the unidentified 27 year-old male driver was reportedly in fear of getting attacked, and drove away again.  He was found by officers in a parking lot on Franklin Street.  The toddler was taken to UPMC Chautauqua Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Charges are pending against the driver.

Nazzaro says Audit and Control Committee approve 2021 Budget with 4.6% Tax Increase...
The Chautauqua County Legislature's main financial committee has approved a more than $260-million budget for next year that increases the tax levy by 4.6-percent.  Audit and Control Committee Chairman Chuck Nazzaro says the panel Thursday okayed the measure 3-1 after a series of amendments were approved.  Nazzaro says the changes will increase the current tax rate by 5-cents per $1,000 full value.  He says they did reduce the amount of anticipated sales tax by $500,000... and, put in a new contingency line of $500,000.  Nazzaro says when he first got onto the legislature, the county had a contingency account, and he says lawmakers felt one was again needed due to uncertainy in the coming year.  Nazzaro says that could be COVID-19 related... or other items.  The Jamestown Democrat says the other major change was reinstating a 3-percent increase for non-union management employees.  The new tax rate would be $8.51 per $1,000, while the levy would increase by $2.9-million.  Sheridan Republican Terry Niebel cast the lone "no" vote in committee Thursday.

A dozen new COVID-19 Cases reported on Friday in the county...
There are a dozen new cases of the COVID-19 Virus being reported today in Chautauqua County... with half coming from the north county area.  Interim County Executive P-J Wendel reports four cases were in Dunkirk... and, one each in Fredonia and Forestville.  Wendel adds there were also two cases each reported in Jamestown... Frewsburg, and Cassadaga.  He says there are 128 active cases in the county... with 12 of those linked to a private gathering in the north county area.  Wendel says there have been 936 total cases since the pandemic began... while 795 have now recovered.  He says people have died... and, 16 people are currently hospitalized.

U-S COVID-19 cases nearing record numbers...
The United States is approaching a record for the number of new daily coronavirus cases in the latest ominous sign of the disease's grip on the nation.  The surge's impact is being felt in every section of the country. Among the latest developments: a lockdown at the Ogala Sioux Tribe's reservation in South Dakota, and a plea by a Florida health official for a halt to children's birthday parties.  There's an increasingly desperate situation at a hospital in northern Idaho, which is running out of space for patients and considering airlifts to Portland, Oregon, or Seattle.  The surge in the U.S. mirrors a similar spike in Europe. 

Early Voting begins today in Chautauqua County and rest of NYS...
Early voting will get underway today at three polling sites in Chautauqua County.  Democratic Elections Commissioner Norm Green says voters need to wear mask when voting... and, they'll be performing all the protocols that are required so people can vote safely.  He says if you have your Voter ID Card, you'll finish sooner.  However... he says even if you don't, it shouldn't take long.  New York State began utilizing early voting last year... and, Green expects 2020 to be even busier.  He thinks people will want to avoid Election Day on Nov. 3, and, adds "we'll be ready for them."  Polling sites including the Board of Elections in Mayville, the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds in Dunkirk, and the Chautauqua Mall in Lakewood.

Dead animal, brick with a name left at Congressman Reed's house in Corning...
An upstate New York congressman says he and his family were threatened with a dead animal and a brick bearing a family member's name at his home in Corning.  Police say the brick and the animal were found at Republican Rep. Tom Reed's house Friday morning.  The Corning Police Department said it was working with state police and federal agencies to investigate.  Neither Reed nor police specified what kind of animal it was or whose name was in the brick.  Reed represents New York's 23rd Congressional District. 

Pepper Spray used to disperse protestors after arrest made at Reed press conference in Ithaca...
Police in Ithaca say they used pepper spray to disperse protesters who had gathered at police headquarters and were banging on walls and writing graffiti.  The Ithaca Voice reported that a crowd initially gathered outside police headquarters on Thursday because a protester had been arrested after a press conference held by 23rd District Congressman Tom Reed, a Republican.  Police said a protester blocked a patrol car at about 5 p.m. as a sergeant was trying to leave the headquarters building to respond to a report of shots fired.  Police said a "short burst of pepper spray" was fired when protesters refused to disperse.