Gas prices in Jamestown area up at least 20 cents a gallon over past week...
Gasoline prices in the Jamestown-area are up at least 20 cents a gallon for regular, unleaded fuel over the past week... to about $4.60.  The ongoing stalemate over the Strait of Hormuz eased with negotiations on track until last weekend... and, that relieved the pressure somewhat.  However... the AAA East Central Gas Price report says the national average increase seven-cents over last week to $4.50 a gallon.  Officials say that's 39 cents more than a month ago... and, $1.39 more than a year ago.  Some locations in the Jamestown-area are as high as $4.69 a gallon.  The Energy Information Administration reports that gasoline demand decreased last week from 9.1-million barrels per day to 8.81-million.  Total domestic gas supply decreased from 222.3-million barrels to 219.8-million.   Gasoline production decreased last week, averaging 9.6 million barrels per day.  The price per barrel of crude oil is still hovering around $100.

City woman arrested for allegedly allowing young child to wander outside...
A woman from Jamestown has been arrested for allegedly letting her child wander around unsupervised in a southside neighborhood.  City police say they were called to the location shortly before 9 p.m. last Wednesday... and, found that Shalena Freeman was the adult responsible for the child.  Officers also found that Freeman was wanted on multiple Felony arrest warrants.  She resisted arrest... but, was eventually taken into custody on charges including endangering the welfare of a child... resisting arrest... on on the Felony warrants.  She was taken to the City Jail pending arraignment... and, the child was uninjured and turned over to a family member.

Jamestown man arrested for alleged break-in, and assault...
A man from Jamestown faces multiple charges after allegedly breaking into a home on the city's westside last week... and, attacking another person.  Jamestown police were called to the scene of a recent domestic incident about 11:30 p.m. last Wednesday.  Their investigation led to the arrest of 34 year-old Josean Martinez... who is accused of breaking into the building through a side door... damaging property inside... and, getting into the physical altercation with the victim.  Officers say they found Martinez at a nearby home... and, he was arrested without further incident.  He was charged with Felony Aggravated Criminal Contempt... second-degree burglary... third-degree criminal mischief... third-degree assault... criminal obstruction of breathing... and, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.  Martinez was held pending his arraignment. 

Wendel critical of local hotel operators for allowing homeless to live in rooms in unkept -- and, in some cases -- deplorable conditions...
Deplorable conditions reported in two of the hotels being used to house the homeless in Chautauqua County has forced the closure of one... and, partial closure of the other.  However... it appears there is blame on both sides of the matter.  That from County Executive P.J. Wendel... who says there are problems with the homeless themselves... but, it's moreso with hotel operators who are getting state money to take them in.  Wendel says they're taking in those people... but, rooms are not being kept up.  He says Social Service officials found human and animal feces in some rooms, and plumbing that wasn't working at the Clarion Pointe on Route 60 in the town of Ellicott... and, it was partially closed due to those conditions.  He says the homeless there were relocated to the Quality and Budget Inns in Falconer.  Wendel says... if the county were able to do it in one, centralized facility, they could better regulate it... and provide needed "wrap-around services."  Wendel says the hotels are being paid $101 a day by the state to house the homeless that are sent to them.  
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Another problem with housing the homeless has been some state parolees who have been mixed in with the homeless.  Wendel says that's become an issue with the proximity of some locations to schools.  He his comments for last weekend's "Community Spotlight" program on the six Media One Radio Group stations.

Extension being sought on timeline for Dunkirk to issue bonds to pay debts...
There's a bill in Albany that would extend the city of Dunkirk's timeline for issuing municipal bonds to pay off its debt.  State Assemblyman Andrew Molitor says the original city of Dunkirk Fiscal Recovery Act that was passed two years ago required the State Comptroller to certify the city's debt.  However... the city's audit process wasn't completed until last December.  Molitor says the measure he and Senator George Borrello are carrying also provides a few "tweaks" to the previous bill... and, one requires the Common Council to formally ask for the extension.  The legislation would also shift financial oversight responsibilities from the now-defunct elected treasurer's position to the mayor.  Meanwhile, Dunkirk Mayor Kate Wdowiasz says she has some concerns about the legislation... including compliance with the city's collective bargaining agreements.  Wdowiasz says there are agencies in place to ensure the city does that... so she's not sure it needs to be part of the extension.  Wdowiasz also questions the requirement that the Common Council pass a local law in order for the bill to advance, which she calls "unprecedented."  During last week's council meeting, Councilman at-Large Nick Weiser said there would be a review of the proposed legislation during a Finance Committee meeting.