First two headliners for Lucille Ball Comedy Festival in Aug. announced...
The two headliners for the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival have been announced... and, a third has been confirmed... and, will be announced next month. National Comedy Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson says "Roastmaster General" Jeff Ross will bring his solo show to the festival on Friday night, Aug. 2... and, Nicole Byer... who's know as the host of "Nailed It" on netflix will perform on Thursday, Aug. 1. Both will perform at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts in Jamestown. Gunderson says Ross was the creative force, co-host and producer of the recent blockbuster Netflix "Roast of Tom Brady..." and, in addition to his numerous high profile roast credits. Byer has hosted "Nailed It..." which is Netflix Emmy-nominated reality-competition baking series, and is one of the most distinctive voices in stand-up comedy today. She adds the third headliner will be announced in mid-June. Tickets for the Jeff Ross and Nicole Byer shows, along with other festival events will go on pre-sale for National Comedy Center Members only at Noon on Thurs., May 30... through Wed., June 5. Tickets go on sale to the general public Thurs, June 6 at Noon at ComedyCenter.org.
City woman arrested for domestic, and shutting door in face of arresting officers...
A Jamestown woman has been arrested for allegedly being the "primary aggressor" in a domestic incident... and, shut the door on responding police in front of her three children. City police were called to a southside address shortly before 9 p.m. Thursday... and, went to arrest 34 year-old Kristen Surrena for harassment. However... Surrena became disorderly and shut the door and locked it... telling officers that she was "not under arrest." She continued to do that for an "extended period of time" in front of the three children who were upset and crying. She finally opended the door... and, officers placed her under arrest on one count of second-degree harassment... and, three counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Gillibrand announces push for restoring, and boosting FEMA's firefighter grant programs...
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is calling for an increase in federal funding to support two long-standing firefighting programs under the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The New York Democrat held a virtual press conference to call for increased funding for both the "Assistance to Firefighters..." and the "Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response" -- or SAFER Grant Programs. Gillibrand adds that funding was cut in the current year's budget... but, says call volumes have nearly doubled in the past 30 years. She says the cuts totaled about $72-million. Gillibrand says the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program provides funding for local departments to purchase equipment and emergency vehicles, and address staffing shortages. She adds that many fire departments across New York State continue to rely on outdated equipment and struggle with staffing shortages. Gillibrand says the SAFER grant program helps fire departments hire and retain trained firefighters to meet industry minimum standards and ensure 24-hour staffing. Last year... she helped secure more than 200 AFG and SAFER grants totaling nearly $50-million for fire departments across New York State.
Borrello sponsored measure limiting practice of ballot harvesting passes in committee...
Legislation that would prohibit the practice of ballot harvesting in New York State has advanced through the state's Senate Elections Committee... marking a first for that bill. State Senator George Borrello, who's sponsoring the measure, says it would make ballot harvesting unlawful and a Class D felony except in certain cases. Borrello, who is the Ranking Member of the Elections Committee, says New York is one of a dozen states nationwide where there are no restrictions on the practice. He says New York is only one of 12 states in the nation that allows using absentee ballots. Ballot harvesting is the practice of permitting any individual to collect and return an unlimited number of mail or absentee ballots without oversight or a documented chain of custody. The Sunset Bay Republican says the fact that New York has no restrictions on it should be a concern for anyone who believes election integrity is important. He says, in Chautauqua County, elections are sometimes decided by a handful of votes, or even one vote. Borrello says cases where ballot harvesting would remain legal would involve cases where an absentee ballot is submitted on behalf of the voter by a family member, a caregiver with notarized consent, or an elections official, postal employee or delivery courier engaged in his or her legal duties.
City of Jamestown's first-quarter sales tax revenues come in just over 3% lower than anticipated...
Sales tax collections in the city of Jamestown for the first three-months of 2024 were down... but, not as much as Chautauqua County. That from City Comptroller Ericka Thomas... who reported this week on the first quarter's tax income for the City Council. Thomas says the city had projected $1.988-million, but, brought in $1.917-million. She says they were $70,840 short of what was budgeted. She says the county is down 3.9%... while the city is down 3.6%. City Council President Tony Dolce explained for new council members that the figures weren't great... but, weren't bad, either. The first quarter is typically the one that tends to be below projections. He adds there is a formula involved... based on the municipality's population. Dolce says the good news is the city has three more quarters to make up that just over $70,000 shortfall.