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NY Assembly to pass bills protecting workers, small business

ALBANY (AP) — New York's Democratic-led Assembly plans to pass legislation Tuesday to help workers and small businesses financially survive the coronavirus pandemic. Workers could collect unemployment insurance while working part time, small businesses would be protected from being charged higher rates for unemployment insurance when they reopen and New York would put a stay on eviction and foreclosure for small businesses under the proposed legislation. "Unemployment insurance has been a critical lifeline for millions of our friends and neighbors who lost their job through no ...

The Chautauqua County Department of Health on Tuesday recorded 11 new COVID-related deaths. It wasn't immediately clear if the new fatalities are linked to nursing homes, as was the case late last week when 23 new deaths linked to those facilities were announced. The county noted on its dashboard and in a news release then that the deaths were over a several-week span; however, no note was included in Tuesday's update. To date, 88 county residents have died to due to complications associated with the virus. According to county data, four involve people between the ages of 40 and 49; ...

Amid pandemic, NY seizures of fentanyl and meth surge

NEW YORK (AP) — Federal authorities say the amount of fentanyl seized in drug-trafficking investigations in the state of New York continues to increase at an alarming rate, underscoring how the pandemic hasn't slowed a booming market for the potent synthetic opioid. Seizures of methamphetamine — another highly addictive synthetic street drug blamed in a national surge in overdose deaths — also are on a steep rise, according to Drug Enforcement Administration numbers released Tuesday. There were 404 kilograms (890 pounds) of fentanyl seized in the state in fiscal year 2020, a ...

Sports can proceed, county Health Department says

The Chautauqua County Health Department is providing the following information for schools, businesses, coaching staff, athletes, parents of student-athletes, and youth and adult amateur sports leagues in Chautauqua County. After extended internal consultation and discussion among Western New ...

SCHOOLS Forum debates a safe return

At a community forum held last week by the Dunkirk City School District, there was a glimmer of hope that students could return. The panel included Lisa Barone, director of infection control and employee health at Brooks Memorial Hospital; Nichole Dispense, School 7 nurse; and Julie Lawrie, a nurse at Dunkirk Middle School. Unsurprisingly, Barone gave the best insight. She’s on the front lines and is well respected in the community. “Have you been out to dinner?” Barone asked at one point. “Have you gotten gas and not washed your hands after? Do you clean your cell phones? ...

Local health officials frustrated with state vaccine rollout

Having the state run the vaccine distribution is frustrating local health officials. During the Chautauqua County Health Board meeting, Christine Schuyler, county public health director and social services commissioner, said the state has restrictions on who they can provide a vaccine to. “Local health departments across the state now can only vaccinate essential workers in Phase 1b,” she said. The other approved vaccine providers include hospitals, urgent care centers, federally qualified health centers and pharmacies. Hospitals and the health centers are to focus on ...