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News Headlines for Sat., Jan. 12, 2019

Advocates of Child Victims Act to be in Albany Monday to support bill...
Supporters of the long-stalled Child Victims Act are coming to the state Capitol to rally support.  The proposal, known as the Child Victims Act, would give victims more time to seek criminal charges or file lawsuits against their abusers... and, it would open a one-year window for victims to file lawsuits now barred by the statute of limitations.  Monday's rally by abuse survivors comes as the bill appears poised for passage.  The act was blocked for years by Senate Republicans, but with Democrats now in charge it's expected to pass easily.  The Catholic Church warns that the one-year litigation window could have crippling financial effects.  Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo said Friday he will insert the bill in his state budget proposal, a move intended to improve its chances of passing.


Dixon says much physical work being completed on new Athenex Project in Dunkirk...
Progress is continuing to be made on the Athenex plant site located on Route 5 in the town of Dunkirk.  Chief Financial Officer Rich Dixon with the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency gave an update on the project Friday.  Dixon says the plant, which will manufacture biopharmaceutical product, continues to take shape.  He says the steel is almost completely up on the 320,000 square foot structure, along with half of the roof, and some siding is on.  Dixon says they are pretty much on schedule, due in part to mild weather this Winter.  Dixon says Athenex officials have also begun recruiting efforts to fill some of the positions.  He says they have been doing that in the lead-up to the start of production in early 2020.  Governor announced the $225-million project in February of 2016.


Jamestown-area man arrested for trying to forge VIN number for limousine...
A West Ellicott man has been arrested for allegedly falsifying the vehicle identification number on a limosine that he had recently purchased.  City police say they investigated the case involving 56 year-old Jon Golden for two months with the Field Investigation Unit for the state Department of Motor Vehicles.  City investigators say Golden is accused of buying the 2011 Lincoln Limousine... but in trying to register it... found there was a lien against it.  He then allegedly purchased a similar vehicle from a Pennsylvania salvage yard... and, removed the VIN Plate... and, attached it to the Lincoln Limo.  Golden turned himself in... and, was charged with four Felony counts.. including two counts of forgery of a VIN number.  He was held for arraignment.


Teresi says "devil is in the details" of plans to make state's Property Tax Cap permanent...
The new leader of the New York State Senate says she supports making the state's 2-percent property tax cap permanent during the 2019 session.  However... Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi says the "devil is in the details" when it comes to how he feels about it.  Teresi says his first concern is whether it will be a "hard cap..." or one that is based on what is currently done.  The cap currently factors in such things as inflation... and, has been as low as a 1/2-percent cap.  He says it should also be evenly applied between local muncipalities and school districts.  Teresi says there are a number of exclusions for school districts that do capital spending.  He also wonders if state aid will be boosted to help deal with typically underfunded areas such as highway projects and upgrades.  New Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said this week she supports legislation to make the property tax cap -- proposed several years ago by Governor Andrew Cuomo -- permanent.


Cuomo proposes longer Firearms Background Checks...
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says he wants to extend the background check waiting period for firearm purchase from three days to 10 days.  The Democrat announced the proposal late Thursday.  It's just one of several bills relating to firearm regulations that Cuomo says he'll ask the Legislature to pass within the first 100 days of the 2019 session.  Cuomo is also pushing legislation that would authorize teachers and school administrators to ask a judge to evaluate a child they believe is a threat to themselves or others.  The judge could then order the confiscation of firearms in the child's home.  Similar proposals have failed before, but prospects for the bills have improved now that Democrats control both chambers of the Legislature. 


State School Boards Assoc. calling for APPR Evaluation reforms...
The organization that represents school boards across New York state is pushing reforms it wants to see in legislation to improve the system for evaluating teachers and principals.  The New York State School Boards Association has announced five "key principles" to reform the state's Annual Professional Performance Review system.  Association Director Tim Kreamer they want to see the requirement to use state tests in student performance eliminated... while still allowing districts to do that if they want to.  Kreamer says the school boards group would also like to see the aid penalty on districts that are not able to adopt an APPR plan by the state-imposed deadline.  He adds they also want "one-size fits all" evalutions eliminated for successful teachers, and others.  He says... after three consecutive ratings of "effective" or "highly-effective..." a teacher or principal should not have to be evaluated each year.  Kreamer says they also want to eliminate the need for "Independent" outside evaluations.... and, not have to expand collective bargaining obligations beyond what's already in place.