FLOOD PLAIN MAPS

Senator Chuck Schumer said Monday the Government
Accountability Office (GAO) will begin an investigation
into the methods and policies that resulted in FEMA's
issuance of those highly contested flood plain maps.
The probe will begin in about two months.

UPDATED WEBSITE

The Sheriff's Department recently revised
and updated it's website. The new name
is "Niagarasheriff.com." One of it's many
features gives you a chance to receive
automatic, daily, weekly, or monthly e-mail
alerts about crimes that occur near your
home, office, or school. You can also
view reported crime activity on an easy to
use map. There are links for sex offender
information. You can learn about the history
of the department and employment
opportunities. The update started in
January and the work was done in house with
no additional cost to taxpayers.

NIAGARA FALLS CITY COUNCIL

Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster will present
the keys to the city to future NBA star
Johnny Flynn during tonight's 7 o'clock
council meeting. He was drafted last week
by the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Council
has it's regular 4pm work session today and
there are 27 resolutions on the agenda for
the 7 o'clock meeting. One of them calls for
the approval of $102,000 in overtime for the
various divisions of the Department of Public
Works. Meantime, Council President Chris
Robins says they are accepting applications for
a position on the City's Civil Service Commission.
You must be a city resident, have some knowledge
of civil service law, and be able to attend meetings
of the Commission as set by the Human Resources
Department. Resumes should be sent to Robins at
Post 0ffice Box 69, Niagara Falls, New York 14302.

UNSETTLED WEATHER

It won't be raining all the time, but there is a
chance of showers and thunderstorms every
day for the next seven. National Weather Service
forecaster Steve McLaughlin says a big upper
level low is moving into the Great Lakes and it's
expected to park itself in the region for the
entire week. It's causing it to be very cool
aloft and as soon as the region gets some
daytime heating we start to get bubble-up
showers. We're starting to share in what's
been happening East of us all month. It's been
mostly cool and wet in Boston and New York
City. Temperatures in our area have averaged
a degree and a half below normal in June.
There were only five days when the temperature
reached 80, normally there are about nine or
ten.

ALBANY UPDATE

The Governor has called another special
session of the State Senate for 3pm today
after negotiations to decide who'll run the
body collapsed again last night. There are
101 bills on the agenda including Niagara
County's request to extend it's sales tax
surcharge which expires in November. Paterson
and Senate democrats met for 90-minutes
last night behind closed doors. Tenative deals
were reportedly reached on sharing resources
for staff and pork barrel spending but the stumbling
block remains who'll run the Senate. The dispute
also returns to court today. Paterson asked a
judge last week to force the two sides to
convene in a special session at the same time
so he can get a quorum to pass the bills.

CLIMATE CHANGE BILL

Congressman Chris Lee voted against the
climate change bill that passed the House
of Representatives Friday night. An EPA
study shows it will hike the price of gas
by as much as $1.60 a gallon but that did
not seem to bother our other representative,
Congresswoman Louise Slaughter. The bill
is commonly called "cap & trade," and while
he was running for President, Obama told
the San Francisco Chronicle it would cause
electricity rates to skyrocket. Many say it
will also kill jobs, but Slaughter calls it
an investment in clean renewable energy.
She said it would cost the average family
less than $10 more a month but most say it
will be a whole lot more. The Tax Foundation,
which has released information in the past
about our county's highest tax status, has
information about it's projected true costs,
on it's website at TaxFoundation.org.
The bill barely made it through the House,
passing 219-212. It must still get through the
Senate.

UNDERAGE DRINKING PARTY

Lockport police charged 20 year old Jeffrey
Farrell with providing the alcohol when they
broke up an underage drinking party at 3am
Sunday. The gathering took place at Farrell's
home at 53 Dayton. Police said they found
numerous empty beer cans and they could
smell the odor of alcohol. Farrell was charged
with unlawfully dealing with a child.

PENDLETON HOUSE BURGLARY

A Pendleton couple telling Sheriff's deputies
Saturday a $1000 laptop computer and $700
in cash were stolen from their home during a
daytime burglary. The residents of Mapleton
Road said they left their home at 7am Saturday
and discovered the break-in when they got
back around 3. Entry was apparently made
through the garage. The handle on the door
was dented and a pry mark was seen on the
weather stripping. A 32 inch $500 TV was also
taken. The victims had recently evicted a
friend from the home and he denied any
involvement when interviewed by deputies.

TIM HORTONS

A 19 year old worker at the Tim Hortons
on Niagara Falls Boulevard in the Falls
accused yesterday of stealing $400 worth
of credit cards. Ashley Crawford of 15th
Street was charged with petit larceny. The
manager of the store showed police a video
of Crawford loading money onto the gift cards
although there were no customers around and
no money was placed in the register.

HARTLAND ACCIDENT

Three people were hospitalized following a
two car crash around 7 o'clock Saturday
night in Hartland. It happened at the
intersection of Carmen and Seaman Roads
as one car allegedly tried to make a left turn
in front of the other. Mercy Flight took one
woman to ECMC while an ambulance took
another man to the same hospital. A third
man was taken to ENH-Lockport. No names
were released but their injuries were said to
be non life threatening. One of the drivers
was charged with failing to yield the right of
way.