April 30, 2026
Click here to see full video from Secretary Of War Pete Hegseth, regarding the current Pentagon policy about the Flu vaccine for the military.
From Secretary Hegseth: “The War Department is once again restoring freedom to our Joint Force. We are discarding the mandatory flu vaccine requirement, effective immediately.”
April 30, 2026
FROM ASSEMBLYMAN PALMESANO: Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) is voicing his disappointment after the Assembly Energy Committee voted down his legislation earlier this week, which would have protected consumers’ energy choice (A.6796). Specifically, it would have prohibited the state from banning the use or replacement of fossil fuel (i.e., natural gas, propane, etc.) equipment to heat, cook or power both new and existing homes and buildings. Palmesano says this is just another example of how completely out of touch Albany Democrats are with their march to the full electrification of New York while eliminating consumer choice.
“Every person should have the choice about which type of equipment they want to install in their homes, but Albany Democrats seem to disagree. They continue to push their costly and misguided green policies with claims it will reduce global emissions. However, the fact of the matter is, New York only contributes 0.4% of global emissions. 0.4%. China contributes 30%, has 1,000 coal plants and is building more every week. So, we can get to zero, but it will not make any difference in global emissions. Nonetheless, if we do continue down this path, New Yorkers are going to lose their ability to choose how they heat their homes, cook their food, power their buildings and the vehicles they drive. Albany Democrats don’t care about protecting energy choice; they only care about virtue signaling to the far left,” said Palmesano.
Palmesano also argues there is an economic facet to this as well, and that his bill would have protected New Yorkers from the high cost of electrifying their homes.
“Recent reports found that the cost of converting homes over from natural gas to full electrification could be more than $35,000 per household. This, while keeping in mind 60% of New Yorkers use natural gas to heat their homes, and 40% of our energy generation comes from natural gas. So why on earth, when there is already an affordability crisis in our state and continued reliability concerns raised by the New York Independent System Operators, who are tasked with making sure the lights and heat stay on and our energy grid meets our needs, would we continue to force New York families to take on this large financial burden? It is not just homeowners who would be affected, either; the commercial sector will be negatively impacted by the forced electrification of New York, and it will put our businesses at a real competitive disadvantage. Businesses care about two things when it comes to energy policy: Is it affordable, and is it reliable? And if they can’t get affordable and reliable energy in New York, they will go elsewhere. These green mandates, policies and assaults on the use of natural gas, propane and other reliable fossil fuels will continue to jeopardize the reliability of our grid, leading to dangerous and deadly blackouts and our nation-leading outmigration crisis of more families, farmers, small businesses and manufacturers leaving our state,” said Palmesano.
April 30, 2026
FROM ALLEGANY COUNTY: Please be advised County Road #5A from State Route 275 to County Road 5 will be closed to traffic on Monday, May 4, from approximately 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. to replace a culvert. The culvert is located roughly 1,500 feet west of the Village of Bolivar line. There will not be an on-site detour and motorists are urged to seek alternate routes. Thank you for your cooperation.
April 30, 2026
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today applauded House adoption of S. Con. Res. 33, the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Resolution, a critical step to unlock the reconciliation process and advance funding for border security and key elements of President Trump’s America First agenda. This legislation passed the House by a vote of 215-211. For more than 70 days, Congressional Democrats have blocked efforts to fund the Department of Homeland Security, demanding sweeping changes that would weaken enforcement and undermine border security. Adoption of this budget resolution allows Congressional Republicans to move forward with reconciliation, funding agencies like ICE and Customs and Border Protection through a simple majority vote in the Senate. The resolution provides up to $70 billion in flexibility over the next decade for border security and immigration enforcement priorities and directs key committees to advance legislative recommendations.
“Americans made it clear they want a secure border and a government that puts their safety first,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “For months, Democrats have held DHS funding hostage to push policies that weaken enforcement and tie the hands of the very officers working to protect us. This budget resolution puts us back on track. It allows us to move forward with reconciliation, fully fund ICE and CBP, and continue the progress we have made in restoring order at our border. This legislation will keep our communities safe, support law enforcement, and deliver on the mandate the American people gave us.”
April 29, 2026
FROM THE HORNELL FIRE DEPT: On Monday, the members of Shift #2 were dispatched to a construction site for the report of a worker trapped under approximately 10,000 pounds of steel. A-116, Rescue 61, Engine 83, and Car 94 responded. While en route units were advised that the steel beam was now off of the worker. Our members arrived on the scene and immediately began to treat the injured worker and further stabilize the beam. The worker was transported to the airport where they were then flown by helicopter to a trauma center. We pray for a speedy and full recovery for the injured worker.
April 29, 2026
By Steuben County Spokesman Eddie VanStine
Steuben County has released a new video and accompanying presentation designed to provide residents with an overview of county government operations, the services provided, and how taxpayer dollars are allocated.
Presented by County Manager Jack Wheeler, the video walks viewers through the structure of Steuben County government, including the roles of the County Legislature, elected officials, and departmental leadership. It also outlines the three primary categories of services delivered by the county: state and federally mandated programs, mandates with local control, and discretionary local services.
The presentation highlights the significant impact of mandated programs—particularly in areas such as social services, public safety, and public health—while also showcasing local investments in infrastructure, emergency response, and quality-of-life services like 911 dispatch and programs for seniors.
In addition, the video provides a breakdown of the county’s budget, explaining key revenue sources such as sales tax, state and federal aid, and property taxes, as well as the county’s ongoing efforts to maintain fiscal responsibility while delivering essential services.
“This presentation is intended to give our residents greater transparency and understanding of how county government works and how decisions are made,” said Wheeler. “We are proud of the services we provide and our commitment to responsible budgeting on behalf of our taxpayers.”
The video presentation will be available on the Steuben County website and will be featured on the homepage and on our social media platforms for easy public access.
Residents are encouraged to view the presentation and utilize the county website for additional information and resources. For those interested, it can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-TJNa5S9Mo
April 29, 2026
Two assembly Republicans say that the Democrats are trying to get a bill passed, so that state lawmakers don’t have to pay late fees, on utility bills.
FROM ASSEMBLYMAN PHIL PALMESANO: “I thought I’d seen some out-of-touch, tone-deaf proposals from Albany Democrats in the past, but this one really takes the cake. Instead of providing much-needed relief to New Yorkers who are struggling to pay their utility bills due to their own green energy policies, Assembly Democrats want to give themselves utility bill relief. This is outrageous and another clear example of how completely out of touch they are with the struggles and frustrations New Yorkers are experiencing right now. If they wanted to make sure they got paid, then they should have worked, done their jobs and passed a budget on time. You just can’t make this up,” said Palmesano.
FROM ASSEMBLYWOMAN ANDREA BAILEY: “At a time when many New Yorkers are struggling just to get by and in need of real relief, legislative proposals like this send the wrong message that lawmakers are serious about helping New Yorkers. Family farms, small businesses, local schools, to name a few, don’t have the luxury of deferring payment on their bills and neither should the political class. We have been stuck in a cycle of dysfunction, and rather than focusing on delivering a timely, responsible budget for New Yorkers, this proposal is prioritizing measures that shift the consequences onto others. That is not leadership, it’s avoidance, and New Yorkers deserve better.”
April 29, 2026
FROM SENATOR GILLIBRAND: U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is launching an investigation into reports of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s failure to protect our troops during Operation Epic Fury. This week, she opened a new inquiry with the Department of Defense to demand answers from Secretary Hegseth on reports indicating that he failed to take basic steps to protect troops during Operation Epic Fury, including during a strike that killed six service members and injured twenty in Kuwait. “Secretary Hegseth’s reckless behavior and poor judgment put U.S. service members in danger and jeopardized our national security,” said Senator Gillibrand. “His incompetent leadership left troops without the support and preparation they needed to survive, and he must be held accountable for his blatant and callous carelessness.” On March 1, days into President Trump’s illegal war on Iran, an Iranian drone hit a U.S. military post in Kuwait, killing six American service members and injuring at least 20. The attack reportedly came with “no warning or sirens to alert troops to evacuate or get into a bunker.” After the attack, service members reported triaging their injuries themselves and having to “commandeer() civilian vehicles to drive the wounded to two local Kuwaiti hospitals.” Secretary Hegseth described the attack as a “powerful” Iranian drone hit that was able to get through “fortified” U.S. defenses. But survivors of the attack described his account as a “falsehood,” saying that the unit “was unprepared to provide any defense for itself” despite making requests “for more capabilities to defeat incoming drones.” Accounts from survivors and other officials indicate that the risks to service members in the region were known, but leadership at the Pentagon failed to take steps to prevent harm that could come from Iran’s retaliation. One service member recounted seeing intelligence revealing that “the post [they were relocated to] was on a list of potential Iranian targets.” Three other officials raised concerns that troop positions “concentrated too many U.S. troops in a location that wasn’t defendable.”
Survivors of the Kuwait attack have made clear that basic steps were not taken to keep U.S. troops safe, despite previous requests for more defenses against drones. In another case, the Pentagon failed to warn American ships of imminent attacks from Iran, a break from precedent that left the ships no way to evacuate service members and left them stranded for a month. “We are concerned that this is part of a larger pattern in which this administration has failed to protect Americans in the region from Iranian retaliation,” wrote the senators. The Pentagon also reportedly failed to warn troops of imminent attacks from Iran, a break from precedent that left the ships no way to evacuate service members and left them stranded for a month. One source said of Pentagon leadership that, “(t)hey literally do not think about the second-, third- or fourth-order implications” of these major operations. “The safety and well-being of our service members should be a top priority for DoD leadership. That requires careful consideration of major operations like Epic Fury and plans to prevent possible harm from foreseeable attacks, like retaliation with drone strikes,” said the senators. The senators asked Secretary Hegseth to explain the decision to place troops in Kuwait, why requests for additional protections were denied, and how the Pentagon is ensuring the protection of U.S. troops during Operation Epic Fury by May 11, 2026.
April 29, 2026
April 28, 2026
Union Pacific is announcing today that the Big Boy Train will be coming through Hornell on June 11 at 2:00pm, for a whistle stop visit. Before the Big Boy train is in Hornell, it will be going to Letchworth State Park. The tour also includes a July 4 celebration in Philadelphia, Pennsyvlania. “This is the first time Big Boy has steamed across the Mississippi River,” Union Pacific said today. “Union Pacific could not be prouder to share this powerful piece of history and to be part of America’s birthday celebration,” said Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena. “This tour celebrates our company’s rich 164 year history, our nation’s amazing sotry and the people who have helped build our great country and railroad.” The Big Boy will stop for 15-30 minutes
April 28, 2026
One of the workers was injured yesterday at the construction site at Hornell High School. Officials say that a beam fell on the man’s legs and hip. The man was airlifted to Strong memorial hospital in Rochester.
April 27, 2026
FROM JONES MEMORIAL HOSPITAL: — Hospital Week returns to Jones Memorial Hospital this year, May 10 – 16. In partnership with the American Hospital Association, Hospital Week is a way to highlight hospitals, health systems and health care workers and the innovative ways they are supporting and connecting to the community. JMH has much to celebrate this year after being named to the FORBES Top Hospitals list for 2026, and subsequently earning recognition by Chartis as a Top 100 Rural Community Hospital and an NRHA Top 20 Rural Community Hospital. Jones has also maintained a 4-Star CMS Quality rating for the past three years in a row. But Jones Memorial isn’t stopping with these recognitions. “We are truly honored to celebrate Hospital Week this year and recognize the incredible achievements of our medical staff and associates who have brought advanced healthcare to this community” stated Jim Helms, President and CEO at Jones, “As we look toward the future of healthcare in Allegany County and the surrounding region, I’m inspired by this staff who choose to make a difference every single day. We’re excited to continue our work of bringing access to advanced healthcare close to home. So if you have the opportunity to see one of your hospital’s associates this week, be sure to join me and thank them for what they do.”
JMH will soon open a new outpatient laboratory with increased capacity and reduced wait times in addition to the newly renovated sleep lab and oncology and infusion suite were unveiled in December. During Hospital Week, Jones will be honoring associates at the Employee Awards Dinner, which will take place on Wednesday, May 13th. This special event recognizes associates who have reached service milestones of five years or more. This year, the hospital is proud to recognize 54 associates, celebrating a combined total of 525 years of dedicated service to this community.
For more information about the hospital or services offered, please visit jones.urmc.edu or call (585) 593-1100.