Category: Local News

August 27, 2026

FROM HPG:

Hornell was proudly represented on Tuesday, August 25, as seven local residents were among 48 individuals honored with Congressman Nick Langworthy’s America 250 Community Heroes Award at the Clemens Center in Elmira.

Please join us in congratulating Hornell’s Community Heroes:
⭐ Mark Smith
⭐ Gary Mikolajczyk
⭐ Michael Robbins
⭐ Michael Palmesano
⭐ Kevin White
⭐ Valorie Whitehill
⭐ Ricard Pollinger Jr.

These honorees were recognized for their service, sacrifice, leadership and commitment to strengthening their communities. The 48 recipients included veterans, first responders, educators, coaches, business leaders, mentors and dedicated community volunteers from Steuben, Chemung, Schuyler and Tioga counties.
Adding another special Hornell connection to the ceremony, Mayor John Buckley served as the guest Master of Ceremonies, helping lead the celebration and recognition of the honorees.
Each recipient was presented with an America 250 Community Heroes medal bearing the words, “One Nation • 250 Years • One Future.”
Having seven of the 48 honorees come from Hornell was an incredibly proud moment for the Maple City. Although their individual contributions are different, each has demonstrated a shared commitment to giving their time, talents and energy in service to others.
Congratulations to all 48 America 250 Community Heroes—and especially to Hornell’s seven recipients for representing our community with distinction!

August 27, 2026

FROM U.S. SENATOR KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND: A new Joint Economic Committee (JEC) report found that as of July 2026, the average household in New York has had to pay an additional $5,000+ for goods and services due to rising costs under President Trump. When campaigning in 2024, candidate Trump promised, “Starting on day one of my new administration, we will end inflation, and we will make America affordable again.”

In response to the new report and Republicans broken promises, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement:

“President Trump and Congressional Republicans promised to lower costs and end inflation, instead they’ve made life $5,000 more expensive for New Yorkers,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Look at what they have done: they gutted Medicaid and cut Medicare and health care subsidies to fund tax breaks for billionaires, launched a war that increased gas prices, and supported tariffs to make groceries and essentials more expensive. I will not stop fighting to lower New Yorkers’ costs and hold this administration accountable for hurting working families and small businesses across our state.”

Housing Costs
New York families have had to spend an additional $1,078 on housing costs such as rent and mortgage payments since President Trump took office.
Grocery Costs. Americans paid an additional $310 for groceries in President Trump’s first year than in 2024, and grocery prices are now more than 4 percent higher than when Trump took office. Beef and coffee prices are hitting Americans especially hard. Since the President took office, the average price of ground beef has risen almost every month to a record high of more than $7 per pound. Coffee prices also spiked and are now nearly $10 per pound.

Energy Costs
Gas prices have soared since the start of Trump’s Iran War. In total, people across New York have spent an additional $3 billion on gas since the beginning of the Iran war. That has cost the average family in New York an additional $521 in gas costs
Families in New York spent an additional $190 on electricity in 2025 under President Trump than they did in 2024. And, in just the first six months of 2026, they are expected to spend an additional $225 on electricity than they did in the first half of 2024. New York families who use heating oil paid an additional $248 to heat their homes this March compared to last year.

Health Care Costs
Because of Trump and Republicans’ refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax cuts that help people afford their health insurance, monthly premiums for ACA plans rose over 50 percent on average in 2026 compared to last year. Meanwhile deductibles surged to record highs, increasing by more than $1,000 on average.

August 28, 2026

FROM SENATOR CHUCK SCHUMER: “Instead of lowering costs and cancelling his damaging tariffs, Trump is doubling down on a juvenile effort to rename one of the Great Lakes. He’s escalating his reckless tariff war with our closest trading partner and ally, which will continue to drive up costs for Upstate New York families, seniors and small businesses. It’s a pathetic attempt at distraction, and it’s working families who are paying the price.”

August 26, 2026

The Steuben County Legislature will, at their September monthly meeting, vote on whether to give Steuben County Sheriff Jim Allard the go-ahead, to join 15 other sheriff’s in the lawsuit against Governor Hochul and State Attorney General James.

STATEMENT FROM F.A.I.R.: Today, representing fifteen New York county Sheriffs, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York challenging the State’s so-called “Local Cops, Local Crimes Act” and the newly created Office of Immigrant Trust. The Sheriffs simultaneously filed an emergency motion seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to stop the State from voiding existing 287(g) agreements on August 25, 2026, and from forcing the termination of federal housing agreements by November 25, 2026. The lawsuit argues that New York is tearing up valid contracts the sheriffs already signed with the federal government, coercing independent elected officials into a statewide policy of non-cooperation, and overriding the constitutional authority of the Office of Sheriff. Several of the plaintiff sheriffs maintain long-standing 287(g) agreements and federal housing contracts that let them identify and transfer criminal aliens already in their jails. Albany has now declared those agreements illegal, set hard deadlines to kill them, and created a new investigative office to police any sheriff who refuses to comply. “New York’s law does not merely decline to cooperate with immigration enforcement priorities. It actively dismantles existing, congressionally authorized partnerships that sheriffs lawfully entered to protect their communities,” said Dale L. Wilcox, executive director and general counsel of FAIR. “Independently elected sheriffs should not be forced by Albany to abandon tools that keep dangerous criminal aliens from walking back onto their streets. This lawsuit seeks to restore the status quo and vindicate the independence of the Office of Sheriff. These sheriffs are not asking for new powers. They are asking to keep the agreements they already have,” said Mateo Forero, counsel for the plaintiffs. “The State has declared those contracts void, set a hard deadline of August 25, and stood up an investigative office to force compliance. That is a direct impairment of existing contractual rights and a clear intrusion on the independent authority the New York Constitution gives to elected sheriffs.”

The case is Bourgault et al. v. Hochul et al., No. 1:26-cv-01637 (N.D.N.Y.). Click here to read the federal lawsuit and emergency motion papers.

STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR HOCHUL AND ATTORNEY GENERAL JAMES: Governor Kathy Hochul and New York Attorney General Letitia James today released the following statement after 15 county sheriffs filed a lawsuit challenging the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act’s ban on 287(g) agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): “As we have said from the start, the ‘Local Cops, Local Crimes Act’ keeps New Yorkers safe by ensuring public safety resources go toward combating crime in our communities, not carrying out the work of ICE. The federal government claims they are going after the ‘worst of the worst,’ but every American has seen the reality: ICE is terrorizing communities and families with indiscriminate raids, detaining people without regard for criminal record, and using local law enforcement to deliver on the administration’s mass deportation agenda. Many of the 12 entities with these agreements have complied without incident, and the vast majority of New York’s law enforcement agencies were already successfully protecting their communities without any collaboration with ICE. The claim that these sheriffs cannot do the same says more about them than it does about the law. This lawsuit is nothing but a frivolous waste of taxpayer dollars. The courts have already declined to block this law once, and we are confident they will do so again. In the meantime, we expect all law enforcement agencies in New York to uphold state law.”

August 26, 2026

FROM STEUBEN CO SPOKESMAN EDDIE VANSTINE: Steuben County Commissioner of Public Works Eric Rose announced that the county bridge on Sonora Road over Mud Creek, between Robie Road and Kettle Road in the Town of Bath, will be closed to all through traffic beginning September 8, 2026. The closure is expected to remain in place for approximately nine weeks as the bridge undergoes a complete reconstruction. The project will include the installation of new concrete abutments and concrete deck beams. The bridge is identified as County Bridge No. 03-31-01, BIN 2216340. There will be no on-site detour during the closure. Motorists are advised to plan accordingly and use alternate routes. “Motorist safety is our top priority as we complete this important bridge reconstruction,” said Eric Rose, Steuben County Commissioner of Public Works. “We appreciate the public’s patience and cooperation while this work is completed.” The closure is dated August 24, 2026, and applies to all through traffic on the affected section of Sonora Road.

Also, Steuben County Department of Public Works Commissioner Eric Rose announced that County Route 76 (Hammondsport-South Pulteney Road) in the Town of Urbana will be closed to all traffic for pipe replacement work. The closure is scheduled for Wednesday, September 2, and Thursday, September 3, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. The affected section of County Route 76 will extend from Sanford Road to Middle Road. There will be no onsite detour during the closure. Motorists are advised to plan accordingly and use an alternate route while the work is underway. “Road closures are necessary to allow our crews to safely complete this work and make needed improvements to our infrastructure,” said Eric Rose, Commissioner of Public Works for Steuben County. “We appreciate the traveling public’s patience and cooperation while this pipe replacement is completed.” The closure is expected to be in effect only during the scheduled work hours.

August 26, 2026

FROM THE OFFICE OF NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL: New York Attorney General Letitia James today joined 23 other attorneys general and the governor of Pennsylvania in suing the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to stop a new rule that gives the agency unprecedented control over mail voting in federal elections, just weeks before ballots go out for the November midterms. The rule, finalized at President Trump’s direction, forces states to hand over lists of every eligible mail voter to USPS and requires federal pre-approval of ballot envelope designs. Any ballot mailed to or by a voter missing from the federal list, or using an envelope USPS hasn’t approved, could be rejected and not delivered, regardless of whether that voter is fully eligible and registered under state law.

“Across the country, states are already deep into preparations for the 2026 elections. Now, at the last moment, the federal government is attempting to meddle in those preparations and potentially threaten countless Americans’ right to vote,” said Attorney General James. “The USPS has no authority to decide who can and cannot vote by mail. This new policy will just create confusion, unnecessary costs, and unacceptable risks for voters going into Election Day, and my office is going to court to stop it.”

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court stayed a lower court’s ruling against key portions of the president’s underlying executive order, which directed USPS to promulgate this rule. Now that USPS has finalized the rule, states have just weeks to comply before the midterm elections in November. Election officials will have to redesign ballot envelopes, obtain federal approval, and establish entirely new systems to transmit voter lists to USPS, all while preparing to mail ballots to millions of Americans. If states or local election officials cannot comply in time, eligible voters could be prevented from receiving or returning their ballots.

August 26, 2026

FROM REP. CLAUDIA TENNEY: Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today released her 2026 Tax Plan, setting forth her priorities to lower taxes, reward work, support families and seniors, strengthen small businesses and family farms, and encourage investment and economic growth across New York’s 24th Congressional District. As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, the chief tax-writing committee in Congress, Rep. Tenney has worked to advance a tax code that allows Americans to keep more of what they earn while giving businesses the certainty to invest and grow. The Working Families Tax Cuts built on the successes of President Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 by codifying permanent relief for individuals and small businesses, a stronger Child Tax Credit and Standard Deduction, protections for family farms from the death tax, and tax relief for tipped and hourly workers, seniors, and families facing childcare costs. Tenney’s 2026 Tax Plan details her vision to continue expanding opportunities for retirement savings, encourage investment in housing and economically distressed communities, and use the tax code to support Main Street businesses and important economic drivers throughout NY-24.

“Families know how to spend their money better than Washington ever will,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts delivered real relief by lowering taxes on workers, families, seniors, farmers, and small businesses. Now we need to build on those wins by creating more opportunities to save, invest, grow a business, and pass a family farm on to the next generation. My Tax Plan is about a simple principle: hardworking New Yorkers should keep more of the money they earn.”

To view Tenney’s full 2026 Tax Plan, click here.

August 25, 2026

“Today, United Way of the Southern Tier joins the millions who are mourning the loss of Dolly Parton, whose kindness and generosity, across the globe and right here in our region, will be remembered for generations to come.
More than 13,000 local children have received books through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library since 2018. This free program, supported by donations to United Way and administered by the Dollywood Foundation, provides a book each month by mail to children until they turn age 5.
“Dolly gave children something wonderfully simple but incredibly powerful,” said Maleaha Smith, president and CEO of United Way of the Southern Tier. “Thousands of children in our community have grown up with that gift. Her legacy will live on in every child who discovers a love of reading because of the Imagination Library.”
“Dolly was inspired to start the Imagination Library by her father, who could not read or write. The first recipients of books when the program started in 1995 were children in her hometown in Sevier County, Tennessee. Today the program spans five countries and has gifted over 300 million age-appropriate books to children worldwide.
“Dolly once said: “You can never get enough books in the hands of enough children.” At United Way, we couldn’t agree more. The Imagination Library will live on, instilling a love of reading in children and standing as a tribute to the woman whose unlimited vision, bright spirit, and talent will continue to inspire.”

August 25, 2026

STATEMENT FROM GOV. KATHY HOCHUL: Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the statewide ban on 287(g) agreements in the Local Cops, Local Crime Act, signed into law in May as part of a comprehensive package of immigration protections, has taken effect. The Local Cops, Local Crimes Act ensures that local law enforcement agencies remain focused on keeping New York communities safe, rather than being used for federal civil immigration enforcement, diverting critical resources to do the job of ICE. “Here in New York, we need local police focused on keeping our communities safe—not serving as de-facto ICE agents, not conducting civil immigration enforcement, and not carrying out the Trump Administration’s callous immigration agenda,” Governor Hochul said. “That’s why I championed our new law banning 287(g) agreements and ensuring local cops remain focused on real crime in our communities. Starting today, ICE can no longer commandeer locally-funded police to aid an out-of-control federal agency with an $85 billion budget.”

Attorney General Letitia James said, “We expect all law enforcement agencies in New York to uphold New York’s laws. Through the Office of Immigrant Trust, my office will continue to work with law enforcement professionals across the state to ensure they understand their obligations, and we are prepared to enforce the law if those responsibilities are not upheld. True public safety requires public trust, and we are committed to ensuring all New Yorkers are kept safe.”

Prior to 2025, only one of New York’s 62 counties had a 287(g) agreement with ICE. To date, 53 counties in New York have never entered into a 287(g) agreement. Of those 53 counties, seven are among the 25 safest communities in America, demonstrating that 287(g) agreements are non-essential to improving safety in New York. Since taking office, Governor Hochul has invested nearly $4 billion in law enforcement and public safety leading to record low reductions in crime. Ensuring that these resources continue to be used to drive down local crime and keep communities safe is essential to the Governor’s core public safety mission. Section 287(g) agreements allow local officers or employees to engage in or assist with federal civil immigration enforcement or otherwise perform the functions of federal immigration officers, eroding trust between immigrant communities and local institutions, and making residents less likely to report crimes, seek help, or cooperate with law enforcement. The Local Cops, Local Crimes Act prohibits local governments and law enforcement agencies from entering into 287(g) agreements or similar arrangements that use local resources to detain people for federal immigration violations.

Last month, Attorney General Letitia James sent letters to the 12 local law enforcement agencies in New York that had 287(g) agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), informing them that state law requires they unwind the agreements by August 25, 2026. Through the Office of Immigrant Trust (OIT), Attorney General James will ensure that municipalities comply with New York law and that state and local institutions remain focused on protecting and serving New Yorkers. Following an unprecedented escalation in aggressive federal immigration enforcement, Governor Hochul has been fighting to protect New Yorkers from federal actions that indiscriminately target immigrant communities.

Earlier this year, Governor Hochul signed one of the most comprehensive laws in the nation to rein in ICE and prevent federal overreach by:

Prohibiting local governments, state and local police, and state and local corrections from entering into 287(g) Agreements or similar agreements with the federal government that allow for state and local law enforcement personnel and facilities to be used for civil immigration enforcement purposes; Prohibiting state, local, and federal officers from wearing face covering while interacting with the public;
Establishing a state law under which New Yorkers can bring a lawsuit against federal, state and local government officials for a violation of their constitutional rights; Safeguarding interactions with public employees; Keeping immigration authorities out of sensitive locations; and
Ensuring immigrant students can access education, codifying the right to a free public education regardless of immigration status.

In June, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit in federal district court seeking to block certain provisions of the Governor’s immigration protection laws, including the 287(g) prohibition in the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act. A federal court denied the DOJ’s motion for a preliminary injunction for the 287(g) provision of the law permitting the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act ban on 287(g) agreements to take effect today.

New Yorkers who witness federal enforcement actions anywhere in the state should report them to OAG through the federal action portal. New Yorkers who believe that a state or local agency, employee, contractor, school, or other covered entity has violated state laws related to civil immigration enforcement are encouraged to contact the OAG hotline at 1-800-771-7755.

August 25, 2026

FROM U.S. SENATOR KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND: “President Trump and Republicans promised to lower costs and make life more affordable, but they’ve used their total power in Washington to make life more expensive than ever. They’ve cut Medicare and Medicaid to give tax cuts to billionaires, launched a reckless war in Iran that sent gas prices skyrocketing, and pushed tariffs that are making groceries and essentials more expensive. Let’s be clear: these latest tariffs against Canada directly hit Americans. They will only increase costs on New York families and hurt our state’s small businesses. Trump needs to stop the political games, go back to the negotiation table, and get a deal done that lowers costs and strengthens our economy instead of harming it.”

FROM WHITE SPOKESMAN KUSH DESAI: “Here’s the reality: President Trump’s Great Big Beautiful Bill slashed taxes for countless working-class New Yorkers and eliminated taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security benefits. The Trump administration will continue providing more relief for hardworking Americans after Kirsten Gillibrand and Joe Biden blew trillions on COVID ‘stimulus’ spending that caused the worst inflation crisis in a generation.”

August 25, 2026

FROM THE ALLEGANY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES: “Please be advised that County Road #4 in the Town of Hume, between Bottsford Hollow Road and Crotty Road, will be closed to traffic during working hours from 7a.m. until 4 p.m. from Monday, August 31st until Wednesday, September 2nd to replace two culverts. The road will be opened each night. There will not be an on-site detour and motorists are urged to seek alternate routes. Thank you for your cooperation.”

August 25, 2026

FROM THE ERWIN, NY, IDA: The Town of Erwin Industrial Development Agency (IDA) is pleased to announce the inaugural Fall & Flight Community Days, a family-friendly community celebration taking place on Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Corning-Painted Post Airport, Costa Drive, Painted Post, NY 14870. As the first event of its kind hosted by the Town of Erwin IDA, Fall & Flight Community Days was created to showcase the Corning-Painted Post Airport as a valuable regional asset while bringing residents, families, local organizations, and businesses together for an afternoon of fun, learning, and community engagement. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the airport, learn about aviation, connect with local organizations, enjoy family-friendly activities and giveaways, and experience firsthand the important role the airport plays in supporting economic development and connectivity. “Fall & Flight Community Days is an opportunity to introduce our community to one of the region’s important transportation assets in a welcoming and engaging way,” said Kristen Brewer, CEO of the Town of Erwin Industrial Development Agency and Planning Director for the Town of Erwin. “We are excited to offer a day filled with educational experiences, family-friendly activities, and giveaways while showcasing the airport’s importance to our economy and quality of life. We hope this event becomes a tradition that brings our community together for years to come.” The Corning-Painted Post Airport has long been an important resource for corporate and private aviation, supporting regional commerce and development. The new Fall & Flight Community Days event aims to increase public awareness of the airport’s impact while creating a memorable annual tradition for the community. Admission to Fall & Flight Community Days is free and open to the public.