AM 1480 WLEA News

July 31, 2026

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today, alongside Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), introduced the Simplifying Modern Access to Retirement Tools for Savings (SMART) Act of 2026. The legislation modernizes outdated federal regulations governing Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), reduces unnecessary costs, and expands access to lower-cost retirement investment options for American savers. The SMART Savings Act would bring overdue reforms to the tax rules governing Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) that were originally written for large employer-sponsored pension plans. Current regulations make it more expensive and burdensome for financial firms to offer certain lower-cost investment services to IRA holders, despite IRAs already being subject to extensive federal and state oversight. The legislation removes these unnecessary barriers while preserving prohibitions on self-dealing and maintaining existing consumer protections enforced by the SEC, FINRA, FinCEN, and state securities regulators. By updating these outdated rules, the bill would help lower costs and expand access to affordable retirement investment options, allowing Americans to keep more of their hard-earned savings.

“Hardworking New Yorkers who are saving for retirement deserve every opportunity to keep more of their own money,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “Our retirement system should encourage Americans to save, not burden them with outdated regulations that drive up costs. The SMART Savings Act modernizes these rules so families can keep more of their hard-earned retirement savings. Washington red tape shouldn’t prevent Americans from saving for their retirement. People need to be able to save in the way that works best for them. Outdated and unnecessary federal rules create uncertainty and make it harder for financial advisors to serve retirement savers,” said Senator Barrasso. “The SMART Savings Act reverses that regulatory overreach. It gives Americans with personal retirement accounts access to the same rates and services that are already available through other retirement options.”

This legislation is supported by Finseca, Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), and National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.

July 31, 2026

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today sent a letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul urging her administration to cooperate with the federal government to reduce Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payment errors, combat waste, fraud, and abuse, and protect New York taxpayers from unnecessary costs. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Fiscal Year 2025 SNAP Payment Error Rate report, New York recorded a combined SNAP payment error rate of 13.18%, one of the highest in the nation and more than double the Congressionally mandated threshold of 6%. In her letter, Congresswoman Tenney notes that New York is issuing more than $2.8 million in SNAP benefits in error each day and warns that, beginning in 2027, states with excessive payment error rates will be required to assume a portion of their SNAP benefit costs under federal law. Tenney also calls on Governor Hochul to explain why New York has not joined 29 other states in sharing SNAP participant data with the federal government to help identify fraud and improper payments, and requests details on the state’s corrective action plan to bring New York back into compliance with federal standards.

“New York cannot continue ignoring a problem that is costing taxpayers millions of dollars while putting the integrity of SNAP at risk,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “This program exists to help vulnerable families put food on the table, and every dollar lost to waste or improper payments is a dollar that cannot be used as intended. Governor Hochul should stop refusing commonsense cooperation with the federal government, take immediate steps to reduce New York’s unacceptable error rate, and protect both taxpayers and the New Yorkers who depend on this critical program.”

July 31, 2026

FROM U.S. SENATOR KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after Republicans voted to block her resolution directing President Trump to remove the U.S. armed forces from hostilities against Iran unless military force is explicitly authorized by Congress. Earlier today, Senator Gillibrand gave a speech on the Senate floor advocating for passage of her resolution to bring an end to the war and lower costs for New York families. “Today’s vote sends a clear message to the American people: Republicans have abandoned their duties as elected officials and refuse to keep President Trump in check. At a time when working New Yorkers are being crushed by skyrocketing gas prices and our service members are being killed and seriously injured, the president is content spending American tax dollars and risking American lives in another endless foreign war.

“I am deeply disappointed by the failure of this vote and by Republicans’ support for a war with no justification, no strategy, and no end in sight. The American people did not ask for and do not support this war, and the Constitution makes clear that Congress, not the president, has the power to authorize military action. I will continue fighting for accountability, to reassert Congress’ constitutional role, and to prioritize policies that put working families first.”

July 31, 2026

FROM THE U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that HAROLD RAMIREZ CAGUA, also known as “Gordo,” 42, a citizen of Colombia last residing in Miami, Florida, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 57 months of imprisonment for his involvement in an organized jewelry theft ring that targeted mall-based stores and kiosks across the country. According to court documents and statements made in court, from May 2023 through April 2024, Ramirez Cagua and several other Colombian nationals burglarized jewelry stores and kiosks in malls in Connecticut and other states and then transported the stolen property or the proceeds from it across state lines. Before the burglaries, the co-conspirators surveilled the stores and kiosks to formulate game plans and, as part of that reconnaissance, posed as legitimate customers to examine the desired merchandise and assess the establishment’s security measures.

Ramirez Cagua served as the crime ring’s logistics operative, booking flights for co-conspirators to travel for the burglaries, securing rental cars, and reserving lodging. During the burglaries, he and his associates forced his way into closed businesses, sometimes by cutting a hole through a wall, and then pried open and smashed locked display cases. They then carted off the stolen merchandise. Ramirez Cagua and his co-conspirators burglarized jewelry establishments in Paterson, New Jersey, on May 17, 2023; in Mentor, Ohio, on July 21, 2023; in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on August 14, 2023; in Greece, New York, on September 20, 2023; at the Connecticut Post Mall in Milford, Connecticut, on October 5, 2023; in Lombard, Illinois on October 17, 2023; in Hamilton Township, New Jersey, on October 27, 2023; in Henrico, Virginia on November 4, 2023; and in Horseheads, New York on April 18, 2024. The total losses from these burglaries exceed $4.4 million.

Members of the conspiracy also cased additional jewelry stores and kiosks in Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Delaware. To date, none of the stolen jewelry has been recovered by law enforcement. The investigation revealed that much of the stolen jewelry was sold to the owner of a jewelry store in Queens, New York, who then sold it to others, including those he knew would melt down the gold. Ramirez Cagua has been detained since July 18, 2024. On March 5, 2025, he pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of stolen property. This investigation has been conducted by the FBI New Haven’s Transnational Organized Crime Task Force with the assistance of the Milford (Conn.) Police Department, the Hamilton Township (N.J.) Police Division, the Delaware State Police, the Henrico County (Va.) Police Division, the New York State Police, the New York Police Department, the Pensacola (Fla.) Police Department, the Paterson (N.J.) Police Department, the Mentor (Ohio) Police Department, the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Police Department, the Greece (N.Y.) Police Department, and the Lombard (Ill.) Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David T. Huang and Conor M. Reardon.

U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, and FBI Field Offices in New York, Dallas, Miami, and Tampa for their assistance.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement toward identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.

HSTF New Haven comprises agents and officers from the FBI, DEA, HSI, ATF, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, U.S. Department of Labor, and Connecticut State Police, with prosecutions led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.

July 30, 2026

FROM THE VA HOSPITAL SYSTEM IN WASHINGTON DC:

ALERT: VA HOTLINE IMPERSONATION SCAMS
Scammers use phone numbers deliberately designed to resemble official VA hotlines. A single mistyped digit can connect you to a fraudster instead of the VA.

Official VA number

Fraudulent look-alike

G.I. Bill Hotline

1-888-442-4551

1-888-442-4511

VA National Contact Center

1-800-827-1000

1-800-872-1000

My HealtheVet Helpdesk

1-877-327-0022

1-800-327-0022

You can verify VA phone numbers at va.gov before calling. Please share this warning with fellow veterans and family members who may be at risk.

If you believe you have reached a scam – hang up immediately! Do not provide your name, address, Social Security number, insurance information, or any payment details. Report the incident by calling: 1-833-38V-SAFE (1-833-388-7233) for more information on scams, visit: www.VSAFE.gov.

July 30, 2026

FROM THE STEUBEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND COUNTY SPOKESMAN EDDIE VANSTINE: Bath to Host Patriotic “Steuben 250” History Concert and Fair on Sept. 5th. Steuben 250, a county-wide celebration commemorating the 250th anniversary of both New York and America. Organized by the Steuben County Historian’s Office and the Steuben County Historical Society, this free public event will take place on Saturday, September 5, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at Pulteney Square. The event is sponsored by the NY 250th Commemorative Commission.
Living History and Military Reenactments
Pulteney Square will transform into an interactive historic timeline featuring military encampments from the 24th Connecticut Militia and Hoisington’s Rangers. These two Revolutionary War reenactment groups will represent opposing sides of the war. Visitors can witness live demonstrations, including the blank firing of muskets and a Civil War-era cannon. The history fair will also showcase a living history blacksmith, a traditional sutler mercantile stand, and authentic 19th-century ice cream prepared by Churn of the Century Ice Cream, and much more. Notable historical figures Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and local pioneer legend, The Publick Universal Friend, will also walk the grounds to interact with the public.
Commemorative Musical Performances
The event features a powerful musical lineup headlined by the Cantata Singers. The ensemble will perform “Sing Democracy 250,” a specialized musical arrangement created explicitly to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American experiment.
Local Food and Vendors
A diverse selection of local food trucks and comfort food vendors will have refreshments available for purchase throughout the day, including Chris B’s Chicken BBQ, Ray’s Mobile Food, JR’s Back Alley BBQ, Twin Kiss Ice Cream Kruiser, and Putnam’s “Fair Food” Treats.
The public can find updates to the event by following the Steuben 250 event page on Facebook.
Event Summary
• What: Steuben 250 History Concert and Fair
• When: Saturday, September 5, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Where: Pulteney Square, Bath, NY
• Cost: Free and open to the public

July 30, 2026

FROM THE AARON GIES CAMPAIGN FOR CONGRESS: The Town Hall tour will kick-off on August 6 in Jamestown, where Gies will deliver a State of the District address on the same day as Incumbent Rep. Nicholas Langworthy. Aaron Gies, Democratic candidate for Congress in New York’s 23rd District, has announced a 100-in-person Town Hall tour prior to the November 3rd election, which is less than 100 days away. The Town Hall tour will have 100 town hall and meet-and-greet-style events across the nine counties that make up the 23rd District. The events will be in-person, with the locations advertised in advance, and be free and open to the public.

The Town Hall tour will kick off at 5:30 pm on August 6th at Pendergast Library in Jamestown, where Gies will deliver a State of the District address before taking questions from the public. The event is being held in the same city and on the same day as Rep. Langworthy delivers a State of the District address to a private audience at a location undisclosed to the public, per reporting by Chautauqua Today. Gies said, “Residents of NY-23 deserve a representative that is transparent, accountable, and present. Private meetings behind closed doors and screened telephone town halls are quite frankly unacceptable. The state of the district is measured by the lives of its people. All of them. That’s why I am going on this tour.”

As the Town Hall details are finalized, they will be posted to the campaign’s website and social media accounts as well as sent out via email. For more information about Aaron Gies for Congress, please visit aaronforny23.com.

July 29, 2026

FROM THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE: Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York State Police Troop T, in partnership with the New York State Thruway Authority, seized 214 vehicles and issued more than 1,100 tickets during four statewide enforcement details on the Thruway system to proactively address the use of missing, altered, or obscured license plates (known as ghost plates) that some motorists intentionally use to avoid tolls. The enforcement details took place during the first half of this year along the 570-mile Thruway system in the Capital, Hudson Valley and Western New York regions.

“These enforcement operations are about protecting public safety, holding toll evaders responsible and safeguarding the toll dollars that drivers rightly contribute to maintain our transportation network,” Governor Hochul said. “We will continue working with the Thruway Authority and the New York State Police to put the brakes on ghost plates.”

In total, the owners of 38 vehicles that were impounded and had Thruway suspended registrations owed $103,000 in unpaid tolls and fees to the Thruway Authority. The Authority has since recovered more than $70,000.

This is part of an ongoing commitment to combatting motorists using ghost plates to avoid tolls, evade traffic enforcement cameras, or operate unregistered or unlicensed vehicles. In 2025, the State Police and Thruway Authority conducted seven enforcement details across the state, resulting in State Police seizing a total of 310 vehicles and issuing 1,749 tickets. This initiative resulted in the Authority recovering more than $132,000 of the $224,000 owed (59 percent) from 42 vehicle owners.

New York State Thruway Authority Executive Director Frank G. Hoare said, “Toll dollars collected on the Thruway are reinvested back into the system to maintain, modernize and improve the infrastructure that millions of motorists rely on every day. By holding toll evaders accountable, we help protect honest, paying customers, preserve some of the lowest toll rates in the nation and ensure the Thruway remains a safe and reliable roadway for generations to come. I’m grateful to Governor Hochul and the New York State Police Troop T for their continued partnership in protecting the integrity of the Thruway system.”

New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “A crucial mission of the State Police is ensuring the safety of the state’s roadways, and an important part of that effort is holding accountable those motorists who break the law by using fake, stolen or obscured license plates. They are putting the traveling public at risk by potentially impeding an accident investigation, and further, by not paying their fair share in tolls, they reduce the revenue that enables important roadway maintenance. I thank Governor Hochul for her continued support and the Thruway Authority for its partnership in helping us keep the Thruway safer for all motorists.”

2026 Toll Enforcement Details on NYS Thruway System:

On March 17, State Police impounded 80 vehicles from motorists crossing the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge (GMMCB), which connects Westchester and Rockland counties, including 18 impoundments for unpaid Thruway tolls. Troopers issued 293 tickets as part of the operation, 141 of which were for license plate violations.
On May 5, a second detail was conducted on the GMMCB, in which State Police impounded 69 vehicles, 10 for unpaid Thruway tolls. The operation resulted in 290 tickets, including 178 for plate violations.
On May 5, another detail took place in the Western region, and State Police impounded 15 vehicles from motorists on I-190 in Buffalo, 3 for toll evasion on the NYS Thruway. Troopers issued 262 tickets, including 138 for plate violations, during the operation.
On June 11, State Police impounded 50 vehicles from motorists on I-87 in Albany, 7 for unpaid Thruway tolls. Troopers issued 310 tickets as part of the operation, including 58 for license plate violations.

July 29, 2026

FROM CONGRESSMAN NICK LANGWORTHY: “Sheriff Allard & the Stueben County Sheriff’s Office represent the very best in law enforcement. While Hochul & Tish James are working to shield dangerous criminal illegals from deportation, our local law enforcement are doing what’s necessary to keep our communities safe.”

July 29, 2026

FROM REP. CLAUDIA TENNEY: As Fauci testifies today, remember the families locked out of nursing homes and the thousands forced to suffer alone. My Essential Caregivers Act guarantees access for designated loved ones during future emergencies.
Congress must pass it now!

July 29, 2026

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today released her 2026 Supporting Commonsense American and Family Values Plan, outlining her legislative priorities to protect the sanctity of life, defend women’s rights, safeguard children, combat anti-American ideologies, and uphold the principles that have long defined the United States. The 2026 Supporting Commonsense American and Family Values Plan highlights Congresswoman Tenney’s efforts to advance policies that strengthen families, defend the dignity of every human life, preserve fairness in women’s sports, protect children from exploitation and harmful gender ideology, eliminate taxpayer funded Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and promote patriotism and respect for the American flag. The plan reflects Tenney’s commitment to advancing commonsense policies that protect constitutional freedoms, support parents, strengthen communities, and preserve the values that have shaped the nation.

“America’s strength has always come from our families, our faith, our freedoms, and our commitment to the values that unite us as one nation,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “For too long, radical activists and unelected bureaucrats have worked to undermine those principles by attacking the sanctity of life, eroding parents’ rights, pushing anti-American ideologies, and putting politics ahead of common sense. My Supporting Commonsense American and Family Values Plan lays out a clear path to protect our children, defend women, uphold our Constitution, and preserve the values that have made our nation the greatest in the world. I will continue fighting alongside President Trump to ensure future generations inherit an America that is stronger, safer, and more faithful to the principles on which it was founded.”

To view Congresswoman Tenney’s full Supporting Commonsense American and Family Values Plan, click here.

July 29, 2026

So how many traffic tickets have the state police issued in the construction zone on Route 36 between Hornell and Arkport? State Police spokeswoman Lynnea Crane says, since April 1, State Troopers have issued 118 tickets on Route 36 in Hornellsville.

28 of the tickets were for speeding, one of them was for cell phone use for driving and talking on the phone at the same time.

15 of the 118 tickets were written as Work Zone Tickets for violations in the Route 36 construction zone.