AM 1480 WLEA News

June 16, 2026

Watch Assemblyman Phil Palmesano’s floor comments on the rural suicide council bill, thanking Steuben County Legislator Joe Tobia and his wife Elisa for all they have done, as the Assembly GOP was passing the bill.  “Tragically, the Tobias lost their son Matt to suicide.  They shared their story on how he asked for help and could not recieve it.  It’s really about how our state failed him.  The Tobias took that tragedy and helped other families so that other people don’t have to go through the same thing,” Palmesano said.  “This council will create a comprehensive plan to make the neccesary changes, because we know that the rate of suicide is higher in the smaller towns, than it is our more metropolitan areas,” Palmesano explained.

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June 16, 2026

06

From Senator Chuck Schumer: “Senate Democrats have been unwavering in calling for an immediate end of the war.  We’ve been told dozens of times that the war is over.  Dozens of times, we have been left disappointed.  The American people deserve details and full transparency – what exactly is in this ‘understanding’?  Will service members remain in harms way?  And what have we actually gained here from Trump’s war?  This regime is more radical than the previous one.  The Strait of Hormuz is under greater control than before the war began.  The cost of gasoline remains much too high.  Trump must release the details publicly, brief Congress immediately and end this war for good.” 

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, issued the following statement:  “Trump’s war of choice in Iran has cost American lives, wasted billions of taxpayer dollars, and driven up the price of food and gas while families are already squeezed by high inflation. A ceasefire is welcome — but it can’t paper over a failed strategy that delivered on not one of his promises. Not one. This president and the compliant GOP majority that enables him have turned their backs on Americans struggling in this economy, and voters will hold them accountable in November.”

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June 15, 2026

FROM CANISTEO VILLAGE HALL:  The Village will be implementing no parking to allow for milling operations on the following streets:  West Academy, Russell, Spruce, Union, Taylor, Pine, and Spring.  

From: 12:00 AM Tuesday, June 16
Until: 8:00 PM Wednesday, June 17

Please be sure to remove all vehicles from these streets tonight to avoid any issues. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your cooperation as we work to improve our roads.

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June 15, 2026

BATH, NY – A 35 year old Hornell man entered a guilty plea in Steuben County Court this morning.  Michael Bloom Jr. of Hornell, entered a plea of guilty, to a charge of Attempted Criminal Use of a Weapon in the First Degree.  The case was handled by Steuben County Assistant District Attorney Joan Merry.  The A.D.A. tells WLEA News that Bloom is scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Jason Cook on July 24.  Merry also thanked the H.P.D. for their work in the case.  “It’s all because of the hard work of the Hornell Police Department,” Merry said.  “That’s Investigator Thomas Aini, Sgt. Danny Murray, together with the assistance of the Steuben County Sheriff’s Department.” 

Bloom was accused of firing bullets at a porch on Rockwell Avenue in Hornell, in August 2024.  

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June 15, 2026

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June 15, 2026

Hornell City Hall will be closed on Friday, June 19, 2026 for Juneteenth. City Hall reopens on Monday June 22, 2026.  There will be NO delay in garbage pickup during the week of June 21.  Garbage will be picked up in the City of Hornell and North Hornell on schedule. Residents should put their garbage out on their normal mornings and nights.  It is, also, recycling week.  Hornell Area Transit buses will not be running on June 19.

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June 15, 2026

The City of Hornell is pleased to announce the completion of a new pavilion at the pool area of Veterans Memorial Park. The pavilion was recently completed in time for the summer season and provides a shaded gathering space for families visiting the pool and splash pad. The project also includes the addition of Adirondack chairs to provide a relaxing seating area out of the sun.  The pavilion was built through collaboration with GST BOCES and the building trades students, taught by instructor Rob Lemay, as well as staff from our Department of Public Works (DPW).  Mayor John Buckley explained the idea behind the project, “Our pool and splash pad area at Veterans Memorial Park get a lot of use throughout the summer. One thing we noticed was while the kids were having fun in the pool, the parents and guardians, or often grandparents were supervising with no break from the summer sun. This pavilion should make it more comfortable for visitors to the pool area.”

Mayor Buckley continued, “The pavilion is one of many wonderful collaborations brought to life through the partnership with GST BOCES and our DPW. A big thank you to all who assisted with this effort and the many projects before it over the years.”

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June 15, 2026

Congressman Nick Langworthy today announced the launch of the NY-23 America 250 Community Heroes Award, a district-wide initiative recognizing individuals across Western New York and the Southern Tier whose service, sacrifice, leadership, and dedication reflect the enduring values that have shaped our nation for 250 years.

As America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, Congressman Langworthy is calling on residents throughout New York’s 23rd Congressional District to nominate local heroes who have made a meaningful impact in their communities.

“Our nation’s story is written by ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things,” said Congressman Langworthy. “For 250 years, generations of Americans have stepped forward to serve their neighbors, their communities, and their country. The America 250 Community Heroes Award is a way to recognize what makes America great by honoring the people who continue that tradition every single day.”

The initiative will highlight the stories of residents who embody the values that have defined the American spirit: service, sacrifice, patriotism, hard work, and a commitment to something greater than themselves. The award will recognize outstanding citizens throughout the 23^rd Congressional District, including veterans, first responders, volunteers, educators, healthcare workers, community leaders, coaches, and everyday neighbors who have gone above and beyond to make their communities stronger.

Residents are encouraged to participate in the open nomination process and share the stories of individuals whose actions represent the best of America and the best of Western New York and the Southern Tier. Winners of the award will be recognized at a series of events across the district. Nomination information and additional details on the NY-23 America 250 Community Heroes Award are available on Congressman Langworthy’s website: https://langworthy.house.gov/america-250-community-heroes-award 

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June 14, 2026

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June 14, 2026

For too long, Americans have been resigned to the fact that our government is too big, too bureaucratic, and too often unaccountable to the taxpayers who fund it. The result of which has been years of Washington sending money out the door first and asking questions later, creating a ripe opportunity for bad actors to steal billions in tax dollars.

According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the federal government loses an estimated $233 billion to $521 billion annually to fraud, representing between 3 and 7 percent of total federal obligations. That’s serious money and it’s unconscionable that this has been allowed to go on for so long, but this week we passed a series of bills that will crack down on fraud, close loopholes and institute critical safeguards to protect your hard-earned money. There is nothing more insulting than working hard all week to have too much of your paycheck go to taxes only to learn that money was stolen while politicians turned a blind eye.

The massive fraud schemes uncovered in Minnesota revealed just how easy it’s been to take advantage of the system and how Governor Walz and others refused to stop it. As a a member of the House Oversight Committee, we held a series of hearings to examine exactly how these criminals exploited the system, took advantage of bureaucratic gaps, and stole money that should have been protected.

This is not just a matter of good government; it is an affordability issue. Every dollar lost to fraud is ultimately paid for by taxpayers through higher costs, bigger deficits, and more pressure on families already struggling. We passed the Working Families Tax Cut to help Americans keep more of what they earn, but we also have to address the spending side of the equation by cutting Washington’s waste and abuse.

I’m proud that as a result of our work on House Oversight, we developed and passed a major package of anti-fraud reforms that will change how Washington protects taxpayer dollars. These reforms make proven fraud detection tools permanent, strengthen oversight across government programs, require agencies to verify eligibility before payments are made, and crack down on scams like “ghost students” stealing federal financial aid.

The old system of “pay and chase” where Washington sends money out and tries to recover it after fraud occurs is over. We are moving toward a smarter approach where we verify first and pay second. These reforms are about preventing fraud before it happens, protecting taxpayers, and restoring accountability to the federal government.

The work does not stop here. I will continue fighting to bring transparency, accountability, and common sense back to Washington because every taxpayer deserves to know their hard-earned money is being treated with the same care and responsibility they use in their own homes.

I hope you take a moment to watch the video below where I talk in more detail about these critical bills.

Sincerely,

Rep. Nicholas Langworthy

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June 14, 2026

The Hornell Steamers continued their strong start to the season Saturday evening, erupting for 18 hits and cruising to an 11-3 victory over the Horseheads Hitmen.  After falling behind 1-0 in the second inning, Hornell responded immediately with a four-run third and never looked back, improving to 5-3 on the season.  The Steamers sent 10 batters to the plate in the decisive third inning. Marcus Brehm (Finger Lakes CC/St. Bonaventure) sparked the rally with a leadoff triple before John Greenwood (North Park) and Will Parker (Pomona Pitzer) followed with back-to-back singles. Emmett Heath (Pomona Pitzer) added an RBI single, and RJ Fiore (Centenary) capped the inning with a run-scoring hit as Hornell grabbed a 4-1 advantage.

Horseheads trimmed the deficit to 4-2 in the bottom half of the inning, but the Steamers delivered the knockout blow one inning later.  After Parker and Luke Manders (Kalamazoo) opened the fourth with singles and Heath worked a walk to load the bases, Taylor Joseph (North Park) launched a grand slam to left field. The towering blast pushed Hornell’s lead to 8-2 and highlighted a career night for the Steamers second baseman.  Joseph finished 2-for-5 with four RBIs, while Brehm turned in one of the best offensive performances of the season. The shortstop went 3-for-5 with a triple, a double, a two-run home run, two RBIs, and three runs scored.

Hornell added another big swing in the seventh when Brehm connected on a two-run homer following a Michael Duncan (Eastern Mennonite) single, extending the lead to 10-3.  The offensive attack was relentless throughout the evening. Greenwood collected four hits and drove in a run, Manders added three hits, Parker finished 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Heath reached base three times while scoring twice.  The Steamers totaled 18 hits and scored in five different innings.

On the mound, four Hornell pitchers combined to limit Horseheads to three runs and eight hits while striking out 10 batters.  Alex Spezzano (Hornell) got the start and struck out three over three innings before Eddison Wayman Bender (Houghton) earned the victory with 1.2 innings of relief. Gage Thomas (Mercyhurst) provided 3.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, allowing just two hits while striking out three, and David Philips (Houghton) closed the game with a scoreless ninth inning that included a pair of strikeouts.  Horseheads was led by Mason Sanno, who collected two hits and an RBI, while Yahir Ortiz scored twice and reached base four times.  The Steamers won their fourth game in a row and will host the Hitmen today at 4 p.m.

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June 13, 2026

FROM SENATOR CHUCK SCHUMER:  Following years of advocacy to help the Jasper-Troupsburg Central School District in its flood recovery and mitigation efforts, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today delivered $60 million in federal funding for Jasper-Troupsburg Central School District through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to relocate and build a brand-new middle and high school, which was destroyed following the devastating flooding of Tropical Storms Fred and Debby. The school district has met the federal criteria to move the school to a new nearby location, and the updated building will be built primarily with federal disaster recovery funds provided by FEMA.

“Success! After years of hard work, I’m proud and excited to deliver a whopping $60 million for Jasper-Troupsburg Central School District to build a new, safe, and flood-resilient school for students to learn, grow, and succeed. For years, students in the Jasper-Troupsburg Central School District have had to leave the district to receive their education after Tropical Storms Fred and Debby flooded their school building,” said Senator Schumer. “This investment will be transformative for the students, families, and educators of Jasper-Troupsburg. Now, the school district can finally move forward with its plan to create a modern learning environment that will be protected from future flooding.”

“The Jasper-Troupsburg Central School District is thrilled and deeply grateful to learn of the obligation of our FEMA High School replacement project,” said Superintendent Jason Oliver. “This milestone represents years of advocacy, persistence, and collaboration on behalf of our students, staff, and community. We extend our sincere appreciation to Senator Chuck Schumer and his office for their steadfast support throughout this entire process. From the earliest stages of our recovery efforts, Senator Schumer’s team remained engaged, attentive, and committed to helping our district navigate an extraordinarily complex federal process. During times when progress felt uncertain or delayed within the system, their office continued to advocate for our community and help keep this project moving forward. Their longstanding support has meant a great deal to our district and the families we serve. This obligation moves us one significant step closer to providing our students and community with a permanent place to come together, learn, grow, and build for the future.”

Schumer has long supported the Jasper-Troupsburg Central School District in their successful bid for FEMA assistance to relocate the school to a new location with significantly reduced flood risk to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and staff. This $60 million in federal funding for the new school will ensure students, teachers, and staff can learn and work at a safe, healthy new building without fear of impacts from another flood. Schumer is continuing to push for increased investment in weather preparedness services, aiming to reduce future disaster impacts, particularly in flood-prone regions like Steuben County.

Schumer previously fought for federal resources for Steuben County and the Jasper-Troupsburg Central School District following Tropical Storm Fred. The storm resulted in the Jasper-Troupsburg Junior and Senior High School becoming inundated with nearly four feet of water, mud, and debris, causing severe damage and forcing the building to close and students to relocate. After securing a federal disaster declaration for Tropical Storm Fred for Steuben County, unlocking critical federal aid to bolster the Southern Tier’s flood recovery, Schumer secured $5,630,020 in federal FEMA funding to cover the Jasper-Troupsburg Central School District for Emergency Protective Measures.

Then, in August 2024, Tropical Storm Debby wreaked havoc across New York State, including in Steuben County. Schumer explained that there was flash flooding in Jasper, impacting the middle and high school building’s first floor, crawl space, and basement, and creating an immediate threat to the health and safety of students and the general public. As a result, the school district installed dehumidification systems and air filtration devices, remediated mold, demolished drywall, removed debris, did emergency pumping, and did general cleaning. Last year, Schumer secured $2,946,315.09 in federal funding to cover those costs and other restoration efforts taken to prevent further damage within the building.

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