Free Republic

P’Nut the Squirrel and Fred the Raccoon did not have rabies, officials announced — as it was revealed the animals were marked for death and decapitation days before they were seized by the state. The internet famous P’Nut and his raccoon pal were taken from an Upstate New York home by force in a raid by state agents on Oct. 30 that sparked outrage and accusations of government overreach as the pets were euthanized to test for rabies. “Results are negative,” Chemung County Executive Christopher Moss told The Post Tuesday. A newly revealed timeline shows state officials advised the county...

An investigator with the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office is fighting for his life after being thrown from the hood of a moving car while trying to apprehend a suspect in Big Flats Friday night. On Friday, the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police were conducting a joint retail theft operation in Consumer Square, in the Town of Big Flats. At about 6:45 pm, while pursuing a larceny suspect in the Target parking lot, the subject ran towards a getaway vehicle and jumped on the hood with Inv. Mike Theetge in close pursuit tackling him on top...

ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) - Donations are down for one local organization but the problem is the need in the community is greater and continues to grow. The Salvation Army recently held a fundraiser for their annual red kettle campaign to help those in the community who are in need. So far this year's campaign is down about 50% in donations and on top of that, they are struggling to get volunteers. Tonight at the Clemens Center, two local leaders stepped in to help. During this time of year, you'll typically see many red kettle volunteers outside ringing the kettlebells asking...

A new Marist College poll this week found Kathy Hochul is the current frontrunner for next year’s gubernatorial election, but Rep. Lee Zeldin of eastern Long Island now has support from nearly all state Republican leaders. That’s after Zeldin secured the Chemung County Republican Committee endorsement this week. However, Hofstra University Political Scientist Craig Burnett said Zeldin will face long odds against Hochul, as no amount of GOP support can erase Zeldin’s image as a Trump ally in a highly Democratic New York.*** “In the case of governor, that has to be somebody who can appeal to a fairly broad...

Authorities say they've charged 19 students, 18 of them girls, in connection with a brawl that broke out at an upstate New York high school. Local media report that the Chemung County Sheriff's Office announced the arrests Wednesday, a week after a large fight occurred shortly before noon March 18 in the main lobby area at Elmira High School. Officials say the fight appears to have been planned. The melee led to the school being placed on lockdown for a short period.