The Pentagon cannot account for more than $8 trillion U.S. taxpayers have given it since 1996, according to a report by the Reuters news agency.Yet, even as the Defense Department insists it needs more money to defend the nation, officials admit waste and fraud are rampant.Clearly, the Pentagon ...

There is much sugar in the state Tax Relief Commission's recommendations released Tuesday.The commission's recommendations are sweet, pardon the pun, because property owners could see two years with no local property tax increases. In the first year, taxes would be frozen in jurisdictions that ...

Prendergast Library officials have long known the library's role as a community resource is about much more than having computers or a lot of books on the library's shelves. It's easy to take the library for granted, but that would be a mistake, as is evidenced by three upcoming workshops. The ...

A new national security strategy, replacing one he initiated in 2010, will be unveiled next year, President Barack Obama has informed Congress.Let's hope the 2014 strategy works better than its predecessor.Four key goals of the 2010 plan were to strengthen the U.S. position as a world leader, ...

For many area residents, Thursday's grand opening of WCA Hospital's Ear, Nose and Throat Center is just what the doctor ordered - less waiting for appointments and fewer trips to Erie or Buffalo.Physician Recruitment in Chautauqua County: Challenges And Opportunities, a 2009 study by the ...

Most people put a considerable amount of thought into their Christmas shopping. Finding just the right gifts and staying within the budget is important, after all.The really smart move this holiday season, for any number of reasons, is to do your Christmas shopping at local stores."Black ...

Much of what is in the Moreland Commission's first public report would have been news had it not happened.The commission, charged with investigating the causes of recent corruption scandals in state government and then with making recommendations to Gov. Andrew Cuomo to end such scandals, made ...

Nelson Mandela is gone, and with him goes the steadying influence he brought to governments across Africa. While he lived, those in power had an example of steadfast forgiveness from a different kind of liberation leader.Mandela was a complex man - branded a traitor and terrorist by many, ...

For too long, Jamestown's neighborhoods have been neglected.Too few property owners took an interest in maintaining their homes and property. It is a problem that has grown over time as the percentage of renters overtook the number of homeowners. As is stated in the city's neighborhood plan, ...

Thumbs up to all those whose combined efforts resulted in Friday night's downtown Christmas parade - an event enjoyed by the thousands who lined Third Street. Tiffani Conti at the Jamestown Renaissance Corp. and all of the JRC's volunteers created yet another parade for the ages. Kudos also go ...

Bemus Point Central School district residents face an interesting question on Dec. 12 when they vote on the district's two-phase, $16.4 million capital project.There are two propositions up for approval. The first, which costs $8.4 million, includes new classroom door locks, additional security ...

Proposition 2 is a tougher decision for Bemus Point voters.The project is estimated to cost slightly more than $8 million, with the borrowing of the money taking place during the 2015-16 school year and the first payment budgeted for 2016-17. The 2016-17 budget then would reflect an estimated ...

It is possible Monday was the last Cyber Monday in New York state with no sales tax.Good.The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of New York's taxes on websites like Amazon.com and Overstock.com. The companies were fighting a state law that forces them to pay sales tax just as any ...

For some students and their parents, attending college is the economic equivalent of purchasing a house.A recently released study by The College Board noted about 60 percent of students who earned bachelor's degrees in 2012 graduated with debt. Among those who borrowed, the College Board ...

A substantial number of members of Congress, along with several other countries that have been longstanding allies of the U.S., are worried about the so-called "deal" President Barack Obama's administration has announced with Iran.Far from providing an opening that could prevent Iran from ...

The Affordable Care Act and the Common Core State Standards are a lesson in how not to roll out new programs.The Common Core websites work, which is nearly the single item New York got right in its implementation of Common Core. Anna Geronimo, regional staff director of New York State United ...

Thumbs up to a pair of local residents who are stepping up to expand horse programs for Chautauqua County 4-H. Julie Covert of Busti will lead classes for youth to work with miniature horses after watching her daughter Corinne participate in miniature horse competitions at the New York State ...

Over the past few weeks, The Post-Journal has chronicled some of the upper floor development projects happening in downtown Jamestown.Such activity is a stark contrast with downtown as it was seen by Goody Clancy official when they wrote the Urban Design Plan in 2006. The plan's architects saw ...

These are challenging times in which we live.The job market is unsettled. The Affordable Care Act was supposed to open up health insurance to those who had no health insurance and has ended up costing many Americans their existing health care plans. Many people have to work too hard to simply ...

We shouldn't have been surprised by the response of Randolph residents in the wake of a fire that destroyed the parish hall at Grace Episcopal Church.It was only three years ago when we saw how village residents came together after a tornado ripped through the Cattaraugus County village. There ...