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Cannabis has long held a complex place in society—stigmatized in some circles, celebrated in others. But one truth is becoming increasingly clear: when used responsibly, it can positively influence the creative process.  Across music, visual art, writing, and other mediums, artists cite cannabis as a tool that enhances focus, opens perspectives, and sparks new ideas. Moderate use can reduce stress, encourage divergent thinking, and support emotional well-being, helping creati

New research from the American Cancer Society shows that colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in people under age 50 in the United States. Three out of four people under age 50 diagnosed with colorectal cancer are found to have cancer at a late stage, when it is harder to treat. Katlyn Newberry March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. The Cancer Services Program (CSP) of the Finger Lakes Region wants people to know that this trend can be changed. Gett

As reported in a recent MR news story, New York State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa has dismissed a petition seeking the removal of Rochester Board of Education Commissioner Isaiah Santiago. The petition was filed last year by former Board of Education Commissioner James Patterson, who alleged that Santiago called him the N-word several times during an official Board meeting. Howard Eagle According to Commissioner Rosa’s decision, the assertion that Santiago was guilty wa

What Minneapolis reveals about dehumanization, protest, and the limits of force George Cassidy Payne The shoes were placed carefully on the frozen sidewalk outside a downtown Minneapolis hotel. Hospital clogs. The kind worn by nurses who work long, unglamorous shifts keeping strangers alive. A handwritten sign leaned against them: Alex was here. Alex mattered. Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and Minneapolis resident, was shot and killed by federal immigration agents duri

AI created image of President Donald Trump When Donald Trump has mused publicly about serving a third term as president, the response from many allies and critics has been familiar: dismiss it as a joke, provocation, or “Trump banter.” Supporters often frame the comments as sarcasm meant to irritate opponents or excite crowds, while even some Republican lawmakers insist the Constitution makes such speculation moot. But Trump’s political history complicates that dismissal. Aga

George Cassidy Payne Rochester knows something about divided houses. This city sits in the Genesee Country, once Seneca territory, shaped by abolitionists and suffragists, by Frederick Douglass’ North Star, by churches that doubled as organizing hubs, and by neighborhoods still bearing the scars of redlining, incarceration, and disinvestment. When we revisit the American Revolution—not as myth, but as moral struggle—we are not merely studying the past. We are tracing the root

When the president uses a word meant to wound, it is not a question of legality. It is a question of dignity. Every time a leader normalizes dehumanizing language, they signal who is worth respect, and who is expendable. George Cassidy Payne When Donald Trump called Minnesota Governor Tim Walz the R-word, some rushed to defend him: freedom of speech. He can say what he wants. He is protected. End of discussion. But this is not a freedom-of-speech issue. It is a freedom-of-dig

When news broke that a woman had held a wedding ceremony with her AI-generated boyfriend, many people reacted with disbelief or amusement. But the story is less about spectacle and more about what it reveals: the growing difficulty of distinguishing between what we feel and what is real in a society increasingly shaped by technology. The ceremony was symbolic. The partner was digital. Yet the emotions were genuine. That contradiction sits at the heart of the moment we are liv

Two explosions, a burning vessel, and the silent corpses of survivors clinging to life. In the Caribbean Sea, U.S. forces struck a Venezuelan-flagged boat twice, forcing Americans to confront a brutal question: how far will a nation go to preserve power and influence? Beneath the rhetoric of anti-narcotics and national security lies a calculus where morality bends, legality stretches, and human lives become collateral in a broader game of dominance. This is not just a strike;

Greetings Commissioner Simmons, This letter was inspired by your   recent Facebook post . It is my sincere hope that the letter will be received in the spirit it is being written—I want to provide a very important historical backdrop, which you may not be familiar with, and also a degree of constructive criticism.   Howard Eagle The Facebook post highlighted above is apparently concerning a recent conversation that you had with Dr. Jaime Aquino. Hopefully, you understand that

Make America Great Again has become Make America Meh. In the richest nation on earth, some priorities get the full measure, luxury renovations, foreign policy posturing, law enforcement budgets, while feeding children is negotiable. Half a meal for kids. Half a check for struggling families. Half a thought for communities in crisis. But no half measures for ICE, Israel, Air Force One, or the new ballroom. Pragmatism exists only where it inconveniences him least. Cruelty, wrap

Parents, teachers, and even pediatricians have tried everything to manage kids’ screen time — banning phones from bedrooms, requiring outdoor play, encouraging reading, even prescribing medications. But the pull of technology isn’t going away. Social media, streaming platforms, and artificial intelligence tools are programmed to grab the attention of young people with remarkable effectiveness.  Dr. Tisha Lewis Ellison That has raised alarms and prompted calls for a solution