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WXXI Names Mikhaela Singleton as New Host of NPR’s Morning Edition
WXXI Public Media has announced a major change to its radio lineup, naming veteran journalist Mikhaela Singleton as the new local host of NPR’s Morning Edition on WXXI News. Mikhaela Singleton Singleton officially joins the station Monday, May 18, when she will co-host the morning program alongside longtime host Beth Adams during a transition week airing from 5 to 9 a.m. on WXXI News (FM 105.9) and WRUR-FM. Singleton is scheduled to assume full-time hosting duties on May 26.
5 days ago2 min read


American Kidney Fund Marks Third Annual AMKD Awareness Day, Launches New Coalition to Address Genetic Kidney Disease
ROCKVILLE, Md. — The American Kidney Fund on Tuesday marked the third annual APOL1-Mediated Kidney Disease (AMKD) Awareness Day, an initiative aimed at increasing public understanding of a genetic form of kidney disease that disproportionately affects people of African ancestry. The awareness day, observed during National Minority Health Month, seeks to educate communities about AMKD, a rapidly progressing condition linked to variants of the APOL1 gene. Health advocates say t
Apr 283 min read


Golisano Invests $125 Million, Expanding Golisano Children’s Alliance
Philanthropist and entrepreneur Tom Golisano announced a $125 million investment in three children’s hospitals, expanding a nationwide network aimed at improving pediatric healthcare access and outcomes. Tom Golisano The funding will support Akron Children’s Hospital in Ohio with $50 million, Dayton Children’s Hospital in Ohio with $40 million, and Avera Health in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with $35 million. The additions bring the total number of hospitals in the Golisano Chi
Apr 203 min read


Why Black Americans Should Pay Close Attention to Birthright Citizenship Debate
A looming U.S. Supreme Court case over birthright citizenship is drawing national attention this week—but for Black Americans, the stakes are deeply rooted in history and could carry lasting consequences. At the center of the debate is a challenge to the 14th Amendment, the post-Civil War constitutional provision that guarantees citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil. The amendment was ratified in 1868 specifically to overturn the infamous Dred Scott decision, which declared
Apr 12 min read


High on Creativity: Cannabis Supporting Artistic Innovation
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
Mar 172 min read


Younger People are Dying from Colorectal Cancer
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
Mar 162 min read


When a Tic Shakes a Room: Race, Responsibility, and the BAFTA Incident
It took just a single word to ignite an international conversation, a word no one invited, no one expected, and that, for one man, came unbidden. At the 79th BAFTA Awards, John Davidson, a Scottish advocate for Tourette’s syndrome and inspiration for the film I Swear , experienced a vocal tic that produced a racial slur as Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented an award. What was meant to be a celebration of life and resilience suddenly became a lightning rod for debate
Mar 135 min read


Unlocking Potential, Disrupting Limits: Dr. Shalonda Garfield on Justice, Literacy, and Transformative Leadership
From the neighborhoods of Rochester to doctoral halls and district leadership tables, Dr. Shalonda Garfield’s life traces a line many systems were not built to accommodate — yet one she refused to let define her limits. Born and raised in Rochester, Garfield describes her childhood as “interesting” — marked by poverty, yet animated by imagination. As a little girl, she played school with her siblings, already rehearsing a future she could not yet see but somehow sensed. She w
Mar 95 min read


Leading With Purpose: How Principal Demitria Lawton-Greggs Is Shaping Joy, Accountability, and Belonging at School 54
Demitria Lawton-Greggs On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I talked over the phone with Demitria Lawton-Greggs, principal of Flower City School No. 54, to talk about legacy, not as abstraction or slogan, but as something lived daily in classrooms, hallways, and hard conversations. For Lawton-Greggs, King’s legacy is not simply remembered; it is practiced. “King opened doors,” she told me. “The fact that we can have all types of people sit in one room, not worry about status, not
Jan 296 min read


When “Just Joking” Isn’t: Trump’s Third-Term Talk and a Familiar Pattern
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
Jan 184 min read


M&T Bank Giving Away 25,000 “Billieve Together” Flags
As the Buffalo Bills prepare for the NFL playoffs, M&T Bank is rolling out 25,000 newly designed “Billieve Together” flags at its branches across Rochester and Buffalo, offering fans a free way to show their team pride. The flags are part of M&T’s “Football Brings Us Together” campaign, an initiative highlighting the shared values and community spirit that unite Bills fans throughout Western New York. The banners, commonly seen at tailgates, inside the stadium on game days an
Jan 71 min read


Plans to Develop Rochester Into a Walkable City Discussed at Community Event
Reconnect Rochester hosted a community event Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, at the Little Theatre featuring a screening of the PBS documentary Walkable USA , followed by a panel discussion with local leaders about efforts to make Rochester a more walkable city. Panelists: Shawn Dunwoody of Dunwoode Design and vice president of Hinge Neighbors; Galin Brooks, president and CEO of the Rochester Downtown Development Corporation; and Erik Frisch, deputy commissioner of neighborhood and b
Dec 8, 20253 min read
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