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The YWCA Rochester & Monroe County celebrated its 20th Annual Empowering Women's Luncheon on Oct. 7, 2026, welcoming tennis legend Venus Williams as the featured speaker for an afternoon focused on empowerment, leadership and personal growth. Venus Williams is an American tennis champion, entrepreneur and advocate for gender equality. A former world No. 1, Williams has won seven Grand Slam singles titles, including five Wimbledon championships, and four Olympic gold medals. H

Rochester Mayor Malik Evans Gun violence in Rochester has fallen to levels not seen in more than a decade, according to new data released by Mayor Malik Evans, continuing a downward trend that city officials say reflects a combination of policing, violence-prevention programs, community partnerships and targeted intervention strategies. At a recent public safety update, Evans announced that several key measures of gun violence are now substantially below their 10-year average

Rochester’s long-delayed effort to rebuild Peace Village is moving forward, but the plan to transform the city’s only sanctioned homeless encampment into a more structured transitional housing site is drawing concerns from advocates who say people experiencing homelessness should have a greater voice in how it operates. Rochester City Council had been expected to vote Sept. 22 on funding for the Industrial Street site but postponed action until Oct. 6 while details of the pro

New York state has agreed to pay $24 million to the family of Robert Brooks, the Rochester-area man who died after a brutal beating by correction officers at Marcy Correctional Facility in December 2024, bringing the civil litigation surrounding his death to a close while his family vows to continue pushing for changes in the state prison system. Steven Schwarz (Attorney), Robert Brooks Jr.(Son of Robert Brooks), Jared Ricks (Robert Brook's brother), Elizabeth Mazur (Attorney

Millions of New Yorkers will soon find an unexpected envelope in their mailboxes as the state begins distributing one-time energy rebate checks of up to $200, an effort state leaders say will provide some relief from rising utility and household energy costs. Governor Hochul Announces Energy Rebate Checks Going to 8.2 Million New York Households Starting Sept. 21 Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that the state will begin mailing the checks Monday, Sept. 21, to approximately 8.2 mi

Monroe County health officials are urging residents to check their vaccination status and watch for symptoms of measles following multiple potential exposures in the Rochester area this month, including two involving travelers who passed through Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport. The Monroe County Department of Public Health announced Sept. 17 that individuals who later tested positive for measles traveled through the Rochester airport on Sept. 8 and

For Morgann Thomas, creating opportunities for people to connect has become more than an event concept. It has become part of how she sees the community. Morgann Thomas A registered nurse and the visionary behind The Pause NY, Thomas draws from her own lived experiences and observations about how people connect, socialize and build relationships to curate experiences that encourage adults to step outside their routines and make room for something new. That work led me to a qu

Six Rochester City School District schools could be on their way out of state receivership by the end of the 2026-27 school year, potentially marking a significant turnaround for schools that have spent years under heightened state oversight. RCSD currently has seven schools in receivership: Dr. David and Ruth Anderson School No. 16, Henry Hudson School No. 28, Dr. Iris J. Banister School No. 33, East Lower School, Edison Career and Technology High School, James Monroe High S

A nearly yearlong investigation into an alleged drug trafficking network in Rochester has resulted in 22 arrests and the seizure of large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine along with more than two dozen firearms, according to the Rochester Police Department. Rochester Police Capt. Greg Bello announced results of a drug investigation Police announced the results Thursday, Aug. 27, saying investigators executed a total of 24 search warrants during two major enforcement operati

For more than six decades, Dr. David “Sankofa” Anderson worked to ensure that Rochester remembered its history — particularly the Black history that too often had been overlooked, diminished or forgotten. Dr. David Anderson was known as "Sankofa" Anderson, a nationally recognized Frederick Douglass scholar, educator, storyteller, civil rights activist and longtime community advocate, died at age 96. His death prompted tributes across Rochester for a man whose influence stretc

Chabad of Pittsford will celebrate 18 years of serving the local Jewish community with a special concert featuring internationally known American-Israeli rapper and musician Nissim Black. The event, “CHAI PITTSFORD: Celebrating 18 Years of Jewish Life in Pittsford,” is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 7, at 2 p.m. at the Sutherland High School Theater, 55 Sutherland St. in Pittsford. American-Israeli rapper and musician Nissim Black Organizers say the celebration will recognize Ch

With thousands of students preparing to return to classrooms, Monroe County officials are launching a new public awareness effort aimed at reminding motorists of one of the most important rules of the road: When a school bus stops with its red lights flashing, drivers must stop, too. The “Spot the Stop” campaign is being rolled out ahead of the 2026-27 school year as local officials seek to reduce the number of motorists illegally passing stopped school buses and putting chil