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The Rochester City School District is defending its efforts to recruit more Rochester residents to work in city schools, saying its community-based hiring strategy is intended to strengthen the district’s workforce without compromising employee screening or safety standards. In a statement, RCSD reaffirmed its commitment to its Teach Rochester initiative, which encourages people from the Rochester community to pursue employment opportunities within the district. District offi

A social media statement by Monroe County Legislator and Rochester City Council candidate Rachel Barnhart following this past weekend's deadly violence generated hundreds of reactions, revealing sharp divisions over what is driving the city's recurring outbreaks of violence—and how leaders should respond. Despite the ban on large crowds issued by Mayor Malik Evans, crowds gathered this weekend post the annual Puerto Rican Festival, leaving two dead and several injured. The vi

Dr. Leonard M. Brock's story begins in Rochester's Hanover Housing Projects and on William Warfield Drive, but his work has taken him far beyond the city that shaped him. Born and raised in Rochester, Brock earned his doctorate at 28 and went on to become a nationally recognized systems-change leader. His local leadership includes helping lead major education and anti-poverty initiatives, including ROC the Future and the Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative. This August,

Tenants and housing advocates gathered outside Conifer Realty's headquarters on University Avenue Thursday, calling for improved living conditions at several Conifer-managed apartment complexes and urging state and local officials to reconsider awarding public funding to the affordable housing developer until existing maintenance issues are addressed. The demonstration, organized by the Rochester Tenant Union and residents of several Conifer properties, focused largely on con

Thousands of Monroe County residents are losing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits as new federal work requirements take effect, prompting concerns from local officials and anti-hunger advocates that food insecurity will rise across the Rochester region. The changes primarily affect certain adults between the ages of 18 and 64 who do not have dependent children and do not qualify for an exemption. Under the new federal rules, recipients in this category

Rochester recorded its lowest number of shooting victims in the first half of a year in 15 years, according to new data released Thursday by Mayor Malik D. Evans, who also announced new restrictions on large overnight public gatherings following the city's Fourth of July weekend mass shooting. Mayor Malik Evans announce citywide curfew at press conference Wednesday. City officials reported that 59 people were struck by gunfire during the first six months of 2026, the fewest f

Editor's note: This article was updated July 22, 2026 to include information about Alissa Brennan's candidacy for Rochester's East District Council Seat. Brennan announced her candidacy in May. ~ Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart announced Monday that she is running for Rochester City Council's East District seat following Councilmember Mary Lupien's decision not to seek reelection in 2027. Lupien, who has represented the East District since 2020, also endorsed Barnhar

Friday, July 17, 2026, is now known as Octavia Spencer Day in Rochester, N.Y. During a news conference held Friday at the George Eastman Museum's Dryden Theatre, Rochester Mayor Malik Evans read a proclamation honoring Academy Award-winning actress Octavia Spencer. As she received the proclamation recognizing her contributions to the film industry—not only in Rochester but around the world—Spencer did not hold back the joy on her face. Mayor Malik Evans and Actress Octavia Sp

After years of working through a lengthy waiting list of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam-era veterans, Honor Flight Rochester is now encouraging Cold War-era veterans to apply for upcoming missions to Washington, D.C., ensuring a generation of service members often overlooked in public recognition receives the gratitude they have earned. The nonprofit organization is specifically seeking veterans who served during the Cold War period between 1975 and 1989, a time marked

Regional Transit Service (RTS) will eliminate weekend service and shorten weekday operating hours for its RTS On Demand program beginning September 7, citing the need to address a growing structural budget deficit while maintaining the long-term sustainability of the region's public transportation system. Under the new schedule, RTS On Demand will no longer operate on Saturdays or Sundays. On weekdays, the shared-ride service will end at 8 p.m., eliminating late-evening trips

Wegmans Food Markets acknowledged it uses facial recognition technology in a limited number of stores to improve safety and deter organized retail theft. The disclosure renewed questions about how businesses collect, store and use biometric information. (Photo: Wegmans PR Dept) Monroe County lawmakers are considering legislation that would require businesses to notify customers when facial recognition technology is being used, adding the county to a growing movement across Ne

Rochester has moved forward with an ambitious effort to ensure that every child has regular access to nature, not only in parks and playgrounds, but under open skies, at dusk, and deep into the night. At the center of this work is the Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights, a framework developed through a broad network of community partners. The initiative is closely aligned with the national movement led by the Children & Nature Network and the influential work of author Richard