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Rochester officials are weighing new public safety measures, including the possibility of a youth curfew, after a mass shooting during the Fourth of July weekend left seven people wounded by gunfire, one person stabbed, and renewed concerns about downtown violence. Mayor Malik Evans The violence erupted shortly after the city's Independence Day celebrations concluded early Sunday morning in Rochester's East End entertainment district. According to the Rochester Police Departm

As her tenure leading the Penfield Central School District Board of Education comes to an end, outgoing Board President Dr. Aaliyah El-Amin-Turner is leaving behind a message of gratitude, reflection and a forceful defense of Superintendent Dr. Tasha Potter, arguing that some of the opposition the district's first Black superintendent has faced cannot be separated from issues of race and representation. Penfield School District Board President Dr. Aaliyah El-Amin-Turner In a

The Rochester City School District is delaying several planned student initiatives after receiving approximately $4.1 million less in state aid than district officials anticipated, forcing administrators to revise the 2026-27 budget just weeks before the start of the new school year. The budget adjustment comes after New York approved its state budget nearly two months late, leaving school districts across the state to finalize local budgets before knowing their exact state a

Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson joined LGBTQ+ advocates, community leaders and local organizations Wednesday to commemorate the 15th anniversary of New York's Marriage Equality Act, celebrating the landmark law while warning that marriage rights could once again face legal challenges. Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson (center) was among the marriage equality advocates celebrating 15 years of the passage of New York State's Marriage Equality Act. The event, held at Rainbow Senio

Incumbents dominated primary election night across the Rochester region Tuesday, with U.S. Rep. Joe Morelle and State Assemblymember Demond Meeks both securing decisive Democratic primary victories as they prepare for November's general election. Joe Morelle, Demond Meeks In the race for the 137th Assembly District, which includes portions of Rochester and the Town of Gates, incumbent Assemblymember Demond Meeks easily defeated challenger Mercedes Vazquez Simmons. According t

Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart is seeking answers from Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter regarding the deployment of a sheriff's deputy to Washington, D.C., as part of a federal security operation connected to the Trump administration's Freedom 250 events. Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart In a statement released Monday, Barnhart said she had requested an immediate explanation from Baxter after images circulated online appearing to show a Monroe County Sherif

Communities across the Rochester region are commemorating Juneteenth this week with festivals, educational programs, performances, and community gatherings honoring the end of slavery in the United States and celebrating Black history, culture and resilience. Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, the day Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed enslaved African Americans of their freedom—more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Procl

Community leaders, historians and residents gathered Tuesday morning at Frederick Douglass Memorial Square to commemorate the 127th anniversary of the unveiling of the Frederick Douglass Monument, honoring the life and legacy of one of Rochester's most influential historical figures. Brothers of Eureka Lodge #36 F.& A.M. PHA were among attendees at the annual Frederick Douglass Monument Commemoration - Photo courtesy of Rev. Julius Jackson The annual Frederick Douglass Monume

Members of Rochester's Democratic state legislative delegation gathered Monday to highlight what they describe as major victories for Rochester and Monroe County in New York's FY2027 state budget, including a historic $2 million capital investment in Baden Street Settlement and $300 million for the Rochester-Monroe Transformation Initiative. The lawmakers said the budget delivers funding aimed at addressing affordability, housing shortages, child care access, public safety an

Four long-vacant historic buildings at one of downtown Rochester’s most prominent intersections have been transformed into affordable housing and commercial space through a $12.8 million redevelopment project that state and local leaders say will help fuel continued investment in the city’s urban core. Local leaders and community stakeholders gathered for ribbon-cutting celebrating Harper's Corner project. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday announced the completion of Harper’s Corne

The Rochester City School District has reached a settlement with the Rochester Teachers Association, bringing an end to a months-long legal dispute stemming from widespread payroll problems that affected hundreds of educators and staff members. The agreement, approved unanimously by the Rochester Board of Education, resolves a lawsuit filed by the teachers union after the district's transition to a new Oracle payroll system resulted in missed paychecks, payroll errors and inc

A former correction officer at New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision has been convicted in the beating death of inmate Messiah Nantwi at Mid-State Correctional Facility, marking the first trial verdict connected to one of the most scrutinized prison abuse cases in New York in recent years. The fatal beating of 22-year-old Messiah Nantwi (left) at Midstate Correctional Facility occurred in March 2025 just months after the December 2025 killing of 4