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The Rochester Board of Education’s October 30 meeting drew a full house — and for good reason. After months of frustration over payroll chaos, Rochester City School District (RCSD) employees came forward to share exactly what it’s been like living with the fallout from the district’s new Oracle payroll system. The tone was emotional, honest, and at times, tense, as teachers, aides, and staff described missing paychecks, incorrect deductions, and mounting financial stress. Sin

On Oct. 26, 2025, the ROC Music Fest “I Love the 90’s Tour” and Tacos & Tequila event brought high energy, nostalgia and flavor to the Rochester Community Sports Complex. 90's Hip Hop Star Vanilla Ice - Photo by Don Schwartz As guests arrived, food trucks were already lined up, serving everything from tacos to soul food, Greek dishes, ice cream and desserts. ROC Dilla’s food truck offered delicious pork rice bowls, with the option to substitute lettuce for rice. A few vendors

Rochester, N.Y.  — Mayor Malik Evans will join residents of the East Market Neighborhood on Saturday, October 25, 2025, for the unveiling of a new community mural located near the Rochester Public Market. The event will take place at 11:00 a.m. at 183 Hayward Avenue, a two-story building visible from the intersection of Railroad Street and Fourth Street near the Market’s entrance. The mural was created through a partnership between local artists, community volunteers, and nei

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Black Cinema Series, a partnership between the Rochester Association of Black Journalists (RABJ) and the Little Theatre, presents "Sinners" at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26. Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers (Michael B. Jordan and Michael B. Jordan) return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back, in Ryan Coogler's instant classic/probable Oscar flick. Featuring a star

Rochester, N.Y. A Monroe County jury delivered a split verdict Monday in the high-profile case involving three former correctional officers from Marcy Correctional Facility accused in the fatal beating of inmate Robert Brooks, 43, of Greece, New York. The verdict concluded weeks of testimony, evidence, and deliberation over a case that has drawn significant public attention to conditions and accountability within New York’s prison system. The jury found David Kingsley guilty

Rochester, N.Y. —  The Monroe County Sheriff's Office is investigating an early-morning shooting Thursday involving a postal service employee in Henrietta. According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to reports of a shooting around 12:40 a.m. at the U.S. Postal Service’s main processing facility on Jefferson Road. Upon arrival, deputies found a postal worker who had been shot by an unidentified suspect who fled the scene in a vehicle before law enforce

Rochester, N.Y. — On October 14, 2025 , Minister Clifford A. Florence Sr.  will hold a public campaign event as a write-in candidate  for mayor at the Inner Faith Gospel Tabernacle , located at 601 Jay Street . Florence—son of the late civil rights leader Rev. Franklin Florence—has positioned himself as a community-centered alternative in Rochester’s 2025 mayoral race. In recent months, Florence’s campaign has faced obstacles: he was removed from the primary ballot via object

Rochester, NY City Council Rochester’s latest City Council meeting offered more than a glimpse into local governance—it exposed the city’s ongoing struggle to balance ambition with practicality. From library funding to public safety initiatives, the session revealed a government intent on progress but constrained by financial uncertainty and structural inefficiencies. On the surface, the discussions about library investments, fire equipment upgrades, and pedestrian safety pro

Robert Brooks The high-profile trial surrounding the death of Robert Brooks , a 43-year-old inmate at the Mohawk Correctional Facility, opened this week with powerful and conflicting narratives from both the prosecution and defense. Brooks died on December 9, 2024 , shortly after being transferred to Marcy Correctional Facility  in upstate New York. Prosecutors allege that Brooks was brutally assaulted and killed by a group of correctional officers— Mr. Gallagher, Mr. Kefir,

ROCHESTER, N.Y.  — Hundreds of students filled the Blue Cross Arena on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, for Baldwin Richardson Foods’ 2nd Annual Weekend of Hope  HBCU College Expo, a celebration of education, culture and opportunity that awarded millions in college scholarships to area youth. Rochester Mayor Malik Evans (center) and Monroe County Exec Adam Bello (left) were in attendance for the opening ceremony of the Weekend of Hope HBCU College Expo Baldwin Richardson Foods, head

The family of Robert Brooks has joined the statewide “End Prison Violence” campaign, urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign a prison reform bill aimed at increasing accountability and safety inside New York’s correctional facilities. Brooks, 36, died December 9, 2024 at Marcy Correctional Facility, where body camera footage shows correctional officers beating the handcuffed inmate. Brooks was pronounced dead the following day, with the medical examiner citing asphyxia due to neck c

Ruth’s Restoration Place held its first annual fundraiser Sept. 11 at the Strathallan Hotel, drawing a crowd to support the new faith-based transitional home for women. Ruth’s Restoration Place founder Cheryl Brown, second from left, with her siblings and a portrait of their late mother, Ruth Rourk, for whom the organization is named. Founded in 2024 by Cheryl Brown, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit provides safe, supportive housing for women overcoming addiction or incarceration. Bro