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Editorials


After the First Strike: Venezuela, Influence, and the Ethics of Force
Two explosions, a burning vessel, and the silent corpses of survivors clinging to life. In the Caribbean Sea, U.S. forces struck a Venezuelan-flagged boat twice, forcing Americans to confront a brutal question: how far will a nation go to preserve power and influence? Beneath the rhetoric of anti-narcotics and national security lies a calculus where morality bends, legality stretches, and human lives become collateral in a broader game of dominance. This is not just a strike;

George Cassidy Payne
11 hours ago5 min read


An Open Letter to RCSD Board President: Moving Beyond the Rhetoric
Greetings Commissioner Simmons, This letter was inspired by your recent Facebook post . It is my sincere hope that the letter will be received in the spirit it is being written—I want to provide a very important historical backdrop, which you may not be familiar with, and also a degree of constructive criticism. Howard Eagle The Facebook post highlighted above is apparently concerning a recent conversation that you had with Dr. Jaime Aquino. Hopefully, you understand that

Howard Eagle
Nov 214 min read


Half Measures, Whole Consequences: Trump’s SNAP Shame Hits Rochester Families
Make America Great Again has become Make America Meh. In the richest nation on earth, some priorities get the full measure, luxury renovations, foreign policy posturing, law enforcement budgets, while feeding children is negotiable. Half a meal for kids. Half a check for struggling families. Half a thought for communities in crisis. But no half measures for ICE, Israel, Air Force One, or the new ballroom. Pragmatism exists only where it inconveniences him least. Cruelty, wrap

George Cassidy Payne
Nov 43 min read


Beyond the Screen: How Trading Cards Support Learning in a Digital Age
Parents, teachers, and even pediatricians have tried everything to manage kids’ screen time — banning phones from bedrooms, requiring outdoor play, encouraging reading, even prescribing medications. But the pull of technology isn’t going away. Social media, streaming platforms, and artificial intelligence tools are programmed to grab the attention of young people with remarkable effectiveness. Dr. Tisha Lewis Ellison That has raised alarms and prompted calls for a solution
Dr. Tisha Lewis Ellison
Oct 273 min read


HCR’s Diverse Care Project Helping Improve Access to Home Health Care for Older Black Adults
HCR Home Care is a leading provider of home health services to individuals in Rochester, Monroe County and across New York state. Our home health care services meet the needs of people who require follow‐up care after a hospital stay or who require care and support in managing an illness. Deanna Dudley, Compliance Coordinator, HCR Home Care Services include nursing; physical, occupational and speech therapy; social work; and care management. Unfortunately, home health care

Deanna Dudley
Oct 133 min read


How Trump’s Tariffs Burden the Working Class
What if I told you the biggest tax hike on working-class families in nearly a century didn’t come from Congress but from tariffs? George...

George Cassidy Payne
Sep 75 min read


Rosser’s Challenge: Will He Break the Cycle or Repeat It?
As reported by Minority Reporter , “the final in a series of Community Conversations designed to foster open dialogue and build...

Howard Eagle
Aug 242 min read


The Power of Conflict: A Crisis or an Opportunity for Justice?
Conflict is often painted as something to avoid—an inconvenience, a disruption to the status quo. But for Black and Brown communities,...

George Cassidy Payne
Aug 75 min read


What the Religious Right Got Right—and What Progressives Must Learn
During the Reagan era, prominent figures of the Religious Right movement played a significant role in mobilizing conservative Christians...

David W. Marshall
Aug 74 min read


Trump, the NFL, and the Politics of White Nostalgia
Trump’s demand to reinstate the slur isn’t an isolated outburst. It’s a calculated move from his well-worn playbook

George Cassidy Payne
Jul 244 min read


When Caregiving Becomes a 24/7 Battle: Finding Help Without Knowing Where to Start
The quiet crisis of caregiving, and how to navigate the maze of support no one tells you about. Caregiving can feel like an unending,...

George Payne
Jul 154 min read


Men: Put Down the Hot Dog and Help Save Your Colon!
If you are a man who enjoys hot dogs and sausages, you might want to rethink how much of those you eat. A study published in the British...

Katlyn Newberry
Jun 232 min read


The Missing Piece in Justice Reform: Officer Wellness
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation.”— Audre Lorde When we talk about justice reform in Rochester and...

George Cassidy Payne
Jun 209 min read


Juneteenth Is Not a Rival to the Fourth of July — It’s the Fulfillment of It
When we gather to celebrate the Fourth of July, we rightly remember the Declaration of Independence and the birth of this great republic....

Ayesha Kreutz
Jun 183 min read


Reclaiming the Church’s African Roots and Imagining Its Future
I never thought I’d live to see an American pope. And yet, here we are: Pope Leo, a humble son of Chicago, a scholar steeped in the...

George Payne
May 265 min read


Why Trump Would Still Beat Harris Today
Donald Trump has been in office for more than 100 days and if there ever was a honeymoon, it’s definitely over. How is the president...

Dr. Louis Perron
May 192 min read


The Price of Silence: How America Abandoned 9/11 for Saudi Gold
In 2017, Donald Trump landed in Riyadh and was met with gold medallions, sword dances, and royal fanfare. It was his first trip abroad as...

George Cassidy Payne
May 162 min read


The Crisis Within: A Nation on the Brink
As our democracy and economy weaken with every executive order, tariff, and unlawful deportation, the country finds itself in a...

Lydia Alston-Murphy
Apr 294 min read


Black Voters Matter and the King Center Unite to Create New Generation of Activists
Now that Donald Trump is back in the White House, he has moved with all deliberate speed to dismantle all the hard-earned Civil Rights,...

Barrington M. Salmon
Apr 236 min read


A Tribute to Pope Francis: December 17, 1936 -April 21, 2025
Jorge Mario Bergoglio came into the world at a time when fascism was on the rise, dictators were gaining their foothold, sovereign...

George Payne
Apr 222 min read
Top Stories


Hochul Issues Fourth Veto of Grieving Families Act, Citing Cost Concerns
Gov. Kathy Hochul has issued her fourth veto of the Grieving Families Act, a bill that would overhaul New York’s wrongful death statute and allow families to seek damages for emotional suffering, expanding what is currently one of the nation’s most restrictive laws. Hochul rejected the legislation late Monday, arguing that the broad expansion of eligible claims and the lack of clear financial guardrails would significantly drive up insurance and liability costs for municipali


Cold Snap Settles in • Snow, Wind and Slush Ahead
A deep freeze grips Rochester today, giving way this week to a mix of snow, wind and fluctuating daytime highs that could challenge travel and outdoor plans. Brief warm-up brings snow After a frigid Monday topping out at 23 °F, the region warms slightly on Tuesday — to a high near 32 °F — but that comes with a burst of early snowfall. Forecasts call for 3 to 6 centimeters of accumulation, enough to dust roads and sidewalks. Unsettled midweek: snow, rain mix By Wednesday, temp


Toosii, Syracuse-Born Rapper, to Join Syracuse Orange Football Program
Rapper Toosii, a Syracuse native, Announced He Will Join Syracuse University Football Program Syracuse native and platinum-selling rapper Toosii is returning to his roots — not on stage, but on the field. The 24-year-old artist, known for hits like “Love Cycle” and “Favorite Song,” is set to join the Syracuse University football program, the school confirmed Monday. Toosii, born Nau’Jour Grainger, will enroll as a non-traditional student-athlete and participate as a walk-on


AG James Wins Court Order Blocking Federal Attempt to Strip Planned Parenthood of Medicaid Funds
NEW YORK — New York Attorney General Letitia James on Tuesday secured a federal court order preventing the U.S. government from cutting off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood, a move she said would have jeopardized health care access for millions of low-income patients nationwide. The ruling, issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, grants a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of a provision in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” The prov


Barnhart Raising a Red Flag on County Dealings With Airbnb
Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart is demanding the release of all county records related to Airbnb’s lobbying efforts as lawmakers prepare to vote on whether the county will opt out of New York’s new statewide short-term rental registry — a system designed to track Airbnb and other vacation rentals, standardize tax collection, and enforce safety and licensing rules across the state. Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart The registry, approved by lawmakers earlier th
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