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Editorials


Words That Wound: Trump, the R-Word, and the Stakes for the Vulnerable
When the president uses a word meant to wound, it is not a question of legality. It is a question of dignity. Every time a leader normalizes dehumanizing language, they signal who is worth respect, and who is expendable. George Cassidy Payne When Donald Trump called Minnesota Governor Tim Walz the R-word, some rushed to defend him: freedom of speech. He can say what he wants. He is protected. End of discussion. But this is not a freedom-of-speech issue. It is a freedom-of-dig

George Cassidy Payne
21 hours ago5 min read


Blurring the Line Between Feeling and Reality in the Age of AI
When news broke that a woman had held a wedding ceremony with her AI-generated boyfriend, many people reacted with disbelief or amusement. But the story is less about spectacle and more about what it reveals: the growing difficulty of distinguishing between what we feel and what is real in a society increasingly shaped by technology. The ceremony was symbolic. The partner was digital. Yet the emotions were genuine. That contradiction sits at the heart of the moment we are liv

Audra Kieta
6 days ago2 min read


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
Dec 95 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
Top Stories


Minimum Wage to Rise to $16 an Hour in Monroe County on Jan. 1
Workers in Monroe County will see their minimum wage rise to $16.00 per hour beginning Jan. 1, 2026, as New York State implements the latest step in a multi-year plan to increase wages and protect workers from rising living costs. The increase represents a 50-cent per hour raise from 2025 rates and applies to Monroe County and the rest of upstate New York. Higher minimum wage rates will also take effect downstate, with workers in New York City, Westchester County and Long Isl


Hochul signs Shield Law 2.0 expanding protections for reproductive, gender-affirming care
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed legislation strengthening the state’s legal protections for reproductive health care and gender-affirming care, expanding safeguards against out-of-state investigations and penalties aimed at patients and providers. Assemblymember Harry Bronson The measure, known as Shield Law 2.0, builds on New York’s 2023 Trans Safe Haven Act and was sponsored by Assemblymember Harry Bronson, a Democrat representing Rochester. The law is designed to clo


3 Rochester Police Officers Shot, Suspect Dead After Domestic Call
UPDATED (Dec. 22, 2025): This story has been updated to include the identification of the suspect, additional details about officer injuries, and information released by police regarding prior threats and an active arrest warrant. Three Rochester police officers were shot and wounded, and a suspect with a history of domestic violence threats was killed after a domestic disturbance call escalated into gunfire late Friday night, police said. The suspect was identified Monday a


Brouk, Clark Criticize Hochul Veto of Childcare Ratio Bill
State Senator Samra G. Brouk (D-55) and Assemblywoman Sarah Clark (D-136) issued a joint statement Thursday criticizing Governor Kathy Hochul’s veto of their bipartisan childcare ratio bill (A.4003/S.4929), calling the decision a setback in the fight to address New York’s ongoing childcare crisis. State Senator Samra G. Brouk (D-55) and Assemblywoman Sarah Clark (D-136) The legislation — approved by both legislative chambers earlier this year — would have standardized caregiv


SHOOTER FOUND DEAD AFTER BROWN UNIVERSITY MASS SHOOTING
Authorities confirmed that the suspect believed responsible for a deadly mass shooting at Brown University has been found dead, ending a multi-day nationwide manhunt that also linked him to another fatal shooting in Massachusetts, officials said Friday. The mass shooting occurred about 4:05 p.m. Saturday inside the Barus and Holley Engineering Building, where students were attending a final exam review session. A gunman opened fire in a classroom, killing two Brown University
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