Features

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,

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

I have been listening to Ron Carter for decades. Long before I became a journalist, his bass lines were part of the soundtrack of my life. His playing has always struck me as a rare combination of precision, patience, and imagination. Few musicians have shaped modern jazz more profoundly, and when I learned he would be performing in Rochester, I felt genuinely honored to receive the opportunity to interview him. I got the interview. Ron Carter's appearance in 2,221 recording

As the Buffalo Bills prepare to open their new Highmark Stadium this season, one of the greatest players in franchise history will not be among those honored. Hall of Fame running back O.J. Simpson The organization confirmed over the weekend that Pro Football Hall of Fame running back O.J. Simpson will not be included in the team's new "Family Circle," an outdoor plaza celebrating the greatest figures in Bills history. The new stadium sits directly across the street from the

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

Millions of Americans are expected to hit the roads and skies for Memorial Day weekend, and the Rochester region is preparing for one of the busiest travel periods of the year as the unofficial start of summer begins. The 2025 Memorial Day Parade in Rochester, NY featured veterans organizations, military groups, marching bands, civic organizations, and community participants honoring fallen service members. (Photo: City of Rochester) According to the American Automobile Assoc

WXXI Public Media has announced a major change to its radio lineup, naming veteran journalist Mikhaela Singleton as the new local host of NPR’s Morning Edition on WXXI News. Mikhaela Singleton Singleton officially joins the station Monday, May 18, when she will co-host the morning program alongside longtime host Beth Adams during a transition week airing from 5 to 9 a.m. on WXXI News (FM 105.9) and WRUR-FM. Singleton is scheduled to assume full-time hosting duties on May 26.

ROCKVILLE, Md. — The American Kidney Fund on Tuesday marked the third annual APOL1-Mediated Kidney Disease (AMKD) Awareness Day, an initiative aimed at increasing public understanding of a genetic form of kidney disease that disproportionately affects people of African ancestry. The awareness day, observed during National Minority Health Month, seeks to educate communities about AMKD, a rapidly progressing condition linked to variants of the APOL1 gene. Health advocates say t

Philanthropist and entrepreneur Tom Golisano announced a $125 million investment in three children’s hospitals, expanding a nationwide network aimed at improving pediatric healthcare access and outcomes. Tom Golisano The funding will support Akron Children’s Hospital in Ohio with $50 million, Dayton Children’s Hospital in Ohio with $40 million, and Avera Health in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with $35 million. The additions bring the total number of hospitals in the Golisano Chi

A looming U.S. Supreme Court case over birthright citizenship is drawing national attention this week—but for Black Americans, the stakes are deeply rooted in history and could carry lasting consequences. At the center of the debate is a challenge to the 14th Amendment, the post-Civil War constitutional provision that guarantees citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil. The amendment was ratified in 1868 specifically to overturn the infamous Dred Scott decision, which declared

Cannabis has long held a complex place in society—stigmatized in some circles, celebrated in others. But one truth is becoming increasingly clear: when used responsibly, it can positively influence the creative process. Across music, visual art, writing, and other mediums, artists cite cannabis as a tool that enhances focus, opens perspectives, and sparks new ideas. Moderate use can reduce stress, encourage divergent thinking, and support emotional well-being, helping creati

New research from the American Cancer Society shows that colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in people under age 50 in the United States. Three out of four people under age 50 diagnosed with colorectal cancer are found to have cancer at a late stage, when it is harder to treat. Katlyn Newberry March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. The Cancer Services Program (CSP) of the Finger Lakes Region wants people to know that this trend can be changed. Gett