Local News

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,

Thousands of Monroe County residents are losing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits as new federal work requirements take effect, prompting concerns from local officials and anti-hunger advocates that food insecurity will rise across the Rochester region. The changes primarily affect certain adults between the ages of 18 and 64 who do not have dependent children and do not qualify for an exemption. Under the new federal rules, recipients in this category

Rochester recorded its lowest number of shooting victims in the first half of a year in 15 years, according to new data released Thursday by Mayor Malik D. Evans, who also announced new restrictions on large overnight public gatherings following the city's Fourth of July weekend mass shooting. Mayor Malik Evans announce citywide curfew at press conference Wednesday. City officials reported that 59 people were struck by gunfire during the first six months of 2026, the fewest f

Editor's note: This article was updated July 22, 2026 to include information about Alissa Brennan's candidacy for Rochester's East District Council Seat. Brennan announced her candidacy in May. ~ Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart announced Monday that she is running for Rochester City Council's East District seat following Councilmember Mary Lupien's decision not to seek reelection in 2027. Lupien, who has represented the East District since 2020, also endorsed Barnhar

Friday, July 17, 2026, is now known as Octavia Spencer Day in Rochester, N.Y. During a news conference held Friday at the George Eastman Museum's Dryden Theatre, Rochester Mayor Malik Evans read a proclamation honoring Academy Award-winning actress Octavia Spencer. As she received the proclamation recognizing her contributions to the film industry—not only in Rochester but around the world—Spencer did not hold back the joy on her face. Mayor Malik Evans and Actress Octavia Sp

After years of working through a lengthy waiting list of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam-era veterans, Honor Flight Rochester is now encouraging Cold War-era veterans to apply for upcoming missions to Washington, D.C., ensuring a generation of service members often overlooked in public recognition receives the gratitude they have earned. The nonprofit organization is specifically seeking veterans who served during the Cold War period between 1975 and 1989, a time marked

Regional Transit Service (RTS) will eliminate weekend service and shorten weekday operating hours for its RTS On Demand program beginning September 7, citing the need to address a growing structural budget deficit while maintaining the long-term sustainability of the region's public transportation system. Under the new schedule, RTS On Demand will no longer operate on Saturdays or Sundays. On weekdays, the shared-ride service will end at 8 p.m., eliminating late-evening trips

Wegmans Food Markets acknowledged it uses facial recognition technology in a limited number of stores to improve safety and deter organized retail theft. The disclosure renewed questions about how businesses collect, store and use biometric information. (Photo: Wegmans PR Dept) Monroe County lawmakers are considering legislation that would require businesses to notify customers when facial recognition technology is being used, adding the county to a growing movement across Ne

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

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