Local News

Graduates and staff of the first cohort of the Real Life Rosies © Pre-Apprenticeship Program SPENCERPORT, N.Y. — Fourteen women have completed the first-ever cohort of the Real Life Rosies pre-apprenticeship program in the Rochester region, marking a milestone in efforts to expand women’s access to careers in advanced manufacturing. The six-week program, a partnership between the Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association and the Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES Center for Work

Reconnect Rochester hosted a community event Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, at the Little Theatre featuring a screening of the PBS documentary Walkable USA , followed by a panel discussion with local leaders about efforts to make Rochester a more walkable city. Panelists: Shawn Dunwoody of Dunwoode Design and vice president of Hinge Neighbors; Galin Brooks, president and CEO of the Rochester Downtown Development Corporation; and Erik Frisch, deputy commissioner of neighborhood and b

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

ROCHESTER, N.Y.  — State Sen. Jeremy Cooney delivered the 100,000th book distributed through the Rochester chapter of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library on Tuesday, using the milestone to announce $1 million in statewide funding for the early literacy program — and to launch an effort to secure $7 million next year. Sen. Jeremy Cooney (L) and RCSD Superintendent Eric J. Rosser visited a preschool class at Flower City School No. 54 to celebrate 100,000th book distributed throu

Four Rochester municipal unions are accusing the City of Rochester of improperly using money from a joint healthcare fund for retiree medical costs, saying the funds were contractually reserved for active employees. The city, however, says it has fully met—and will continue to meet—its healthcare obligations and that the joint committee overseeing the account has operated collaboratively for more than a decade. In a joint statement, the presidents of IAFF Local 1071, the Roch

Rochester, NY — November 24, 2025  — EDceptional, a Charter Sector Support Organization dedicated to helping Rochester charter schools thrive through innovative solutions and strategic partnerships, announces the appointment of Paul Miller as its first Chief Academic Officer. Dr Paul Miller Miller brings more than 25 years of experience as an educator, school leader, and nonprofit CEO dedicated to transforming educational systems for excellence and equity. He most recently se

Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed legislation authorizing an additional $125 million for Phase III of the Rochester City School District’s long-delayed modernization program, state lawmakers announced Monday. Assemblymember Harry Bronson and Sen. Jeremy Cooney The measure (S7157B/A7385), sponsored by Sen. Jeremy Cooney and Assemblymember Harry Bronson, raises the total investment for the current phase to $600 million. The money will be used to modernize aging school buildings, exp

On a crisp Rochester morning, a teenage Anqesha Murray-Cody might have missed school if it weren’t for her high school bus driver, who knew she had a tendency to sleep in and would call with a friendly reminder to get up and go. Her mother, she recalls with a laugh, “didn’t make me go to school. She was kind of hippy-like in that way.” That quiet persistence from her community, paired with a freedom to explore, planted the seeds for a life defined by curiosity, resilience, an

Bishop Troy Anthony Bronner, a nationally respected preacher, author and the founding pastor of Elim Christian Fellowship in Buffalo and Rochester, died this week, leaving behind a transformative legacy that reshaped urban ministry in Western New York and beyond. He was 62. Elim Christian Fellowship announced his passing and asked the community to keep his family and congregation in prayer. [Funeral arrangements are listed at the end of this article.] A Dynamic Preacher and

Rochester is joining a worldwide movement this week as Global Entrepreneurship Week Rochester 2025 (GEWROC) kicks off a four-day celebration aimed at empowering entrepreneurs and strengthening the region’s business ecosystem. Running Nov. 18–21 at multiple locations across the city, GEWROC features more than a dozen partner organizations and over 40 speakers offering workshops, bus tours, wellness events, advisory sessions and networking opportunities. Organizers say the week

Metro Justice and the Rochester for Energy Democracy (RED) coalition have welcomed Rochester City Council’s public opposition to the latest RG&E rate hike proposal — but say words are not enough. The coalition delivered a statement Thursday, Nov. 13, during the Speak to Council session at City Hall, urging Council to take concrete action by advancing a City-led public utility study. Pastor Wanda Wilson of RocACTS delivered the statement on behalf of the RED campaign, ahead of

Monroe County Executive Adam Bello and Rochester Mayor Malik Evans joined local, state, and federal leaders Monday to break ground on a $13 million housing development that will bring 22 new affordable single-family homes to the city’s Upper Falls neighborhood — a historically redlined area long affected by disinvestment The First Genesis Single Family Homes project, spearheaded by the First Genesis Development Corporation in partnership with Rochester Management Inc., Atlas

The City of Rochester’s Water Bureau will hold a public meeting on Thursday, November 13, at 5:30 p.m. at Lake Riley Lodge, 100 Norris Drive, to discuss updates to the Reservoir LT2 Compliance Project. The project is designed to bring the city’s water storage facilities into compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2), which requires that open, finished water reservoirs be either covered or equipped with a

Major Results & Highlights Incumbent Malik Evans (D) secured re-election as Mayor of Rochester with roughly 87 % of the vote over his challenger from the Conservative line. Mayor Malik Evans For the Rochester City Council At-Large race, voters selected five seats. The results: Chiara “Kee Kee” Smith (D) ~18 % Stanley Martin (D-I) ~17 % Mitch Gruber (D-I) ~16 % Miguel Meléndez Jr. (D) ~15 % Lashunda Leslie‑Smith (D) ~15 % In the school board and other district races the Democr

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