Local News

A French textile recycling company plans to invest $390 million to build its first North American textile regeneration facility at Eastman Business Park, a project expected to create about 70 jobs and position Rochester as a hub for circular manufacturing, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday. The company, Reju, will develop an 18.9-acre vacant site at the former Kodak campus, where it plans to construct a 145,000-square-foot facility to recycle discarded polyester textiles i

Ongoing payroll problems within the Rochester City School District are again drawing criticism from employees and union leaders, after district officials acknowledged that recently issued W-2 tax forms contained errors, prompting workers to delay filing their taxes. Demonstrators march at RCSD Headquarters District administrators notified staff earlier this week that inaccuracies were discovered in some W-2 statements generated by the district’s payroll system. Employees were

Our Voices Project LLC, in collaboration with Legacy Drama House, presented Being Black in America: Discussion and Collective Action  on Monday, January 19, 2026, at the Legacy Drama House, located at 112 Webster Avenue in Rochester, NY. Dr. Mary Tina, the owner of Legacy Drama House, has operated the space for more than eight years. The event was well attended, filling the venue. Our Voices Project Founder, Director, and Co-Producer Jackie McGriff, along with Outreach Facili

Margaret “Midge” Thomas, a beloved leader, mentor, and tireless advocate for community empowerment in Rochester, New York, died on Jan. 8, 2026, at Rochester General Hospital. She was 99 years old and had been hospitalized for several weeks with respiratory complications, her goddaughter, Beverly Randall, said. Margaret "Midge" Thomas For more than five decades, Thomas’s life was defined by service, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to lifting others — especially youth a

Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans and County Executive Adam J. Bello recognized the service of local law enforcement officers Friday during a private ceremony marking National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. The event, held at the Public Safety Building, brought together leaders and officers from the Rochester Police Department and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Evans and Bello presented a joint proclamation to Todd Baxter, David Smith, and attending officers and deputies

Mayor Malik D. Evans has extended the City of Rochester’s Gun Violence State of Emergency for another 30 days, signaling that city officials believe extraordinary measures are still necessary to address ongoing public safety concerns. The extension, issued Tuesday, continues an emergency proclamation first enacted amid persistent gun violence and renewed regularly by the Evans administration. While the move does not create new laws or restrictions, it carries important legal,

As the Buffalo Bills prepare for the NFL playoffs, M&T Bank is rolling out 25,000 newly designed “Billieve Together” flags at its branches across Rochester and Buffalo, offering fans a free way to show their team pride. The flags are part of M&T’s “Football Brings Us Together” campaign, an initiative highlighting the shared values and community spirit that unite Bills fans throughout Western New York. The banners, commonly seen at tailgates, inside the stadium on game days an

The Rochester Police Department has released additional information as investigators continue to examine a violent incident involving both a stabbing and a shooting at a home on Coventry Street. Police said officers responded to the residence after receiving reports of a disturbance that escalated into serious violence. Upon arrival, officers discovered multiple victims suffering from traumatic injuries, including at least one person with stab wounds and another with gunshot

Malik D. Evans opened the New Year with a message of unity, perseverance, and action during his inaugural address on Jan. 1, 2026, at the Eastman School of Music. Mayor Malik Evans gets sworn in for his second term by his wife Shawanda and his son Cameron. Photo by Rev. Julius Jackson Emceed by Narada Campbell, the ceremony brought together local leaders, community members, and residents to mark the start of Mayor Evans’ new term. Adam Bello, Monroe County executive, thanked

A Rochester woman has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of her 16-year-old son, authorities said Tuesday. Ca'hry Gibson and his father Christopher Gibson Police say the incident unfolded on the morning of Oct. 10 on Breck Street on Rochester’s east side after an argument between 38-year-old Aneka Connor and her son, Ca’hry Gibson, over a cellphone. According to Rochester Police Department reports, Gibson ran out of the house and climbed onto the hood

The body of missing Rochester woman Carolyn “Danny” Siplin, 33, was found late last week, and authorities have confirmed her identity, Rochester Police announced Sunday. Siplin had been reported missing on Dec. 23, just two days before Christmas, after family members lost contact with her. Her disappearance prompted a citywide search that included public alerts and extensive outreach from law enforcement. Officers located a body Friday near the east side of the Genesee River

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

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

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

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

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