Local News

You’ve probably heard about the human papillomavirus (HPV) and the vaccine that was approved in 2006 to prevent an HPV infection. What you might not know is that HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Katlyn Newberry, Cancer Services Program Most cases of HPV clear up on their own but in some cases, the virus can cause changes in the body that can lead to cancer. In fact, HPV can lead to 6 different types of cancer that affects both men

Rochester residents will have additional opportunities this fall to weigh in on a sweeping rewrite of the city's zoning rules that could influence where housing is built, what types of development are permitted and how neighborhoods change for years to come. The proposed new zoning code and map are part of the Zoning Alignment Project, or ZAP, an effort launched in 2020 to bring Rochester's land-use regulations into alignment with the Rochester 2034 comprehensive plan. Rather

Monroe County health officials are urging residents to check their vaccination status and watch for symptoms of measles following multiple potential exposures in the Rochester area this month, including two involving travelers who passed through Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport. The Monroe County Department of Public Health announced Sept. 17 that individuals who later tested positive for measles traveled through the Rochester airport on Sept. 8 and

Rochester City School District is asking parents, families and community members to weigh in on improvement efforts at seven city schools operating under New York state's receivership program. The district is holding a series of public hearings during August and September where school leaders will discuss their progress, outline improvement efforts and gather feedback from stakeholders. The seven RCSD schools currently listed under receivership are Virgil I. Grissom School No

As Rochester-area residents grapple with rising utility costs, billing concerns and the threat of service shutoffs, two local organizations are calling for immediate state intervention while renewing a longer-term push to replace Rochester Gas & Electric with a publicly owned utility. Dave Atias (Green Party), Howard Eagle (F.I.G.H.T. organization), Senator Jeremy Cooney Civil rights organization F.I.G.H.T. and the Green Party of Monroe County will host a community conversati

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States. Approximately 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. While the number of people diagnosed continues to rise, the importance of early detection remains. The Cancer Services Program of the Finger Lakes Region (CSP-FLR) provides free breast cancer screenings, including clinical breast exams and mammograms for uninsured and underinsured individuals 40 years of age and older. The N

Six Rochester City School District schools could be on their way out of state receivership by the end of the 2026-27 school year, potentially marking a significant turnaround for schools that have spent years under heightened state oversight. RCSD currently has seven schools in receivership: Dr. David and Ruth Anderson School No. 16, Henry Hudson School No. 28, Dr. Iris J. Banister School No. 33, East Lower School, Edison Career and Technology High School, James Monroe High S

A dispute over Monroe County's failure to investigate its jail medical provider has intensified after Legislature President Yversha Román acknowledged that she knew about a state directive calling for an inquiry in January but decided the Legislature should wait before acting. The 2023 death of 62-year-old Brian Harmon at the Monroe County Jail was deemed preventable by the NYS Commission of Correction County Legislator Rachel Barnhart says Román's written explanation confirm

The family of the late Jerome and Gloria Ward is continuing the Rochester couple’s longstanding commitment to education, community service and opportunity through the 2026 Jerome & Gloria Ward College Scholarship. The annual scholarship will provide two $500 awards to graduating high school seniors entering college as freshmen this fall. Applicants will be considered on factors including academic achievement, financial need, character, leadership and community service. The sc

With thousands of students preparing to return to classrooms, Monroe County officials are launching a new public awareness effort aimed at reminding motorists of one of the most important rules of the road: When a school bus stops with its red lights flashing, drivers must stop, too. The “Spot the Stop” campaign is being rolled out ahead of the 2026-27 school year as local officials seek to reduce the number of motorists illegally passing stopped school buses and putting chil

The Rochester City School District is defending its efforts to recruit more Rochester residents to work in city schools, saying its community-based hiring strategy is intended to strengthen the district’s workforce without compromising employee screening or safety standards. In a statement, RCSD reaffirmed its commitment to its Teach Rochester initiative, which encourages people from the Rochester community to pursue employment opportunities within the district. District offi

A social media statement by Monroe County Legislator and Rochester City Council candidate Rachel Barnhart following this past weekend's deadly violence generated hundreds of reactions, revealing sharp divisions over what is driving the city's recurring outbreaks of violence—and how leaders should respond. Despite the ban on large crowds issued by Mayor Malik Evans, crowds gathered this weekend post the annual Puerto Rican Festival, leaving two dead and several injured. The vi

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,

Tenants and housing advocates gathered outside Conifer Realty's headquarters on University Avenue Thursday, calling for improved living conditions at several Conifer-managed apartment complexes and urging state and local officials to reconsider awarding public funding to the affordable housing developer until existing maintenance issues are addressed. The demonstration, organized by the Rochester Tenant Union and residents of several Conifer properties, focused largely on con

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