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Local News
Will Robert Brooks' Family Receive Justice?
Robert Brooks The high-profile trial surrounding the death of Robert Brooks , a 43-year-old inmate at the Mohawk Correctional Facility, opened this week with powerful and conflicting narratives from both the prosecution and defense. Brooks died on December 9, 2024 , shortly after being transferred to Marcy Correctional Facility in upstate New York. Prosecutors allege that Brooks was brutally assaulted and killed by a group of correctional officers— Mr. Gallagher, Mr. Kefir,
Shanique Byrd
Oct 83 min read
Baldwin Richardson Foods and Frederick Douglass 2nd Annual HBCU College Expo & Football Classic – Part 1
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Hundreds of students filled the Blue Cross Arena on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, for Baldwin Richardson Foods’ 2nd Annual Weekend of Hope HBCU College Expo, a celebration of education, culture and opportunity that awarded millions in college scholarships to area youth. Rochester Mayor Malik Evans (center) and Monroe County Exec Adam Bello (left) were in attendance for the opening ceremony of the Weekend of Hope HBCU College Expo Baldwin Richardson Foods, head
Karen Ward-Wilder
Oct 13 min read
Family of Robert Brooks Joins Push for Prison Reform
The family of Robert Brooks has joined the statewide “End Prison Violence” campaign, urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign a prison reform bill aimed at increasing accountability and safety inside New York’s correctional facilities. Brooks, 36, died December 9, 2024 at Marcy Correctional Facility, where body camera footage shows correctional officers beating the handcuffed inmate. Brooks was pronounced dead the following day, with the medical examiner citing asphyxia due to neck c
Shanique Byrd
Sep 242 min read
Dr. Tracy Strawberry brings message of hope to Ruth's Restoration Place fundraiser
Ruth’s Restoration Place held its first annual fundraiser Sept. 11 at the Strathallan Hotel, drawing a crowd to support the new faith-based transitional home for women. Ruth’s Restoration Place founder Cheryl Brown, second from left, with her siblings and a portrait of their late mother, Ruth Rourk, for whom the organization is named. Founded in 2024 by Cheryl Brown, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit provides safe, supportive housing for women overcoming addiction or incarceration. Bro
Karen Ward-Wilder
Sep 192 min read
Hochul urges restraint in political rhetoric after rise in violence
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul used a Friday morning press conference to call for dialing down political rhetoric, warning that inflammatory...
Dave McCleary
Sep 132 min read
CBP Presence in Rochester’s Park Ave Spurs Protest, Deflated Tires
A federal immigration enforcement action in Rochester’s Park Avenue neighborhood Tuesday morning drew a swift and forceful response from...
Audra Kieta
Sep 102 min read
Judge Approves $246M Settlement in Rochester Diocese Abuse Case
A federal bankruptcy judge has given final approval to a $246 million settlement between the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester and...
Staff Report
Sep 62 min read
Duckles Takes Over as Interim Monroe County DA Following Doorley Exit
Perry Duckles, Monroe County’s first assistant district attorney, formally assumed the role of interim district attorney following the...
Staff Report
Sep 21 min read
Push for Safer Roads Brings Cyclists, Advocates to Parcel 5
Rochester cyclists and community members gathered Friday at Parcel 5 for a rally organized by Reconnect Rochester, calling on state and...
Karen Ward-Wilder
Aug 292 min read
Rochester City Council Strengthens Sanctuary City Policy Amid Trump Crackdown
Rochester lawmakers voted unanimously Tuesday to codify the city’s status as a sanctuary city, expanding legal protections for immigrant...
Dave McCleary
Aug 283 min read
Monroe Community Hospital awarded $10M for pediatric, ventilator unit upgrades
Monroe Community Hospital Monroe Community Hospital will receive more than $10 million from New York state to expand and modernize its...
Veronica Sizer
Aug 272 min read
Barnhart Accuses Bello of Hypocrisy as Monroe County Joins Lawsuit Over DEI Funding
Monroe County Executive Adam Bello is defending his administration’s decision to join a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump...
Dave McCleary
Aug 223 min read
Major Rochester Black Church to Install New Pastor
Rev. Dr. Kito March Sr. of Cleveland, Ohio, will be installed as senior pastor of Aenon Missionary Baptist Church, one of Rochester’s...
Dave McCleary
Aug 212 min read
Marijuana Shops Sue New York After State’s Measuring Error Leaves Dozens Too Close to Schools
Dozens of licensed marijuana dispensaries across New York — including at least one in Rochester — are suing the state after regulators...
Shay Jackson
Aug 182 min read
Roc Fest: ‘I Love the 90s Tour’ Brings Iconic Throwback Hits, Local Flavor, and Community Support to Rochester
The Rochester Community Sports Complex will turn into a 1990s time machine on Sept. 6 when Roc Fest’s I Love the 90s Tour takes over...
Dave McCleary
Aug 133 min read
Greece Police Arrest Eight in Home Takeover, Drug Trafficking Case
A Rochester man is facing multiple charges after Greece police say he took over a home, forced out the rightful owner and used the...
Staff Report
Aug 112 min read
Top Stories
U.S. Postal Service Employee Shot
Rochester, N.Y. — The Monroe County Sheriff's Office is investigating an early-morning shooting Thursday involving a postal service employee in Henrietta. According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to reports of a shooting around 12:40 a.m. at the U.S. Postal Service’s main processing facility on Jefferson Road. Upon arrival, deputies found a postal worker who had been shot by an unidentified suspect who fled the scene in a vehicle before law enforce
Rochester Board of Education Contentious Work Session Debates Policy Reforms, Communication Standards, and Budget
Rochester, N.Y. — October 14, 2025 — The Rochester Board of Education held a work session focused on reviewing district policies, refining communication procedures, and outlining the 2026–27 budget calendar. The meeting provided an opportunity for board members to discuss operational updates, policy alignment with state requirements, and the district’s approach to long-term planning and community engagement. Several policy reviews were presented during the session, including
Legacy Makers, Inc. Partners With NYS and Faith Community to Equip Families for Emergencies
Legacy Makers, Inc., in collaboration with New York State and members of Rochester’s faith community, is hosting a pair of Emergency Preparedness Trainings aimed at helping families plan for crises — from natural disasters to financial instability. More than 100 people were in attendance for the October 10, 2025 "Emergency Preparedness Training" hosted at Glory House International Church, 111 N Chestnut St, Rochester, NY - Photo by Rodney Allen Young The sessions will be hel
Minister Clifford Florence Sr. Launches Write-In Mayoral Campaign with Community Rally
Rochester, N.Y. — On October 14, 2025 , Minister Clifford A. Florence Sr. will hold a public campaign event as a write-in candidate for mayor at the Inner Faith Gospel Tabernacle , located at 601 Jay Street . Florence—son of the late civil rights leader Rev. Franklin Florence—has positioned himself as a community-centered alternative in Rochester’s 2025 mayoral race. In recent months, Florence’s campaign has faced obstacles: he was removed from the primary ballot via object
City Council Committee Tackles Financial Uncertainty
Rochester, NY City Council Rochester’s latest City Council meeting offered more than a glimpse into local governance—it exposed the city’s ongoing struggle to balance ambition with practicality. From library funding to public safety initiatives, the session revealed a government intent on progress but constrained by financial uncertainty and structural inefficiencies. On the surface, the discussions about library investments, fire equipment upgrades, and pedestrian safety pro
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