Local News

From the neighborhoods of Rochester to doctoral halls and district leadership tables, Dr. Shalonda Garfield’s life traces a line many systems were not built to accommodate — yet one she refused to let define her limits. Born and raised in Rochester, Garfield describes her childhood as “interesting” — marked by poverty, yet animated by imagination. As a little girl, she played school with her siblings, already rehearsing a future she could not yet see but somehow sensed. She w

Rochester City Council Vice President LaShay D. Harris hosted the fourth annual Martha L. Hope ROC Senior Estate Planning Summit on Saturday, bringing together older adults, caregivers and community organizations to discuss financial planning, aging resources and strategies to preserve generational wealth. Rochester City Council President Miguel Melendez, Rochester City Council Vice President LaShay D. Harris, Rochester Mayor Malik Evans, Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, N

A majority of New York voters support allowing New York City to raise income taxes on residents earning at least $1 million, while Gov. Kathy Hochul maintains a sizable lead over Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman in a hypothetical gubernatorial matchup, according to a new Siena College poll released Wednesday. The survey found that 54% of New York voters support giving New York City the authority to raise taxes on millionaires, compared with 29% who oppose the proposal. Su

A controversial plan by federal authorities to turn part of the Kenneth B. Keating Federal Building in downtown Rochester into an immigration detention center has drawn sharp criticism from local leaders and residents, according to a report by WXXI News. Documents reviewed by WXXI show that U.S. Customs and Border Protection is considering creating a small-scale, 24/7 immigrant detention facility inside the federal courthouse on State Street. The proposal would repurpose spac

New York State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa has denied an application seeking the removal of Rochester City School District Board of Education Commissioner Isaiah Santiago, concluding there is insufficient evidence to warrant his removal from office. Isaiah Santiago, James Patterson The decision, dated Feb. 17, 2026, stems from a petition filed by former board member James L. Patterson under Education Law § 306, which allows the commissioner to remove a school board m

More than 40 schools and community organizations will gather next month at Monroe Community College’s downtown campus to provide Rochester families with information about local education options during the annual GoodSchoolsRoc School Choice Fair. The free event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, at MCC Downtown Campus, 321 State St. Parking will be free and no RSVP is required. Organizers say the fair is designed to help parents and guardians explore a

The Appellate Division, Fourth Department has dismissed as moot a removal proceeding filed under New York’s Public Officers Law § 36 against former Irondequoit Town Supervisor Andraé Evans, formally concluding the legal matter without an order of removal or disqualification. Former Irondequoit Town Supervisor Andraé Evans According to a press release issued Monday, the court dismissed the proceeding following the conclusion of Evans’ term in office. Because his term had alrea

Hospitals across Monroe County are experiencing mounting pressure as a surge in influenza cases drives up emergency room visits and hospital admissions, straining staff and resources during the height of winter. Healthcare leaders say the current outbreak is among the most intense seen in recent years, with emergency departments reporting longer wait times and inpatient units nearing capacity. Facilities operated by Rochester Regional Health and UR Medicine have both reported

A sweeping new report on homelessness in Rochester paints a sobering picture of a system under strain, documenting a sharp rise in unhoused residents and urging immediate, coordinated action from city, county and state leaders. Rochester City Council President Miguel Meléndez - Photo by City of Rochester The 390-page report, commissioned by the Rochester City Council and spearheaded by Council President Miguel Meléndez, outlines what officials describe as a “growing humanitar

Nicholas Kieffer, a former New York state corrections officer acquitted of criminal charges in the fatal beating death of inmate Robert Brooks, has filed a federal lawsuit seeking $5 million in damages, alleging an “ill conceived, ill intended” prosecution by William Fitzpatrick, who served as special prosecutor in the case. Nicholas Kieffer was acquitted of criminal charges in the beating death of inmate Robert Brooks Kieffer’s complaint, filed this week in federal court, ac

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester General Hospital has unveiled a $1.5 million renovation of one of its cardiac catheterization labs, marking a major investment in advanced cardiovascular care and patient safety just as Heart Month begins. The fully renovated lab features upgraded technology and modernized infrastructure designed to support increasingly complex cardiac procedures, improve efficiency, and enhance the clinical environment for both patients and care teams. The project

The City of Rochester has launched the second cohort of its Prepare to Prosper Business Academy, welcoming 20 local entrepreneurs into an eight-month training program aimed at supporting established Black and Brown business owners and narrowing the city’s racial wealth gap. The program is run through the City of Rochester Office of Financial Empowerment and builds on the success of its inaugural cohort, which city officials say demonstrated measurable results in helping parti

Gov. Kathy Hochul enters 2026 with her strongest favorability rating since taking office, commanding wide leads over both Democratic and Republican challengers, according to a new Siena College poll — a political rebound that comes after a highly public and unusually bitter rupture with her former lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado. An AI-generated illustration depicts Gov. Kathy Hochul and Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado facing off amid their political rift. Photo illustration ge

Demitria Lawton-Greggs On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I talked over the phone with Demitria Lawton-Greggs, principal of Flower City School No. 54, to talk about legacy, not as abstraction or slogan, but as something lived daily in classrooms, hallways, and hard conversations. For Lawton-Greggs, King’s legacy is not simply remembered; it is practiced. “King opened doors,” she told me. “The fact that we can have all types of people sit in one room, not worry about status, not

Rochester Police Chief David Smith and Mayor Malik Evans at a press conference, highlighted progress in public safety in 2025 City of Rochester public safety leaders on Tuesday provided an overview of crime statistics for 2025, highlighting significant declines in violent crime while urging continued efforts to address persistent challenges. In a year-end briefing, Rochester Police Chief David Smith and Mayor Malik Evans said nearly all major gun violence metrics fell to thei

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