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

President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday night drew sharp partisan contrasts, with Republicans praising what they described as a historic year of economic growth and strengthened national security, while Democrats accused the president of distorting reality and ignoring rising costs facing American families. President Donald Trump delivers 2026 SOTU address - Photo: White House In a speech before a joint session of Congress, Trump declared the start of a ne

A stretch of bitter cold temperatures has sent heating systems into overdrive across Rochester, driving up monthly utility bills and straining household budgets already stretched by inflation. Residents across Monroe County report sharp increases in natural gas and electric bills following weeks of below-average temperatures, with some saying their statements jumped by hundreds of dollars compared to the same period last year. According to the National Weather Service, Roches

For more than five decades, the Rev. Jesse Jackson walked a political tightrope that few leaders have managed to navigate: he agitated when the nation was complacent, confronted when power resisted change, and built coalitions when progress required compromise. Rev. Jesse Jackson ( October 8, 1941 – February 17, 2026) That balance — sometimes praised, sometimes criticized — defined his career and helped reshape American politics. The Agitator Jackson came of age in the moveme