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

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas state Rep. James Talarico defeated U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate this week, setting up a closely watched general election that could test whether Democrats can compete statewide in one of the nation’s most reliably Republican states. Texas state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas With most ballots counted following the March 3 primary, Talarico secured roughly 52% of the vote to Cr

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