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A national delegation of Black business leaders met with White House officials and members of Congress this week, pressing for expanded economic opportunities and policy reforms aimed at strengthening Black-owned enterprises across the United States. Photo: Front Row (L-R) - Charles DeBow, Lynne Patton, Dr. Ken Harris and Kevin Daniels The meetings, organized as part of the National Black Chamber of Commerce’s National Business Policy Conference in partnership with the Nation

It took just a single word to ignite an international conversation, a word no one invited, no one expected, and that, for one man, came unbidden. At the 79th BAFTA Awards, John Davidson, a Scottish advocate for Tourette’s syndrome and inspiration for the film I Swear , experienced a vocal tic that produced a racial slur as Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented an award. What was meant to be a celebration of life and resilience suddenly became a lightning rod for debate

State Sen. Samra Brouk says the New York State Senate’s Democratic majority budget proposal includes several investments aimed at strengthening mental health services, supporting working families and increasing funding for Rochester-area programs. NYS Senator Samra Brouk - D, Rochester The Senate approved its “one-house” budget resolution Thursday, outlining the chamber’s priorities as negotiations begin with the Assembly and Gov. Kathy Hochul over the final state spending pl

The New York State Conservative Party is sharply criticizing Democratic leaders in Albany, accusing them of prioritizing their own financial interests while residents struggle with rising costs across the state. Gerard Kassar - NY State Conservative Party Chariman In a statement released this week, Gerard Kassar, chairman of the New York State Conservative Party, blasted Democrats for supporting a potential pay increase for state lawmakers and floated changes to the legislati

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

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

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

Former President Barack Obama addressed the state of political discourse this week after President Donald Trump shared a social media video depicting Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as monkeys, imagery that drew bipartisan criticism. Former President Barack and Michelle Obama - Facebook photo The video, posted on Trump’s account on Truth Social, showed AI-generated imagery placing the Obamas’ faces onto animated ape bodies. The post was later deleted. After defiant

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

President Donald Trump is facing intensifying bipartisan criticism after sharing a video on social media that critics said portrayed former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes — a post the White House press secretary publicly defended even as Trump claimed it was shared “in error” but declined to apologize. Donald Trump says the racist imagery of the Obamas was posted by a "staffer" but stopped short of apologizing The video, which circulated o

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

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

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced plans to extend and codify sanctuary-style protections statewide, citing public safety concerns and civil liberties in the wake of two controversial shootings involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Minnesota that have sparked national outrage. Governor Hochul Introduces the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act to limit state cooperation with ICE The move follows deadly ICE encounters in Minneapolis that have intensified scrutiny