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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

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

As tensions escalate over a massive federal immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota that has included the fatal shooting of a resident by a Border Patrol agent, the Trump administration is demanding access to the state’s voter registration database — drawing sharp criticism from Minnesota officials and civil liberties advocates. At the center of the dispute is a Jan. 24 letter from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. In that letter, Bondi tied c

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

Ongoing payroll problems within the Rochester City School District are again drawing criticism from employees and union leaders, after district officials acknowledged that recently issued W-2 tax forms contained errors, prompting workers to delay filing their taxes. Demonstrators march at RCSD Headquarters District administrators notified staff earlier this week that inaccuracies were discovered in some W-2 statements generated by the district’s payroll system. Employees were

Our Voices Project LLC, in collaboration with Legacy Drama House, presented Being Black in America: Discussion and Collective Action  on Monday, January 19, 2026, at the Legacy Drama House, located at 112 Webster Avenue in Rochester, NY. Dr. Mary Tina, the owner of Legacy Drama House, has operated the space for more than eight years. The event was well attended, filling the venue. Our Voices Project Founder, Director, and Co-Producer Jackie McGriff, along with Outreach Facili

AI created image of President Donald Trump When Donald Trump has mused publicly about serving a third term as president, the response from many allies and critics has been familiar: dismiss it as a joke, provocation, or “Trump banter.” Supporters often frame the comments as sarcasm meant to irritate opponents or excite crowds, while even some Republican lawmakers insist the Constitution makes such speculation moot. But Trump’s political history complicates that dismissal. Aga

Margaret “Midge” Thomas, a beloved leader, mentor, and tireless advocate for community empowerment in Rochester, New York, died on Jan. 8, 2026, at Rochester General Hospital. She was 99 years old and had been hospitalized for several weeks with respiratory complications, her goddaughter, Beverly Randall, said. Margaret "Midge" Thomas For more than five decades, Thomas’s life was defined by service, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to lifting others — especially youth a

Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans and County Executive Adam J. Bello recognized the service of local law enforcement officers Friday during a private ceremony marking National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. The event, held at the Public Safety Building, brought together leaders and officers from the Rochester Police Department and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Evans and Bello presented a joint proclamation to Todd Baxter, David Smith, and attending officers and deputies

Mayor Malik D. Evans has extended the City of Rochester’s Gun Violence State of Emergency for another 30 days, signaling that city officials believe extraordinary measures are still necessary to address ongoing public safety concerns. The extension, issued Tuesday, continues an emergency proclamation first enacted amid persistent gun violence and renewed regularly by the Evans administration. While the move does not create new laws or restrictions, it carries important legal,

The Rochester Police Department has released additional information as investigators continue to examine a violent incident involving both a stabbing and a shooting at a home on Coventry Street. Police said officers responded to the residence after receiving reports of a disturbance that escalated into serious violence. Upon arrival, officers discovered multiple victims suffering from traumatic injuries, including at least one person with stab wounds and another with gunshot

Malik D. Evans opened the New Year with a message of unity, perseverance, and action during his inaugural address on Jan. 1, 2026, at the Eastman School of Music. Mayor Malik Evans gets sworn in for his second term by his wife Shawanda and his son Cameron. Photo by Rev. Julius Jackson Emceed by Narada Campbell, the ceremony brought together local leaders, community members, and residents to mark the start of Mayor Evans’ new term. Adam Bello, Monroe County executive, thanked

A Rochester woman has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of her 16-year-old son, authorities said Tuesday. Ca'hry Gibson and his father Christopher Gibson Police say the incident unfolded on the morning of Oct. 10 on Breck Street on Rochester’s east side after an argument between 38-year-old Aneka Connor and her son, Ca’hry Gibson, over a cellphone. According to Rochester Police Department reports, Gibson ran out of the house and climbed onto the hood

Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is an American businesswoman and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Florida's 20th congressional district since 2022. U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick has denied allegations that she and several co-defendants stole millions of dollars in federal disaster relief funds and used some of the money to support her 2021 congressional campaign, calling the case unjust and vowing to fight the charges in court. Cherfilus-McCormick was indic

The body of missing Rochester woman Carolyn “Danny” Siplin, 33, was found late last week, and authorities have confirmed her identity, Rochester Police announced Sunday. Siplin had been reported missing on Dec. 23, just two days before Christmas, after family members lost contact with her. Her disappearance prompted a citywide search that included public alerts and extensive outreach from law enforcement. Officers located a body Friday near the east side of the Genesee River

Workers in Monroe County will see their minimum wage rise to $16.00 per hour beginning Jan. 1, 2026, as New York State implements the latest step in a multi-year plan to increase wages and protect workers from rising living costs. The increase represents a 50-cent per hour raise from 2025 rates and applies to Monroe County and the rest of upstate New York. Higher minimum wage rates will also take effect downstate, with workers in New York City, Westchester County and Long Isl

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed legislation strengthening the state’s legal protections for reproductive health care and gender-affirming care, expanding safeguards against out-of-state investigations and penalties aimed at patients and providers. Assemblymember Harry Bronson The measure, known as Shield Law 2.0, builds on New York’s 2023 Trans Safe Haven Act and was sponsored by Assemblymember Harry Bronson, a Democrat representing Rochester. The law is designed to clo