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Friday, July 17, 2026, is now known as Octavia Spencer Day in Rochester, N.Y. During a news conference held Friday at the George Eastman Museum's Dryden Theatre, Rochester Mayor Malik Evans read a proclamation honoring Academy Award-winning actress Octavia Spencer. As she received the proclamation recognizing her contributions to the film industry—not only in Rochester but around the world—Spencer did not hold back the joy on her face. Mayor Malik Evans and Actress Octavia Sp

After years of working through a lengthy waiting list of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam-era veterans, Honor Flight Rochester is now encouraging Cold War-era veterans to apply for upcoming missions to Washington, D.C., ensuring a generation of service members often overlooked in public recognition receives the gratitude they have earned. The nonprofit organization is specifically seeking veterans who served during the Cold War period between 1975 and 1989, a time marked

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of the Republican Party's most influential and recognizable figures, died Saturday following what his office described as a brief illness. He was 71. U.S. Senator Linsdey Graham, July 9, 1955 - July 11, 2026 (Official photo) Graham represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate for more than two decades after first being elected in 2002. Before serving in the Senate, he represented South Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2

Wegmans Food Markets acknowledged it uses facial recognition technology in a limited number of stores to improve safety and deter organized retail theft. The disclosure renewed questions about how businesses collect, store and use biometric information. (Photo: Wegmans PR Dept) Monroe County lawmakers are considering legislation that would require businesses to notify customers when facial recognition technology is being used, adding the county to a growing movement across Ne

Rochester officials are weighing new public safety measures, including the possibility of a youth curfew, after a mass shooting during the Fourth of July weekend left seven people wounded by gunfire, one person stabbed, and renewed concerns about downtown violence. Mayor Malik Evans The violence erupted shortly after the city's Independence Day celebrations concluded early Sunday morning in Rochester's East End entertainment district. According to the Rochester Police Departm

As her tenure leading the Penfield Central School District Board of Education comes to an end, outgoing Board President Dr. Aaliyah El-Amin-Turner is leaving behind a message of gratitude, reflection and a forceful defense of Superintendent Dr. Tasha Potter, arguing that some of the opposition the district's first Black superintendent has faced cannot be separated from issues of race and representation. Penfield School District Board President Dr. Aaliyah El-Amin-Turner In a

The Rochester City School District is delaying several planned student initiatives after receiving approximately $4.1 million less in state aid than district officials anticipated, forcing administrators to revise the 2026-27 budget just weeks before the start of the new school year. The budget adjustment comes after New York approved its state budget nearly two months late, leaving school districts across the state to finalize local budgets before knowing their exact state a

As the Buffalo Bills prepare to open their new Highmark Stadium this season, one of the greatest players in franchise history will not be among those honored. Hall of Fame running back O.J. Simpson The organization confirmed over the weekend that Pro Football Hall of Fame running back O.J. Simpson will not be included in the team's new "Family Circle," an outdoor plaza celebrating the greatest figures in Bills history. The new stadium sits directly across the street from the

President Donald Trump has unexpectedly delayed signing one of the most significant bipartisan housing bills in decades, tying the measure to an unrelated election proposal despite overwhelming support from both Republicans and Democrats in Congress. President Donald Trump The legislation, known as the **21st Century ROAD to Housing Act**, cleared the Senate by an 85-5 vote before passing the House 358-32, making it one of the most broadly supported major bills of the 119th C

Incumbents dominated primary election night across the Rochester region Tuesday, with U.S. Rep. Joe Morelle and State Assemblymember Demond Meeks both securing decisive Democratic primary victories as they prepare for November's general election. Joe Morelle, Demond Meeks In the race for the 137th Assembly District, which includes portions of Rochester and the Town of Gates, incumbent Assemblymember Demond Meeks easily defeated challenger Mercedes Vazquez Simmons. According t

Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart is seeking answers from Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter regarding the deployment of a sheriff's deputy to Washington, D.C., as part of a federal security operation connected to the Trump administration's Freedom 250 events. Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart In a statement released Monday, Barnhart said she had requested an immediate explanation from Baxter after images circulated online appearing to show a Monroe County Sherif

Communities across the Rochester region are commemorating Juneteenth this week with festivals, educational programs, performances, and community gatherings honoring the end of slavery in the United States and celebrating Black history, culture and resilience. Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, the day Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed enslaved African Americans of their freedom—more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Procl

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is celebrating what he calls a historic "peace deal" with Iran, declaring on social media that the conflict between the United States and Iran is effectively over. But details emerging from negotiators and administration officials suggest the agreement may be less a final peace settlement than a temporary extension of an existing ceasefire. President Donald Trump - Official Portrait In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump described the

Community leaders, historians and residents gathered Tuesday morning at Frederick Douglass Memorial Square to commemorate the 127th anniversary of the unveiling of the Frederick Douglass Monument, honoring the life and legacy of one of Rochester's most influential historical figures. Brothers of Eureka Lodge #36 F.& A.M. PHA were among attendees at the annual Frederick Douglass Monument Commemoration - Photo courtesy of Rev. Julius Jackson The annual Frederick Douglass Monume

Members of Rochester's Democratic state legislative delegation gathered Monday to highlight what they describe as major victories for Rochester and Monroe County in New York's FY2027 state budget, including a historic $2 million capital investment in Baden Street Settlement and $300 million for the Rochester-Monroe Transformation Initiative. The lawmakers said the budget delivers funding aimed at addressing affordability, housing shortages, child care access, public safety an

The Republican-controlled House has approved a sweeping immigration enforcement package championed by President Donald Trump, delivering billions of dollars for border security, detention facilities, deportation operations, and immigration enforcement personnel. The bill will now move to the Republican controlled Senate where changes are expected; but, while much of the public debate has focused on immigration policy, a less-publicized provision tied to the legislation contin

New York Democrats are moving forward with a proposed constitutional amendment that could reshape the state's congressional redistricting process and potentially give Democrats an opportunity to gain several U.S. House seats ahead of the 2028 elections. The proposal, introduced this week in the Democratic-controlled Legislature, comes as redistricting battles intensify nationwide following efforts by Republican-led states to redraw congressional maps and a broader push by Pre

A former correction officer at New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision has been convicted in the beating death of inmate Messiah Nantwi at Mid-State Correctional Facility, marking the first trial verdict connected to one of the most scrutinized prison abuse cases in New York in recent years. The fatal beating of 22-year-old Messiah Nantwi (left) at Midstate Correctional Facility occurred in March 2025 just months after the December 2025 killing of 4

Monroe County officials have released the public review draft of “Plan Forward,” the county’s first comprehensive plan in more than four decades, outlining a long-term vision for growth, housing, infrastructure, transportation and economic development across the region. But even as county leaders celebrate the milestone planning effort, early debate is already emerging over whether the proposal adequately addresses poverty and the needs of Monroe County’s most vulnerable resi

Three members of Rochester City Council are calling for the city to prioritize affordable housing opportunities when determining the future of former Rochester City School District buildings, following a divided vote over the proposed sale of two vacant school properties. Rochester City Councilmembers Stanley Martin, Mary Lupien, and Chiara Smith Councilmembers Mary Lupien, Stanley Martin, and Chiara Smith issued a joint statement after Council approved the sale of former Sch