Council President Loretta Scott will not seek reelection
Scott was first elected to her Council seat in 2009, and was first elected President by her fellow Council members in 2014.
Cuomo deflects blame for nursing home deaths
Gov. Andrew Cuomo pushed back on Attorney General Letitia James’s report that found the state undercounted COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes.
URMC email suggested “major donors” could jump vaccine line
A URMC spokesman said an email suggesting that “major donors” to the hospital could get a vaccine quicker was sent in error.
Monroe County to foot bill for Frontier Field upgrades
County and Rochester Red Wings officials say the improvements are necessary to meet new MLB stadium requirements.
Arts advocates finger wag Mayor Warren for use of Daniel Prude mural
Roc Arts United criticizes the mayor for using images of murals of Daniel Prude and Rep. John Lewis in city promotional materials.
More kids are going to charter schools, but are they better?
Test scores are one metric that show charter schools’ success. But some advocacy groups argue there shouldn’t be ‘bad’ school choices.
Ukrainian drama ‘Atlantis’ offers hope amid its post-war desolation
Bleak aesthetics and despondent characters make for a cold and alienating film, but “Atlantis” contains some rays of light.
AG: Cuomo administration underreported COVID-19 nursing home deaths
A report from the state AG’s office said nursing home deaths were undercounted by up to 50 percent at the height of the pandemic.
Monroe Republicans seek to waive restaurant fees
Under a proposed budget amendment, Monroe County residents would not have to pay Food Service Establishment Fees for 2021.
Virtual talk presents ‘Stories of the Disabled’ featuring Luticha Doucette
Thursday night kicks off a series of virtual talks highlighting participants of the “In This Moment” project about Black leaders.
Rochester police leaders outline protest ‘rules of engagement’
As the PAB begins an investigation and the grand jury decision on Daniel Prude’s death looms, RPD has outlined its protest protocol.
Cuomo ends most orange and yellow zone restrictions
After pressure from local businesses and reduced COVID-19 positivity rates, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has ended some restrictions for orange and yellow zones.
In isolation, artist Liz Pritchard finds opportunity
Artist Liz Pritchard has always used her creativity to express herself, but the pandemic era has been a boon to her work in multiple mediums.
Brian Lindsay goes beyond typical love songs on stalled new album
The pandemic may be holding off the release of Brian Lindsay’s new album, but it hasn’t stopped him from putting out some poignant singles.
PAB launching probe into RPD protest response
The Rochester Police Department’s crowd control procedures are the target of the Police Accountability Board’s first investigation.
RPO taps veteran maestro Andreas Delfs as music director
Although Andreas Delfs is a conservative choice as music director, his first full season at the RPO promises progressive programming moves.
Pop-up clinic vaccinates hundreds in Corn Hill
Mount Olivet Baptist Church on Adams Street is a location for the state’s plan for “fairness and equity” in vaccine distribution.
Urban League program to aid minority-owned businesses
The Sustaining Small Businesses and COVID-19 Relief Grant Program is intended to help woman- and minority-owned businesses.
Jasmin Reggler, who challenged city THC testing policy, to run for Council
After being rejected from working for city government in 2019 after failing a drug test, Jasmin Reggler is running for City Council.
Finger Lakes COVID-19 positivity rate falls
The Finger Lakes now has the third lowest rate in the state, with only Central New York and the Southern Tier recording lower percentages.
RCSD superintendent asks for independent review of reopening plans
Superintendent Leslie Myers-Small hopes a review of the Rochester school district’s reopening plan will provide assurances of its safety.
Rochester’s Mt. Olivet church to serve as COVID-19 vaccination site
The state is setting up community vaccination sites across New York in an effort to ensure equity in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.
House of Mercy homeless shelter reopens with limited capacity
The facility is slowly reopening after a spate of COVID-19 infections among volunteers, staff, and residents at the end of last year.
Cuomo has reservations about his own proposal to tax the rich
The governor expressed concern that the tax, which would be the highest income tax in the nation, would cause the super rich to flee the state.
‘One Night in Miami’ is a fly-on-the-wall to an historic gathering
With four terrific performances, ‘One Night’ is a triumphant directorial debut for actress Regina King.
City’s Person in Crisis team will replace police on some calls
The 14 member Person in Crisis team will respond to behavioral health calls either as an alternative to police, or in tandem.
FILM | ‘The Spirit of Protest in Black Culture’
Curated by artist and activist Rashaad Parker, Visual Studies Workshop’s spring film series is essential viewing.
Meditative and animated Kentridge film screens at Eastman Museum
The Dryden Theatre and galleries are still shuttered, but visitors to the mansion can view this 7-minute art film in the Multipurpose Hall.
Helicopter crash in Mendon leaves three soldiers dead
A military helicopter crash in Mendon left three soldiers dead Wednesday evening.
Rochester City School District teachers balk at hybrid plan
The Rochester Teachers Association is calling for in-person instruction to be paused until teachers’ resources and COVID-19 vaccines increase.
Dome Arena COVID-19 vaccination site opens in Henrietta
Hundreds of people lined up Wednesday at the Dome Arena in Henrietta, one of the state-run sites where COVID-19 vaccinations are being given.
On ‘Here We Are,’ songwriter Teagan Ward navigates the politics of empathy and rage
Singer-songwriter Teagan Ward has been using newly written music to process the current political situation and her own fight with COVID-19.
Hanna PK plays fresh brand of blues in Thursday virtual concert at 75 Stutson Street
Hanna PK will perform her brand of blues, pairing bubbly piano melodies with a riveting voice, on Thursday virtually via 75 Stutson Street.
Democrats call for outside probe of Flagler-Mitchell
Democratic legislators want an “outside counsel” to investigate the circumstances that led Legislator Ernest Flagler-Mitchell to send a sexually-explicit photo to a 19-year-old woman.
Court denies Mayor Warren’s request for change of venue in campaign finance trial
The appellate division left open the possibility of changing venues if it is determined that an impartial jury cannot be drawn in Monroe County.
Monroe County expects 1,500 more COVID-19 vaccines this week
Word that vaccines are on their way comes on the heels of news that Monroe County’s supply would be depleted this week.
City Councilmember Malik Evans announces run for mayor
City Councilmember Malik Evans presents the most potent threat to Mayor Lovely Warren to date, but he trails in fundraising by a wide margin.
Rochester man faces federal charges in U.S. Capitol rioting
Dominic Pezzola, an Aquinas Institute graduate, has been arrested and charged in connection with the rioting at the U.S. Capitol last week.
Lawsuit seeks a federal monitor for RPD
The claim follows a federal lawsuit filed earlier this year by the family of Daniel Prude which seeks a monitor for the department.
Amazon considers putting up another local distribution facility
The proposal, which is up for a public hearing on Friday, calls for a facility that would create about a thousand positions and around 300 construction jobs.
Rochester City Ballet kicks off digital series with ‘Dangerous Liaisons’
From the classic French tale of intrigue and seduction to ‘Green Eggs and Ham,’ RCB’s digital series has something for everyone.
Restaurants in Rochester’s “orange zone” can reopen dining rooms
But the reprieve appears, for now, to be temporary, a fact that’s tempered celebration among restaurant owners.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemorations to stream and attend
These events keep the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. an active force through inspiring keynotes, a new mural, and a Day of Compassion.
Katboocha opens ‘Booch Bar’ on Railroad Street
Katboocha’s Booch Bar has opened on Railroad Street, offering 12 taps of kombucha.
Three Heads Brewing streams Brian MacDonald’s Tom Petty tribute show
On Sunday, Three Heads Brewing will stream The Honey Smugglers frontman’s concert tribute to the classic Tom Petty album “Wildflowers.”
Bluegrass specialists Benny Bleu and Max Flansburg team up for Sunday livestream
Two of the Finger Lakes region’s top bluegrass musicians, Max Flansburg and Ben Haravitch, will collaborate in a live-streamed concert this Sunday.
Monroe County’s current vaccine supply expected to be exhausted by Monday
The current supply of COVID-19 vaccines in Monroe County is expected to be exhausted by Monday.
Joe Morelle Jr. announces bid for Irondequoit supervisor seat
The lifelong Irondequoit resident has represented part of the town in the Monroe County Legislature for eight years.
Across Monroe County, students will soon have anti-racist lessons
This spring, all Monroe County school districts will provide an anti-racism course initiated by East High School Superintendent Shaun Nelms.
Cuomo unveils ambitious green energy program for New York state
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has proposed a $26 billion green energy plan that would expand solar energy farms and offshore wind farms in New York state.
Walking a tightrope: the Bug Jar in financial limbo amid COVID-19 uncertainty
For 30 years, the Bug Jar has been a springboard for big-time bands and local musicians alike. Now, the venue’s financial future is unclear.
COVID-19 vaccine eligibility expanded to include more New Yorkers
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has expanded the vaccine eligibility requirements in New York to include anyone over the age of 65.
Gov. Cuomo plans COVID-19 rapid testing to kickstart live arts performances
Gov. Andrew Cuomo detailed plans to use rapid coronavirus testing in 2021 to reopen restaurants, theaters and arts venues in New York state.
St. John Fisher College considering stripping Rudy Giuliani of honorary degree
Faculty and alumni of St. John Fisher College urge rescinding an honorary degree given to Giuliani in 2015.
@MedleyCentre, dead mall parody Twitter account, dies at age 6
@MedleyCentre’s witticisms on daily life in Rochester injected levity into the dreary existence of doomscrollers everywhere.
Irondequoit Supervisor Dave Seeley will not seek re-election
Seeley, 39, called the supervisor post “the best job I have ever held, and likely ever will.”
Rochester man is Congress’s new sergeant-at-arms
Former Rochester resident and Aquinas Institute graduate Tim Blodgett is the news sergeant-at-arms at the House of Representatives.
Local advocates applaud Cuomo’s proposals to combat domestic violence
During his State of the State address on Monday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo laid out several proposals to address domestic and gender-based violence.
Monroe County seeks nurses to aid in vaccination campaign
As the county prepares to ramp up its COVID-19 vaccination efforts, it’s looking to hire 30 nurses to administer the shots.
COMMENTARY: Twitter is a bar and Trump is a blowhard barfly
Social media platforms are like a bar, where people exchange ideas, laugh, and lie. When a blowhard causes trouble, he gets bounced.
Cuomo to deliver State of the State address
On Monday, the governor will outline an agenda that includes legalizing cannabis and permanently expanding absentee voting.
‘The Reason I Jump’ aims to evoke the experience of living with autism
Using the language of cinema, the powerful film attempts to portray the experiences of five autistic young people from around the globe.
Democratic lawmakers back new taxes on rich to plug state budget gap
Rochester’s representatives in the Assembly and Senate are rallying behind a solution to a budget shortfall: tax the rich.
Mayor stresses ‘equity,’ big plans for pot revenue in unorthodox State of the City
Mayor Lovely Warren did not give a State of the City address this year, instead releasing a booklet outlining various plans for 2021.
Mayor Warren pledges funding for ‘bold new era of public art’
In her State of the City literature, Mayor Lovely Warren outlined the creation of an “arts equity fund” and a city arts commission.
Jon Seiger brings Jazz Age sound to 75 Stutson Street concert on Thursday
Jon Seiger and the All-Stars bring the vintage charm of Jazz Age Music to 75 Stutson Street tonight, both in person and streaming live.
Snowshoe to beat the winter blahs
Now all we need is snow. This is Rochester, isn’t it?
Congress certifies Biden victory
President Donald Trump pledges orderly transition of power on Jan. 20 after fomenting a mob with promises to never concede.
RPD recruits would be vetted for their ‘cultural fit’ under proposed reform
The United Christian Leadership Ministry’s committee on police reform says civilians should be involved in hiring Rochester police officers.
COMMENTARY: A restaurateur reflects on the costs of COVID
Our leaders have been so concerned with saving lives that they forgot about saving where our lives are lived.
GOP lawmakers push back on Cuomo’s emergency pandemic powers
Led by Robert Ortt, Republican state legislators have called for limits to emergency powers granted to Gov. Andrew Cuomo at the pandemic’s outset.
County leaders say they need more help from Cuomo on vaccines
On Tuesday, New York’s county executives called for more cooperation and support from Gov. Andrew Cuomo in distributing coronavirus vaccine.
Roc City Skatepark honors late skateboarder Akeer Matthews
The street-skating portion of the park will be named in honor of Akeer Matthews, who died in 2010 after being hit by a car.
Morning ‘Virtual Animal Encounters’ series spotlights animal life
Strong Museum of Play’s Anna Simpson will take viewers of all ages through a life cycle of human-animal interaction.
Vaccinating everyone in Monroe County will take more than a year at the current rate
Health officials said Tuesday that vaccinating all Rochester region residents will take more than a year at the rate we’re going.
Print Club’s ‘Make One, Take One’ highlights technique, cultural exchange
The program features five short illustrated presentations meant to educate viewers about printmaking exchange portfolios.
Drivers will no longer lose their licenses for unpaid traffic fines
Advocates for the poor say the new law ends a practice that amounted to criminalizing poverty.
Cuomo tells hospitals with vaccines: Use ’em or lose ’em
Gov. Andrew Cuomo threatened to withhold vaccine doses from hospitals unless they speed up the inoculation process.
URMC temporarily closes outpatient surgical center amidst COVID-19 surge
UR Medicine said the move will free up staff members at Sawgrass who can be redeployed for inpatient care.
Sweet Basil brings flavors of Southeast Asia, southeast of Eastview
Family-owned pan-Asian restaurant Sweet Basil opened in Victor, offering plates inspired by Vietnamese, Thai, and Cambodian fare.
How to build your backyard ice rink on the cheap
There’s more than one way to build a backyard rink. But this four-step process is the simplest and easiest on the wallet.
Musician Amanda Ashley has found her voice — as a talk show host
With concerts on hold, singer-songwriter Amanda Ashley has embraced her new role as host of the online talk show “Afternoon Cocktail.”
Writers and artists celebrate while others hibernate
Winter (doesn’t suck, you’ve just lost your sense of) wonderland.
Soul-warming soups for the dead of winter
January is National Soup Month, so we’re spotlighting the astonishing array of soups at American Hotel as well as several other spots.
When it comes to public arts funding, RMSC is the elephant in the room
Of the $1.4 million that Monroe County allots annually to arts and cultural funding, the Rochester Museum and Science Center receives $900,000.
Public art saved my sanity in 2020
Photographer Quajay Donnell recounts how documenting Rochester murals helped him get through the difficult year.
If Rochester is a ‘City of the Arts,’ why don’t we fund the arts?
Every year, Monroe County offers crumbs in the way of funding for arts and cultural organizations. Arts advocates say that has to change now.
Rochester musicians are tinkering with trip-hop
Phillip Coleman and Brendon Caroselli are using live instruments and digital production tools to create their own twist on the trip-hop genre.
Distilleries stared down the barrel of a big tax hike—and won
Distilleries across the nation received a last minute gift from congress—a massive, and permanent, reduction in excise taxes.
The Able Bodies look to the ‘Future’ on new synth-pop single
On its self-released new single, “Future,” Rochester duo The Able Bodies replaces its signature lighthearted themes with a call for social justice.
How to win a snowball fight
Five tips to take into battle.
Voter burnout: Overlooked fire district elections come with a price
Fire district elections may be the most important races you’ve never heard of. Monroe County’s 23 districts levy $79.2 million annually.
Mike Mendoza is having a moment under the microscope
Unlike his predecessors, who worked in relative anonymity, Dr. Michael Mendoza has cut a high and sometimes contentious profile during the pandemic.
Mathison Rust’s digital illustrations of Rochester landmarks
Revel in the details: self-taught artist Mathison Rust and the power of pixels.
Rochester’s vanishing backyard rinks
Backyard rinks may be more popular than ever, but milder winters means skating days are dwindling.
Connor Benincasa gets ‘Comfy’ on new indie pop album for Dadstache Records
“Volume For” — the latest album from Connor Benincasa’s project Comfy — is a 14-track salutation of intelligent, tightly arranged pop-rock songs.
Anamon releases two new rock songs for the brokenhearted
Rochester garage-rock quartet Anamon delivers a pair of new songs about loss and heartache with a combination of earnestness and detached cool.
Musician spotlight: Kire Najdovski
Guitarist Kire Najdovski’s relentless, slash-and-burn approach to prog rock is on full display on his new album, “Wish.”
Musician spotlight: Ryan Flynn
On the new single “Outside” and in picturesque YouTube videos, synth-pop musician Ryan Flynn explores sonic possibilities in the great outdoors.
The best 15 films of 2020
In a year without movie theaters, film releases were held or debuted digitally. Of the films that did come out, here are Adam’s favorites.
After a ‘lost year,’ hope springs eternal
Everyone talks about 2020 as being a “lost year.” But we also gained something from all our losses: perspective.
