Album review: ‘The Doctor’
Guitarist Mathias Sandberg plays blues-based jazz with impressive dexterity and tone on his debut album, “The Doctor.”
Voice of the Voter Debate – 55th State Senate District
Ahead of the primary, the candidates for the 55th State Senate District – Samra Brouk (D) and Chris Missick (R) – debate the issues with questions from the public and journalists.
State auditors finger-wag city on ethics training
Auditors found enforcement of ethics lacking in areas, including the members of the Board of Ethics not receiving ethics training.
Former RPD chief refuses to answer subpoenas in City Council probe of Prude death
Former RPD Chief La’Ron Singletary is the first person to refuse to answer subpoenas in the investigation into the death of Daniel Prude.
Rochester People’s Climate Coalition has new name, broader mission
It will now be known as the Climate Solutions Accelerator of the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region, or “The Accelerator” for short.
Early voters brave long lines in record numbers
Elections officials said more than 19,000 ballots were cast early in Monroe County over the weekend, smashing the previous record.
NYCLU investigating local leader’s “We know where your children go to school” comment
NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman said remarks by the group’s Rochester leader were unacceptable and are under review.
Local NYCLU leader clarifies “We know where your children go to school” remark
Iman Abid-Thompson said her comment to District Attorney’s Office workers, “We know where your children go to school,” was not a threat.
Unaffiliated voters growing as ‘floater voters’ reject party labels
The number of voters enrolling with a political party has been declining for much of the last two decades.
$10,000 reward for information on September mass shooting
Police have yet to make an arrest in an incident in which 14 people were shot and two died at a house party on Pennsylvania Avenue on Sept. 19.
Protesters march on DA Doorley’s office
Free the People Roc organizers also said they will be starting a political arm focused on propping up candidates for local office.
GOP chair: Parolee convicted of killing cops registered to vote
Bill Napier claims Anthony Bottom broke the law by registering and has asked District Attorney Sandra Doorley to investigate.
Genesee Brew House temporarily closes due to positive COVID test
The Brew House, which reopened indoor seating late last month, will remain closed until Tuesday.
Calendar preview: Time to vote
This week’s events are all about the vote, featuring music, dance, films, lectures, readings, and more– plus CITY’s handy election guide.
Rochester police survey raises concerns over bias
Some residents argue that the wording of a city survey on police reform reflect a bias in favor of the construction of new police stations.
Majority of RCSD teachers say remote learning should continue
At the same time, 80 percent of the teachers who answered the survey said their students need additional support that they weren’t getting.
County to provide bail-out for struggling small businesses
A COVID-19 relief grant program will target personal services businesses and prioritize assistance for minority and women owned business.
Rochester schools contractor settles diversity fraud case for $200K
Bell Mechanical Contractors will pay New York $200,000 for forging diversity criteria in the Rochester Schools Modernization Program.
New York movie theaters can open, but that’s easier said than done
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced that movie theaters can reopen this week. But before people can fill the seats again, changes must be made.
For these employers, there are no background checks, no drug tests, no interviews, and no problems
Embracing the ‘open hiring’ concept means being open-minded to no background checks and no interviews and overlooking applicants’ checkered pasts.
The Fairport ‘race riot’ that never happened
On Oct. 20, 1920, a Black man named James Noey was killed by a white police officer amid what has falsely been called a race riot.
Gates Police halt use of Strong for mental health arrests
Chief Jim VanBrederode cited incidents where patients are released within hours, only for the same behavior to result in another 911 call.
Cuomo: Vaccine to go to essential workers and most vulnerable first
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday that essential workers and high-risk individuals would get priority for a COVID-19 vaccine.
LGBTQ people are being overlooked in New York’s COVID-19 health data
New York has added the gender category of “other” to coronavirus test forms to capture transgender people, but advocates say “other” is not a catch-all.
Geva season to launch with audio plays celebrating Black stories
Geva Theatre Center’s 2020-21 season begins with Recognition Radio, a series of audio plays that elevate the work of Black theater artists.
Monroe County officials say local COVID-19 infection rate remains low
Monroe County has the lowest COVID-19 infection rate for communities with over 500,000 people in the United States.
Cuomo asks Trump for help on potential COVID-19 vaccine
Governor Cuomo has written a letter on behalf of all the states’ governors asking President Trump to form a clear plan on how to administer a COVID-19 vaccine.
Keuka College temporarily closes campus due to an increase in COVID-19 cases
Yates County Public Health confirmed 14 new positive cases over the previous 24 hours.
Foodlink announces partnership with COVID-19 Fresh Food Fund
Through the partnership, Rochester residents economically affected by the pandemic will be able to access fresh and local produce through curbside markets.
Stewart asks Monroe County Democrats to work together, calls Warren’s indictment political
The Rev. Lewis Stewart offered to mediate the ongoing dispute between members of the local Democratic party.
The state of Rochester’s economy during COVID-19
Though it’s been a tough year for job losses, one advantage Rochester may have in trying to attract companies is the lower population density than other metro areas.
The F Word: The Big Adios
The Jane Mutiny’s Sarah Jane Long and her husband have moved to Spain for better healthcare and to foster artistic community.
Prude family attorneys say city withheld paperwork from them
An administrative review released by Deputy Mayor James Smith contained records that the attorneys say the city never provided to them.
Flaming Zamboni is 2020 in a nutshell, rink manager says
“If there was ever a year for this to happen, 2020 would be it,” said Bill Gray’s Regional Iceplex General Manager Chris Woodworth.
Calendar preview: Digging out
This week’s events excavate the past through film, theater, talks, an anti-racism conference, and an actual archaeological dig.
Cuomo threatens to withhold funding to schools, local governments that don’t enforce shutdown orders
Governor Cuomo is threatening to withhold state funding from schools in COVID-19 hot spot areas that are remaining open despite the closure orders.
Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan takes over as interim chief of the RPD
The new interim chief of the Rochester Police Department was sworn in at City Hall on Wednesday.
Rising COVID-19 numbers brings words of caution
Local health experts are advising continued vigilance as some COVID-19 numbers continue to increase.
Protests end with arrest at the PSB; another protest planned
After a night of protests, Free the People Roc organizers are planning another protest at the Public Safety Building in Rochester on Wednesday morning.
Rochester Brainery, and avoiding the impending winter shutdown
With the window for outdoor activities closing, Rochester Brainery hosts classes ranging from cooking and macramé to social media strategy.
Activists decry city’s plan to hire law firm for review of RPD
City Council will vote Tuesday on allocating $250,000 to fund the DC-based firm WilmerHale’s review of RPD policy and procedure.
Monroe County’s latest COVID-19 numbers: down a little but still higher than recent weeks
The latest numbers on COVID-19 from Monroe County show a small decline from the previous day but numbers are still higher than in recent weeks.
RPD officials to review use of force used in weapons arrest of Roy Siplin
The Rochester Police Department says it will conduct an internal investigation into the arrest of 21-year-old Roy Siplin.
For some Latinos, it’s time to stop celebrating Columbus
Columbus Day falls within Hispanic Heritage Month, and some Latino residents say it’s time to rethink honoring Christopher Columbus.
Graphic novelist Dave Chisholm chases jazz legend Charlie Parker
In “Chasin’ the Bird,” graphic novelist Dave Chisholm indulges in jazz great Charlie Parker’s legend, catching him on the night he soared.
Film review: ‘The Wolf of Snow Hollow’
“The Wolf of Snow Hollow” uses horror and comedy to forge its own path, and features the last performance of Rochester native Robert Forster.
