Have you heard? ... News in brief

University of Rochester President Sarah Mangelsdorf is urging staff to “continue normal operations" while acknowledging disruptions and "uncertain conditions” caused by a barrage of executive orders and new directives in the opening days of the Trump administration.

This week saw President Donald Trump issue and rescind an order freezing some federal grants. That funding remains under review however and Mangelsdorf noted individual agencies are issuing orders to stop funding on some grants. UR is Rochester’s largest employer — and among the nation’s top universities for federally funded science, engineering and medical research. He also directed a campus crackdown on "alien students and staff" engaging in pro-Palestinian protests.

Mangelsdorf and other UR leadership signed onto an email to the campus community Wednesday evening, writing:

"We encourage everyone to continue normal operations to the greatest extent possible as we work under these uncertain conditions in the weeks and months ahead.

"Work is already underway to ensure that we fully review each executive order and understand its effects before responding with specific direction. As we plan for potential impacts to our resources, operational activities, or programmatic objectives, we are mindful that the people of the university community remain our most valuable resource."

The email noted that in areas of research, like those associated with the National Institutes of Health, "many investigators have already been impacted" — but that the university is "strongly advocating for timely resolution of the abruptly canceled study sections and advisory councils." UR has assembled internal teams in areas of research and medical services to address potential impacts.

When it comes to federal enforcement actions, they wrote: "We will continue to protect the rights and privacy of our students, staff, faculty, and patients in accordance with our obligations under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the federal Privacy Act and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). If federal agents arrive at any university location or approach you for information, contact your supervisor or the Department of Public Safety."

The New York Attorney General's Office has obtained a court order to dissolve a nonprofit accused of mishandling money for a Monroe County initiative.

The county hired Community Resource Collaborative in May 2023 to administer grants for about a dozen neighborhood organizations. The county directed more than one million dollars in federal pandemic relief money to the collaborative.

The county froze payments to the collaborative after the organizations said they weren't receiving their checks. It commissioned a forensic probe and found the agencies involved in the project were owed almost $245,000.

The attorney general's office filed to dissolve Community Resource Collaborative in October. On Tuesday, a state judge granted that request.

The order also appoints David Tang, an attorney with Underberg and Kessler as receiver to oversee and liquidate Community Resource Collaborative's assets. Any proceeds will go to the organizations that are owed money.

Tang is chair of WXXI's board of trustees.

Governor Kathy Hochul is marking what she said is a milestone for New York state’s cannabis industry.

Hochul announced this week that the industry has reached more than $1 billion in retail sales. The governor said that achievement reflects “the dedication of entrepreneurs, consumers and communities who have embraced the legal market.”

The statement from Gov. Hochul’s office said that 67% of consumers who used cannabis in the past year reported purchasing from legal retail sources, which Hochul said reflects growing confidence in the regulated market.

The report out this week comes months after the governor ordered a review of the troubled Office of Cannabis Management, which led to the announcement that the head of that agency would step down.

The program had been beset by delays, legal injunctions that slowed the process, and other accusations of mismanagement.

In a statement, Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes said that “things will continue to improve and be refined,” but the Western NY Democrat said the state’s Office of Cannabis Management has established a solid foundation.

This story includes reporting by WAMC Northeast Public Radio in Albany.

Rochester Police are investigating a homicide that happened early New Year’s day. Officers were called to Curtis St. on the west side of the city at about 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

When they arrived, they found a man in his 20’s lying in the street. Police said he suffered at least one gunshot wound to the chest and died from his injuries.

Investigators believe that the victim was involved in some type of argument or altercation in the street prior to someone hearing the gunfire.

Anyone with information or video is asked to call 911, Major Crimes at 585-428-7157 or CrimeStoppers at 585-423-9300.

The Mall at Greece Ridge was closed early on Thursday evening, at about 6 P.M., after Greece Police responded to a report of large and disorderly groups of teens and young adults.

Police said that thanks to a pre-established plan to deal with situations like that, the mall was cleared without incident.

Authorities say that once outside the mall, several groups of teens were involved in sporadic fights, but officers were able to disperse the groups and two 16-year-olds were charged with disorderly conduct.

No other crimes were reported and there was no damage to stores in the mall or surrounding businesses.

A statement from the mall says that police and mall security anticipated the large influx of teens because it was planned on social media at several malls including in Buffalo.

The statement from the mall operator said that Greece Ridge was not closed because of fights, but because of a large volume of teens running throughout the mall and "creating disruptions and refusing to leave."

Mall officials also said that RTS provided extra buses to help get the teens home.

The wife of a Rochester man shot and killed by Rochester police on December 24th last year is suing the city and the officer who shot him.

Todd Novick was shot in the back after a brief foot chase on Murray Street in northwest Rochester.

Police were responding to a report of a man with a gun that morning when they stopped Novick and two others. He allegedly told them he was going to work. Police body camera video shows he then ran, as officers ordered him to stop, and removed what was later determined to be a pellet gun from his pants as he was shot by Officer Daniel Celiberti.

In the lawsuit, Charlene Novick claims police had no right to stop or chase her husband. She alleges negligence by the city, and that its officers violated her husband’s constitutional rights, which resulted in his death. She is seeking compensatory and punitive damages.

A city spokesperson declined comment, which is standard practice on matters involving pending litigation. The state reviewed the shooting and did not file charges.

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli is calling out Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision to veto a bill designed to increase transparency in state spending – saying it “should have been a no brainer to sign it.”

The bill, co-sponsored by State Senator Jeremy Cooney of Rochester, would require the public posting of certain contracts that are otherwise subject to the approval of the state comptroller...

“Not having this information being fully disclosed, really just raises questions” said DiNapoli, a fellow Democrat. “And I'm not ascribing any nefarious motivation on this, but to me, it should have been a no brainer to sign it."

This is the second version of the bill the governor has vetoed, he said. The amended version requires state agencies to post only a summary of the contract.

“The only way to have accountable government is if you have transparency,” he said. “And this bill, to me, was not a significant change, but a very important change, and I was very disappointed that once again, she vetoed it again, suggesting that it's onerous. I don't agree at all."

DiNapoli, speaking on public radio's Legislative Gazette, said he's hopeful the bill gets reintroduced in 2025.

'Tis the season for holiday stress — and AAA said aggressive drivers and unsafe driving behaviors continue to be a big problem.

Spokesperson Valerie Puma said new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety finds that behaviors like speeding, running red lights and driving under the influence remain alarmingly high.

The auto club said it's important not to respond to aggressive driving with aggression.

"Everyone wants to find the perfect gift for the holidays, and emotions can run high while trying to meet that deadline," Puma said "So minor frustrations in parking lots or on the road can turn deadly when drivers are taking their anger out on other drivers.”

AAA recommended that drivers be considerate and aware of their surroundings, especially in busy parking lots during the holidays.

Puma has some advice to prevent incidents of road rage: "If you're seeing someone is switching lanes or speeding, or maybe is making gestures? Steer clear of them. Let them go. Get out of their way. That way they get to wherever they're going and nobody gets hurt.”

Police continue to investigate a crash that happened late Tuesday morning and triggered the partial collapse of a pedestrian bridge over Mt. Read Boulevard near Ridgeway Avenue.

A southbound truck hauling a roll-off dumpster struck the bridge at 11:15 a.m. The rear of the truck was in the raised position at the time, according to the Rochester Police Department. Part of the bridge fell onto the roadway and a southbound Kia struck the debris. Both drivers were being evaluated for injuries. The Kia driver was taken to the hospital.

Mt. Read remained closed much of the day as officials assessed the bridge and worked to clear debris but has now reopened in both directions. The bridge connects to a former Kodak property. The properties are fenced at street level, and it was unclear how often the pedestrian bridge is used today.

No arrests had been made nor citations issued, at the time of this report.

Despite a slight decrease from last year, risky driving behaviors remain alarmingly high, according to an annual report by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

Speeding, distracted driving, and aggressive driving were the most common habits self-reported by drivers across the U.S.

At the same time, most people who responded to the survey acknowledged how dangerous this behavior is.

"I think a lot of times behind the wheel, we develop poor habits that we know are not safe habits, but yet we've developed them over time, and we do them almost instinctively, without thinking about it," said Mark Gruba, a spokesperson for AAA of Western and Central New York.

Last year, nearly 41,000 people were killed in traffic crashes in the U.S.

Gruba said the report highlights the need for law enforcement to prioritize the enforcement of speed limits and for drivers to take personal accountability by consciously modifying their behaviors behind the wheel.

An event Saturday aims to help connect Monroe County veterans and their families with services and VA benefits.

Around a dozen community agencies will be present at the Monroe County Veteran's Resource Fair. A group from the local Pennington-Moye VFW will also give a presentation on the history of the Buffalo Soldiers.

The fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m at Memorial A-M-E Zion church on Clarissa Street. It is presented by the Monroe County Veterans Service Agency, county Legislator Ricky Frazier, and City Councilmember Willie Lightfoot.

Organizers encourage all vets to attend, particularly veterans of color.

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Livingston County Sheriff's Office

On Nov. 10, 1979, a teenage girl was found dead on the side of U.S. Highway 20 in Caledonia, Livingston County.

It’s been 45 years, but the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating her slaying.

For years, she was referred to only as the "Caledonia Jane Doe" until a series of tips led to her identification.

Police announced her name — Tammy Jo Alexander — in 2015.

But despite knowing more about her identity, her background, and her family, the investigation has yet to turn up any information about her killer. And every year on the anniversary of her death, the Sheriff's Office puts out a call for more information.

Tammy Jo Alexander was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and attended high school in Brooksville, Florida. She was 16 when she died, wearing corduroy pants and a red windbreaker that said “Auto Sports Inc.” She had two keychains on her — one had a heart with a lock, and the other had the key.

According to people who knew her, Alexander was a regular hitchhiker and police believe that may be how she found herself so far from home.

If anyone has any information, they are encouraged to reach out to the Sheriff’s Office at (585) 243-7100.

Emphasizing the need for more affordable housing, Rochester City Council on Wednesday approved using federal pandemic relief dollars to help fund the True North apartment project.

That includes construction of 70 affordable and supportive housing units at two locations — one each on Central and Portland avenues — along with a clinic and community wellness center on North Street.

``The rents going to range anywhere between $540 a month to $1,150 per month," said Jonathan Penna from Depaul Properties, which is partnering with the Rochester Interfaith Development Corporation on the project. "And again, that's all inclusive."

Pastor Franklin Ross with the Interfaith Development Corporation said bringing a wellness center to North Street is key.

``We're just blessed that this is the beginning of making a difference through housing and spiritual support," Ross said.

The legislation authorizes the use of more than $1.2 million in federal funds for various construction and permanent loan agreements. It also authorizes property tax exemptions and a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement for the project. Construction is expected to start next month or December.

It will take about 20 months to complete True North Apartments.

The city of Rochester has received $28 million dollars from the state to aid in its efforts to replace lead water service lines, which have been underway for the past two years.

"These funds from New York state will ensure that the city can offer free replacement of lead and galvanized steel service lines from the street to individual homes," Mayor Malik Evans said in a news release, allowing us to pursue an aggressive timeline to provide the safest drinking water to every resident, regardless of their ZIP code."

The award was among $90 million dollars in grants to municipalities across the state for similar efforts. Rochester received substantially more funding than any other recipient, except New York City, which also got $28 million dollars.

State officials say the funding will help ensure that people have safe, clean drinking water.

New York state has awarded roughly $33 million dollars to more than 180 farms to help them address the impacts of climate change.

Through the Climate Resilient Farming Grant Program, 67 farms in the Finger Lakes region are splitting $12.9 million dollars. That's the largest amount of funding awarded to any region in the state.

The money will fund projects led by county soil and water districts. Those efforts will fall under one of six categories, including livestock management, manure storage and methane capture, soil health, agricultural forestry management, and adaptation or resiliency.

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In the Finger Lakes, roughly half of the funding is going toward projects for dairy farms to build manure storage and cover and flare systems to control methane emissions. Methane is a greenhouse gas that's far more potent than carbon dioxide.

The state says the projects will help the farms be more resilient to the effects of climate change. It also says they'll lead to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions equal to taking more than 28,000 gas-fueled vehicles off the road.

Eight local towns are getting new sidewalks thanks in part to a collaboration with Monroe County.

County Executive Adam Bello announced Wednesday that those towns are participating in a new program that incentivizes municipalities to add sidewalks along county roads.

The program will pay for half of the costs of installing the walkways in the towns of Brighton, Chili, Mendon, Penfield, Perinton, Pittsford, Riga, and the village of Brockport.

The county is putting $10 million dollars toward this program.

More than six miles of sidewalks are already underway in eight communities through this ongoing initiative.

A court-appointed special district attorney has concluded that Monroe County DA Sandra Doorley should not face additional charges.

This stems from the incident back in April when Doorley initially failed to stop when caught speeding in Webster. Doorley berated the pursuing officer, repeatedly invoked her title and said she would fix the ticket herself. A county ethics board concluded she sought "unwarranted privileges" and recommended the outside review.

That was done by Onondaga County DA William Fitzpatrick, who concluded the evidence did not support further action. He likened her behavior to anyone trying to talk themselves out of a ticket.

Doorley “screwed up royally,” and she knows it, he wrote, adding that there is “a lot of healing to do in Monroe County.”

"This was unprofessional, it was wrong, it was completely avoidable and unnecessary and way out of line for Monroe County's Chief Law Enforcement Officer," Fitzpatrick wrote.

He also pointed to her decades long career, and that she cooperated fully with his review. A rew by the state Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct is ongoing looking at possible attorney discipline.

Fitzpatrick and Doorley are longtime friends and colleagues but he says that played no role in his review. And he noted that, as she already pleaded to the speeding ticket and paid the fine, double-jeopardy could apply in now tacking on other charges.

“If you seriously don’t think she knows she screwed up, that she’s been embarrassed and suffered a blow to her stellar reputation, well you haven’t been paying attention,” Fitzpatrick wrote at the end of his nine-page report, concluding that based on his review he would not authorize filing additional charges, “And frankly I cannot remotely imagine an ethical and competent prosecutor determining otherwise.”

Steven Epstein, president of the New York state Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, complemented Fitzpatrick on a “thorough review of the facts and the law,” but disagreed with his conclusion. Particularly when it came to whether Doorley could be charged with obstruction.

If such a charge was to be leveled, Fitzpatrick wrote, there was a process to do so then, not now. But he noted that Doorley ultimately said to write her the ticket, a ticket was issued, and she pleaded guilty. Without addressing the double-jeopardy issue, Epstein, whose group previously called for Doorley to resign, countered: “There isn’t a defense of I behaved better — after I committed the offense.”

New York Chief Judge Rowan Wilson presided over an annual hearing this week to evaluate the unmet civil legal services needs in the state.

Wilson presented statistics that indicated there is a substantial positive return on investment for every dollar spent on civil legal aid for those unable to afford it.

"Yet at the same time," he said, "legal service providers face extraordinarily difficult times in attracting and retaining lawyers because they are overworked, under-resourced, and cannot pay salaries that are competitive to what the city, state and local governments pay lawyers."

The hearing featured several representatives from civil legal service providers and their clients.

Those clients said they never would have been able to navigate the civil legal system without the help of those providers.

But both groups said those organizations need more funding and resources to better deliver civil legal services.

Wilson is expected to report the findings of the hearing to the State Legislature.

A longtime Rochester company will see a number of layoffs, after changes were made involving its manufacturing operation.

R.P. Fedder Industrial, which makes air filtration equipment, has filed a notice with the New York State Labor Department that about 25 of its 51 employees will be affected.

A company official says those jobs will be moving to the Chicago area, where R.P. Fedder’s parent corporation, Rensa Filtration is based.

Affected employees will be able to apply for jobs in the new location, but it’s not clear how many of them will actually want to make that transfer.

R.P. Fedder has been located in Rochester for more than 60 years. The layoffs will happen later this year. There will still be other positions that remain in Rochester at the company’s Driving Park Avenue location.

The Children’s Agenda published a new report on Thursday that aims to give New York state officials recommendations on how to make it easier to enroll in public assistance programs like WIC, SNAP, and Medicare.

The nonprofit advocacy group surveyed 50 parents about their experience with navigating public assistance programs. It concluded that the application process should be simplified.

“It doesn't really help a family if they qualify for a program, but it's so hard to access that the supports don't get out the door,” said Pete Nabozny, policy director at The Children’s Agenda.

He said the state should reexamine the amount of paperwork needed to apply for and renew benefits.

“Those stressors can lead to kids not getting the care they need," he said. "You shouldn’t have to worry about that paperwork.”

Nabozy said the report findings will be included with the state’s Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council recommendations this fall.

AAA has launched its “Schools Open — Drive Carefully" campaign, a message it has sent out annually for almost 80 years now.

Local law enforcement officials joined the auto club in Penfield to kick off the campaign on Wednesday.

Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter said traffic safety is all about the "three Es" — engineering, education and enforcement.

"We will write tickets. We will hold you accountable iif you're passing one of these school buses, if you're speeding in a school zone," Baxter said. "We don't want to do that. We'd rather use the engineering and the education part of this, but the enforcement is definitely there as an option.”

State Trooper Jason Klewicki said drivers should give school buses some extra room and avoid distracted driving.

"Stay off the phone," he said. "Anything that's going to take your eyes off the road, your hand off the wheel or your mind off the road, is a dangerous thing, so put the cellphones away when you're driving.”

Klewicki said people should give themselves a little extra time to get to their destination with the start of the new school year.

According to an annual poll by the Cornell School of Industrial and Labor Relations, 40% of New Yorkers who have children say either they or someone in their household does not work due to problems with childcare.

"The main reason was for cost, followed by a lack of accessible childcare, with the largest and heaviest burden falling on women," said Megan Thorsfeldt, associate director at the ILR school's Center for Applied Research on Work.

An overwhelming majority — 74% — of those polled support public funding for universal childcare. 

The same percentage expressed support for increased wages in the childcare industry to bring them in line with entry level salaries for elementary school teachers. 

The cost of living was, by far, the issue foremost in the minds of poll respondents statewide. Sixty-five percent of them said this is the single most important issue facing their households. Other concerns included healthcare costs and housing affordability. 

Workers in the Finger Lakes and western New York regions were most likely to report problems with healthcare costs. 

Downstate residents were most likely to say they had challenges with housing affordability and availability. 

The yearly poll, Thorsfeldt said, is an opportunity to understand people's lived experiences. "It really helps us understand what is shaping labor and employment in New York state." 

About 14% of the respondents said they were doing gig work at the time of the survey. Over a third of those who worked for online platforms indicated that their income was not sufficient to cover their household expenses. 

Of the 14% who said their views on labor unions shifted over the past year, the majority (56.7%) said their views tended in a positive direction. Forty-three percent reported that their opposition to unions was stronger than a year ago.

The state Attorney General's Office has determined that a state trooper who shot and killed a 17-year old during an incident in East Bloomfield should not face charges.

The incident occurred on November 15th, 2023, when the trooper went to a residence on State Route 64 to perform a welfare check.

According to the AG's office, at one point the 17-year-old boy stepped outside of the home with his hand in his pocket. When the trooper asked him to take his hand out of his pocket he revealed a knife and moved toward the trooper. The two struggled and fell to the ground, and when the teen got up he charged the officer with the knife. That's when the trooper shot the teen, who died from the wound.

The AG's office says that police officers may use deadly force when the officers reasonably believes it is necessary to defend themselves against deadly physical force that's directed at them. It says that under the circumstances of the East Bloomfield incident, a prosecutor would be unable to prove at trial, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the officer's use of deadly force was not justified.

The office previously released the trooper's body worn camera footage.

The Genesee Transportation Council (GTC) has approved funding for the city of Rochester to develop a plan looking at ways to convert the city’s many alleys into more inviting spaces — particularly for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Rich Perrin, commissioner of the city's Department of Environmental Services, talked about the Rochester Alleyway Reactivation and Conversion Plan during the GTC’s quarterly meeting on Thursday. He told the panel that the city would like to do more with its alleys than just clean them up and redesign them.

"We want to use them as, like I said, connectivity, particularly for bicycles and pedestrians, to try and reduce the amount of I'll call it through traffic ... that's trying to use our alleys as byways instead of going down our streets," Perrin said.

Perrin said some of these alleyways would provide a good connection between the city’s bicycle boulevards and its residential streets.

Others, he said, could be good pedestrian spaces.

The council agreed to increase funding for the plan to $90,000.

The Rochester Riverside Convention Center is getting an overhaul.

That's after City Council on Tuesday signed off on $13 million dollars for improvements to and an expansion of the downtown facility.

The funding comes from several sources, including the state, federal ARPA funds, and the issuance of bonds.

The vast majority of the money will go toward expanding the convention center.

Two council members voted against the funding, including Mary Lupien, who noted while the building is in need of repair, the money could be better spent elsewhere...

"I do not believe that spending $11 million to expand the convention center is the way that the city needs to be spending our money right now when we're in such a crisis, a human rights crisis," Lupien said. "So I will be voting no."

The improvements, part of the overall ROC the Riverway project, include an addition facing Main Street that will include extra event space and other amenities designed to improve both local and visitor experiences.

It's expected the project will be completed in late 2026.

It marks the unofficial start of the Great New York State Fair: the 56th annual Butter Sculpture unveiling at the Fairgrounds in Syracuse.

Dianna Dibble with American Dairy Association Northeast, which unveiled the piece of art on Tuesday, said this year’s theme for the sculpture is “Dairy: good for you, good for the planet.”

She said the sculpture highlights one of the many ways dairy farmers protect the planet while producing nutritious milk.

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"The butter sculpture depicts a family relaxing on the bank of a river on one side while showing a dairy farmer planting a tree on the other side," Dibble said.

Every year, dairy farmers plant thousands of trees along rivers and streams that run through their farms to prevent soil erosion, improve water quality and provide a natural habitat for wildlife, Dibble said.

For the 22nd year in a row Jim Victor and Marie Pelton sculpted the piece from 800 pounds of butter.

"We know we are creating sculptures that are entertaining, tell a story, and pay tribute to the New York's hard working dairy farmers," Victor said.

The butter sculpture will be on display at the Fair during its 13-day run from August 21st through Labor Day.

The sculpture will then be deconstructed and recycled in a methane digester to create renewable energy.

Wegmans issued a recall notice this week on one of its dairy items.

If you bought a 16-ounce carton of the Wegmans brand ultra pasteurized half-and-half creamer, you can return it for a refund.

The supermarket chain said the raw milk used to produce the creamer may not have been properly tested for antibiotic residue.

According to the National Library of Medicine, the presence of antibiotic residue in human food can cause antibiotic resistance, allergic reactions and other health issues.

The affected creamers have a best-by date of Oct. 10 on the carton. The UPC code is 7789048671, and the plant code is 36-1287.

The co-founder of Home Leasing — one of the area’s largest real estate development firms — has died.

Nelson Leenhouts died Friday at his home. He was 88.

Leenhouts and his late twin brother, Norm, started Home Leasing Corp. in the late 1960s, eventually taking the company public. The Home Leasing that people know today is the second iteration of that venture and is family-owned.

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Among its properties are Charlotte Square apartments and townhouses on the former eastern Inner Loop, Eastman Gardens, Warfield Square and Voters Block along Main Street and the buildings being renovated at Main and Clinton. It is also redeveloping the former Hickey Freeman factory on North Clinton.

"Nelson was a visionary leader whose unwavering dedication and innovative spirit built the foundation of our company," read a statement posted to Home Leasing's Facebook account. "Nelson’s impact on our lives and our work will be remembered with deep respect and gratitude for generations thanks to his dedication to create a family-owned company that works tirelessly to improve communities."

Home Leasing is a certified benefit corporation, a designation that measures a for-profit company's commitment to environmental sustainability and social impact or social change. The latter points to the company's emphasis on affordable and permanent supportive housing.

Leenhouts is a graduate of Wayne Central High School and the University of Rochester.

He stepped down as CEO in 2019, naming Bret Garwood as his successor.

Services will be held Saturday, Aug. 24 — on what would have been Leenhouts’ 89th birthday.

The former head of Rochester’s anti-violence initiative Pathways to Peace has been arraigned on a felony charge of grand larceny.

Anthony Hall is accused of stealing more than $3,000 in property from the Coalition of North East Associations (CONEA), according to an unsealed indictment from a Monroe County grand jury.

CONEA is a nonprofit serving the Upper Falls neighborhood.

The alleged theft took place between Dec. 1, 2018 and Sept. 3, 2019.

At the time, Hall served as head of Pathways to Peace, a city organization specializing in anti-violence and gang intervention work. Hall left Pathways in 2023 to serve as executive director of the Community Resource Collaborative. That organization became embroiled in scandal earlier this year over missing federal COVID relief dollars, of which the organization was meant to oversee for the nascent Neighborhood Collaborative Project.

Hall was arraigned Wednesday morning before Judge Caroline Morisson. He was remanded to the Monroe County Jail, where he is currently being held without bail.

His next court appearance is slated for Monday, Aug. 19.

One teenager is dead and two others injured after a shooting Monday in the city’s Beechwood neighborhood.

Rochester police said the three teens were walking on the sidewalk Monday evening near Hazelwood Terrace and Denver Street when an unknown suspect — or suspects — approached and started shooting.

It was not immediately known if the three were the intended targets. All were taken by ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital.

A 19-year-old woman died in surgery. A 16-year-old boy was shot multiple times and is in critical condition. And a 15-year-old boy was also injured and is in stable condition, according to police.

Mayor Malik Evans said Tuesday that the city needs — and has been getting — the community’s help in solving gun crimes.

"Shootings are down probably over 40% this year," Evans said. "But again, shootings being down is no consolation for any parent that loses a child because of gun violence."

Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or Crime Stoppers. Beechwood residents who live in the area are being asked to check their surveillance cameras for any recordings around 5 p.m. Monday and contact police if they see anything suspicious.

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The American Red Cross is dealing with an emergency blood shortage and it needs more donors.

Mike Tedesco, a spokesperson for the local chapter, said the blood supply has fallen by more than 25%.

All donors are welcome, he said, but particularly those with a specific blood type.

“Right now, we’ll take anyone who’s willing to donate blood, but we are especially in need of type O, because type-O negative is a universal donor," Tedesco said. "So when you talk about a trauma patient, where doctors may not have time to type the blood, they can automatically use O-negative.”

The Red Cross will also hold a special blood drive on Saturday, Aug. 24, at the Northwest Family YMCA in honor of the late Gary Beikirch, who was a local Medal of Honor recipient.

Beikirch was a medic during the Vietnam War and was later honored for his heroic actions.

You can get more information about blood drives at RedCrossBlood.org.

Ontario County deputies say that a homeowner fell down a well on her property in the town of Manchester on Sunday afternoon. 

Volunteer firefighters went to the scene on Larue Road, and found the woman conscious, alert and talking. 

Deputies say she had minor injuries and had fallen into the well after looking for a lost pet. 

The initial first responders called in additional fire departments, and they used rope rescue equipment to get the 84-year-old homeowner out of the well. 

Her name was not released. She was taken to F.F. Thompson Hospital for further treatment of her minor injuries. 

The effort to rescue the homeowner on Sunday included help from the Ontario County Rope Rescue Team, and special operations personnel from the Monroe County fire bureau, as well as firefighters from Clifton Springs, Canandaigua and Fishers.

Governor Kathy Hochul said Thursday that nearly $200 million in food assistance is going out to 1.5 million children across the state.

Hochul said that New York is sending payments of $120 per child to eligible families to help pay for healthy meals.

It is part of the new Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer, or “Summer EBT program.“

Speaking in New York City on Thursday, Hochul noted that a lot of the eligible low-income families may not know about these benefits.

“There are still hundreds of thousands of kids who are eligible and their parents have not taken advantage of this,” said Hochul. “They don’t know, it’s hard, it’s bureaucracy, how do we figure this out? We’re going to have the applications open until September 3 for more assistance. Please help us get that message out “

Most children who are eligible will automatically receive Summer EBT payments. In addition to those who are automatically receiving benefits, other eligible families may apply to get benefits for their kids.

Rachel Sabella is director of the organization “No Kid Hungry-New York,“ and she said that the Summer EBT program can be a game changer in helping meet the needs of hungry children.

“We recently did a poll of New Yorkers and 85% of respondents said that their incomes were not rising as fast as grocery prices,” said Sabella, “so this benefit comes at an especially critical time for families.”

Rochester Police are investigating the death of a 3-month-old boy, after he reportedly was attacked by dogs.

RPD says the incident involved a 911 call made last Saturday afternoon on Bidwell Terrace for a report that dogs had attacked an infant.

First responders found the 3-month-old boy suffering from severe trauma to his body. He was taken to Strong Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Police say that Animal Control officers secured two pit bull type dogs from the home that are believed to be involved in attacking the child.

The circumstances involving this incident are under investigation by RPD, the District Attorney's office and Child Protective Services.

No charges have been filed at this time, as the investigation continues. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Rochester Police at their Major Crimes Unit
at 585-238-7157 or email: MajorCrimes@CityofRochester.gov

The New York State Fair is expanding its accessibility efforts with the addition of a new sensory room at this year’s event.

The fair's new director, Julie LaFave, said they're unveiling the dedicated space this year because, with so much going on at the Fair, it can become overwhelming for some people.

``It's a room that's going to be open for about six hours each day," LaFave said, speaking on WCNY public radio. "But it's sensory friendly for anybody who may have sensitivities or have sensory overload. It's a quiet place that they can just go relax."

The Fair will also offer a sensory friendly day on Aug. 27, with many rides operating without lights, while sounds, music and public address announcements will be limited to accommodate those with sensitivities.

The New York State Fair runs from Aug. 21 through Labor Day, Sept. 2.

This story is reported from WXXI’s Inclusion Desk.

When the U.S. Senate confirmed Meredith Vacca as a federal judge, it left the Monroe County Court seat she held vacant.

With the November election approaching, county Democratic and Republican parties each plan to put up a candidate for the vacant seat, but due to time constraints they need to pick their people this week.

Monroe County GOP chair Patrick Reilly says his committee members previously passed a resolution granting him the authority to nominate a candidate, in consultation with his executive committee. He adds that he's talked to at least one dozen potential candidates.

Things will work differently for county Democrats. They'll hold a convention Saturday to nominate a candidate. Three contenders have stepped forward. They are Marybeth McCarthy, a senior assistant public defender; Michael Ansaldi, a Pittsford town judge; Destini Bowman, a principal law clerk in the state's 7th Judicial District; and Brian Green, an Irondequoit town judge.

Whichever candidate wins the November election will serve a full 10 year term.

The Senate confirmed Vacca for the federal judgeship this past Wednesday, making her the first Asian-American Pacific Islander and woman of color to serve on the bench in the Western District of New York.

Groundbreaking was held Thursday on a $5 million dollar project to replace nearly 800 lead service lines in Rochester's water system.

Mayor Malik Evans said the city's goal is to be lead-free by 2030. And to get there, the plan is to replace existing lead and galvanized water service lines with safer polyethylene tubing.

"This targeted approach ensures that we are as efficient as possible and make things go more quickly and cost effective," Evans said. "I want to urge Rochesterians to inspect their pipes and report what you find today."

The city's website has details on how to test water pipes and report the results.

The city is using a $3 million dollar state grant to help support the project and its plan to replace all those lead pipes by 2030.

A 5-year-old boy who was badly burned in a house fire earlier this week has died from his injuries.

Rochester police said Malakai Stovall passed away earlier today from the injuries he sustained in the fire at 1290 Portland Avenue.

Two firefighters were also injured.

Authorities believe the fire was intentionally set and their investigation is ongoing.

Anyone who lives in that area is being asked to check their video surveillance cameras for any suspicious activity around 2 am on July 29th

People with any information are asked to contact Rochester police.

State officials are asking residents to report any sightings of the spotted lanternfly in the Finger Lakes region and then kill the invasive insects.

"We do want you out there stomping, crushing, killing the spotted lantern fly when you see them as much as possible," said Robert Cole, forester for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

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He joined staff from the state's Department of Agriculture and Markets for an online update on the battle against the insect.

Collin O’Brien, a horticultural inspector with Ag and Markets, unveiled a new weapon in that battle: drones.

"The drone has a very high sensitivity camera so we can take really good photos and I can also see what the drone sees so we can all survey in real time,” O'Brien said.

But O’Brien said the best tool in the defense against the spotted lanternfly is the public spotting system where people can report sightings through the Department of Agriculture and Markets' web page.

And then do their part by killing the insect.

A community gathering is scheduled for 6 p.m. today in Maplewood Park near Route 104, days after a mass shooting in the park claimed two lives and left several people injured.

Members of the Black Community Focus Fund, Spiritus Christi Church, The Faith Leaders Roundtable and The Black Agenda Group will congregate near the site of the shooting.

Organizers say they want to reclaim and sanctify the space and honor those whose lives were lost as well as those who were affected by the trauma of the event.

Mayor Malik Evans, the Rev. Myra Brown, and other officials and community leaders are expected to attend.

A Rochester-area native has become the first Asian-American and woman of color to serve as a federal judge in the Western District of New York.

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The Senate confirmed Meredith Vacca on Wednesday. She’s a former Monroe County Court judge and has served as an acting New York State Supreme Court justice.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had recommended Vacca, saying she will bring talent, experience and respect for the law to the Western District.

"Judge Vacca has every quality you could want in a jurist — compassionate, tough, legally astute with a genuine love for her community," Schumer said. "She spent over 15 years as an attorney, prosecutor and judge fighting for vulnerable New Yorkers."

Schumer said he’s always worked to make New York's federal bench better reflect the communities it serves.

Vacca grew up in the town of Greece.

State Sen. Jeremy Cooney, who was born in India and in 2020 became the first Asian-American from upstate to be elected to state office, also issued a statement lauding Vacca's confirmation.

“Judge Vacca has officially made history as the first woman of color and Asian-American to be confirmed as judge in the Western District of New York," he said in his statement. "She has proved time and again why she is deserving of this prestigious appointment and why she is a thoughtful jurist to serve our region."

Issues of one of the longest-running Black newspapers in New York state have been preserved for future generations.

The Rochester Museum & Science Center has created digital images of "The Frederick Douglass Voice" dating back to its beginning in 1933.

Howard Coles owned and edited the newspaper, which was in circulation for 63 years. In it, he chronicled the events, culture, and achievements of Rochester's Black community.

Coles' daughter, Joan Coles Howard, said her father was inspired by the abolitionist Frederick Douglass and his newspaper, "The North Star," which was also published in Rochester.

"Frederick Douglass was 19th century," she said. "Howard Coles was 20th century. And I've often said, had they both been in the same century, the world wouldn't have been able to handle it, because they were really pretty much two of a kind."

Digitized issues of "The Frederick Douglass Voice" can be found on RMSC's collections website.

The Buffalo Bills aren't the only ones attending camp at St. John Fisher University this week.

The school is also hosting Pharmacy Camp through Friday.

It's a chance for high school juniors and seniors to go to the Wegmans School of Pharmacy to get a first-hand look at the field and what it has to offer.

There will be workshops; CPR, blood pressure, and Narcan training; and a chance to meet Fisher pharmacists and students.

The camp runs daily at the school from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Friday.

Noting that police officers, firefighters and other first responders have higher rates of behavioral and mental health conditions such as PSTD and depression — plus higher suicide rates — U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduced the bipartisan First Responders Wellness Act.

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She said it would invest $125 million dollars over the next five fiscal years for a new grant program to provide professional and culturally competent mental health services to law enforcement officers. The legislation would also expand access to mental health services for first responders and create a national mental health hotline just for them.

Gillibrand said the hotline for first responders will be part of a dedicated call center with the national 9-8-8 suicide and crisis lifeline.

Quoting data from the organization Blue HELP, Gillibrand said some 120 first responders in New York took their own lives since 2018.

"In a 2018 study, they found that law enforcement officers and firefighters are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty," Gillibrand said. "EMS providers are more likely to die by suicide than the general public, and up to a quarter of all public safety dispatchers have symptoms of PTSD or depression."

She said that staffing shortages are also adding to the mental health challenges for police, firefighters, EMT’s, and other public servants.

Gillibrand says promoting better mental health among first responders will help those public servants do their jobs to the best of their abilities, and in turn, help make communities healthier and safer.

Gillibrand, a Democrat, introduced the bipartisan bill Wednesday with Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri.

A proposed amendment to New York’s Constitution that's intended to protect abortion rights might appear on the ballot this fall without any mention of the word “abortion.”

That’s partly because of sharp disagreements about what the so-called Equal Rights Amendment would do, if passed.

Mike Groll

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Office of Gov. Kathy Hochul

The state’s Board of Elections decided Monday that rather than try to interpret the amendment, it would simply repeat its somewhat unclear language.

Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, wants there to be clear language "So people know that abortion and LGBTQ rights and other rights for people with disabilities and others are on the ballot to be protected in perpetuity if they become part of our Constitution. And I don't want any misunderstanding as to what that's all about."

Democrats and Republicans are both using the proposal as a vessel for some of their most pressing political issues in the hopes of driving voters to the polls this November.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the state is providing $350 million in direct financial assistance to more than 1 million low- and moderate-income families in New York.

Hochul said families currently eligible for the Empire State Child Credit will receive this supplemental payment, and they don’t need to fill out any forms to receive the money.

"Some families will receive up to $330 per child, you have three children that's $1,000 in your family, doubling the amount of assistance that they've received in the past,” Hochul said.

The checks start going out in August.

Rochester Police have made an arrest in connection with an incident early Tuesday morning where an officer fired shots at a car that he said sped toward police.

It happened on the northeast side of the city, as police were conducting a traffic stop on Joseph Avenue near Vienna Street.

RPD says that while they were talking with the driver, he took off and police tried to follow his car on Vienna Street.

Authorities say that officers got out of their patrol car and the suspect’s vehicle turned around and accelerated toward them.

Police say an officer felt threatened by that action and fired multiple shots at the driver of the car, and another officer ran out of the way of that vehicle.

A short time later the suspect’s vehicle was found, abandoned, within the city of Rochester.

There were no injuries in the incident and later on Tuesday, police announced the arrest of 32-year-old Douglas Moore. He faces charges that include reckless endangerment, and unlawfully fleeing police.

The heat is on so the city of Rochester has declared another Cool Sweep for today and tomorrow.

There will be extended swimming hours at city pools and Durand-Eastman Beach.

Some air-conditioned library branches will be open later and spray parks or water features are another option to beat the heat.

Hours and locations are available at cityofrochester.gov.

Monroe County has also extended hours at Ontario Beach Park in response to the heat.

The beach will be open for swimming until 8 p.m., while the spray park there will have extended hours, also remaining open until 8 p.m.

The first of four public hearings on "good cause" eviction legislation will be held today at 6 p.m. at Aenon Missionary Baptist Church, 175 Genesee St.

The Rochester City Council is currently consider the bill, which mirrors provisions found in the state laws.

Among other things, the legislation would protect a tenant from unwarranted eviction or non-renewal of a lease.

The goal of the hearings is to get feedback from tenants, landlords and community members. Vice President LaShay Harris, who represents the South District on City Council is hosting tonight's hearing.

Three more public hearings are scheduled for August:

• Aug. 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Public Market, 280 North Union St.
• Aug. 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Ryan R-Center, 530 Webster Ave.
• Aug. 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Edgerton R-Center, 41 Backus St.

Previously, City Council considered its own version of good cause eviction, but it failed to pass.

Paul Road between Scottsville Road and Behan Road in Chili will be closed from 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Aug. 3 and 4 due to the Rochester Airshow.

Monroe County officials are recommending that motorists seek alternate routes.

The county's ecopark recycling center, which is located off of Paul Road on Avion Drive, will be closed on Aug. 3. The facility is typically open to the public on Saturdays.

The airshow is scheduled to take place on Aug. 3 and 4. Gates open at 9:30 a.m. — flying starts around 10:30 a.m. and concludes by 3:30 p.m.

New York state has released an action plan addressing how extreme heat affects disadvantaged communities and developing ways to develop responses.

One of the agencies involved is the Department of Environmental Conservation's Office of Climate Change.

Program manager Leo Bachinger told public radio's "Capitol Pressroom" that extreme heat already causes more deaths than any other weather-related hazard across the United States.

He said ongoing efforts include the New York SWIMS initiative.

"To enhance access to cooling opportunities, swimming opportunities, in a range of communities," Bachinger said. "Others are enhancing tree planting, addressing inequities in green space, especially in disadvantaged communities."

The plan contains almost 50 recommended actions.

Buffalo Bills General Manager Brandon Beane says the team loves to come to St. John Fisher University for training camp.

He spoke to reporters yesterday on day one of camp on Wednesday.

"A lot of people help so we can just walk out there and do this," Beane said. "We know it doesn't just happen. So, again, thanks to all the St. John Fisher people for being so welcoming, and thank our staff for getting set up."

Beane said this year’s team has plenty of new faces on both offense and defense, but that’s why training camp is so important.

Beane also responded to a report that an NFL executive said quarterback Josh Allen was one of the more overrated players in the NFL.

"For what he's done for this team, for what he's done in this league, and his own accomplishments — to say he's overrated and to point out a flaw here and there is...it’s ignorant," Beane said.

Allen threw for 29 touchdowns and rushed for 15 more last season.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand says prescription drug prices are so high that many people are skipping doses, cutting their pills in half or not getting them refilled because they can’t afford them.

On Wednesday, the New York Democrat unveiled a bill that she said would put a cap on out-of-pocket costs of prescription drugs for people with private health insurance.

Gillibrand also said the legislation builds on the drug pricing reforms included in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which capped the price of insulin at $35 a month.

"This would place annual caps on out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs of $2,000 for individuals and $4,000 for families," Gillibrand said. "If passed, these caps would apply to both group health plans and Marketplace health plans."

Gillibrand said some 10 million New Yorkers would have their out of pocket costs capped.

She said the bill has plenty of support from Democrats and while no Republicans are on the legislation yet, she’ll be talking with GOP Senators Bill Cassidy and Roger Marshall, who are both doctors, to get their ideas on the bill.

The U.S. Senate will consider legislation this week that aims to protect children from dangerous online content, moving forward with what could become the first sweeping new regulation of the tech industry in decades.

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced this week that he will bring the bipartisan bill up in the Senate. He said social media has helped hundreds of millions of people to connect in new ways over the last two decade, but there are also new and sometimes serious health risks the come along with those benefits.

"We cannot set these risks aside on this issue," Schumer said. "We desperately need to catch up."

The Senate this week will consider one bill designed to create a safe online environment for kids and teens. The other would update child online privacy laws.

The bills' prospects in the House are so far unclear.

Rochester City Council has approved a measure that will put Rochester Police Department officers at select schools at arrival and dismissal times for the rest of the summer and the next school year.

Under the proposal the city will pay more than $861,000 for police services through the 2024-2025 school year.

Councilmember Mary Lupien introduced an amendment to the proposal that would have required a detailed community safety plan produced in collaboration between the city and school district. She called the original proposal an expensive stopgap measure rather than a sustainable approach.

"Programs like Pathways to Peace and supporting the social emotional development of our students is not just about managing their behavior," Lupien said, "but it gives them skills that will follow our students beyond the school yard in their days at our RCSD and will contribute to lifelong success."

Lupien eventually dropped her amendment because it didn't receive enough support from Councilmembers to pass.

The executive director of New York's Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government said they are “guardedly confident” they will reach their goal of ethics training for everyone in the executive branch of state government by the end of the year.

During the commission's meeting Tuesday, Sanford Berland said about 250,000 people have received at least one course of training so far.

"And that's out of 320,000, perhaps, employees," Berland said. "That's a moving target, too, the total number of employees in the executive branch. So it's a very high percentage.”

Berland told fellow commission members that it will be a “heavy lift” in getting everyone in the executive branch their second ethics training by the end of next year.

The commission was created in 2022 to restore public trust in government, by ensuring compliance with the State’s ethics and lobbying laws and regulations.

A Rochester woman has received this year’s New York State Women of Distinction Award. 

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Daisy Rivera Algarin was given the award last Friday by local State Senator Jeremy Cooney who said that Algarin was chosen for her focus on the Latina community. 

“Daisy has been a trailblazer for Rochester’s Latina community,” said Cooney, who added that Algarin “put the needs of the community above all else and worked tirelessly to better the lives of her neighbors.” 

Algarin was born in the Bronx and moved to Rochester in 1971. In 1993, she met with a group of Latina women in Rochester to talk about a lack of resources and Latina representation in local leadership positions. 

Algarin and the other people in the group helped form Latinas Unidas, an organization which promotes unity and tries to foster opportunities for Latina women in the Rochester area. 

Algarin is also a member of WXXI’s Community Advisory Board. 

Mayor Malik Evans noted that Algarin is a longtime city employee, and said he is appreciative “of her work engaging businesses and neighborhood organizations.” 

Currently Algarin is Director of Neighborhood Service Centers (NSC), where she focuses on improving the quality of life for Rochester residents.

New York Now

The majority leader in State Assembly said New York didn’t put the necessary staffing expertise in place as it rolled out the legal cannabis industry in the state.

Crystal Peoples-Stokes, a Buffalo Democrat who has long advocated for legalizing marijuana, told public radio’s "Legislative Gazette" that the state didn’t give a new bureaucratic agency the necessary resources it needed to get off the ground successfully.

"There's multiple agencies within the state who could have sent in their top-tier IT people, their top-tier recruiters, their top-tier lawyers, they could have sent in a top tier from every agency in the state to help pull this brand new agency together," she said. "But we didn't do that.”

Peoples-Stokes said because the state didn’t do that, the resulting delay allowed opposition to social equity attempts to fester, and various lawsuits were subsequently filed.

She said New York still has more social equity than any other state in the country, with more licenses granted to Black and brown people than anywhere else.

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Monroe County offices and services will be open and operational on Monday following last Friday’s global CrowdStrike/Windows outage.

That’s according to a statement released Sunday by County Executive Adam Bello, who noted the outage impacted some 3,500 county devices, computers and servers, each requiring a manual procedure to bring back online.

Bello noted that since Friday, the county’s Information Systems (IS) has brought about 75% of the devices online with a focus on essential areas including 911, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and services and functions relating to public safety, public health and human services.

The Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport is open, but Bello said travelers should check their flights for any cancelations or delays. The Board of Elections, Office of the District Attorney, County Courts, all DMV and County Clerk functions are operational.

All county employees are advised to report to work as usual on Monday. The county’s Information Systems department will complete the needed work on remaining devices affected by the CrowdStrike outage in the coming days.

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A Rochester-based child development expert is on a mission to increase the self-worth of young people.

Ruth Holland Scott launched her latest book, "Raising Confident Children," at Barnes and Noble in Pittsford over the weekend. The event drew parents and caregivers eager to learn strategies for boosting children's self-esteem. Scott is a former longtime educator and political activist in Rochester. She was also the first Black woman elected to City Council.

Scott’s book, based on a mix of extensive research and personal experience, is meant to serve as a practical guide for parents and educators. She said that respectful teaching, including helping children appreciate their innate abilities, is paramount.

"I took a look at a number of the books that have been written about children, raising them and giving them confidence,” said Scott, “and I did not find any that were just like mine. In the first place, mine begins with the kind of experiences I had growing up in my own family. And in addition to that, I have written the book as a conversation between myself and the reader."

Scott said that having "soul anchors” -- which she defines as essential elements for personal development and resilience – are critical to increasing emotional abilities.

As an example, she talked about sharing evenings with her father, who, despite frequent hospital stays due to tuberculosis, shared his love of poetry with her.

"I asked him one time why he memorized all these poems, said Scott, “and he said the reason why he memorized (them) is because it built a wall between him and the pain that he had with that lung that was deteriorating."

Scott said she has upcoming appearances to talk about her book including one at the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, D.C., with a goal of inspiring further discussions on child development.

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WXXI News

Governor Kathy Hochul has made a request for federal help following recent tornadoes and other storms throughout a number of upstate counties in recent weeks.

Hochul made the request for a federal Emergency Declaration over the weekend, to support recovery operations in 15 counties including Genesee, Ontario and Steuben.

The governor said that designation would authorize the federal agency, FEMA, to provide reimbursement for debris removal, and other actions to eliminate or reduce immediate threats of additional damage to critical infrastructure.

This request comes after a rash of tornadoes, including a strong storm that caused major damage in the small Central New York city of Rome.

Closer to Rochester, a weaker tornado caused damage in Canandaigua, as that tornado and a strong thunderstorm took down trees in Kershaw Park and also damaged some buildings.

Hochul noted that the state saw 17 confirmed tornadoes across the state in July, the largest number of confirmed tornadoes for the month since records began in 1950.

The governor says while the federal request is under consideration, the state continues to work with affected counties to assess damages and that will help determine the state’s ability to request a Major Disaster Declaration which could result in additional federal funding.

Jasmin Singer

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WXXI News

Rochester’s Pride Parade and Festival takes place on Saturday.

It has a new route, with the parade stepping off at 11 a.m. Saturday at South Avenue and Science Parkway.

It ends up at the site for the festival, which is Highland Park.

Organizers say more than 240 groups signed up to March.

The festival has general admission tickets for $5, and VIP tickets at $50. Kids under 12 are admitted for free.

There will also be double the number of community and vendors, with about 150 of them.

The Pride parade and festival in Rochester is celebrated in July, unlike a number of other communities that focus on June, which honors the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York City. Rochester also has some events that take place in June as well.

Rochester Police have made an arrest in an incident on Thursday when they say multiple gunshots were fired at an officer sitting in his patrol car.

It happened just after 3 p.m. on the west side of the city near the intersection of Smith and Grape streets during a traffic stop by the officer.

Authorities said an officer with RPD’s Traffic Enforcement Unit was sitting in his marked police car with the emergency lights on, when a suspect who was not involved in the traffic stop approached and fired a gun, striking the police cruiser multiple times.

The officer was not injured.

Police said they soon found the suspect, 20-year-old Ronald Adams of the city. He faces charges that include Attempted Aggravated Murder, Reckless Endangerment, Criminal Possession of a Weapon and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property.

Mayor Malik Evans released a statement and said that, “I thank God that no one was injured, or worse, in the shooting incident that targeted a Rochester Police Department Traffic Enforcement Officer.” He called it “a truly selfish and cowardly act” and said that “we must remain vigilant as a community and continue to work together to fight gun violence.”

Rep. Joe Morelle says President Joe Biden needs to decide whether he feels he can rebuild the support he needs from the American people if he is running for re-election.

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Morelle reportedly was one of several Democrats earlier this month who said privately they thought Biden should end his campaign. Talking to reporters on Thursday in Rochester, Morelle did not commit to saying Biden should be the candidate in November.

He said Biden has been trying to demonstrate to Americans that he is a viable candidate going forward, but that he doesn't think the president has "met that standard yet."

"I think he's reflecting on and talking to many of us," Morelle said. "I was in a meeting with him on Saturday. People expressed their concerns. I think he's hopefully reflecting on all of this. I think he ultimately wants to do the right thing for America and the American people. And if that means he needs to step away, I'm sure he's giving that ample consideration.”

Biden has not given any indication that he is changing his mind about staying in the race, but the New York Times is reporting that the president has become more receptive to hearing arguments about why he should drop his re-election bid.

Former President Barack Obama and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are the latest to express concerns about President Joe Biden's candidacy for the White House.

But another prominent Democrat, Gov. Kathy Hochul, said she isn’t wavering. She told Bloomberg on Thursday that she is behind Biden for as long as he wants to stay in the race.

"My view is he's gonna be in," Hochul said. "He's staying. As long as he's staying in this race, I am with him. He has delivered for New York in extraordinary ways I look forward to talking about even more. And I believe in his vision for our country."

Hochul said Biden has been an extraordinary president.

Meanwhile, Biden’s reelection campaign insists it’s “not working through any scenarios” where he “is not the top of the ticket.”

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Finger Lakes grape growers got some unwelcome but not unexpected news last week.

A spotted lanternfly was found a little more than a half-mile from a vineyard in Seneca County.

The invasive pest, which is fond of feasting on grape vines and other crops, did some severe damage in Pennsylvania, and it was only a matter of time before it migrated north.

And while the insects' presence in Finger Lakes wine country is concerning, Hans Walter-Peterson of Cornell Cooperative Extension said there's no need to panic.

"I think we're in a good place from a standpoint of, A: We found this early, and B: We have a lot more information now than our friends in Pennsylvania did years ago when they first found it," Walter-Peterson said.

Because spotted lanternfly populations increase slowly, he said farmers have time to take action.

One recommendation is to control the growth of an invasive plant called "the Tree of Heaven" near crops. It's another food source for lanternflies that fuels their reproduction.

Expect some traffic delays downtown on Exchange Boulevard through Monday.

The road, between Plymouth Avenue and Court Street will undergo milling and resurfacing.

The city said drivers will experience delays and lane shifts and should obey posted signs and flaggers.

Parking will be prohibited within the work zone between 6:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

For updates on this and other ongoing construction projects, go to the city's website.

A Long Island judge is blocking a cap on how much money New York state lawmakers can earn outside their government work.

State Supreme Court Justice Alison Napolitano issued a preliminary injunction that will prevent the $35,000 limit from taking effect.

Gov. Kathy Hochul and Democratic state lawmakers approved the cap two years ago as part of a bill that increased lawmakers' salaries.

Legislators got their pay hike. But Republicans sued over the outside income cap. They claim it violates the state constitution.

The judge prohibited the cap from taking effect while their suit is ongoing.

It was scheduled to take effect Jan. 1.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency for all of New York state after a tornado and strong storms devastated the city of Rome.

She toured the area Wednesday, calling it the worst natural disaster in the history of that community. She said 22 buildings in the city had major structural damage, and four were destroyed. Steeples crumbled and roofs were torn apart at First Presbyterian Church and St. Mary's Church, both built in the 1800s.

It also tipped over vehicles — including a 183,000-pound B-52 bomber — and left streets clogged with tree debris, power poles and electrical transformers.

Hochul said it’s miraculous no one was killed, but there were some close calls.

"You look up and you see a room that is absolutely obliterated," Hochul said. "The ceiling collapsed, it just looks like a war zone. And then you learn that there were two children who had been sitting in the waiting room, waiting for their mom to arrive, who escaped unharmed.”

Hochul pledged help from the state to help Rome clean up and rebuild.

U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand said they will call on FEMA to offer assistance if needed.

An audit released Wednesday from New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli blames poor planning for the state’s lagging green energy goals.

DiNapoli said regulators used outdated data and wrong calculations to assess the risks and challenges to meet the targets in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. The legislation passed in 2019 requires the state to get 70% of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030.

The audit also said the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority has failed to develop a backup plan.

DiNapoli recommended that the Public Service Commission be transparent about the cost of transitioning to renewable energy and account for the impact of growing electricity demand on the power grid.

Regulators cited in a recent report that some global conditions, such as increased demands and dwindling supplies of renewable energy, may create barriers to reaching that goal.

The Roc Against Gun Violence Coalition is relaunching its "Think About It" campaign.

Its slogan is "A shot from a gun can’t be undone."

"There's billboards, there's radio ads that are being ran on a couple of radio stations, PSAs," said City Councilmember Willie Lightfoot, who chairs the coalition. "We have handouts, flyers, posters, that are going to be put out all over the community. We've done this before in 2018, 2019."

The coalition scheduled a news conference for Wednesday afternoon in front of one of those billboards at the corner of Joseph and Ward Streets.

The coalition’s mission includes supporting efforts that educate and assist with eradicating gun violence in Rochester.

New York State Parks

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The New York state parks system is celebrating its centennial this year.

That means some special events and activities are planned across the parks, including one at Letchworth State Park on Saturday.

The New York State Parks Legacy Celebration is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. at multiple locations across the park — home to a Genesee River gorge that's often called the Grand Canyon of the East.

The day kicks off with a breakfast buffet at the Glen Iris Inn, which will feature historical reenactments. At 11 a.m., the Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy ceremony will be held at the park's lower falls — not to be confused with Lower Falls in the city of Rochester.

There will be a slew of other activities from face painting to theatrical performances to music — all of them family-friendly.

The celebration will conclude with fireworks, which are scheduled to start at 9:30 p.m.

Standard vehicle entry fees will apply, and while many of the activities will be free, some will have a cost. For example, the breakfast buffet is $20 a person.

More information about the centennial and other associated events is available at parks.ny.gov.

A new internship for SUNY students will pay them for work that’s usually deemed volunteer civics.

The Empire State Service Corps will hire 500 students to work in civics positions, including peer mental health counseling and filing federal financial aid.

SUNY Chancellor John King said the internship will let students engage with their communities in and out of school.

He said it especially helps low-income students, some of whom have to keep a job to pay for school or help their families.

“This now is saying, 'Hey, you can make $16 an hour, do 300 hours of service and have this fulfilling experience instead of feeling like you have to work in a job that’s just about making money,'" King said.

He said students have submitted more than 400 applications since the portal opened in early July.

Rochester police said this week that they have taken hundreds of guns off the streets so far this year.

Capt. Mark Mura presented his report at the monthly meeting of the Roc Against Gun Violence Coalition at City Hall.

"This was at the end of June: 257 handguns, 96 long guns, 37 total ghost guns, for a grand total of 390," Mura said. "We're somewhere around 430 right now.”

He added police executed a search warrant at a city residence and at another location outside of the city where ghost guns were being manufactured.

Mura says an arrest was made and more information on that will soon be released.

The New York State Board of Regents is extending a measure to make it easier for teachers to earn an expedited bilingual certification.

In a meeting this week, the Regents voted to extend a policy amendment so that eligible teachers have more flexibility to quickly earn the certification.

The amendment states that this is in response to an influx of students in the state whose first language is not English. Many are asylum-seekers.

Regent Roger Tilles from Nassau County said schools need the additional resources of certified teachers to serve all students.

“This is just the first step, as far as I'm concerned, in dealing with this issue," Tilles said. "We have to do it. Schools can't find the personnel to teach English as second language and teach courses in that language, and are having tremendous difficulties.”

Tilles said many students affected by a lack of bilingual instruction are not in a position to graduate on time.

Regent Susan Mittler from the Ithaca area said there’s a particular need in rural places.

“It is very difficult to find language teachers in the more rural schools and they do have students who are bilingual," Mittler said. "I'm hoping this will encourage content area teachers who are bilingual to get certification so that we in fact can provide instructions in second and third languages and also teach classes.”

The Board of Regents is the governing body of the state Education Department. The department’s policy extension runs through the end of next August.