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WXXI News
Get up to speed on the stories you may have missed by subscribing to Ear Shot, the podcast that brings you on-demand stories, interviews, and other tidbits of what's happening around Rochester and the Finger Lakes, from Veronica Volk and the WXXI News team.
The Rochester Museum & Science Center is recruiting ambassadors to get the word out about next year’s total eclipse. Local town supervisors are concerned about Gov. Kathy Hochul’s housing initiative. And a recent graduate of the Rochester City School District says he plans to run for elected office this year.
Local organizations are helping people with disabilities enter the workforce by connecting them to potential employers.
Catchy, compelling songwriting is a precious resource, and one Rochester band is hoarding songwriters like the well’s about to go dry.
A center for teens in Rochester is to be named after two of the most prominent community organizers.
RSV cases have surged this season, including here in Rochester, and some parents are experiencing the worst of it firsthand.
An ongoing mental health crisis affecting college students has only been exacerbated by the pandemic. And the largest class of New York State Forest Rangers just graduated, ready to fight fires, patrol state land, and conduct search and rescues.
Developers have begun construction on an ambitious, multi-year plan to build up a challenged Rochester neighborhood.
Some people with disabilities report a lack of trust and comfort in relationships with their primary care physicians. One program hopes that training doctors can make a difference.
Rochester's Central Library is brimming with books and other items that people check out each day, but we look deeper and find some real treasures.
There have been a lot of local debates around library books recently, specifically books that address sexuality and sex education for young kids. It reflects a national trend of book banning efforts in schools and children's libraries. We talk to a local librarian about some of the books being labeled as problematic.
In this podcast, Racquel Stephen reports on a fatherhood program that offers community and support for dads in Rochester.
For more than a decade, children of all ages have made a point each Halloween of visiting a particularly decked-out house in the 12 Corners area of Brighton.
Rochester and the Finger Lakes are becoming a hub for all kinds of inclusive activities – like biking and kayaking. But some people with disabilities, particularly those in the city, are still being left behind.
An unlikely duo uses their platform to cover local high school sports. Plus, for decades, a volunteer user has welcomed music lovers to the Eastman Theatre, and now she’s being ushered into the spotlight herself.
For 30 years, this lacrosse team has been called the Iroquois Nationals. Now they're playing as the Haudenosaunee, in a symbolic move toward rejecting colonialism, and honoring the indigenous origins of the game.
Development projects underway in the Neighborhood of Play include retail space and apartment buildings, but also, dragons. Plus, Danielle Ponder's star continues to rise with the release of her debut solo album, "Some of us are brave."
People with blood disorders are at risk amid an ongoing blood shortage. And the Rochester Fringe Festival is taking a cue from Las Vegas casinos and high-end spas by adding a scent to its Spiegeltent.
Garth Fagan is a household name in Rochester. This week we peek behind the curtain and hear a story about his influence through the perspective of two of his dancers.
Kids across Monroe County are gearing up for the first day of school, but a national teacher shortage is likely to have local impacts. And a growing movement to cancel late fees at the library grows momentum, but not everyone is on board.
A collection of stories and interviews from Rochester gathered through a project aimed at preserving oral histories about one man learning about his roots, one small business and its lasting impact on the community, and one family processing the loss of their loved one to the AIDS virus.
An artist pays tribute to three national guardsmen who died in a helicopter crash last year. And we meet the newest member of the Adirondack Park Agency board, and hear what she wants for one of New York’s most treasured regions.
This summer, in Ireland, two Rochester women were crowned World Champions in ultimate frisbee. We meet them and learn more about the sport that prides itself on Spirit of the Game.
Graffiti is on the rise, and some established artists are seeing their murals tagged over by novice teenagers. What separates art from vandalism?And a sixteen-year-old is fighting to make active shooter drills and emergency plans more accessible for kids with disabilities.
For a lot of people, getting a haircut is also a time to socialize and connect with someone they trust. That’s why barbers and hairstylists are being recruited to help people access health screenings and other important information.
An afterschool program in Rochester helps kids process the gun violence in their neighborhood, and hopefully prevent it in the future. Plus, New Yorkers who were once criminalized for selling and possessing marijuana may be among the first to benefit from the state's emerging recreational market.
During the pandemic, Rochester’s Public Market has endured the same disruptions as many other businesses: supply chain issues, labor shortages and high gas prices. But it's adapting in its own way.Plus: A mural on East High School depicts local and national leaders of the civil rights movement. We take a closer look at one man in the photo, the Rev. Franklin Florence.
A new program in Rochester seeks to empower and enrich recent refugees through skating.
A shortage of baby formula is causing local parents to panic. Plus, a new historical marker attempts to re-address the complicated history of white European settlement in the area.
A group of Seneca Nation people are working to reclaim a language that was almost completely lost to them.
A local agency is trying a new approach to retaining their employees – they’re supporting them at work and at home. Plus, a local ballerina is retiring, but not before breaking some ballerina stereotypes.
Meet the man who has planted 15,000 daffodils in Mount Hope Cemetery. Plus: A welding class geared toward young women aims to create a boom of female tradespeople.
A local environmentalist is trying to convince people to let go of their perfectly manicured lawns. And plans are in the works for a large pavilion in Highland Park. Plus, A particularly deadly strain of bird flu is spreading through New York, from wild birds to chicken farms.
For many years, people seeking jobs have been at a disadvantage when it comes to negotiating pay. Now more places, including New York, are considering requiring employers to divulge pay ranges. And in Monroe County, Black mothers and their babies are at a higher risk of complications and mortality.
An afterschool club for elementary school students focused on LGBTQ education is at the center of a heated debate in the Pittsford Central School District. And in the North Country, one local doughnut shop/laundromat has endured for decades. What is their recipe for success?
At the height of the Cold War, Rochester residents built their own fallout shelters. Some of them are still scattered around town. Plus: More people are choosing the sober life, and more organizations are catering to them.
A Rochester couple wants to be an example for affordable eco-friendly living. Plus: As more New Yorkers wait for trial at home, few communities are paying for services to support them.
Will giant parachuting spiders spread through Rochester? Plus: Warmer winters mean a shorter season for ice fishing. And Public Health Commissioner Doctor Michael Mendoza reflects on two years of COVID.
New York's home aide shortage is keeping some people with disabilities from living independently. And world-class speed skating is back in Lake Placid.
Getting exercise is important for your health, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. Plus: we hear from Rochester native Maia Chaka, the first Black woman officiant in the NFL.
Recently retired football star Tom Brady is said to have followed an incredibly strict diet, but there's a fine line between focus and fixation. And a school play in recognition of Black History Month took a different approach this year.
Many homeowners have been left out of COVID-19 relief, and they hope a new state program will help. Plus: Worker shortages have been particularly hard on residents of group homes.
You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy playtime, but why do we do it? And Valentine’s Day is typically about love, but it wasn’t always.
Music therapy can help Parkinson's patients move around. Plus: A local group has made it their mission to pray for every homicide victim in Rochester.
Employees at a local veterinary hospital are among the first in the nation to unionize. And a family sues to get their son with disabilities back in school with a mask exemption.
A small population of Rochesterians has a big influence. Plus: Sports betting companies have taken over social media, making life harder for gambling addicts.
A highly contagious and fatal virus has sparked a push for widespread vaccination in rabbits. And nursing home staff are hopeful about the governor’s health care spending plan.
Selfies aren’t just for social media anymore. They could be used as a diagnostic tool in medicine. And New York Governor Kathy Hochul lays out her 2022 priorities, amid a winter surge of the coronavirus.
Rochester’s Liberty Pole is more than a piece of art downtown. It has a long — and surprising — history. And inside a first-grade classroom, we hear how teachers are coping with our new normal.
A growing number of unpaid caregivers in the U.S. are children. One organization is trying to help. And balsam, spruce, or pine: How do you find the perfect Christmas tree?
Seneca Falls celebrates "It's a Wonderful Life" every December, but this year is special. And a familiar face to mini mart patrons on Lake Avenue died last week. We pay tribute to Tony Lovett.
Do you know what to do in case of a pet emergency? And major upgrades to ski jumps in Lake Placid are drawing potential Olympians to the slopes.
After losing both her parents to COVID, one Rochester woman is finding a way to honor their memory.Plus: after Mayor Lovely Warren steps down next week, and before Malik Evans is sworn in in January, Rochester will have a 30-day mayor – James Smith.
What if, alongside algebra and biology, high school students were taught how to manage debt, and save for retirement?
Nursing schools are trying to admit and train more nurses to help ease a labor shortage that was made even worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. And a wildlife refuge in the Adirondacks loses its permits after years of violations.
Over the last two years, nurses have been hailed as front-line heroes, but the stress of the pandemic led many to quit or retire.
What do we know about Rochester’s new mayor, Malik Evans? And an opera at the Eastman School of Music draws audiences into the weird world of mythological sirens.
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As winter approaches, people who are homeless are in need of housing. Plus, meet the man at the piano during the Dryden Theatre’s silent movie showings.
In Monroe County, Black mothers and their babies are at a higher risk of complications and mortality. And a student program is diversifying the rivers and trails of the Adirondacks.
Across the country, more people are buying guns and joining gun groups, with the biggest jump among African Americans. And a hidden history is buried just beneath the surface at Highland Park.
A nationwide shortage of veterinarians means some pets can’t get the care they need. Plus: Child care providers are struggling to keep masks on toddlers.
A cohort of older adult musicians reunite after a year and a half of virtual rehearsals. Plus: Tucked away in the City of Rochester is one of North America’s oldest forests. And the iconic voice behind Ol’ Man River -- William Warfield -- is honored with a statue in his hometown.
A fifth of everything we throw in the trash is food waste. But what if we recycled that back into the ground instead? Plus, Joywave is putting on a Rochester Fringe Festival show this weekend, but lead singer Daniel Armbruster says during the pandemic, music was far from people’s minds.
Some physicians and patients believe racism is a factor in the historical underfunding of sickle cell disease research and treatment. Plus, Fringe Fest is in full swing! The CITY and WXXI Arts team talks about what they've seen and what they're looking forward to.
It's been 20 years since the Sept. 11 attacks, and a lot has changed, including the way it's taught in schools. Plus: Some of the people closest to the attacks were ironworkers from the Akwesasne Mohawk reservation. And we talk to the creator behind Aspie Works about his company and a production that he says changed his life.
A shop in the Rochester area is giving out free gifts that are controversial. Plus: The COVID-19 shutdown last year was a jarring experience for a Rochester attorney who was used to 16-hour work days. And we remember Michael Morgan, the conductor for the Gateways Music Festival.
Afghan refugees are relocating to Rochester in search of a better life, when they get here, they’re still facing obstacles. Plus: While everyone turned to new hobbies during pandemic shutdowns, one retro sport made a serious comeback -- roller skating. Also: New York’s new governor announces a new lieutenant governor.
Regular screenings could prevent deaths from cervical cancer, but more women are putting them off during the pandemic. Plus: Now that Gov. Andrew Cuomo is stepping down, what do we know about our future governor, Kathy Hochul?
Political leaders are calling for Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign after the Attorney General substantiates claims of sexual harassment. And a new trail in Letchworth State Park caters specifically to neurodivergence.
The pandemic motivates some people in Rochester to completely change the course of their lives. Plus: New York State is mandating vaccinations for its workers, including state-run hospitals. And a local forest ranger talks about his experience battling the wildfires out west.
Rochester's Black and brown LGBTQ organizations have been able to expand their reach now that the Out Alliance has shut down. Plus: Military veterans are returning from overseas with respiratory problems, and they’re fighting to get health benefits from the VA. And a pop-up clinic offers COVID-19 vaccines at a local barber shop.
A high-pitched squealing sound coming from a church on Pleasant Street in downtown Rochester has divided a neighborhood. Some call it a nuisance, while others say it's necessary to prevent loitering. Plus: After a year on hiatus, the food truck rodeo is back. Navigating the pandemic has been quite the journey for some local food trucks.
Without the proper support, spousal caregivers can suffer from high rates of depression caused by loneliness and isolation. Plus: Artists are installing "Earth Altars" as a way to help people process the last sixteen months of the pandemic. And Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a new state of emergency for New York -- this time over rising gun violence. But not everyone thinks that's a good idea.
Local leaders have big dreams about what the Inner Loop could look like, but people who live in these neighborhoods don’t want to be left out of the conversation. Plus: A look at a summer camp that helps kids with social skills, after a year of isolation.
As people slowly return to the office after a year of working from home, their dogs are not happy. But there are ways to help. Plus: Michael Lasser, the longtime host of WXXI’s music program Fascinatin' Rhythm, is retiring. And Malik Evans beat Mayor Lovely Warren in the Democratic primary. He tells us what he plans to do now.
Rochester’s black deaf community speaks up about barriers to healthcare. Plus: A local museum grapples with their cultural identity as they plan their first Juneteenth celebration.
Local Haudenosaunee people are seeking justice for thousands of indigenous children who were forced into boarding schools. Plus: For women under 40, getting a breast cancer diagnosis -- and the proper treatment -- can be challenging. And a relic from the civil rights era emerges in Rochester, painting one of the most famous leaders of the movement in a different light.