Gino Fanelli

Union fight at WROC prompts state delegation to boycott interviews All of the Democratic state representatives in Monroe County, plus several local elected officials, will no longer do one-on-one interviews with WROC/Channel 8 until its parent company recognizes its ...

Workers at WROC/RochesterFirst/Ch. 8 first voted to unionize in Feb. 2023. But since then, its parent company, Nexstar Media Group, has refused to recognize the union or come to the collective bargaining table. Now, state local elected officials are boycotting.
www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2...

YouTube video by Rochester NY Police OIS July 31, 2025

Man killed by Rochester Police on Thursday on Ernestine Street identified as 38-year-old Akintunde Campbell. Here is the bodyworn camera footage.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCDu...

Rochester police shoot and kill man on Ernestine Street Two officers are on leave following the shooting, during which police claim the man brandished a handgun and ignored commands to drop it.

Rochester Police shot and killed a man on Ernestine Street last night, after the man allegedly brandished a pistol. The two officers involved are one leave pending an investigation by the state Attorney General's Office. www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2...

Plane crash near Maplewood Park

No argument here

The pallet shelters are purchased and in Rochester. There have been some incremental improvements to the site through spring (we check back every couple months). I opted to give some grace that it is being worked on, albeit slowly and is currently unusable.

City orders shops to close ahead of PR Fest post-party In a letter distributed to businesses along the avenue on Monday morning, the city’s top lawyer Patrick Beath urges businesses to “partner” with the city and comply with the request. If businesses don...

On Monday, Ray Martinez, co-owner of Sobrino's on North Clinton and Norton, received an unusual letter from the city's top lawyer, as well as other businesses on the avenue: close early on the last day of the Puerto Rican Festival, or else face a misdemeanor charge.

www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2...

Clearing of encampments points to depth of troubles playing out on North Clinton The timing of the clearings comes in the aftermath of a high-profile police shooting at a local drug house, amid a federal crackdown on homeless encampments, and days ahead of a festival weekend that ...

Last week, the city of Rochester moved to clear two homeless encampments on North Clinton Avenue, referring to them as "open air drug markets." This story explores what happened to the largely heroin-addicted residents of the camp, and the dearth of resources. www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2...

They thought they were headed for high times, then New York botched its legal cannabis rollout The state's Cannabis Control Board could vote Friday to waive license fees for farmers who got into the legal market early, saying they "suffered a sufficient need for financial assistance." But canna...

You can read the story here: www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2...

My first national award (well, a silver medal, but I'll take it) from the Association of Alternative News media for my coverage of the disastrous roll out of legal weed and its harm on the growers trying to leave the black market and go legit.

This story has been updated to include comments Lupien made in an Instagram reel Thursday morning, in which she downplayed the current importance of City Council and Council meetings.

County’s most underassessed suburb to begin revaluating its properties Webster has not done a full assessment since 2004. Its average residential property is expected to at least double in value in the new revaluation.

The town of Webster hasn't done an assessment since 2004, and its assessed values are estimated at less than half of market value, the lowest in the county. The average house is expected to at least double in assessed value during the assessment. www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2...

Where in the world is your City Council member? Rash of absences leads to delay Low attendance at this week’s monthly meeting, though, led to votes on 10 separate bills being postponed until August.

Four of Rochester City Council's nine members failed to show up to its July meeting. Ten bills which require a super-majority—including funding lead pipe replacement and an affordable housing project—had to be delayed as a result.
www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2...

My bio hasn't been updated in two or three years (to wit, I'm about 40 pounds heavier in my official headshot). I still share stories on Twitter but that's about as much as I engage with that platform. I'm not super active on any social media anymore, feel like most of it has outlived its value.

New law has Rochester police looking to middle-aged applicants A change in state policy raises the age for officers to take the written exam from 35 to 43. That is particularly attractive to two demographics: retired military, and retired police from other states...

The change in state leaves two major pool of new applicants—retired cops from other states and retired military personnel, the latter allowed to be up to 50 to take the exam. But whether it will make a difference in RPD's deep staffing issues is unclear. www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2...

Doorley: 'It's time for me to go." Monroe County DA censured, says she will leave office The Monroe County district attorney has faced criticism since a 2024 traffic stop in which she berated the officer.

Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley said she plans to step down from her position, following a state investigation into a traffic stop last April in which she berated a Webster police officer. But just when she will be leaving is not clear. www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2...

Nobody wants to be Rochester's shelter veterinarian The city has searched for over a year for a full-time veterinarian. They have yet to find a single candidate for the job, leaving veterinary services to be filled in by per diem contracts.

It's been over a year since Rochester began its search for a new veterinarian. Not a single eligible candidate has gone for the job, leaving per diem contracts to fill in the gap. www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2...

Did a mountain lion stroll down a Rochester street? A mountain lion? An escaped pet? Something else entirely? Just what was caught on a Ring camera wandering Grand Avenue is a mystery.

Just what was caught on Stefany Baez's Grand Avenue Ring camera Wednesday morning?
One thing's for sure: whatever is in the video is big, and it looks a hell of a lot like a cat.
wxxinews.org/local-news/2...

Shelter operator dissolves, but its tiny house project could survive REACH Advocacy, at its peak, boasted six shelters. All have closed, worsening the shortage of shelter space amid a spike in homelessness in the Rochester region.

REACH Advocacy once operated six shelter sites as part of its "Project Haven," including a shelter for sex trafficking victims and the city's only LGBT shelter. The organization is in the process of dissolving, its shelters closed. One project may survive. www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2...

City sets out to finish Rochester's only skatepark, ending a nearly 20-year saga Ground is expected to be broken this fall for the second phase of the Roc City Skatepark, with a completion date set in fall 2026.

Nearly 20 years after skaters set out to get a skatepark in the city, and four years since the finished products of approval, construction on the last phase of the Roc City Skatepark is expected to begin this fall. www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2...

Lawsuit targets data center proposed for Genesee County industrial park The 900,000 square foot project is accused by the Sierra Club and Seneca Nation of not aligning with environmental standards set for the Science, Technology, and Advanced Manufacturing Park, or STAMP.

The Sierra Club and Seneca have sued to block the creation of a massive data center on the STAMP. It's the latest in a string of lawsuits against the industrial park, located between the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge and the Tonawanda Reservation.
www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2...

Do you really want him to be making decisions for your city? Go vote

Republican candidate for Irondequoit supervisor indicted on corruption charges Anthony Costanza, who served as the town's former assessor, is accused of misusing his position for personal benefit.

The Republican candidate for Irondequoit town supervisor has been indicted on corruption charges. The charges appear to be connected to his lowering of his own assessment as town assessor. That incident was investigated last year, with no charges levied. www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2...

Trump lawsuit prompts pause of new Sanctuary City bill The bill would have strengthened protections for undocumented immigrants and LGBTQ people, including setting out a clear path for discipline of employees that violate the policy.

A bill that would strengthen Rochester's sanctuary city policy will not go to vote, barring a conclusion to a lawsuit brought by the Trump Administration over the existing policy.
www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2...

YouTube video by WXXINews 'I just took the money they gave me and ran': Sister Grace Miller

Sister Grace started House of Mercy with $20,000 from the Sisters of Mercy. She didn't know what she was doing exactly, but as she tells it, she ran with the money before they had a chance to change their mind.

Video from Max Schulte
youtube.com/shorts/1n6eE...

Sister Grace spent her life helping the homeless. Now in hospice, she reflects on legacy and lessons The 89-year-old champion for the homeless and destitute is dying, in hospice care at a congregation home on Carter Street.

Sister Grace is dying. On her hospice bed, she spoke of her legacy and life's work of serving the poorest in her community. This story explores her nearly 40 years at House of Mercy, her philosophy and its ripple effects, and the work left to be done. www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2...

I'm hosting Connections on WXXI both hours today. We're talking ticket resellers like StubHub! And no taxes on tips! Turn it up and rip the knob off.

Search for 5-year-old who fell into Genesee River now a recovery operation, police say The child reportedly fell from the Andrews Street bridge Sunday afternoon after climbing the railing.

The ongoing search for a 5-year-old boy who fell into the Genesee River Sunday afternoon is now a recovery operation.
www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2...

Mayor Malik Evans says the city doesn’t sweep homeless camps. That depends on how you define 'sweep' Under Evans, the city has engaged in the clearing of multiple homeless encampments, but has taken a more methodical approach than previous administrations.

During Wednesday's debate, Mayor Malik Evans claimed that the city has not and will not sweep homeless encampments. His first term in office paints a somewhat different picture. www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2...

State details concerns prompting shutdown of care programs at Rochester housing towers Provider Family Service Communities voluntarily surrendered its licenses upending housing for dozens of senior citizens and people with disabilities at the East Danforth and Hudson Ridge towers.

The issues with the service provider at the two enhanced housing facilities include failing to monitor narcotics, failing to feed tenants on meal plans, and taking in residents they did not have the capacity to care for, including people who needed feeding tubes. www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2...