Democrat and Chronicle
Tehran retaliates after leader killed in strikes
Three U.S. service members were killed amid the ongoing conflict in Iran and five were seriously wounded, according to American military officials. “Several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions – and are in the process of being...
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ATTACK ON IRAN
The United States launched military strikes and “major combat operations” against Iran on Feb. 28, President Donald Trump said, targeting the country’s missile capabilities. “Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent...
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Greece native’s death shocked communities
e still has a locker at the Horseheads state police barracks, even though it has been two decades since state Trooper Andrew J. Sperr last used it. ● The Greece native, a 1991 graduate of Aquinas Institute, once utilized that locker to store his...
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Restaurant founder stuck in ICE detention
The founder of a well-known Mexican restaurant in Rochester will remain in ICE custody until his appeal for asylum is decided. His case reflects the latest debate over whether thousands of people picked up in the Trump administration’s crackdown on...
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Trump touts economic gains
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump declared the country is booming, his opponents are “crazy” and his administration is engaged in unprecedented levels of “winning” in a marathon State of the Union address that comes as polls showed deep skepticism of...
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Full effects of DOGE may never be known
Billionaire Elon Musk appeared at a White House news conference Feb. 11, 2025, defending plans to cut “waste” in the federal government with the Department of Government Efficiency. Though the fanfare over DOGE has faded, hundreds of lawsuits continue...
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Fed minutes show officials dealing with policy split
WASHINGTON — Federal Reserve policymakers were in near-unanimous agreement to keep interest rates on hold at their January meeting but remained split over their next steps, with “several” open to rate hikes if inflation remains elevated, others...
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Judges harshly criticize ICE in recent rulings
WASHINGTON – A striking trend is unfolding at federal courthouses across the nation: Judges appointed by presidents from both parties are issuing uncharacteristically scathing rebukes of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Since...
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CHANGING OF THE GUARD
Months after Democrats flipped a stretch of Monroe County suburbs in the fall elections, the early question isn’t whether the political map has shifted — it has — it’s whether any of that change shows up in day-to-day work of town governments. That is...
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SNOW SCULPTURES TURNING HEADS
CANANDAIGUA – When wintertime hits Canandaigua, you can expect four things: snow, cold, gray and Iveta Buck’s elaborate and beautiful snow sculptures. This winter is no exception on all accounts. “Everyone is complaining about the cold and snow,”...
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Election security chief pushed false claims in 2020
WASHINGTON – As President Donald Trump ramps up his interest in taking federal control of the November 2026 elections, he’s tapped one of the lawyers who worked on his efforts to overturn the 2020 election to be his administration’s “director of...
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Does dirty snow alter winter ecosystems?
With so much snow on the ground — and much of sticking around from previous storms — a lot of what’s out there is a slushy brown, black or worse. New research has learned more about the environmental implications of that darkened snow. And previous...
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FBI won’t share evidence about Pretti shooting
The FBI notified Minnesota state investigators that it will not share information or evidence related to the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal officers in Minneapolis, the state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said in a Feb. 16 statement.
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ICE DEATHS PROTESTED
The ratatat-tat of a snare drum set the backdrop as dozens of protesters readied themselves to march toward an ICE detention center in Batavia on Feb. 15 in support of the people locked inside, awaiting immigration hearings or deportations. Sean...
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WINTER WALLOP
New York’s winter snowfall totals continue to climb, with several cities nearing – or surpassing – their seasonal averages. ● Rochester has officially surpassed the 100-inch mark for the 2025-26 winter season, according to the National Weather Service...
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Melissa and Jason’s lasting legacy
Along a stone dust trail that follows the Erie Canal in Pittsford, near the calm water and shady trees, is a railroad bridge. Just underneath it sits a rock wall and a metal plaque. ● Both the marker sticking up from the ground and some writing on the...
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New York Times finds internal system in NY downplayed abuses and unevenly punished cases
Sammy Sussman pored over thousands of State Police disciplinary records of active and recently retired officers to report this article, which is part of a series by The New York Times’ Local Investigations Fellowship. An investigator with the New York...
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Student informants spur academic freedom debate
Texas A&M University told philosophy professor Martin Peterson in early January that he could not teach some of Greek philosopher Plato’s writings that touch on “race and gender ideology.” The university’s local chapter of the American Association of...
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HOMELESS CRISIS RISING
A 390-page report was released Feb. 9 by Rochester City Council President Miguel A. Meléndez Jr. detailing the region’s approach to homelessness and ideas on a better system to combat the issue. The report hopes to change the region’s approach to...
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ARRESTS STOKE FEAR IN IMMIGRANT HUB
Oto ne of the first to go was Milton Guamarrigra, a father and volunteer firefighter who had lived in Port Chester for more than two decades, raised three kids there and saved enough finally own a home. ● The American dream he thought he’d achieved...
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Trump actions worry free-speech advocates Analysis: Searches, lawsuits against journalists spur fears of autocracy
The FBI search of a Washington Post reporter’s home Jan. 14 was a rare and intimidating move by an administration focused on repressing criticism and dissent. In its story about the search at Hannah Natanson’s home, at which FBI agents said they were...
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POWER PROBLEMS
Over 400,000 households in New York had their gas or electric service shut off for failing to pay their bills last year, surpassing levels from the Great Recession, state records show. Year-end totals tallied by the state Public Service Commission show...
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A CUT ABOVE
After wrapping our roundup of the region’s must-visit dive bars late last year, USA TODAY Co.’s food and drink writers in the Northeast, including the Democrat and Chronicle’s Tracy Schuhmacher, sharpened their knives and dug into the best steakhouses...
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BAD PAVEMENT COSTS DRIVERS
Transportation research organization, TRIP, reports that Rochester drivers lose over $2,000 per year due to poor road conditions and a lack of safety features. Based in Washington, DC, TRIP is a private, nonprofit organization that analyzes and...
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U.S.-Russia nuclear treaty comes to end
WASHINGTON – A 15-year-old treaty that restricted how many nuclear weapons the United States and Russia can maintain has come to an end, as experts warn that no new agreement could portend a new arms race not seen since the Cold War. The New START...
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Note to readers
Due to severe winter weather, you may experience delivery changes of your printed newspaper. Delivery of some editions might be delayed until road conditions are deemed safe. Visit us online at democratandchronicle .com for the latest updates on the...
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‘Everyone in Minneapolis is feeling the pressure’
It took all but 10 minutes of wandering around a Minneapolis neighborhood before the Rev. Dan Brockway had his first run-in with immigration officials. ● Soon, the anecdotes he read about in the news became his reality. ● The pastor of Brockport First...
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1986 shuttle Challenger explosion stunned America
On Jan. 28, 1986, the world watched in horror as the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded above the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Florida, 73 seconds aboard. Forty years have passed, but those old enough will remember exactly where they...
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It takes more than a lot of snow for a storm to be called blizzard
Massive amounts of snow inundated the Lower Hudson Valley over the weekend into Monday, but was Winter Storm Fern a blizzard? Not quite. But that’s not because of snow amounts. The one missing criterion: Winds of 35 mph or more, sustained for...
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Dodgers face criticism for historic Tucker salary deal
Inside Lake effect snow warning issued. Bitter cold across U.S. New York Connect Team USA TODAY NETWORK Rochester and three other major New York cities set record daily snowfall totals Jan. 25 as a massive storm dumped more than a foot of snow in...
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PEAKER DEMAND
CHICAGO — In Chicago’s workingclass Pilsen neighborhood, a 1960s-era oil-fired power plant rises up from an industrial lot behind Dvorak Park, which in warmer weather is packed with children climbing on its colorful playground and zooming down...
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What happened to Sam?
Kayla Nordquist knew in her gut that something was wrong with her brother. The young trans man had flown out of state to New York to see a woman he met on TikTok and missed his flight home. ● She watched a lot of truecrime documentaries; she knew the...
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Heavy snow, subzero temps could grip NY
Overnight snowfall left the morning commute a little slippery on Jan. 22. A view of downtown Rochester from Monroe Avenue. As a massive winter storm takes shape, threatening heavy snow and subzero temperatures across New York, what can we expect? In...
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AARP: New York utilities spent nearly $32 million arguing for rate hikes and charged it to ratepayers
Private utilities in New York spent nearly $32 million arguing for rate increases before state regulators and stuck ratepayers with the tab, according to a new report by the AARP. The utilities recouped payouts to lawyers, consultants and expert...
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Monroe Co. sees sharp decline in flu cases
Monroe County has seen a decrease in influenza cases, according to the New York State Department of Health flu tracker. In the week ending Jan. 3, a total of 1,232 influenza cases were reported in the county. There was a 45% decrease that next week...
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Was ICE detainee’s death a homicide?
The in-custody death of a Cuban migrant who was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Rochester last year could be classified as a homicide, according to The Washington Post. ICE officials say the man died after a suicide...
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BILLS FIRE HEAD COACH
The Buffalo Bills have made a stunning decision the morning of Jan. 19. Sean McDermott has been fired as the team’s head coach. In a statement released by the team, owner Terry Pegula said: “Sean has done an admirable job of leading our football team...
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Ways to celebrate MLK Jr. throughout Monroe County
Several local events on Jan. 19, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, will celebrate and honor the life and legacy of the civil rights leader. MLK Jr. Day of Compassion at the Strong National Museum of Play: The Strong National Museum of Play will commemorate...
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Canandaigua, Chili earn Towns of Excellence gold honors
The towns of Canandaigua in Ontario County and Chili in Monroe County have been named New York State Towns of Excellence, earning gold designations from the New York Association of Towns and joining 11 other towns statewide to receive the recognition...
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100-YEAR-OLD PREDICTIONS ABOUT 2026
AKRON, OH – We’ve waited a century for this. Nearly 100 years ago, a group of futurists dared to imagine what life would be like in 2026. Some of their prognostications turned out to be completely wrong while others proved to be eerily true. Let’s...
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NY lawmakers push ICE curbs after fatal shooting
After a 37-year-old woman was shot and killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis on Jan. 7, some state legislators are calling for more protections against the agency in New York. In a news conference outside Albany’s...
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Furor continues over ICE shootings
Tensions remained high Jan. 9 as shootings involving immigration agents in Minneapolis and in Portland, Oregon, drew protesters to the streets and deepened fractures between federal and state officials. In Portland, a U.S. Border Patrol officer shot...
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How WNY police cooperate with ICE
The Cheektowaga Police Department heads the list of a half-dozen Buffalo-area law enforcement agencies that are cooperating with federal agencies to detain and deport migrants. As 2025 drew to a close, police in the Buffalo suburb have turned over at...
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Farewell to Highmark After 53 years, stadium hosts final cold, perfect Bills game
ORCHARD PARK — Just like it has for so many late-season games over the past five-plus decades, Highmark Stadium resembled an icebox the afternoon of Jan. 4. ● The remnants of a midweek snowstorm were mostly removed, but not all, as many sections of the...
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Fountains, first jobs and first dates
Eileen Moriarty of Penfield remembers The Marketplace mall in its heyday. She would take her young children to the shopping destination in Henrietta to get out of the house and get some exercise. One year at Christmastime as a special treat, she...
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U.S. CAPTURES VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT MADURO
The United States seized Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife in an overnight military operation on Jan. 3, President Donald Trump said, as explosions rocked Caracas and targets across the country. The United States “successfully carried out...
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Invisible KILLER
AKRON, OH – Lung cancer? ● “But I never smoked,” Melissa Derrig said after doctors finally figured out what was causing her headaches, vertigo and the strange noise she heard deep inside her throat last year. ● Melissa, a retired small-business owner,...
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Over 1M students homeless in U.S.
WASHINGTON — After T’Roya Jackson discovered the paint in her apartment gave her daughter lead poisoning, she and her children moved out. They couch-surfed for a while before moving into a homeless shelter over the summer. The hairstylist began...
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AI to review Medicare claims in pilot program
A new Medicare program that uses artificial intelligence to review medical claims is set to launch in six states. Critics worry it will lead to patients being denied necessary care and more red tape for providers. The controversial new six-year pilot...
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Savoring sounds before silence
Ella Coonen wears noise-canceling headphones so she doesn’t hear anything while musicians are warming up or people are setting up. “Then when I take them off, it’s like some big dramatic reveal, and it also just looks really cool.” MILWAUKEE — Ella...
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U.S. forces strike ISIS strongholds in Nigeria
President Donald Trump said on Dec. 25 that the U.S. military had attacked Islamic State targets in Nigeria, claiming the group had been targeting Christians. In a post on Truth Social, the president said he directed the military to launch a “powerful...
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BREAKING THROUGH THE NEWS
We’re here to share with you today the impact of the Democrat and Chronicle’s journalism on local lives. From exploring the strengths and weaknesses of the Regional Transit Service bus system to revisiting the unsolved mass shooting on Pennsylvania...
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THE PAINFUL MEMORIES REMAIN
Thirteen years have passed since a gunman set fire to his Webster home and shot four firefighters – two fatally – as they arrived to douse the flames on Christmas Eve. ● Michael Chiapperini, 43, and Tomasz Kaczowka, 19, were killed in the predawn hours...
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‘Help’s farther away’
In the 1960s, doctors believed heart muscle died instantly during a heart attack, like throwing a light switch, according to the American Heart Association. Dr. Eugene Braunwald’s research proposed a heart attack was more like a dimmer — the damage...
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‘FORMIDABLE CHALLENGE’
LONDON — The West’s push to build a homegrown magnets supply chain to reduce its reliance on China — led by massive U.S. backing for Nevada-based MP Materials —is running into a critical problem: the scarcity of so-called heavy rare earth...
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States take up conservation goals terminated by Trump
WASHINGTON — With a snappy title and a laudable goal, “30 by 30” was a landmark plan hatched to help save at least 30% of the planet’s land and oceans by 2030. Alongside this multinational push, the United States had its own trailblazing version of...
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Turning Point USA gains ground on campuses
Apair of students stood in the Indiana University Indianapolis student center asking a simple legal question: “Is ‘hate speech’ protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution?” Students slowed to read the white board, and many shuffled toward...
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Reflecting on the holidays and the memories they produce
Let me be the millionth person this month to state that the December holidays are a time of reflection. A calendar year is ending. Daylight in the Northern Hemisphere is at its nadir. Christmas and Hanukkah are spiritual and connecting times for...
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Brown shooting suspect found dead
PROVIDENCE, RI – Though the suspect connected to the deadly Brown University attack and the fatal shooting of an MIT professor was found dead in New Hampshire, the questions and fallout have only begun. Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez...
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Order could weaken rights of shareholders
A new White House order aiming to rein in proxy advisory firms marks a major step in a broader Republican effort to weaken the role of investors and put more power in the hands of CEOs, according to corporate governance analysts and...
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COURTHOUSE CHILDCARE Monroe County center reopens after nearly 2 years
One room on the third floor of the Monroe County Hall of Justice stands apart from the rest. ● It’s tucked away in a corner, far from the monotonous song of a courthouse: The hushed whispers between attorneys and clients, the creak of a courtroom door...
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Search resumes for gunman in Brown University attack
Authorities Dec. 15 resumed their search for the gunman in the deadly attack at Brown University that killed two students and wounded nine others after a person of interest was released. At a news conference late Dec. 14, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley...
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WHEN ‘YOU CAN’T CALL FOR HELP’
Projection of a barred prison window on the floor with a hand in front of the bars Ashley Dolcy heard panic in her husband’s voice. On most evenings, they would talk after she returned home from her job as an assistant principal at a school in the...
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This season, Bills fans become story for one intrepid reporter
Democrat and Chronicle reporter Emily Barnes has had an unusual assignment the past many months. She gets to attend every home Buffalo Bills game, not to write about the action on the field but about the experiences of the people in the stands during...
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Holiday
Two Rochester area holiday attractions have been named among the best in the nation in the 2025 USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. ● The Readers’ Choice Awards highlight the very best in travel, food and drink and lifestyle. Every week, USA...
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U.S. farmers warn of broken system
A few years ago, Wisconsin soybean farmer Doug Rebout was getting $14.50 a bushel for his crop. Now, amid a trade dispute with China and rising production costs driven by inflation, that price has plummeted to around $9.30. Rebout’s farm, which grows...
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Know the symptoms, what to do for frostbite and hypothermia
With the promise of a blast of Arctic air in early December, thanks to a polar vortex, it’s important to know the symptoms of cold weather-related emergencies such as frostbite and hypothermia. Read on to learn the symptoms, as well as what to do...
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LIBERTY POLE LIGHTS UP SPIRITS
Jonas Valiukas of Greece and Danielle Harris of Rochester sang a little and swayed a bit and smiled a lot to “Winter Wonderland” played by the Prime Time Brass band as a crowd awaited the lighting of the Liberty Pole for the holiday season Dec. 6. ●...
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