Ear Shot
WXXI News
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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.
Available episodes
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Feb 3, 2023
Rochester Museum & Science Center is recruiting ambassadors for total eclipse outreach, and more
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.
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Jan 20, 2023
Local organizations are helping people with disabilities enter the workforce
Local organizations are helping people with disabilities enter the workforce by connecting them to potential employers.
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Jan 13, 2023
Meet the songwriter-heavy local alt-country group that's putting out bangers
Catchy, compelling songwriting is a precious resource, and one Rochester band is hoarding songwriters like the well’s about to go dry.
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Jan 6, 2023
Barack and Michelle Obama lend their names to a new Teen Empowerment center in Rochester
A center for teens in Rochester is to be named after two of the most prominent community organizers.
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Dec 16, 2022
A run-in with RSV left this toddler’s mom grateful – and scared – for her child
RSV cases have surged this season, including here in Rochester, and some parents are experiencing the worst of it firsthand.
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Dec 9, 2022
College students need more mental health resources, speakers stress at state hearing
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.
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Dec 2, 2022
Building up Beechwood
Developers have begun construction on an ambitious, multi-year plan to build up a challenged Rochester neighborhood.
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Nov 18, 2022
Doctors in URMC class learn how to better connect with patients who have disabilities
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.
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Nov 11, 2022
Rochester librarians are finding rare treasures in their downtown collection
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.
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Nov 4, 2022
As more kids’ books come under fire, access to information at risk
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.
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Oct 28, 2022
Rochester dads get help through local fatherhood program that offers support, community
In this podcast, Racquel Stephen reports on a fatherhood program that offers community and support for dads in Rochester.
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Oct 21, 2022
Childhood dreams come to life in Brighton's spookiest Halloween House
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.
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Oct 14, 2022
Greater Rochester is moving toward recreation that is inclusive to all, but some city residents are getting left behind
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.
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Oct 7, 2022
Meet the married couple covering high school games all around Rochester
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.
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Sep 30, 2022
With a new name, this Indigenous team is honoring the sacred origin of lacrosse
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.
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Sep 23, 2022
A new neighborhood in Rochester emerges from the rubble of the Inner Loop
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."
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Sep 16, 2022
To help people with sickle cell disease, blood banks are looking for more African American donors
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.
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Sep 2, 2022
A Garth Fagan documentary airs this September. Here's one story from his legendary dance company
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.
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Aug 26, 2022
Kids are going back to school. But some of their teachers aren't returning - why not?
Kids across Monroe County are gearing up for the first day of school, but there will be less teachers in the building. And a growing movement to cancel late fees at the library grows momentum, but not everyone is on board.
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Aug 19, 2022
People who want electric cars are hitting roadblocks in Monroe County
Electric vehicles are in high demand, but support from local governments is lagging.
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Aug 12, 2022
StoryCorps: Rochesterians share 3 stories that show the complexity of our community
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.
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Aug 5, 2022
Snow geese symbolizing strength, discipline memorialize 3 guardsmen who died in '21 helicopter crash
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.
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Jul 29, 2022
These Rochester women are Ultimate Frisbee world champions. They say the game means everything
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.
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Jul 22, 2022
Graffiti on the rise as officials work to erase, embrace its painted landscape
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.
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Jul 15, 2022
These barbers and hairstylists are helping their clients access valuable health care resources
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.
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Jul 8, 2022
The secret Devil's Cove Park: A hellish name, a heavenly place
We take a trip out to the secret, secluded Devil's Cove Park.
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Jul 1, 2022
Rochester kids are living in the middle of serious violence. One afterschool program tries to help
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.
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Jun 24, 2022
Pummeled by the economy and COVID, farmers at the Rochester Public Market say they're holding on
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.
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Jun 17, 2022
Nail salon workers face unhealthy conditions, wage theft and unstable hours. Some are speaking up
Workers at many nail salons face some serious health and financial risks.
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Jun 10, 2022
Far from home, young Afghan refugees find community in skateboarding
A new program in Rochester seeks to empower and enrich recent refugees through skating.
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May 27, 2022
The formula shortage has Rochester parents worried about how they'll feed their children
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.
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May 20, 2022
Indian boarding schools tried to eradicate their language. Now, the Seneca are bringing it back
A group of Seneca Nation people are working to reclaim a language that was almost completely lost to them.
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May 13, 2022
Success coaches help workers with problems outside the workplace. That helps their employers, too
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.
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May 6, 2022
Who's planting all those daffodils at Mount Hope Cemetery?
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.
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Apr 29, 2022
Stop cutting your lawn
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.
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Apr 15, 2022
Pay transparency: How ending the secrecy could erase inequities and change the workplace
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.
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Apr 8, 2022
Should there be an age limit on teaching LGBTQ acceptance? Some Pittsford parents seem to think so
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?
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Apr 1, 2022
Nuclear warfare is back in the headlines. We revisit Rochester's forgotten fallout shelters
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.
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Mar 25, 2022
How to heat your home without killing the planet
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.
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Mar 18, 2022
The giant spiders aren’t going to hurt you
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.
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Mar 11, 2022
A shortage of home aides is keeping this man from living in his own house
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.
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Mar 4, 2022
To get even more out of exercise, make it fun
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.
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Feb 25, 2022
When does 'healthy eating' become an eating disorder?
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.
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Feb 18, 2022
As moratoriums end, this program aims to help homeowners avoid foreclosure
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.
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Feb 11, 2022
It’s time to prioritize play
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.
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Feb 4, 2022
Easing Parkinson's symptoms with rock and roll
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.
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Jan 27, 2022
Veterinary workers fight to unionize -- and win
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.
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Jan 21, 2022
The influence of Rochester's deaf population
A small population of Rochesterians has a big influence. Plus: Sports betting companies have taken over social media, making life harder for gambling addicts.
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Jan 14, 2022
Bunny owners beware: fatal virus detected in New York State
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.
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Jan 7, 2022
Unlocking Parkinson's, one selfie at a time
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.
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Dec 24, 2021
Assassins, flames, and hats: the history behind Rochester’s Liberty Pole
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.
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Dec 17, 2021
Children are struggling as caregivers at home. How can we help?
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?
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Dec 10, 2021
What George Bailey can teach us in 2021
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.
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Dec 3, 2021
These life-saving skills can help in a pet emergency
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.
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Nov 24, 2021
COVID took this woman's parents, now she's honoring them
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.
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Nov 19, 2021
Can we help teens by teaching them financial literacy?
What if, alongside algebra and biology, high school students were taught how to manage debt, and save for retirement?
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Nov 12, 2021
Who would want to become a nurse right now?
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.
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Nov 5, 2021
Meet Malik Evans: Rochester's next mayor
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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Nov 3, 2021
Ear Shot: A weekly news podcast from WXXI
If you get your news from podcasts, then make sure you subscribe to Ear Shot, the new podcast from WXXI News.
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Oct 29, 2021
Homeless want homes, not shelters
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.
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Oct 22, 2021
How do we protect Black moms from Monroe County's high mortality rate?
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.
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Oct 15, 2021
Black, armed, and aware
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.
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Oct 8, 2021
Not enough vets is bad news for pets
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.
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Oct 1, 2021
Music program sends a message: 'It's never too late'
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.
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Sep 24, 2021
One person's trash is someone else's 'riches'
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.
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Sep 17, 2021
Why aren't we curing sickle cell anemia?
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.
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Sep 10, 2021
How to teach 9/11 to a new generation
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.
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Sep 3, 2021
Buy a T-shirt, get the weed for free
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.
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Aug 27, 2021
These Afghans helped us. What's keeping us from helping them?
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.
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Aug 13, 2021
Women are putting off life-saving medical screenings during pandemic
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?
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Aug 6, 2021
Let's talk about Cuomo
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.
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Jul 30, 2021
How 2020 inspired one woman to embark on a nomadic life
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.
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Jul 23, 2021
Out Alliance's absence creates opportunities for Black and brown LGBTQ organizations
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.
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Jul 16, 2021
Anti-loitering sound plagues neighbors on Pleasant Street
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.
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Jul 9, 2021
In sickness and in health: Spousal caregivers face isolation
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.
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Jul 2, 2021
The future of the Inner Loop
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.
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Jun 25, 2021
Post-pandemic life is fueling your dog's anxiety
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.
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Jun 18, 2021
'Please don't ignore us': Rochester's Black deaf community faces unique barriers to health care
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.
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Jun 11, 2021
Survivors of Indigenous Boarding Schools want justice
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.
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