HENRIETTA, N.Y. (WROC) — College commencements are underway and the Class of 2024 at RIT is being recognized for strengths beyond academic success. This weekend, RIT will graduate 4,500 students and the theme this year is resilience. University officials say it's a nod to the class beginning college at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and seeing the process through. "It's surreal honestly. I didn't expect to be here, but here we are. I think a lot of people are really relieved and happy to be sharing this moment with everyone," said Curran Dillis, an RIT graduate. As thousands of new grads ..read more

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Dozens of nurses were celebrated with patient care service awards at Rochester General Hospital on Friday. To bring Nursing Week to a close, hospital staff and leaders got together to recognize the hard work of recipients working as LPNs, RNs, social workers, educators, and administrative support. Tammy Snyder President and COO at RGH said, "They are so essential, they are the backbone of RGH. They are the largest component of our labor force and so without them we would not be able to operate as a hospital. We're so thankful to have each of our RGH nurses and really p ..read more

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The Monroe County Sheriff's Office announced the results of its second Retail Theft Detail of 2024 Friday. According to the MCSO, 38 people were arrested over the course of the operation, which ran from May 2 through May 7. Six of those people were jailed, while 32 were issued appearance tickets. Deputies also served 20 warrants. Investigators said seven retail locations within three Monroe County jurisdictions were involved in the operation. Deputies recovered $4,133.26 worth of stolen goods. The first Retail Theft Detail of the year resulted in 34 arrests ..read more

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — 100 Constellation Energy employees and executives gathered to volunteer with Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity (GRHFH) for a "Framing Frenzy" on Friday. This Framing Frenzy took place in the Baytowne Plaza parking lot which is a DiMarco Group property in Penfield. Volunteers and GRHFH staff built the frames for two houses in preparation for their permanent locations which will be on Garson Ave and Melville Street in Rochester’s Beechwood neighborhood. The GRHFH CEO, Matthew Flanigan said, "This event marks a significant step forward in the construction of two futu ..read more

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Rochester city leaders presented this year's 2024-25 fiscal budget to city council Friday. In his presentation, Mayor Malik Evans says there are no reductions to programs or services included in the budget. The Rochester Neighborhood Beautification Program and expansions to the public market are just some of the projects slated to receive funding in this draft of the budget. Evans says prioritizing these projects is about equality. "We don't want to lose this momentum, we want to accelerate," he said. "That's what this prosperity budget does. But we also want to make s ..read more

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced a new bill for police child care funding at Irondequoit Town Hall on Friday. The new bipartisan bill, the Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act, would provide $24 million in federal funding for the next 5 fiscal years under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act. With this additional funding, people in the police force will have better opportunities for child care for their families. Senator Gillibrand said, "It provides 24 million dollars for each of the next each of the next 5 years to help police departments provid ..read more

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The University of Rochester and the University of Albany announced their partnership on a new RNA research center Friday. The New York State Center of Excellence in RNA Research and Therapeutics (CERRT) received its funding from the NY Assembly's budget with the help of Assemblymember Bronson. This research seeks to treat diseases such as muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, fragile X syndrome, and many other inherited disorders. Researchers say they hope to prevent disease through the use of RNA-based vaccines as well. Speaking about the CERRT, Assemblymember Bronson ..read more

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — A former mail carrier in Rochester who was found guilty of stealing items from people's mail has been sentenced. 40-year-old Marlene Cruz will be serving two years of probation. She was convicted of theft of mail matter by officer or employee. In January 2022, the US Postal Service received complaints that their mail was tampered with in late 2021. It was revealed Cruz worked the routes of those who sent in the complaints. An investigation revealed Cruz opened the mail and stole ticket stubs, documents, money, lottery tickets, and gift cards. A test was conducted where ..read more

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — A man pleaded guilty to threatening to shoot Monroe County leaders and law enforcement, including Rochester Mayor Malik Evans. Adam Schadt admitted in court he was behind a threat aimed at police and leaders in Monroe County and the City of Rochester. On August 23, 2022, Schadt sent two emails to Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter and Rochester Police Chief David Smith. Attached to the emails was a picture of a note threatening to shoot them that week. Later in January 2023, Schadt sent emails to Sheriff Baxter and Chief Smith, along with Mayor Malik Evans and Monroe Co ..read more

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — A Canandaigua woman has been arrested after a defrauding investigation, according to New York State Police. According to NYSP, on May 9, troopers arrested 42-year-old Monique Barrette-Lewis after she was accused of spending $75,000 over a six month period on her employer's business credit cards. It was alleged those payments was not connected to any legitimate business purpose and was for her own benefit. Troopers said Barrette-Lewis was charged with grand larceny in the second degree, grand larceny in the third degree, and scheme to defraud in the first degree ..read more