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Rochester Democrat and ChronicleRochester Democrat and Chronicle
Overdose deaths in Monroe County fall as cocaine remains widespread

Overdose deaths in Monroe County fall as cocaine remains widespread

Monroe County recorded 243 overdose deaths in 2025, down 17% from a year earlier, though cocaine remained involved in most fatalities.
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Senator Tuberville Introduces 'Student Visa Integrity Act' to Address Student Visa Reporting Noncompliance

Senator Tuberville Introduces 'Student Visa Integrity Act' to Address Student Visa Reporting Noncompliance

Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) has introduced the 'Student Visa Integrity Act,' S. 2555, aimed at rectifying perceived unfairness and noncompliance in the student visa system. This proposed legislation seeks to impose monetary penalties on schools that fail to report required information, suspend their authority to issue I-20 forms until compliance is met, and ultimately terminate approval if noncompliance persists for over 180 days. The bill addresses a long-standing issue where schools are mandated to report foreign student information to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) via the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Despite these reporting requirements, there has been a lack of effective enforcement mechanisms, leading to situations where schools might not face immediate consequences for noncompliance. A companion bill, H.R.7063, was introduced in the House by Representative Brandon Gill (R-Texas), but both bills have remained in committee.
Rochester Democrat and ChronicleRochester Democrat and Chronicle
Forget a bunker. These residents are redefining what 'prepping' means

Forget a bunker. These residents are redefining what 'prepping' means

Ready Rochester's upcoming workshop focuses on community preparedness, not doomsday scenarios, organizers say.
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Congresswoman Jayapal Condemns DHS Detention Conditions as 'Torture' Following Inspector General Report

Congresswoman Jayapal Condemns DHS Detention Conditions as 'Torture' Following Inspector General Report

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) has strongly criticized the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following a new report from the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) detailing inhumane conditions at the now-shuttered Florida Soft-Sided Facility (FSSF), also known as 'Alligator Alcatraz.' The OIG report confirmed that detainees were confined in small metal enclosures, some as small as 18 square feet, for periods ranging from minutes to nearly two hours. These detainees were subjected to high temperatures and mosquito swarms while shackled. The report also found that the facility failed to meet standards for living space, medical care, food service, personal hygiene, and recreation, with detainees having significantly less space than the DHS benchmark and limited access to clean water and showers. Jayapal stated on social media that these conditions were 'nothing short of torture' and called for DHS to be dismantled and held accountable.
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Lifelong Democrat Expresses Shame Over Party's Immigration Stance After Son's Death

Lifelong Democrat Expresses Shame Over Party's Immigration Stance After Son's Death

Elizabeth Carter, a self-identified lifelong Democrat, testified before Congress, expressing her shame regarding the Democratic Party's approach to immigration enforcement. Her testimony followed the tragic death of her son, William Carter, and daughter-in-law, Jennifer Lower, in a car crash involving an illegal immigrant semitruck driver. During questioning by Rep. Brad Knott, R-N.C., Carter criticized the party's resistance to stricter immigration enforcement, stating, "We allowed 10 million people in under Biden. How is there a different suggestion as to how to process them, other than the same way they came into the country en masse, leaving?" She emphasized her disappointment, saying, "I have to say, as a lifelong Democrat, I am ashamed of what my party is doing." Rep. Knott responded by questioning the party's commitment to enforcing immigration laws and protecting American families, suggesting that mass deportations might be a necessary measure if it protects even one family from suffering.
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U.S. District Court Blocks DHS Rule Ending Duration of Status Policy for International Students Nationwide

U.S. District Court Blocks DHS Rule Ending Duration of Status Policy for International Students Nationwide

U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV has granted nationwide preliminary relief, blocking a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) final rule that sought to end the Duration of Status (D/S) policy for international students, exchange visitors, and representatives of foreign media. This ruling prevents DHS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from implementing the rule while the lawsuit continues. Consequently, the long-standing Duration of Status framework will remain in effect across the United States. The lawsuit was filed by several organizations, including NAFSA: Association of International Educators, the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, the American Federation Of Teachers (AFT), and the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW). These groups argued that the rule would cause significant harm to international students, higher education institutions, and the U.S. economy.
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DHS Seeks Mission Support Specialist for Office of Civil Rights Compliance

DHS Seeks Mission Support Specialist for Office of Civil Rights Compliance

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is actively recruiting for a Mission Support Specialist position within its U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Office of Civil Rights Compliance, located in Washington, D.C. This role is a non-bargaining unit position. The DHS encourages applications from individuals with disabilities, including those with intellectual, severe physical, or psychiatric disabilities, as well as Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more. The job posting emphasizes that veterans, Peace Corps, and VISTA volunteers possess unique talents and experiences valuable to the DHS mission and may be eligible for non-competitive appointment. The application process requires completing an occupational questionnaire and submitting all necessary documentation by the deadline of September 21, 2026.
Rochester Democrat and ChronicleRochester Democrat and Chronicle
Section V football Super 10 rankings: Who made poll for Week 3?

Section V football Super 10 rankings: Who made poll for Week 3?

Here's our Week 3 Section V football Super 10 rankings for the 2026 season.
Rochester Democrat and ChronicleRochester Democrat and Chronicle
How Edinburgh Fringe inspired Rochester's biggest arts festival | Exclusive

How Edinburgh Fringe inspired Rochester's biggest arts festival | Exclusive

In Edinburgh, one finds a mass of people hustling to venues or halting for the bevy of free performances, from magicians to fire-eaters.
Rochester Democrat and ChronicleRochester Democrat and Chronicle
Five girls soccer matchups we're looking forward to this fall

Five girls soccer matchups we're looking forward to this fall

Section final rematches and Monroe County rivals highlight top games to watch.
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Judge Rules Trump Administration Order to Fire FEMA Staffers Illegal

Judge Rules Trump Administration Order to Fire FEMA Staffers Illegal

A federal judge has ruled that a Trump administration order to significantly reduce staffing at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was illegal. U.S. District Judge Susan Illston in Northern California stated that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) acted 'arbitrarily and capriciously' when it revoked FEMA's authority to renew contracts for its on-call disaster response teams, known as CORE. These teams constitute approximately 40% of FEMA's workforce and are crucial for initial disaster response and aid distribution. Traditionally, CORE workers had contracts renewed for two to four years, but in 2025, DHS limited renewals to 180 days as part of a broader effort to downsize the federal government. In January, DHS instructed FEMA to allow some of these contracts to lapse, aiming to force employees out. The judge also criticized the use of the secure messaging app Signal by former acting FEMA head Karen Evans and former DHS deputy chief of staff Joseph Guy, noting that messages relevant to t...
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Oregon Cities and Counties Suspend Flock Camera Contracts Amid Privacy Concerns

Oregon Cities and Counties Suspend Flock Camera Contracts Amid Privacy Concerns

At least six cities and two counties in Oregon have either canceled or suspended their contracts with Flock, a company providing AI-powered license plate reader cameras, due to growing concerns over privacy and data security. This widespread distrust of Flock cameras has intensified over the past year across both Republican and Democratic areas of the state. Critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the sheriff of Josephine County, argue that these cameras constitute an invasion of privacy by tracking motorists even when no crime is suspected. State lawmakers from both parties have also pledged to introduce legislation aimed at banning these AI-powered camera networks, which currently capture license plate numbers at over 500 locations in Oregon.