Ear Shot

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.

Local organizations are helping people with disabilities enter the workforce by connecting them to potential employers.

Catchy, compelling songwriting is a precious resource, and one Rochester band is hoarding songwriters like the well’s about to go dry.

A center for teens in Rochester is to be named after two of the most prominent community organizers.

RSV cases have surged this season, including here in Rochester, and some parents are experiencing the worst of it firsthand.

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.

Developers have begun construction on an ambitious, multi-year plan to build up a challenged Rochester neighborhood.

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.

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.

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.

In this podcast, Racquel Stephen reports on a fatherhood program that offers community and support for dads in Rochester.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

Electric vehicles are in high demand, but support from local governments is lagging.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

We take a trip out to the secret, secluded Devil's Cove Park.

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.

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.

Workers at many nail salons face some serious health and financial risks.

A new program in Rochester seeks to empower and enrich recent refugees through skating.

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.

A group of Seneca Nation people are working to reclaim a language that was almost completely lost to them.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A small population of Rochesterians has a big influence. Plus: Sports betting companies have taken over social media, making life harder for gambling addicts.

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.

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.