Democrats in Monroe County Legislature along with several environmental activists are urging the county to pass legislation to ban hydraulic fracturing and related activities.

Democrats are encouraged that one of their colleagues across the aisle, Legislator Joseph Carbone, (R) Irondequoit, submitted a memorializing resolution supporting a statewide ban on fracking.

Legislator Justin Wilcox, of Brighton, says Carbone’s action could suggest there's support from their Republican counterparts to have enough votes in  imposing a fracking moratorium in the county.

Revitalizing Brockport is the aim of the village’s mayor-elect.

“Such as promoting the canal,” says Margay Blackman, the Village Trustee, who ousted incumbent Connie Castañeda on Tuesday in a re-election bid.

Blackmans says the village is applying for grant funding to make canal front enhancements and improvements to Main Street.

Other priorities include: tackling Brockport's high tax rate, and encouraging homeownership to increase the village’s tax base and quality of life.

New York State and Kodak have announced an agreement they believe will enhance economic development at Eastman Business Park.

The agreement includes having Kodak set aside $49 million in a trust fund with the state, to help deal with any environmental issues that might crop up.

Deals have been reached between Governor Cuomo and legislative leaders on siting new casinos and creating tax free zones at college campuses. But a bill on abortion rights was struggling, and reform measures appear dead for the session.

The agreement on casinos would allow four resort style gambling centers; one in the Capital Region, one in the Southern Tier, and possibly two in the Catskills, if voters approve the change to the state’s constitution in the fall.     

This week on Need to Know Rochester we look into a new report that finds New York State is one of nine states leading the nation in reducing youth incarceration. But do the findings reflect current juvenile justice trends in Monroe County?

Also on the show, singer Robin McKelle stops by the studio just before her performance at the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival. We'll talk with the Rochester-native about her latest album.

Also - a look at a unique beer pairing dinner for Rochester's Real Beer Week and our finale of sculptor Albert Paley's installation in New York City.

Tune in this Friday at 8:30 p.m. and Sunday at 12:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV Channel 21 and Cable 11 or 1011.

Hundreds of people attended a ceremony Wednesday as a seven foot statue of abolitionist Frederick Douglass was unveiled at Emancipation Hall of the United State Capitol Visitors Center.
A number of House and Senate leaders attended and spoke at the ceremony.

U-S Senator Chuck Schumer had introduced legislation directing the Joint Committee on the Libray to accept the statue.
After many delays, the sculpture was delivered.

Researchers at the University of Rochester have identified the chemical that leads to cancer resistance in laboratory animals: naked mole rats.

The discovery could eventually lead to new cancer treatments, and even the ability for cancer resistance in humans according to the authors.

Women’s groups say they have not given up on abortion rights bill passing in the final days of the session, now that Governor Cuomo has introduced the Women’s Equality Act as 10 separate bills.

Tracey Brooks, with Family Planning Advocates, says  women’s groups are asking Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos to bring the abortion rights measure to the floor as a stand alone bill. Brooks says Skelos, pledged two years ago to allow what’s known as a vote of conscience on social issues where Senators are divided.   

 R Community Bikes donates an average of 2,700 bicycles per year to some of Rochester's most needy children and adults.

The organization also repairs around 3,000 donated bikes each year.  Director Dan Lill says they're more than a form of exercise for many. "The people who get the bikes, we hope it's an opportunity for them to get from school to work or from school to home to make their lives a little easier."

The WXXI news staff checks newspapers and websites to help keep tabs on what's happening in communities across New York state.