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3 GOP Senators Oppose Graham-Cassidy, Effectively Blocking Health Care Bill

The latest Republican push to repeal key parts of the Affordable Care Act appears to have met the fate of all previous Senate repeal efforts this year — it doesn't have the votes needed to pass the chamber. Maine Sen. Susan Collins announced Monday that she will oppose the bill, authored by South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy. Collins' decision means three Republicans have now publicly said they are against the bill — and that is one more than the GOP could...

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Office of NY Gov. Cuomo

NY governor to Trump: More disaster help, less football talk

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Hundreds of local children will be recruited for landmark brain development study

Hidden Brain comes to AM 1370 October 7

The popular podcast is now a weekly program

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NY lawmakers to hold hearing on Lake Ontario flooding

By • 2 hours ago
Veronica Volk / WXXI News/Great Lakes Today

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP & WXXI News) — New York State lawmakers are planning to hold a hearing on recent flooding along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.

The NYS Senate announced the hearing on Monday. It will be held Oct. 10 in the community of Mexico in Oswego County.

The spring and summer floods damaged homes and businesses, eroded shoreline and hurt the area's tourism economy at a critical time.

Kitty Karle won't actively campaign for Ontario County District Attorney

By • 6 hours ago
www.kittyforda.com

Kitty Karle says she will no longer actively campaign for the office of Ontario County District Attorney.

Karle lost a Republican Primary earlier this month to Jim Ritts, who is currently the Assistant D-A in Ontario County.  Both were running to replace longtime D-A Mike Tantillo, who is not seeking re-election.

In a post on her Facebook page, Karle said that “the voters spoke” and the Republican Party chose its candidate and she must respect that choice.

'Millions' Fewer Would Have Coverage Under GOP Health Bill, Says CBO Analysis

By • 14 hours ago

The proposal the Senate is considering that would repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act would result in millions losing health insurance and a $133 billion reduction in the deficit by 2026, according to the Congressional Budget Office's report on the Graham-Cassidy legislation.

3 GOP Senators Oppose Graham-Cassidy, Effectively Blocking Health Care Bill

By • 14 hours ago

The latest Republican push to repeal key parts of the Affordable Care Act appears to have met the fate of all previous Senate repeal efforts this year — it doesn't have the votes needed to pass the chamber.

Maine Sen. Susan Collins announced Monday that she will oppose the bill, authored by South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy. Collins' decision means three Republicans have now publicly said they are against the bill — and that is one more than the GOP could afford to lose.

Connections: Sonia Manzano discusses playing "Maria" on Sesame Street

By • 15 hours ago

For 44 years, you could find actress Sonia Manzano on Sesame Street playing the iconic character, "Maria." While loyal Sesame Street viewers knew her as a cheerful and supportive friend to Big Bird, Elmo, and Oscar, Manzano's role on the show was more than meets the eye: she was the first Latina woman many viewers ever saw on television, and she won 15 Emmys for writing scripts that explored a number of issues, including multiculturalism.

Manzano is the keynote speaker for the YWCA of Rochester's Empowering Women Luncheon on Wednesday, but first, she joins us on Connections. We talk to her about her journey to Sesame Street, how her tumultuous childhood influenced her career, and her thoughts about diverse casting on screen. Our guests:

  • Sonia Manzano, actress and author
  • Jean Carroll, president and CEO of the YWCA of Rochester and Monroe County

A number of Geneseo H.S. varsity football players dismissed

By • 15 hours ago

The varsity football season for Geneseo High School is over.

A statement on the school district’s website says the remainder of the season will be forfeited after a number of players were dismissed from the football team.

The statement says the dismissals stem from serious violations of the district’s code of conduct and athletic eligibility standards.

Connections: Discussing ROC the Future's "State of Our Children" reports

By • 15 hours ago

ROC the Future is gearing up to release its 2017 State of Our Children report. The document tracks how Rochester's children are faring "from cradle to career." The 2016 report highlighted progress in third grade reading levels and a reduction in absenteeism, while demonstrating the need for improvement in students' math proficiency and parental involvement.

So how did we do this year? We review the 2016 report and preview this year's findings, which are set to be released next month. In studio:

  • Ajamu Kitwana, executive director of ESL Charitable Foundation and chair of ROC the Future
  • Erika Rosenberg, principal at the Center for Governmental Research
  • Jackie Campbell, director of ROC the Future

NY governor to Trump: More disaster help, less football talk

By • 15 hours ago
Office of NY Gov. Cuomo

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says President Donald Trump should focus more on hurricane recovery and less on football players.

The Democrat told business leaders Monday that the Republican president's criticism of NFL players who protest during the national anthem is divisive. He said Trump should pay more attention to helping residents in Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands still reeling from destructive hurricanes.

New study looks at children's exposure to gun violence

By • 17 hours ago
shutterstock.com/AndriiOleksiienko

Are children who see movie characters use guns more likely to use them? One study from Ohio State University says it seems to increase the chances.

The study showed groups of kids, ages 8 to 12, different versions of the same movie. One had the gun scenes kept in, and one edited the gun scenes out. The children were then sent to a room to play where a real, unloaded gun was hidden amongst toys.

Business Report: No more Toys“R”Us kids?

By • 19 hours ago

In this edition of the WXXI Business Report, Randy Gorbman talks with an RIT Marketing expert on what is behind the recent Toys"R"Us chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, and what the future may be for that chain.

Also, there's news about the Daniele Family refurbishing a hotel in Brighton, and an iconic Rochester-grown auto service business is celebrating a milestone birthday.

The WXXI Business report looks at business and economic issues facing the Rochester area including Western New York and the Finger Lakes.

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White House Reiterates Email Policy After News Of Officials Using Private Accounts

By • 41 minutes ago

News that at least six current or former senior members of the Trump administration have used private email accounts as they conduct official business has prompted the White House to clarify its policy.

"All White House personnel have been instructed to use official email to conduct all government related work," Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said. "They are further instructed that if they receive work-related communication on personal accounts, they should be forwarded to official email accounts."

Target Raises Its Base Pay, Tries To One-Up Its Competition

By Doreen McCallister • 2 hours ago

It's an understatement to say the holiday shopping season is crucial for retailers. The holiday shopping season is very, very, very (I could go on but you get the point) important for retailers.

"For some retailers, the holiday season can represent as much as 30 percent of annual sales," the National Retail Federation says. "Overall last year holiday sales represented nearly 20 percent of total retail industry sales."

Learning 2016's Lessons, Virginia Prepares Election Cyberdefenses

By • 2 hours ago

This fall's statewide elections in Virginia and New Jersey are the first big test of security measures taken in response to last year's attempts by Russia to meddle with the nation's voting system.

Virginia was among 21 states whose systems were targeted by Russian hackers last year for possible cyberattacks. While officials say the hackers scanned the state's public website and online voter registration system for vulnerabilities and there's no sign they gained access, state authorities have been shoring up the security of their election systems.

Trump's Brand Is On The Line In Alabama Senate Race

By • 3 hours ago

President Trump's brand faces a major test on Tuesday in the Alabama Republican Senate primary runoff.

His preferred candidate is Luther Strange, the incumbent senator who has consistently trailed in the polls to firebrand conservative Roy Moore, a former state Supreme Court justice.

Trump was just in Alabama stumping for Strange on Friday, where he landed himself in controversy, calling for the firing of NFL players who don't stand for the national anthem.

More news from NPR

From the Inclusion Desk

Connections: The impact of New York State's special education crisis

By & • Sep 18, 2017

Parents of hundreds of children with special needs in New York State say their kids are not receiving the services they need. A recent report in the Democrat & Chronicle stated that in the 2016-2017 school year "nearly 400 3- and 4-year-olds in Monroe County were not evaluated for developmental delays within 60 days of their referral as required by law, according to local school district records.” The delay in referrals puts children at a developmental disadvantage, and at risk for needing costlier services in the future.

Local providers say the state’s reimbursement process is to blame: providers receive tardy and inadequate funding. Democrat & Chronicle reporter Justin Murphy explored this issue. He joins us in studio, and we’ll hear from local parents about the challenges they face. Our guests:

  • Justin Murphy, education reporter at the Democrat & Chronicle
  • Sharon Peck, parent
  • Pat Graff, director of special education at Rochester Childfirst Network
  • Cathy Rasmussen, director of York Wellness and Rehabilitation Institute, and associate dean of compliance and clinical affairs at the School of Health and Human Services at Nazareth College
  • Robin Hooper, early education director for the Rochester City School District

This conversation is part of WXXI’s Inclusion Desk, spotlighting issues related to disabilities. The WXXI Inclusion Desk is part of Move to Include, a partnership to encourage thoughtful discussion about issues of inclusion and the differently-abled.

LISTEN: Temple Grandin, 2017 Women's Hall of Fame inductee

By • Sep 6, 2017
Rosalie Winard

A woman who helped shine the light on the unique abilities of an autistic mind will be inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls next week.

Temple Grandin, an author, speaker, and champion of farm animal welfare said the honor means a lot to her.

"Because when I first started in the seventies,” she said, “being a woman in a man's industry - the cattle industry - that was hard and I had to prove that I could do it. I was really motivated to make sure that my stuff was really good and that I wasn't stupid." 

WATCH: Rochester Accessible Adventures

By • Sep 4, 2017

When a member of your family is in a wheelchair you may not think taking off on a kayaking adventure together on the Erie Canal is possible. However, it is. On this Need to Know segment we join in on the experience with an area mother and son sharing this special moment together for the first time through Rochester Accessible Adventures. We also learn about the work being done by RAA in an effort to revolutionize inclusion when it comes to eliminating barriers to active lifestyles for individuals with disabilities and their families. 

WATCH: Direct support professionals fight for living wage

By • Sep 3, 2017

A living wage. That’s what a coalition of advocates and community agencies that support individuals with disabilities have been calling for in our state. The focus of that fight - the more than 120,000 New Yorkers who work with and care for individuals with disabilities. They’re called Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and according to the New York State Chapter of the Arc they’re in chronic short supply While the governor allocated $55 million in the budget this year to support a wage increase for these professionals working with nonprofits - is that enough to recruit, train and sustain employees? We examine the current state of DSPs and the challenges they’re continuing to face on this Move to Include edition of Need to Know.

More stories from the Inclusion Desk

Rochester: Hub For Photonics

What is photonics and why is it coming to Rochester?

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